THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 423
Quartermaster Serjeant Davis, of the 3rd Batt.
Auckland Militia.
I have, &c.,
WILLIAM CHARLES LYON,
Major Commanding Galloway
Redoubt, Wairoa.

Galloway Redoubt,
17th Sept., 1863.
SIR,-I have the honor to inform you, for
the information of the Lieut.-General Com-
manding, that I inadvertently ommitted the
names of Lieut. Steele and Ensign Johnson,
Wairoa Rifles, from amongst those Officers
whom I wished to bring favourably under the
notice of the Lieut.-General Comraanding.
I have, &c.,
WILLIAM C. LYON,
Major Commanding Galloway
Redoubt, Wairoa.
The Military Secretary,
&c, &c., &c.

Lieut. General Cameron to the Governor.
Head Quarters,
Queen's Redoubt,
21st September, 1863.
Sir, I have the honor to enclose for your
Excellency's information, a letter from Colonel
Warre, C.B., Commanding troops at Taranki,
giving cover to a report from Captain Russell,
of the Regiment under his command.
The skill and enterprise with which this
Officer prepared his ambuscade, and the
coolness and steadiness of all under his
command, are deserving of the highest praise.
I have, &c.,
D. A. CAMERON,
Lieut.-General,

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

New Plymouth, N. Z.
16th September, 1863.
Sir, I have the honor to transmit for the
favorable consideration of the Lieut.-General
Commanding, the accompanying report from
Captain Russell, 57th Regiment, Commanding
the detachment at Poutoko.
Captain Russell's report describes so simply
and accurately what occurred on the morning
of the 15th instant, that I feel I have only to
add that nothing could exceed the coolness
and perseverance with which Captain Russell
carried out his plan, and the steadiness with
which the Officers, non-commissioned Officers,
and men behaved under circumstances of no
ordinary difficulty.

The steadiness and good conduct of the
non-commissioned Officers and men, enabled
Captain Russell to way-lay and surprise a
considerable body of Natives (nine of whom
are known to have been killed or mortally

wounded) and also to withdraw his party with
great regularity in the face of a very large
number of rebel Natives, who, on seeing their
people engaged flocked, to the number of 200 or
300 to the scene of action, from their several
positions on the Tataraimaka Ranges.
I have much satisfaction in stating than no
casualties occurred on our side.

I have &c.,
H. J. WARRE, Col.,
Commanding Troops at Taranaki.

The Assist. Military Sec.,
Head Quarters.

Camp, Poutoko, N. Z.
15th September, 1863.
Sir, I have the honor to report for your
information, that in compliance with instruc-
tions received from you, I started at 3 a.m.
this day with a party, strength as per margin,*
to plant an ambuscade in the vicinity of the
Wairau stream. -I left 2 Sergeants and 24
rank and file to occupy the Oakura Redoubt
and cover the crossing of the river, and then
advanced with the remainder of my party over
the stream to a spot, some 500 yards up the
Wairau road, where a light bush composed
of Toe-toe and Koromiko afforded excellent
cover. I divided my men into three sections
and posted them, each in charge of an Officer,
on the left hand side of the road at a few yards
distance from one another: after waiting up-
wards of two hours, natives were heard
coming down the road, and their advanced
Guard, consisting of eight men, approached
to within three yards of the ambuscade to
the left, which was in charge of Lieut. Man-
ners, 57 Regiment; they then, unfortunately,
detected a foot print carelessly left by one of
my party, and calling out to alarm their main
body, attempted to escape: on this the men
immediately fired, and three natives fell, one
appparently a chief of some note, as he car-
ried a very handsome "Taiaha," which we
took possession of; the other two natives,
who were evidently mortally wounded,
staggered into the bush-three other natives
were also hit, but as they ran afterwards, I am
unable to say if they were wounded or not. I
was immediately engaged with the main body of
the natives, about thirty, who took cover in
the neighbouring fern and bush, and we drove
them back to a swamp. A very large number
of natives being seen coming down from
Ahuahu, and hearing the Maories also ad-
vancing from Kitaki, I got my men together
and marched them on the open ground :
whilst crossing the Oakura river I found the
natives making an attempt to occupy the high
ground, on which the redoubt is built, and
thus cut off my party, but they desisted on

*1 Captain, 2 Subalterns, 1 Staff Assistant Surgeon,
4 Sergeants, 4 Corporals, 2 Drummers, 75 Rank and
file.