THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 389

able affair, and totally incapable of being
defended, 1 eing completely commanded by
a hill close to it, and constructed simply of
stakes driven into the ground, about two or
three inches apart, and tied with supple-jack
at the top. The house and whares inside the
pa had been completely gutted, and all kinds
of property were scattered over the place.
I went with a few men down to the bank
of the River, about 100 yards below the pa.
The ground was strewn with bran and corn,
the former partially burnt. We found a
canoe at the landing place, which I ordered
the men not to destroy-fortunately, as it
turned out afterwards, for it proved the means
of saving one of the wounded men, who was
close to us in the bush while we were there,
and who came up to Tuakau at night in the
canoe.

We returned to the scene of the fight, of
which I enclose a sketch; fires were still
smouldering and a quantity of potatoes were
on the ground, showing that the enemy had
been there very lately.

We then proceeded to examine the country
in the direction in which the missing men
were last seen to go, but found no traces of
them. The bush and fern were so dense, that
we gave up the search as hopeless, and deter-
mined to return. We left the ground at six
o'clock, just as it was getting dark, and, car-
rying the body with us, we returned to Tua-
kau, reaching the Redoubt at midnight, the
distance being between eight and nine miles.
On arrival we found that one of the missing
men had come up the river in a canoe.

From the number of fires, sleeping places,
and the extent of ground covered by the Maoris,
I am satisfied that there cannot have been less

than 200 when they were attacked by poor
Capt. Swift's party, and it is wonderful, con-
sidering the nature of the ground, how in the
face of such a superior force this party, only 28
in number, at the end, succeeded in keeping the
enemy in check until their two wounded Officers
had been safely conveyed to the rear, and how
they, within 10 yards of the enemy, who were
firing at them from the bush, covered up with
fern the body of one of their number who was
killed, and then retreated in good order, carry-
ing some wounded men with them. Too much
cannot be said in praise of the Non-Commis-
sioned Officer in charge and of the men them-
selves for their gallant conduct on this trying
occasion.

Captain Swift, when he left his post, must
have been convinced that the enemy were in force
or they would not have dared to attack what
was considered a fortified post, still notwith-
standing the difficulties of the road, and the
small number of his party, he pushed on to the
assistance of the friendly natives, and lost his
life while leading his men in a most gallant
manner against a force vastly superior in number
to his own, and posted in a strong position.

I beg to bring to the notice of the Lieut.
General Commanding the very excellent man-
ner in which the expedition in search of the
missing men was conducted by Lieut. Warren
and the Officers and men under his command.

I have, &c.,

G. R. GREAVES, Captain,
Acting Deputy, Assistant Quarter
Master General.

The Deputy Quarter Master General,
&c., &c., &c.
Queen's Redoubt.

Printed and published by W. C. WILSON, for the New Zealand Government at the Printing Office,
Shortland Crescent