178
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

Report I have received from Major Colville,
43rd Regiment, Commanding at Maketu,
relative to a skirmish which took place be-
tween a detachment of the Force under his
command, and a party of the rebel Natives
on the 21st inst.

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

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

Fort Maketu,
April 21st, 1864.

Sir,—I have the honor to report to you an
engagement with the East Coast Natives at
Why-hee, two miles from the Fort at
Maketu, in which about 110 men of the force
under my command were engaged.

An ambuscade was laid near the ford at
Why-hee this morning; and at least 50
rebels opened fire on Ensign Way, 3rd Wai-
kato Regiment; Private Key, 43rd Light
Infantry, and myself, when we were crossing
the river at 10 a.m. in a canoe.

The rebels were certainly not above fifty
yards distant at the time, and I consider our
escape as most providential and wonderful.

They pursued us across the ford, on our
jumping out of the canoe into the water, and
followed us yelling and firing till we got into
the bush and escaped.

On arrival at the Fort, I immediately
ordered out a party of 50 men of the 43rd
Light Infantry and 3rd Waikato Regiment,
under the command of Captain Smith, 43rd
Light Infantry, to drive the enemy across the
ford.

They found on arrival that the enemy had
recrossed the river, and had established them-
selves about 400 yards distant on that side,
and kept up a constant fire from the sand-
hills and bush around, which we returned
with interest.

Finding the enemy mustering strong I sent
for a further reinforcement of 30 men, under
the command of Captain Harris, 43rd Light
Infantry, and Ensign Way, 3rd Waikato.

Major Drummond Hay and Captain
MacDonnell also arrived with the Forest
Rangers (14 men); and a number of the
friendly Arawa Tribe also joined. I re-
quested Major Hay to cross the river with
his Rangers and all the Native allies.

This he did; but as very few of the Natives
would follow him, he was reluctantly com-
pelled to retire after remaining engaged for
some time.

My orders are so very stringent not to go
far from the settlement of Maketu, that I was
compelled to content myself with lining the
side of the river, and firing at 400 yards and
more at the rebels.

The East Coast Natives, apparently 300
strong, are now entrenching themselves at
the position they occupied to-day, and I hear
they are receiving further reinforcements.

I have, therefore, requested Major Hay to
attack them across the river in the morning,
if he can induce the Native allies to follow
him.

At dusk I withdrew my men and returned
to the Fort, leaving a strong party of Natives
to protect the village of Why-hee, and give
the alarm in the event of the rebels coming
on.

My best thanks are due to Captains Smith
and Honorable A. E. Harris, 43rd Light In-
fantry, for the able manner they led their
Companies into action.

Also to Ensign Way, commanding the
detachment of 3rd Waikato.

I have the honor to enclose the list of
wounded, which I am glad to say is but
small, considering we were under fire for
between six and seven hours. Besides the
enclosed, Captain MacDonnell of the Forest
Rangers was slightly wounded in the hand.

I consider I am strong enough to hold the
settlement provided more ammunition is sent
me as soon as possible, as I expect to be en-
gaged again to-morrow.

From the nature of the country and from
our being unable to cross the river, it is
impossible to estimate the loss of the enemy.
They were, however, seen carrying off killed
or wounded men on several occasions during
the day.

I have, &c.,
J. M. COLVILE,
Major 43rd L.I., Commanding at Maketu.

DETACHMENT HOSPITAL MAKETU.

RETURN of Killed and Wounded of the above Detachment on the 21st April, 1864.

P. J. O. CARROLL,
Assistant Surgeon 3rd Waikato Militia,
In Medical Charge Detachment Maketu.

ERRATUM.—In Gazette No. 12, at page 156, first
column, fifth line from top, for all, read "who"
afforded me, &c.