THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 443

commanding point from Waireka Hill, which
had always been kept open by a strong picquet,
to the Redoubt; and the Maoris, evidently
satisfied that they could make no impression,
gave vent to their rage by repeated volleys
and the most frightful yells; after which they
retired: and as the Troops and Volunteers
from town had marched six or eight miles, and
had been continually engaged from the moment
of their arrival, I did not think it right to
allow them to follow the Maoris, who got
away; not, I hope, without serious loss. By
thick bush on the way to the Upper Ford of
the Tapuae river, en route to Kaitake, the
Troops bivouacked on the ground until the
afternoon, when they returned to town, leaving
a reinforcement of 50 men at the Redoubt.

Nothing could exceed the admirable conduct
of the Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers,
and Men, of both regular and Militia forces
engaged.

I am greatly indebted to Major Butler, 57th
Regt., for his persevering efforts to keep back
the enemy, nearly six times as numerous as the
party he had in the first instance, to support
his advance; also to Lieut. C. M. Clarke,
D.A.Q.M.-General, and Lieut. E. Brutton, Gar-
rison Adjutant, who accompanied me, and
rendered me every assistance; as also did
Lieut. and Acting Adjutant W. Thompson,
57th Regt., who at the head of a small party
dislodged the enemy from a piece of bush from
whence they had kept up a galling fire.

Captains Shortt, 57th, and Wright, 70th
Regts.; Captains Atkinson and Webster, of
the Volunteers, and all the officers, set an
example to their men, which was nobly re-
sponded to; and the presence of Surgeon
Mackinnon, of the 57th Regt., and the other
Medical Officers, very materially relieved the
sufferings of the wounded who were brought
into town during the afternoon, and who, with
the exception of one man (Private Finn, 57th
Regt.) since dead, are progressing favourably.

I should wish to bring specially to the
notice of the Lieutenant-General Commanding,
the noble conduct of Ensign Down, 57th Regt.,
and Drummer Dudley Stagpoole, who under a
tremendous fire from Natives not forty yards
from them, brought away wounded men at the
risk of their own lives; their efforts being
ably seconded by Private Antonia Rodrigues,
a mounted orderly of the Taranaki Militia, who
carried two men off the field on his horse, and
gallopped through a party of rebel Maories to
take my orders to Captain Shortt. At the risk
of troubling the Lieutenant-General with the
great detail, I beg to forward Captain Shortt's
Report, as it specially mentions the above
individuals, and bears evidence to his own
gallant conduct in this severe engagement.

I must also beg to be allowed to mention
the excellent conduct of Captain Mace, T.M.,
and the mounted orderlies, who accompanied
the troops, and were unceasing in their efforts
to assist the wounded, and to distribute
ammunition.

I have just received the enclosed Report

from Major Butler, which I forward, as it
supports my testimony of the gallant conduct
of all engaged. I also append a list of
casualties, which, although large, is far less
than I had any right to expect.

The Natives are still in the bush, about two
miles from the Redoubt, and are very numerous
at Kaitake, but have made no further move
this morning.

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

The Assistant Military Secretary,
Head-Quarters.

St. Patrick's Redoubt,
2nd October, 1863.

SIR,-I have the honor to report that I
observed the smoke of a large fire at the ford
at Hurford's clearing yesterday evening at
about six o'clock, and as it was necessary to
send out a wood party to-day, I sent Mr. Mills
with forty man to lay in ambush at three a.m.,
on the hill overlooking the Maori track, and
thus to protect the wood party.

I have the honor to enclose his Report on
the matter, by which you will see he was fired
on. I went to his support with thirty men,
and found him at Allen's Hill, and that he did
not reqnire any more men. I left him to lay
an ambush on a spot overlooking the place
where the shots were fired from yesterday,
thinking that the natives might come there
to-day again, but he has since returned without
seeing anything.

About sixty Maoris or more are at present
pulling down the Oakura Redoubt.

Colonel Warre, C.B.,
I have, &c.,
A. B. WRIGHT,
Captain, 70th Regt.

Commanding Troops, Taranaki.

Poutoko, 2nd October, 1863.

SIR,-I have the honor to report for your
information, that, in accordance with instruc-
tions I received from you, I proceeded this morn-
ing, at 3 a.m., strength as per margin,* to the hill
overlooking the Tapuae river, with the inten-
tion of laying an ambuscade in order to cover
a wood party which was to leave the Redoubt
at eight a.m. On reaching Touet's house, I
formed single rank, and moved in that order
up to within forty yards of the crest of the hill,
when several Maoris, who were evidently on
sentry, immediately rose up and fired. I
ordered my men to return the fire, which they
did, and then I rushed up to the top of the
hill, upon which the natives retired into the
dense bush, two or three of them appearing to
be badly wounded, leaving behind them six
mats, one Maori kit full of bread, and a toma-
hawk. I followed them a short distance, but
finding the bush too thick, and it being very
dark at the time, I contented myself by hold-

*1 Lieutenant, 1 Ensign, 1 Assistant Surgeon, 1 Sergeant
1 Corporal, 40 rank and file.