THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 39
support, driving the rebels back to
their position at Sentry Hill (a very com-
manding knoll between the two rivers) which
being threatened on three sides, the rebels
abandoned. This knoll was quickly occupied
by the mounted men and Volunteers, who,
under a desultory and quite ineffectual fire,
which they hardly returned, rapidly advanced
across the Mangoraka River, through thick
scrub and fern, towards the upper ford of the
Waiongana River, driving the rebels back
upon Manutahi (an entrenched position at
the head of a long clearing, flanked by bush
on either side). Not having force enough
to attack this position, I thought it better not
even to enter the clearing, so I directed
Captain Atkinson to fall back slowly and
steadily on the detachment 57th Regt., while
I proceeded to Mahoetahi to communicate
with the friendly Chief Mahatı.

Captain Atkinson re-crossed the Mango-
raka, but his rear-guard had scarcely reached
the river, when it was fired upon by some of
the rebels, whomust have concealed themselves
in an adjoining bush on our advance. With
the greatest promptness Captain Atkinson
placed his rear-guard in ambush, and con-
tinued his march with the remainder of his
men; the rebels fell into the ambuscade, the
men of which fired rather hastily; one native
was killed and two or three others wounded.
The body of the native killed was brought
in, but, although the whole of the Volunteers
joined in the search, they could not succeed
in finding the wounded men, who concealed
themselves in the scrub and fern; but the
Volunteers brought away three double-bar-
relled guns, and some pouches with ammu-
nition, &c.

In conclusion, I must beg to bring to the
Lieutenant-General's notice the admirable
manner in which the Volunteer Rifles, under
Capts. Atkinson and Webster, and the
mounted men under Capt. Mace, Taranaki
Militia, skirmished through the thick scrub
and fern.

It was to Captain Atkinson's promptness
in taking advantage of the nature of
the country, that I must attribute
the successful result of the day's skirmish,
and the infliction of punishment upon rebel
natives who, during the last fortnight, have
been constantly endeavouring to waylay and
murder settlers, and have killed many of the
cattle pasturing upon Bell Block. Mr.
Parris, Assistant Native Secretary, and Capt.
Stapp, Adjutant of the Taranaki Militia,
volunteered their services and assisted the
officers of my staff, Lieut. C. M. Clarke,
Deputy Assistant Qrmstr.-Genl., and Lieut.
Brutton, Garrison Adjutant, who performed
their services with great zeal and activity.
Nothing could exceed the cheerfulness with
which the detachment Royal Artillery and
57th Regt. under Captain Russell, who were
not actively engaged, bore the fatigues of a
long march, being absent from their quarters
ten or eleven hours under a burning sun.
Staff Assistant Surgeon Tomlinson accom-
panied the Regular troops and Dr. Spence
and Mr. Webber were with the Volunteers,
but their services happily were not required.

I have, &c.,

H. J. WARRE,
Colonel Commanding Troops Taranaki.

The Deputy Quartermaster-General,
Head Quarters, Auckland.

P.S.-Mr. Parris has just informed me that
nine (9) natives were wounded on Tuesday
last, in addition to Hone te Horo killed.
One of the wounded is William King's son
"Eruera Kingi;" and another, by name
"Arama," had just arrived from Waikato,
where he was present and wounded at the
attack on the natives made by Captain Jack-
son's Volunteers.

Two of the above, badly wounded, have
been sent to Urenui, a few miles to the north
of Waitara, to be out of the way while they
recover from their wounds.

The natives state that the Volunteers when
looking for them passed close to the wounded
men, who were concealed in the fern.

H. J. WARRE,
Colonel.

POSTAL.

Post Office at Port Waikato to be a Post Office
of the Second Class.

General Post Office, Auckland,
3rd February, 1864.

IT is notified for general information that

PORT WAIKATO.
in the Province of Auckland, has been con-
stituted a Post Office of the Second Class,
for the exchange of separate Mails and other
purposes within the meaning of the 4th clause
Postal Regulations of 1st April, 1862.

WILLIAM FOX,
For the Postmaster-General.

POSTAL.

MONEY ORDER BRANCH.

Post Office at Port Waikato to be a Money
Order Office.

General Post Office, Auckland,
3rd February, 1864.

NOTICE is hereby given that His Excel-
lency the Governor has been pleased
to appoint the Post Office at Port Waikato
to be a Money Order Office for the issue and
payment of Money Orders.

WILLIAM FOX,
For the Postmaster-General.

Light-house Dues for Port of Wellington.

General Post Office,
Auckland, 30th Jan, 1864.

THE following Light-house Rates for the
Port of Wellington, as fixed by the