344
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

and third, meeting with no resistance as the Hau
Haus retreated without firing a shot. The Contingent
was well supported by Captain Wilson and Lieutenant
Chapman. Captain Ross's Company, with the Cavalry
under Lieutenant McPherson, were ordered to remain
at the bottom of the hill in charge of the guns, am-
munition, and stores. I was ordered immediately by
Major Brassey to proceed with the Cavalry and the
three portions of Captain Wilson's, Newland's, and
Ross's Companies, and destroy a large village on the
flat, which I did, burning immense quantities of grain,
potatoes and kumeras. The Native Contingent and
a party sent in with wounded men the night previous,
who had rejoined, were ordered during this time to
destroy the three pas, and quantities of grain, pota-
toes and kumeras; we then returned to camp about
one p.m.

I have great pleasure in stating that the whole
of the force engaged in this arduous service behaved
exceedingly well.

Total numbers of Hau Haus killed-Twenty-two;
wounded and taken prisoner, one.
Total killed on our side-Three privates; wounded,
nine.

I have &c.,
C. STAPP, Brevet-Major,
Commanding Expeditionary Force.

The Hon. Defence Minister, Wellington.

Opotiki, 6th October, 1865.

SIR,-I have the honor to report that according to
order I proceeded with reinforcements, and arrived at
the pa at sunset, which had been nearly surrounded
by Major McDonnell previous to my arrival. I im-
mediately made arrangements to surround it entirely,
as the nature of the ground was such that it could
easily be done without endangering the men's lives
from firing into each other. I threw up a breastwork
and got the gun into position at one hundred and
twenty yards from the pa; the firing with small arms
was very heavy on both sides until about 8 p.m., when
Major McDonnell commenced a parley.

They asked the terms on which they could surrender.
I told them they must lay down their arms, and the
surrender to be unconditional. They then asked for
time. I gave them one hour, when we had another
parley. They wanted to be allowed to send to another
pa close by, which I refused. They said they were
afraid they would be all killed whether they gave in
or not, but they were assured they would not be
hurt, but the murderers or anyone connected with
the murder of the Rev. Mr. Volkner, Mr. Fulloon
and others, would be tried. They then asked to be
allowed to send a Native over to speak with the
friendly Natives, which was done; he went back
and directly returned, stating they would all surren-
der immediately, instead of which they rushed out of
the pa on the opposite side. We were expecting
them, and thirteen were killed. I believe a great
many more would have been killed but for their
shouting out they would give in, or had given in (in
fact some of the men went up to the pa on the side,
they rushed out, and shook hands and offered biscuit)
and then instantly threw themselves on our men,
who behaved admirably. I ordered the destruction of
the pa, and also that the men were to remain on the
spot till daylight, as I had made up my mind to
follow up the advantage gained. On the following
morning a Native came in with a flag of truce,
stating they would all give in and bring in Kereopa
and the murderers, as they had been half killed by a
brilliant cavalry charge which occurred just before
my arrival. I told him to go back and tell them they
must come in at once if they were serious, as I had
my force all ready to march to surround them. He
returned quickly, bringing one other Native with
him, and stated that if we retired into camp they
would follow us immediately. I gave orders to
march and had not proceeded far when you arrived
and assumed command.

I find it impossible to individualize where all
behaved so well, but I certainly consider that I
should not omit to mention the gallantry displayed
and the assistance I received from Major McDonnell,
of the Native Contingent. I enclose list of killed
and wounded, which is small in comparison to the
advantage gained.

I have, &c.,
C. STAPP,
Captain T. M., and Brevet-Major.

To Major Brassey,
Commanding Expeditionary Force, Opotiki.

Opotiki, 5th October, 1865.

SIR, - I have the honor to report that I started with
40 rank and file and four officers, Native Contingent,
at ten o'clock on the morning of the 5th October, and
crossed the Opotiki River for the purpose of finding
the cart road leading to Kereopa's pa; while so
doing we observed some cattle and horses belonging
to the Hau Haus at a village burnt about a fortnight
previously, and attempted to drive them in; while so
doing we were fired upon by the rebels, and retreated
up a rise to re-form and then advanced against the
Hau Haus, who retired to a new pa built on the
edge of a swamp, commanding the main road inland.

Seeing every appearance of strength in the new
position, I placed the few men I had, so as to prevent
any chance of the rebels' escape, we then commenced
fire and awaited reinforcements, which arrived about
one hour afterwards (Captain Kepa and remainder of
the Native Contingent and Cavalry, sixteen in number,
being the first to arrive); I then ordered Lieut. Mc-
Pheison and the Cavalry to take position on our left
flank to prevent the rebels receiving reinforcements
from their pas on the hill in our rear. Shortly
afterwards we were joined by Captain Ross's and
Captain Newland's companies of Bushrangers, and
with their aid completely invested the pa: the fire
at this time was very heavy, and several men were
wounded and one killed. The rebels from their
position before mentioned, attempted to turn our left
flank and rescue their comrades in the pa, but were
charged by the Cavalry under Lieut. McPherson,
who completely routed them, killing nine men and
bringing in one man severely wounded. I then
considered it my duty to send an orderly to you with
a note informing you of what had taken place, and
asking you to send me what men you could spare, as
I did not wish to give the rebels any chance of
escape, and also to have a sufficient number to resist
any more attempts at a rescue. Shortly afterwards
Major Stapp arrived and took command.

Among the rebels killed were several men of note
recognized by Hori Kawakuru, a man of the Ngati-
awa tribe who lately took the oath of allegiance
at this place, their names are Pauro, Timoti, and
Akuata, these were priests of the Hau Haus and had
red crosses on their breasts; also Heremita Kuhu-
paera, the latter was the man who placed the rope
round the Rev. Mr. Volkner's neck and afterwards
assisted to cut his head off.

The conduct of the Cavalry under Lieut. Mc-
Pheison was splendid, particularly that of Sergeant-
Major Kenrick and Farrier-Major Duff, nothing
could have been better timed or more effective than
the charge.

Previous to Major Stapp's arrival, three of the