394
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

enclosed, having previously, in order if possible to
avert bloodshed, requested Lieutenant-Colonel
Whitmore, to surround the enemy's position with a
large force, in the hope that this might be the means
of inducing unconditional surrender without recourse
to arms.

In this expectation I was however disappointed,
and after granting a further extension of three-
quarters of an hour beyond the time stipulated in
my letter sent by Mr. Interpreter Hamlin to the
enemy, the white flag was hauled down, the Union
Jack hoisted, and the Forces advanced to the several
positions assigned to them by the Officer commanding.

The engagement which then took place is so ably
described by Lieutenant-Colonel Whitmore, that
without any addition of mine the Government can
gather the fullest information in reference to it from
that gallant officer's despatch.

I herewith enclose plans of the enemy's position at
Omaranui.

Almost at the same time that military operations
were taking place at Omaranui, Major Fraser's small
force of Military Settlers, ably seconded by Captain
Carr, of the R.A., and some Volunteers, became
engaged at Petane, with the Rangihiroa, the head
chief of Tarawera, a most turbulent and dangerous
man, who took a prominent part in promoting the
Hau Hau faith at Wairarapa and elsewhere.

This chief and eleven of his followers were killed.

The loss sustained by the enemy in both engage-
ments is 33 killed and 29 wounded, and 47 taken as
prisoners.

The casualties of the combined forces of Europeans
and Natives have been one European and two Maoris
killed, and one Officer (Captain Kennedy), eight
Europeans and four Maoris wounded.

I herewith enclose Major Fraser's despatch,
addressed to Lieutenant-Colonel Whitmore, reporting
the spirited engagement that took place under that
gallant officer's command at Petane.

I should fail in my duty to Lieutenant-Colonel
Whitmore and the officers and men of both races
under his command, if I did not represent to the
Government how strongly I feel that services so
cheerfully rendered and so ably carried out are
deserving of some marked public recognition on the
part of His Excellency's Government.

I feel assured that the result of such successes as
those of last Friday will exercise such an influence
throughout this Island as must tend to neutralize the
designs that are being matured by the Hau Hau
fanatics for the extirpation of the Europeans and
friendly Natives.

The enclosed copy of a letter from the Rev. S.
Williams shows that an attack on the town of Napier
had been planned by Panapa and Rangihiroa. It is
also stated by the prisoners that the attack was to
have been made in three days.

I have also to report that an expedition has been
started this morning to follow up Paira Toki, Anaru
Matete and others, to Titiokura, composed of seventy
Volunteers, under Lieutenant-Colonel Whitmore, the
Military Settlers under Major Fraser, and about one
hundred of the Natives of the district, with Ihaka
and Kopu's followers from the Wairoa.

The capture of Paora Toki, who is a most badly
disposed Native, would be of great importance.

The instructions to Lieutenant-Colonel Whitmore
are herewith enclosed.

I should recommend that the prisoners taken should
be sent to the Chatham Islands, and that the Govern-
ment should be prepared to meet any future emer-
gency that may arise in this district, and that a
supply of arms and ammunition should be sent
without delay in a Government steamer, to be
retained on this coast during the present unsettled
state, and while the Natives are concocting plans in
the interior for a combined movement on this
district.
I have, &c.,
DONALD MCLEAN.

Enclosure No. 1.

Napier, 13th October, 1866.

SIR,-I have the honor to inform your Honor that
in conformity with the arrangements made with you
on the evening of the 11th instant, I caused the
Napier Militia and Volunteers, number as per margin*
to be paraded about midnight, and to march by
various routes to the vicinity of the Omaranui Pa.
Although the time was scarcely more than requisite
to traverse the distance, all the bodies placed under
my command, whether European or Native, were at
the posts I assigned to them as day broke. I had
erected a flagstaff during the night opposite the pa
on which at daylight I hoisted a white flag. I then
sent Mr. Hamlin, my interpreter, across the Tatae-
kuri to the pa, which is, as you are aware, situated on
its banks, with the letter you had prepared to serve
as an ultimatum. For some time the Natives took
no notice of Mr. Hamlin, but ultimately they received
his letter, and he returned to me. By your letter
the Hau Haus were promised that they should not
be molested for one hour, after which they would be
attacked if they did not lay down their arms. In
reply they told Mr. Hamlin they thought the time
rather short, but did not lead him to suppose that if
it was prolonged it might influence their conduct.
By this time it was six o'clock a.m., and you had
reached the field, and had learned the result of the
letter; you then informed me that you did not wish
to disturb any part of our plans, but that you
trusted I would endeavour to carry out the service
with as little bloodshed as possible. I therefore
waited for three-quarters of an hour beyond the
time at first granted, and the force advanced closer
to the position.

At seven o'clock, two hours after I had sent the
letter, I sent Mr. Hamlin once more forward, with a
small white flag on a pole, to inform the Hau Haus
that I would wait no longer. They replied that there
was no reason to do so as they meant to fight. By
this time the force very nearly surrounded the pa.
The Cavalry Volunteers, enrolled the previous evening,
had been despatched to seize the canoes at Park's
Island, believed to have been intended to enable
the Hau Haus to escape, or to cross the harbour
to attack Napier. Captain Gordon was thus pre-
vented from joining me at Omaranui till a later
period and to fill the place intended for the Cavalry.
I was obliged to avail myself of the detachment of
No. 3 Company which Captain Rhodes had with so
much zeal brought up from Clive and Havelock on
horseback. I also was obliged to make a further
slight change of plan, and posted Captain Buchanan's
Company of Rifle Volunteers and Mr. Brown's
section of Militia about 500 yards up stream of the

* Europeans-Strength, armed men:---
No. 1, Militia
No. 2
No. 3
No. 4
Napier Volunteers
Cavalry Volunteers
Officers. N. C. O. R. and F.
3
3
2
2
3
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
2
2
1
2
2
1
38
38
17
44
43
24

---
14
10
204
Deduct guards canoes
13
"
"
ammunition
12
---
14
10
191
---
14
10
179

Natives-Nearly 200, of whom 70 were on the hills.