THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
21
Volunteers, under my personal directions, guarded
and formed the trenches of the main attack, while
No. 8 A.C. (Arawas) were posted on the right.
The line was exactly 750 yards long. From No. 8 to
Major Fraser the cliff was to some extent flanked
by the fire of both, but not guarded, for the reasons
above explained.

It now came on to rain, an unfortunate circum-
stance, because while on the one hand the enemy
obtained water, on the other the formation of the
approaches progressed very slowly, the Natives not
working with the zeal they had hitherto displayed,
and my force of Europeans with the main attack
being exceedingly small. Moreover, the rain added
enormously to the difficulties of the pack-transport,
already heavily taxed, and utterly without any reserve
of animals (for the resources of the district did not
afford them) to fall back upon. As I perceived that
in consequence of the weather some delay must occur
in reducing the place, I called upon Captain Towgood,
who had volunteered his services to Mr. McLean, to
ride back, and to endeavour by every means in his
power to push on the supplies and ammunition.

This gentleman kindly undertook to do so, and, I
may here observe, throughout the siege was earnest
and energetic in his efforts to forward my wishes, and
to carry out Mr. Richmond's directions. All the 2nd
the enemy was watching for an outlet, and whenever
a few shell were thrown into the place, made a rush
somewhere along the line to try to get out. Major
Fraser repulsed several sorties, in one of which the
men came to a hand-to-hand struggle, and three of our
men were hurled over the precipice, while four of the
enemy were killed. The mud in the trenches, and
the continual rain without shelter, made the European
troops suffer greatly from fatigue, but they managed
to keep up their spirits, and turned out after their
brief intervals of sleep willingly. During the morn-
ing Major St. John, trusting to the mist, endeavoured
to approach the enemy's works almost by himself.
He might perhaps have gone actually to the outer
wall, had I not ordered him back when I learned the
melancholy fate of Captain Brown, commanding No.
7 Division, who had been shot dead in the trenches
at that moment. Being short of officers, a great deal
of duty devolved upon Major St. John besides staff
duties, and it was very fortunate that Mr. Capel, the
only other officer with the attack, turned out, though
so young, so good an officer.

The enemy employed sharpshooters all day to
watch our trenches, but our cover left him little
opening; nevertheless a few wounded or killed neces-
sarily fell to our lot.

On the 3rd I made a careful inspection of the whole
line, and satisfied myself that there was no point
especially weak. I also recalled Mr. Gascoigne from
Major Fraser and his Natives to do duty with his
division (No. 7), Mr. Capel having meanwhile been
wounded.

The Natives repulsed several sorties during the day,
and Major Fraser was attacked very determinedly, and
lost a few men. Rapata was indefatigable in inspect-
ing his line and keeping the men to their duty.

The great difficulty was the chasm between Fort
Richmond and Ngatapa: across this all our provisions
were "humped," by the men (30) left behind by me
in the last camp. The greasy state of the bush track
and the steepness of the road made it a painful duty,
still Mr. Stopford and his men carried it out without
one murmur. These men often came into camp very
late at night carrying as much as 500 rounds on their
backs, after having twi before struggled across those
slippery hills the same day, with supplies, ammunition,
or shell.

On this day also the enemy made several sorties,
and a few escaped naked. The shelling of the place
occasionally at the hours for the reliefs during the
night kept the enemy uneasy and without sleep, while
it assisted in awakening the tired portion of our men
whose duty it was to rise. Several attempts were
made during the early morning to escape by small
parties, which only resulted in the death of those who
tried to break through our lines. During the night
Captain Skeet stole up to the outer wall, and found it
apparently untenanted. It was a gallant effort, but
I heard of it too late to take advantage of it.

The shell practice was very good all day, notwith-
standing the difficulties of weighing the charges in
the rain without a tent, and was equally so at night.
We thought it likely the enemy would have tried to
break through during this night, and very little sleep
fell to the lot of any, but he made no general sortie.

On the 1st I had offered in loud language which
they heard and answered, to allow any faithful persons,
or women and children, to pass my lines in safety.
This summons was three times repeated, and each
time, though our fire slackened and ceased, we were
fired upon by the enemy before we re-opened. I
considered, therefore, that every fair opportunity had
been given, and that the enemy had accepted the
evident alternative. The weather was beginning to
clear, and the Native allies began to come out from
their little sheltering erections like butterflies, and
all the force began to take heart.

All this time, thanks to the exertions of Mr. Rich-
mond and those in rear, among whom I may especially
mention Mr. Stopford, Quartermaster Anderson, Cap-
tain Newland, Mr. George Smith, Captain Towgood,
and Mr. Bower, the supply was well kept up.

Sheep were driven up to the front, and our meat
supply was never a cause of disquietude. We made
yards at every post, and without trouble easily kept
our sheep ready for killing.

The narrative of this siege has been kept better by
Major St. John than I have described it, and I shall
send his notes to you. The mortar, doubtless, did us
some service; but it also produced a moral effect,
showing that no fastnesses can withstand the energy,
perseverance, and determination of our troops when
aroused by such horrible atrocities as had been com-
mitted by the band of murderers under Te Koti.

I have, &c.,

G. S. WHITMORE, Colonel.

Head Quarters, Turanganui,
8th January, 1869.

STR,-I have the satisfaction of informing the
Government that on the 5th instant the bush and
mountain fortress of Ngatapa—the chosen stronghold
of Koti and his band of murderers—fell into the
hands of the Colonial Forces. Previous reports bring
the account of the siege to the 4th instant. On that
day the sorties of the enemy along our whole line
became frequent, and Major Fraser, who had charge
of the rear, sent to inform me that he feared he
could not much longer prevent the escape of the
enemy, unless I caused an immediate attack. I re-
quested Rapata to send out scouts to make a more
minute examination of the position, and learned from
them that the outer ditch and wall might be taken by
a concealed movement. I despatched a party of
A.C. (No. 8., Arawa) and thirty Ngatiporou to carry
out this project, resolving, when in possession of the
outer work, to blow up the inner lines. The party
advanced under cover of the bush, the attention of
the enemy being engaged by a heavy fire from all the
trenches, and with a bound and a cheer they scaled
the edge of the cliff and took possession of the left
extremity of the work, the enemy immediately re-
treating. Meantime the right was seized by Wikiriwhi
and Arapeta with their men. This operation was
finished by dark, and by dawn our men were but a