E.—No. 3 .

Sub-Enclosure 1 in No. 35. MAJOR BUTLEE TO COLOXEL WAEEE. New Plymouth, New Zealand, 12th March, 1864. Sic — I have the honor to report that, in compliance with your instructions, I proceeded to Oakura at about 11J a.m. yesterday, and taking a force from that Eedoubt (strength as per margin*) marched up the Wairau Eoads towards Kaitake, for the purpose of ascertaining, as far as possible, the number of natives occupying tlie pahs, and the strength and nature of the position, having previously left thirty men of the Melbourne Volunteers, under Lieut. Jackson, with Ensign Duncan, 57th Eegiment, at the extremity of the road to guard the approach from tlie South. I advanced to within about eight hundred yards of the upper palisading, upon which I opened fire from the 241b. howitzer, extending Captain Lloyd's company of the 57th Eegiment on both flanks, and in front of the gun, with instructions to keep down as much as possible the fire of the enemy, which was now considerable, both from the rifle-pits on the spur to my loft front, and the gully connecting the pits with the lower palisading. The fire from the former became so hot that I desired Lieut. Lareom, E.A., to throw a shell into them, which he did with great precision, and silenced the fire from this part for some time. As it appeared to me at this time that there were altogether not many rebels in the place, I advanced the gun about one hundred and fifty yards, still keeping out skirmishers in front and on the flanks, where they did good service in keeping down the fire of the enemy. I now had the gun between three hundred and four hundred yards from the lower palisading, but out of sight of it, a low ridge intervening, to the top of which I sent a party of skirmishers, whose fire from here, besides keeping down that of the enemy from the lower palisading, enfiladed the rifle-pits and gully on my left. Shortly after I had placed my men in this position the natives appeared to be in much greater force than I had anticipated, and opened a very heavy cross fire from three different directions. I should think that at this time there could not have been less than two hundred natives in the place. Einding myself thus opposed to an enemy in a strongly entrenched position, with a force in number treble that of my own, I thought it prudent to retire. It is impossible to estimate tho loss on the enemy's side, as they remained the whole time under cover; but I feel confident they must have suffered considerably. I regret to state that I lost one man (57th Eegiment) killed, and Lieut. Lareom, E.A., and five men (57th) wounded. I cannot conclude my report with bringing to your notice the extremely gallant and steady conduct of the whole of the small force under my command. I would more especially wish to mention Captain Lloyd and Lieutenant Cox, 57th Eegiment, and Lieut. Lareom, Eoyal Artillery. The latter officer, even after he was wounded, refused to be taken to the rear, but remained by his gun until the whole force retired. Staff" Assistant-Surgeon Jones was on the ground the whole time, and attended the wounded as they fell. The Mounted Volunteers who accompanied me behaved throughout with their usual conspicuous courage and coolness.. Of these I would beg to name Captain E. Mace (T.M.) and Antonio Eodrigues, the latter of whom again distinguished himself by conveying wounded men to the rear under a heavy fire. I have, &c, H. Butler, Major, Commanding 57th Eegiment. Colonel IT. "Warre, Commanding Troops, Taranaki. Sub-Enclosure 2 in No. 35. G-aeeison Orders. New Plymouth, 12th March, 1864. Colonel "Warre desires to record his high appreciation of the gallant conduct of the whole of the small force shown in the margin.f under the command of Major Butler, 57th Eegiment, in reconnoitring the rebel position at Kaitake yesterday. The object intended was fully accomplished —the strength of the rebel position and the number occupying it ascertained ; although, unhappily, with tho loss of one brave man killed, and Lieut. Lareom, E.A., and 5 men 57th Eegiment wounded. To Major Butler; to Captain Lloyd and the Officers of the 57th Eegiment; to Lieut. Lareom, Eoyal Artillery ; to Lieutenant Eerguson, E.E.; and to Captain Mace, Mounted Corps, the Colonel's best *Roya*" Artillery—Lieut. Lareom, 1 Sergeant, and 5 Rank and File. 57th Regiment—Captain Lloyd, Lieut. Cox, Ensign Pieot, 4 Sergeants, 84 Bank and File. Mounted Corps—Captain Mace, 5 Rank and File. + Royal Artillery.—l Subaltern, 1 Sergeant, 5 Rank and File. Eoyal Engineers. —1 Subaltern. 57th Regiment.—l Captain, 2 Subalterns, 4 Sergeants, 88 Bank audFile. Mounted Corps.—l Captain, 5 Rank and File. Militia, under Ensign _ mean. 57th Regiment, covering party on right flank.—l Subaltern, 1 Sergeant, |30 Rank and File. Total.—2 Captains, 5 Subalterns, 6 Sergeants, 128 Hank and File.

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THE NATIVE INSURRECTION