THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 241

distant), and I then determined that it would
be better to await the reinforcements for
which we have so anxiously looked than to
attack an enemy whose strength was un-
known, and who had reached the cover of his
entrenched position at Manutahi. In this
decision Majors Butler and Atkinson cordially
coincided, although I fear it must have
greatly disappointed the eager but small
force under my command, who, flushed with
the morning's success, would have doubtless
driven the enemy from both the positions at
Mataitawa and Manutahi, but I should have
been obliged immediately to withdraw, as I
have neither men to garrison nor transport
to supply any new outposts.

I need scarcely take the liberty of recom-
mending to the Lieut.-General's favourable
consideration the excellent conduct of Capt.
Shortt, commanding the detachment, and of
Lieut. Waller, 57th Regiment, (in the absence
of Ensign Down on temporary leave,) the
only two Officers in the Redoubt. Captain
Shortt the Lieut.-General will kindly recol-
lect recommending for the Victoria Cross
for his gallant conduct in storming the
enemy's position on the Katikara river on
the 4th June, 1863; and Lieut. W. Waller
was brought to the Lieut.-General's notice
in May last, when having fallen alone into a
native ambuscade after his horse was shot,
he beat off seven natives, and with his
revolver wounded Hori, who was afterwards
taken prisoner and tried.

To the conduct of the above Officers, and
to the steadiness and strict attention to
orders (as reported to me by Captain Shortt)
of the non-commissioned officers and men in
the Redoubt, I must attribute the excellent
result of this engagement which has entirely
restored the confidence for a moment shaken
by the unfortunate disaster at Ahu-ahu.
Our vengeance has been at least five-fold;
and to show how we appreciate the desperate

gallantry of the natives, I sent to offer to
return to them their dead, but they had not
courage to send for them, and they were
buried near the Redoubt.

Major Butler and the officers and men
placed in support at Mahoetahi promptly
responded to Captain Shortt's application for
assistance, but too late to render any
effectual aid.

The men of the 57th Regiment under
Captains Stewart and Schomberg, and the
Taranaki Rifle Volunteers and Militia under
Major Atkinson from town, were equally
zealous in marching rapidly to the scene of
action.

Assistant-Surgeons Tomlinson (Staff) and
Spence (T.M.) were in attendance on the
wounded prisoners, two of whom died shortly
after removal to Mahoetahi, the other, Hori
Piriri (brother of Manaihi, the murderer of
Mr. Ford and other settlers), a native of this
town, is now in hospital, severely wounded
in three places. He awaits with the other
prisoners now in gaol the orders of Govern-
ment as to their disposal.

I have, &c.,

H. J. WARRE,
Colonel Commanding Troops in Taranaki.
The Dep.-Quarter-Master-General,
Head Quarters.

3rd May, 1864.

P.S.-I have since writing the above
report ascertained that although only 300
rebel natives advanced to the attack of the
Redoubt, they had a support of 300 in the
adjoining bush on the Waiongana river, and
that about 200 were left at Manutahi ready
as a reserve in case we should have attacked
them, as they expected, on the open ground,
and driven them back upon their entrenched
works.

H. J. WARRE,
Colonel.

NOMINAL RETURN OF THE WOUNDED OF THE TROOPS AT SENTRY HILL ON THE
30TH APRIL, 1864.

J. E. YOUNG,
Staff Surgeon.