THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
345

Hau Haus were killed by our fire, and the behaviour
of the whole force was splendid.
I have, &c.,
THOMAS MCDONNELL,
Brevet-Major,
Commanding Native Contingent.

To Major Brassey,
Commanding Expeditionary Force, Opotiki.

Return of the actual strength of Expeditionary Force
engaged at Opotiki, 5th October, 1865.
Infantry-Major commanding, 1; Captains, 2; Subal-
terns, 5; Sergeants, 11; Rank and File, 142.
Cavalry-Subaltern, 1; Sergeants, 2; Rank and
File, 20; total Europeans, 184.
Maori Contingent-Major commanding, 1; Captains,
2; Subalterns, 7; Sergeants, 10; Rank and File,
100; total, 120.
Total of all ranks, 304.
C. STAPP,
Captain T. M., and Brevet-Major.

Return of killed and wounded of the Expeditionary
Force engaged at Opotiki, 5th October, 1865.
Killed-Private Thomas Melville Brown; Private
Charles Ratsey; Private Patrick Parsons.
Wounded-Lieut. Peti, slightly; Provost-Sergeant
William Constable, right arm, severely; Sergt.
Ulick Bourke, right leg, severely; Corporal W.
Henry Harris, right arm, severely; Private
Henry Williams, left side, slightly; Private
James McEvoy, head, severely; Private William
Thompson, right arm, severely; Trooper John
Leonard, left heel, slightly; Private Heri, right
thigh, severely.
C. STAPP,
Captain T. M., and Brevet-Major.

Waiapu, 17th October, 1865.
SIR,-I have the honor to report, for the informa-
tion of the Hon. the Minister for Colonial Defence,
the evacuation of Pukemaire by the rebels, and their
subsequent surrender, to the number of 205 fighting
men and about 300 women and children, at Hick's
Bay. I have the honor now to state the operations
in detail which have effected the surrender.

On Tuesday morning, the 3rd October, before day-
break, I marched towards Pukemaire with all the
available force at my disposal, purposing to take up
certain positions I had previously chosen in the
vicinity of the rebel pa, and to hold them until rein-
forced by Major Brassey's men from Opotiki. I was
joined by the Tuporoa Natives soon after our arrival
at the pa, and we opened fire upon the enemy,-re-
turned by them with vigor. We succeeded in tear-
ing down part of a flanking angle, and in occupying
it for a short time; but, unfortunately, just as success
seemed certain, as we were progressing in our attack
far more favorably than I had dared to hope, rain
came down in torrents. The ardour of our Native
allies was damped, our ammunition ran short, the
baggage not having come up as ordered, although an
officer was detailed to see it forwarded, with special
instructions concerning the ammunition, and I was
obliged to withdraw my force about three p.m. Our
loss was-Europeans, 1, killed and 3 wounded; that
of the enemy, 8 killed. I beg to state that I fully
acquit the officer in charge of the baggage of any
neglect of duty, although I think he might have
exercised more discretion, as he could easily have
forwarded on ammunition, on horses.

We returned therefore to this pa, and I deter-
mined to take the place by "sap." I accordingly
had gabions, tamping tools, &c., constructed; and as
soon as the rain ceased, and the rivers became forda-
ble, so that our Native allies could join us, concerted
plans for making another attack. I accordingly
dispatched Capt. Westrup, with his men, from
camp, on Sunday evening, with instructions to take
up a position near Pukemaire, remain hid all night,
and move up there the first thing in the morning.
He did so, and was there joined, as proposed, by the
Tuporoas under Te Hotine, when, to his surprise and
theirs, the pa was found empty. Information was
immediately sent to me of the fact, and I at once
proceeded thither, having remained behind with the
remainder of the men and our own Maoris, to see the
baggage and sapping tools carried up. The accom-
panying sketch of the pa will give Major Atkinson
some idea of the enormous strength of the pa, and of
its capabilites for defence. I have destroyed it as
far as possible, and intend doing so entirely at once.
Finding the pa empty, I, of course, was very anxious
to know where the rebels had gone. Our allies ac-
cordingly went into the bush after them, and soon
succeeded in tracking their route. I immediately
determined on following them up, and arranged the
following plans. I am happy to say they were sig-
nally successful. The Tuporoas, with Lieut. Biggs,
Cornet Tuke, and the detail, (30 men, Military Settlers
and Volunteers,) to start at daylight, go overland, or
rather inland, and reach the coast at a place called
the Kawa Kawa, while I, with our Maoris, and
about 60 men under Capt. Westrup and Ensign
Ross, should go coastwise to cut them off. I beg
to refer you to Lieut. Biggs' report for a detailed
account of the difficulties he encountered and sur-
mounted both in the march and in his subsequent
operations, and I am sure I need say nothing further
in his praise, and that of the force under his com-
mand, than that they did so. As I will have occasion
to refer to Lieut. Biggs' services further on, I will
now proceed to detail the movements of the force
under my command.

I was obliged to delay my march from camp until
10.30 a.m. as Capt. Westrup's men were very much
fatigued from having had no sleep on Sunday night,
and having been employed a good deal on Monday in
destroying the pa, so that I could not get further
than a place on the coast, about six miles from the
Kawa Kawa, called Horoera, it being impossible, on
account of the tide, to reach the Kawa Kawa.

I started before daybreak on Wednesday morning
from Horoera, and on reaching Kawa Kawa found a
short note from Lieut. Biggs, telling me of his move-
ments, and that the enemy were supposed to have
gone into a pa about six miles off, whither he was
pursuing them. I also found from two women, whom
Lieut. Biggs had taken prisoners, that the Ngati-
poro's were willing to surrender, and I accordingly
sent him word to say, that if they would surrender
unconditionally, to accept such a surrender; but if
not, that I would join him at once, and take the pa.
You will see by Lieut. Biggs' report that their sur-
render was complete and unconditional. As soon as
I heard that such had been the termination of our
little campaign here, I joined Lieut. Biggs at the pa,
and had all the force marched from there to the
Kawa Kawa, where we remained several days. Our
allies held a great "runanga," and were loud in their
praises of their "pakeha friends." Among those
present was a chief called Te Aopururangi, a Hau
Hau, whose pa is, I believe, on the coast between
Waiapu and Opotiki. His pa is named Raukokori.
I told this chief, through the interpreter, Mr. Hamlin,
at the request of all the chiefs of our party, that he
must give up his religion, guns, &c., and swear alle-
giance by the first of November, and he promised to
do so. I trust the Government will think I have
acted right in this matter.

I have very little further to tell you, except that