E.—No. 5,

When within about half-a-mile of the village I was attacked in my rear by a body of Maoris. I ordered my men to face about and charge them. We drove them down a gully towards the swamp into the bush on the right of Pokeno village, I followed them for about half-a-mile along the track towards Paparoa. Hearing yells in the direction of the village, I returned along the track to the open ground where I was first fired on. On arriving there I was received with a volley from the enemy, who were extended across the whole of the clearing then between me and the village, and also from the bush on the right. I cannot too highly praise the steady conduct of the men at this moment, the enemy appearing in great force. I ordered the men to remain in skirmishing order, and to keep up a steady fire, taking advantage of any cover the ground afforded. From the commotion I occasionally perceived, I conclude that our fire was effectual, and that the Maoris were removing their wounded. I remained in the position I had taken up until reinforced by Captain the Honorable F. Le P. Trench, 40th Regiment, who then assumed the command, and by his order I advanced with the skirmishers. I have, <_~ Charlton Dawson, Ensign 2nd Battalion, 18th Royal Irish. The Assistant Military Secretary, Head Quarters.

CAPTAIN TRENCH TO THE ASSISTANT MILITARY SECBETAEY. Queen's Redoubt, 4th September, 1863. Sir — I have the honor to report for the information of the Lieutenant-General Commanding, that at about half-past 7 o'clock, on the morning of the 2nd, I was ordered to march the inlying picquet to the support of the patrol at Pokeno village ; when within about half-a-mile from the village I found the patrol under the command of Ensign Dawson, 2nd Battalion, 18th Regiment, engaged with a body of Maories who, at that time, occupied the bush on the right of the village and the clearing on the side of it, which is covered with fallen timber. I immediately reinforced the skirmishers who advanced, driving the Maories from the clearing and out of the village into the bush. After scouring the bush on the right of the village, the enemy having made their retreat in that direction, and deeming that further pursuit was useless, I returned to the Queen's Redoubt; in the meantime the force under my command had been augmented by the arrival of the escort under the command of Captain Noblett, 2nd Battalion, 18th. lam happy to be able to state that there were no casualties on our side, and that both officers and men behaved with the greatest steadiness. lam unable to compute the loss on the part of the Maories. Two flint guns and some ammunition fell into our hands. I beg to bring to the notice of the Lieutenant-General Commanding, the services of Ensign Spiller, 65th Regiment, Ensign Gomez, 40th Regiment, Lieutenant Croft, 2nd Battalion, 18th Regiment, who accompanied the inlying picquet, and more especially the conduct of Ensign Dawson, 2nd Battalion, 18th, who had to contend against a force of Maories far superior in numbers to the patrol under his command. I have, <fee, F. L. P. Trench, Captain 40th Regiment. The Assistant Military Secretary, Head Quarters.

No. 24. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL CAMEEON, C.8., TO GOVEENOE SIE GEOEGE GEEY, K.CB. Head Quarters, Queen's Redoubt, September 11th, 1863. Sir,— With reference to my letter of the 9th instant, relative to the engagement which took place in the bush near Cameron, between a party of the 65th Regiment under the command of Captain Swift, and a body of rebel natives, on the 7th instant, I have now the honour to forward the Report of Color Sergeant McKenna, which has been transmitted to me by Colonel Wyatt, commanding 65th Regiment, a copy of whose letter I enclose. This interesting Report fully bears out the opinion I expressed in the letter alluded to above, of the conduct of the officers and men of this detachment. It is difficult to conceive a more trying position than that in which this detachment was placed, when, deprived of both its officers, it found itself in the midst of a dense bush, surrounded on all sides by a savage enemy, and too distant from the nearest post to entertain any hope of support. The courage, intelligence, and self-reliance for which the soldiers of the 65th Regiment are so distinguished, were never more conspicuously displayed than on this critical occasion. Fortunately,

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THE NATIVE INSURRECTION.