E—No. 5

Thompson, 57th Regiment, who at the head of a small party dislodged the enemy from a piece of bush, from whence they had kept up a galling fire. Captains Shortt, 57th, and Wright, 70th Regts.; Captains Atkinson and Webster, of the Volunteers, and all the Officers, set an example to their men, which was nobly responded to ; and the presence of Surgeon Mackinnon, of the 57th Regt., and the other Medical Officers, very materially relieved the sufferings of the wounded who were brought into town during the afternoon, and who, with the exception of one man (Private Finn, 57th Regt.) since dead, are progressing favourably. I would wish to bring specially to the notice of the Lieutenant-General Commanding, the noble conduct of Ensign Down, 57th Regt., and Drummer Dudley Stagpoole, who under a tremendous fire from Natives not forty yards from them, brought away wounded men at the risk of their own lives ; their efforts being ably seconded by Private Antonio Rodrigues, a mounted orderly of the Taranaki Militia, who carried two men off the field on his horse, and gallopped through a party of rebel Maoris to take my orders to Captain Shortt. At the risk of troubling the Lieutenant-General with great detail, I beg to forward Captain Shortt's report, as it specially mentions the above individuals, and bears evidence to his own gallant conduct in this severe engagement. I must also beg to be allowed to mention the excellent conduct of Captain Mace, T.M., and the mounted orderlies, who accompanied the troops, and were unceasing in their efforts to assist the wounded, and to distribute ammunition. I have just received the enclosed report from Major Butler, which I forward, as it supports my testimony of the gallant conduct of all engaged. I also append a list of casualties, which, although large, is far less than I had any right to expect. The Natives are still in the bush, about two miles from the Redoubt, and are very numerous at Kaitake, but have made no further move this morning. I have, &c, H. J. Warre, Colonel Commanding Troops, Taranaki. The Assistant Military Secretary, Head Quarters.

CAPTAIN A. B. WEIGHT, 70TH REGIMENT, TO COLONEL WAEBE, C.B. St. Patrick's Redoubt, 2nd October, 1863. Sir — I have the honor to report that I observed the smoke of a large fire at the ford at Hurford's clearing yesterday evening at about 6 o'clock, and as it was necessary to send out a wood party today, I sent Mr. Mills with forty men to lay in ambush at 3 a.m., on the hill overlooking the Maori track, and thus to protect the wood party. I have the honor to enclose his report on the matter, by which you will see he was fired on. I went to his support with thirty men, and found him at Allan's Hill, and that he did not require any more men. I left him to lay an ambush on a spot overlooking the place where the shots were fired from yesterday, thinking that the Natives might come there to-day again, but he has since returned without seeing anything. About sixty Maoris or more are at present pulling down the Oakura Redoubt. I have, ifec, A. B. Wright, Captain, 70th Regt. Colonel Warre, C.8., Commanding Troops, Taranaki.

LIEUTENANT MILLS TO CAPTAIN WEIGHT. Poutoko, 2nd October, 1863. Sib,— I have the honor to report for your information, that, in accordance with instructions I received from you, I proceeded this morning at 3 a.m., strength as per margin,* to the hill overlooking the Tapuae river, with the intention of laying an ambuscade in order to cover a wood party, which was to leave the Redoubt at 8 a.m. On reaching Touet's house, I formed single rank, and moved in that order up to within forty yards of the crest of the hill, when several Maoris, who were evidently on sentry, immediately rose up and fired. I ordered my men to return the fire, which they did, and then I rushed up to the top of the hill, upon which the Natives retired into the dense bush, two or three of them appearing to be badly wounded, leaving behind them six mats, one Maori kit lull of bread, and a tomahawk. I followed them a short distance, but finding the bush too thick, and it being very dark at the time, I contented myself by holding the crest of the hill, in the event of an attack by a large number of Natives. I remained there for about a quarter of an hour, but hearing the voices of a great number of Maoris, I should say at least two hundred, I deemed it advisable to withdraw my party to some more open spot, and I accordingly moved back to Allan's Hill, where I posted my men, and waited until daybreak. I beg you will bring to the notice of the Colonel Com- * 1 Lieutenant, I Ensign, 1 Assistant-Surgeon, 1 Sergeant,! Corporal, 40 rank and file.

41

THE NATIVE INSURRECTION.