THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 239

ing those at outposts, and employed on du-
ties from which they cannot be withdrawn,
not exceeding 250 men-is subjected, the
best spirit prevails; and I am truly glad to
be again able to bring to the Lieutenant-
General's notice the admirable conduct of the
bushrangers under Major Atkinson, who do
not seem to know what fatigue means; and
also of the new levies from Melbourne and
Otago, who take their share of the labour of
this harassing warfare with cheerfulness and
zeal.

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

The Deputy-Quarter-Master-General,
Head Quarters.

New Plymouth, N.Z.,
22nd April, 1864.

SIR,-I have the honor to report that,
having received your instructions to proceed
in command of a Flying Field Force, for the
purpose of destroying the crops, &c., of the
rebel natives in the vicinity of the Kaihihi
and Hangatahua rivers,-the force under my
command, strength as detailed in the margin,*
paraded at the Oakura Redoubt, at 12 mid-
night, on Monday, the 18th instant, and pro-
ceeded south.

The force arrived at St. George's Redoubt,
Tataraimaka, at about 2 a.m. on the 19th.
I left there a force of 100 men of the 57th
and Militia, under command of Captain
Schomberg, 57th Regiment, to occupy the
Redoubt until my return.

I then proceeded along the Katikara
river, crossed the Kaihihi about 5 a.m., and
reached the bank of the Hangatahua river
about 7 a.m., without seeing any signs of
natives, except a small fire at some distance
inland to our left.

I encamped at Wareatea about a quarter
of a mile on this side of the Hangatahua.
At about 9 a.m., I took a party consisting of
50 of the 57th and 150 Bushrangers and
Militia, and crossing the Hangatahua pro-
ceeded inland to the Puketawa Pa, which I
found deserted. We burned this pa and the
whares in it, and after destroying some cul-
tivations returned to the encampment. On
our return, Captain Mace with the mounted
men succeeded in capturing and driving in

• Royal Artillery-Captain Martindale, 1 ser-
  geant, 17 rank and file.
  Royal Engineers-Lieutenant Ferguson, 4 rank
  and file.
  57th Regiment-Captain Stewart, in command;
  2 captains, 3 subalterns, 1 staff, 6 sergeants, 3
  drummers, 154 rank and file.
  Taranaki Militia and Volunteers-Major Atkin-
  son, in command; 4 captains, 9 subalterns, 1 staff,
  15 sergeants, 5 drummers, 302 rank and file.
  Mounted Corps-Captain Mace, in command; 1
  sergeant, 12 rank and file.
  Total-1 field officer, 9 captains, 13 subalterns, 2
  staff, 23 sergeants, 8 drummers, 489 rank and file.

eleven (11) horses, the property of the
rebels.

At 7 a.m. the next morning (Wednesday,
the 20th,) I removed the whole of my force
about a mile up the coast. I here again
halted, and leaving the baggage-carts, &c.,
with one gun and 150 men, under the com-
mand of Captain A. Stewart, 57th Regi-
ment, moved the remainder of my force up
a cross road toward the ranges, where I had
been informed I should find considerable
native cultivations. About a mile up this
road we came within sight of the Paiakama-
hoe Pah, across the river to our right. I fired
a few shell into it, but the place having every
appearance of being unoccupied, proceeded
onward toward the bush. As we approached
it we perceived from a mound on our left a
small pa ("Kopua") situated in a clearing
within the bush. I advanced very carefully,
throwing out flank-guards to my right and
left, and almost immediately on entering the
bush a rather heavy fire was opened upon
my party from their front, and one of my men
(Private Dowling, 57th,) was wounded. The
fire was sharply returned by the rifles of my
men, and the Armstrong gun, which com-
pletely silenced that of the enemy, but not
having any knowledge of the locality, or of
the number and position of the rebels, I did
not deem it advisable to push further into
the bush, but contented myself with destroy-
ing a quantity of cultivations and burning
some whares, and then returned to the place
where I had left my main body, having
destroyed the Paiakamahoe pah and burned
a considerable number of whares which were
in it on our way back.

The mounted men brought in six (6) more
horses on this day, making a total of 17 taken
from the rebels.

Immediately on joining the main body, I
marched the whole back to Tataraimaka
Redoubt, which I reached about 4 p.m., and
remained there the night. The next morn-
ing (Thursday, 21st,) about half-past 8 a.m.,
I paraded the whole of my force, and moved
to Hauranga, where I left the carts under a
guard of 100 men with one gun, and took
the remainder up to Ahu-ahu, as I had seen
from the South that there was a clearing
high up on the ranges, which had not yet
been explored. After posting strong pic-
quets round the bottom of the spur, I sent
Major Atkinson with 100 Bushrangers,
supported by parties of 57th and Militia to
the top of the range, where they found
cultivations and several whares, which they
destroyed. On their way up they found in
a swamp the mutilated remains of Private
Gallagher, of the Taranaki Militia, who was
reported missing on the 6th instant, after
the attack on Captain Lloyd's party.

After destroying several more small culti-
vations, I returned with the whole of my
force, reaching Oakura about 4:30 p.m.

In concluding my report I must beg to
mention how materially I was aided in carry-