422
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

in whom I place every confidence.

I have, &c.,
WILLIAM C. LYON,
Major Commanding Galloway Redoubt,
Wairoa.

Major De Quincey,
Military Secretary,
Colonial Forces.

Galloway Redoubt, Wairoa,
17th September, 1863.

SIR,—I have the honor to report for the
information of the Major-General Command-
ing Colonial Forces, that firing was heard in
the bush on the other side of the river, at
different intervals in the course of the
day.

About 4 p.m. a settler came to the redoubt
stating that two men were exchanging shots
with some natives in the act of pillaging a
house.

Lieutenant Steele, Wairoa Rifles, started
immediately with 20 men, and I followed
with 30: on arriving at the place two bun-
dles were found. I followed the track,
passed through a chain and a half of bush,
and came out on rising ground; I could see
the Maoris in a line, with loads on their
backs.

The men under my command were in
skirmishing order, and fired into them. I
then gave chase; many of them dropped their
loads, making for Otau.

Two Maoris were killed. I did not deem
it advisable to advance farther, from the
number of shots proceeding from the bush
and bank of the river, the natives must
have been in strong force: it was also getting
dark.

On our return I was met by Lieut. Russell,
18th Royal Irish, with a party of 16 men,
coming to our assistance, and Captain Clark,
Auckland Rifle Volunteers, thinking we
might require support.

This morning. I started at 4 o'clock, with 50
men from the redoubt, and 20 from the
Wairoa Rifles, under the command of Mr.
Johnson.

We took the same direction, and arrived
within 300 yards of the Maori whares at
daybreak.

The river was so swollen with the late
rains it was impossible to cross it. The
Maoris were plainly visible, and many rounds
were fired at them; they returned the fire,
but without any effect, the men being well
under cover.

I sounded the "cease firing," and pro-
ceeded to bury the body of one of the
Maoris killed yesterday; he had been shot
through the heart; the other we could not
find.

It appears that the firing heard in the bush
was for the purpose of diverting our atten-
tion whilst the natives were ransacking the
houses.

The men of the different detachments

behaved, on both occasions, with great cool-
ness.

I have, &c.,
WILLIAM C. LYON,
Major Commanding Galloway Redoubt,
Wairoa.

Major de Quincey,
Military Secretary,
Colonial Forces.

Lieut. General Cameron to the Governor.

Head-Quarters, Queen's Redoubt,
19th September, 1863.

SIR,—I have the honor to forward the ac-
companying Reports from Major Lyon, com-
manding the Galloway Redoubt, received
subsequently to those transmitted to your
Excellency with my letter of yesterday.

I have, &c.,
D. A. CAMERON,
Lieut.-General.

His Excellency Sir Geo. Grey,
K.C.B., &c., &c.

Galloway Redoubt, Wairoa;
17th Sept., 1863.

SIR,—I have the honor to report for the in-
formation of the Lieut.-General Commanding,
that I sent Lieut. Russell, 2nd Battalion 18th
Royal Irish, with 20 men, to the spot I had
occupied in the morning, with instructions to
fire upon the whares at Otau. I proceeded
myself, with 75 men of the different detach-
ments, to come upon the enemy in the rear,
crossing the bridge just opposite the Redoubt,
and passing through portions of the bush, I
arrived at the settlement. It was deserted,
but it was evident that the Maoris must have
sustained severe loss from the concentrated
fire poured into them in the morning. The
whares were riddled with shot, blood in pro-
fusion both inside and out. Two Maori mats,
covered with blood, and a bullet hole through
it, was also picked up. They were unmis-
takably taken by surprise this morning. Two
guns, several tomahawks, other weapons, and
a variety of articles were taken.

A quantity of plunder taken from the set-
tlers' houses was recovered on this side of the
river, showing that the rebels had been hardly
pressed by our skirmishers yesterday evening.

A settler, named Crawford, residing near
Otau, has lost several head of cattle. It is
supposed they have been driven off by the
Natives.

I have the honor to bring under the notice
of the Lieut. General commanding the names
of Lieutenant Russell, 2nd Batt. 18th Royal
Irish; Lieutenant Jones, Militia Volunteers;
Ensign Tole, Auckland Rifle Volunteers; and
Mr. Mc Donald, Native Interpreter; who ren-
dered me great assistance. The exemplary
conduct and soldier-like bearing of the Non-
Commissioned Officers and men of the differ-
ent detachments who have been with me on
these several occasions, cannot be too highly
commended; and more especially that of