486
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
tion which can be got as to the best modes of
feeding, keeping, and rearing the same, and,
as regards Vegetables, any information as to
the best mode of cultivation.

A copy of the last Annual Report of the Ac-
climatisation Society of Great Britain accom-
panies this, and will serve to explain more
completely the action and purposes of the
Society.

1. Question: Is there any Quadruped,
   indigenous or introduced to the Country in
   which you reside, which (having regard to
   the above definition of the objects in view)
   merits attention with a view to acclimatisa-
   tion in Great Britain or any of its Dependen-
   cies? If there be any such, state whether
   it is attainable at a reasonable rate, aud
   whether it is likely to bear the risk of trans-
   port?
   Answer :--

2. Question: Is there any such Bird?
   Answer:-

3. Question: Is there any such Fish?
   Answer :-

4. Question: Is there any such Insect?
   Answer:-

5. Question: Is there any such Timber
   Tree?
   Answer:-

6. Question: Is there any such Medici-
   nal Plant?
   Answer :-

7. Question: Is there any Fibrous Plant
   likely to be useful for manufacturing pur-
   poses?
   Answer:-

8. Question: Is there any Vegetable
   suitable for the food of man, or for forage, or
   for any other useful purpose?
   Answer :-

9. Question-Do you know any Quad-
   ruped, Bird, Fish, Insect, Tree, or Plant,
   existing elsewhere, the introductirn of which
   to the Country in which you reside would be
   likely to be beneficial; one of the objects of
   the Acclimatisation Society being to recipro-
   cate the benefits which it receives from other
   countries?
   Answer:-

10. Question:-Does any organization
    exist, or could it be easily called into exis-
    tence, capable of undertaking the task of
    introduction?
    Answer:-

Any Remarks founded upon special know-
or local information, capable of being made
useful to the progress of Acclimatisation will
be desirable.

Head Quarters, Queen's Redoubt,
4th November, 1863.

SIR, I have the honor to inform your
Excellency that the day following the arrival
here of the "Pioneer," being occupied in
clearing her of stores, &c., and in landing
two 40-pounder Armstrong guns at Whanga-
marino, which were placed in position to
command the landing-place at Meremere, I
proceeded on the 29th ultimo in the
"Pioneer".with Commodore Sir William
Wiseman, and was enabled to make a more
complete reconnaissance than before of the
enemy's works. They occupied them strongly
on this occasion, and fired several rounds at
the steamer from three guns which they had
in position. I found that the difficulty of
landing Troops rapidly for an attack, and the
resistance to be expected from the nature of
the defences had not been overestimated,
which induced me to make a further recon-
naissance higher up the river, with the view
of selecting some point at which a force
could be landed to turn the enemy's position
while his attention was occupied in front by
the Steamer and Gunboats. I therefore
proceeded again on the 31st up the river in
the "Pioneer" with Sir William Wiseman
as far as Rangariri, and having observed a
point favorable for landing about six miles
above Meremere, I arranged with the Com-
modore to embark the same night the force
shewn in the margin*, with two 12-pounder
Armstrong guns. The "Pioneer" and
"Avon," with the four gunboats in tow, got
under weigh at half past two o'clock on the
morning of the 31st, and reached the point
fixed for the landing about six o'clock. No
attempt was made to oppose the troops, who
took up a commanding position about four
hundred yards from the bank of the river.

As I proposed bringing up an additional force
on the following night, I ordered a breast-
work to be constructed for the protection of
the camp, which I left under the command of
Colonel Mould, C.B.

During the afternoon of the 1st, whilst the
necessary preparations were in progress for
the conveyance of the remaining part of the
force, the officer in command at Whangama-
rino reported that the Natives were escaping
in canoes up the Whangamarino and Mara-
marua rivers. I embarked at once in the
"Pioneer," with 250 men of the 12th and
14th Regiments from the Koheroa, and on
reaching Meremere it was evident the enemy
had abandoned his position. A party of 250
seamen, under Commander Mayne, R.N.,
and the detachments from the Koheroa, under
the command of Colonel Austen, 2B. 14th
Regiment, landed on the position, and were
ordered to hold the ground during the night,
which was occupied the following day by
detachments of the 12th, 14th, 18th, and 70th

*Royal Arttillery.
Royal Engineers.
40th Regiment.
65th Regiment.
Total
F.O. Cap. Sub. Staff. Serg. Drs. Rk & File.
1 1 1 1 1 41
1 1 9
2 5 10 5 282
1 5 11 4 280
3 5 11 2 21 9 612

Colonial Defence Office,
Auckland, 4th November, 1863.

HIS Excellency the Governor directs the
publication of the following Despatch
from Lieutenant-General Cameron, C.B.

T. RUSSELL.