E.—No. 3 .

At 7 a.m. the next morning (Wednesday, the 20th,) I removed the whole of my force about a mile up the coast. I hero again halted, and leaving the baggage carts, &c, with one gun and 150 men, under the command of Captain A. Stewart, 57th Eegiment, moved the remainder of my force up a cross road toward the ranges, where I had been informed I should find considerable native cultivations. About a mile up this road wo came within sight of the Paiakainahoo Pah, across the river to our right. I fired a few shell into it, but the place having every appearance of being unoccupied, proceeded onward toward the bush. As we approached it wo perceived from a mound on our left a small pa (" Kopua ") situated in a clearing within the bush. I advanced vei'y carefully, throwing out flankguards to my right and left, and almost immediately on entering the bush, a rather heavy fire waa opened upon'my party from their front, and one of my men (Private Dowling, 57th), was wounded. The fire was sharply returned by the rifles of my men, and the Armstrong gun, which completely silenced that of the enemy, but not having any knowledge of the locality, or of the number and position of the rebels, I did not deem it advisable to push further into the bash, but contented myself with destroying a quantity of cultivations and burning some whares, and than returned to the place where I had left mv main body, having destroyed the Paiakamahoe pah and burned a considerable number of whares in it on our way back. TJie mounted men brought in six (6) more horses on this day, making a total of 17 taken from the rebels. Immediately on joining the main body, I marched the whole back to Tataraimaka Eedoubt, which I reached about -1 p.m., and remained there the night. The next morning (Thursday, 21st,) about halfpast 8 a.m., I paraded the whole of my force, and moved to Hauranga, where I left the carts under a guard of 100 men with one gun, and took the remainder up to Alni-ahu, as I had seen from the Soutii that there was a clearing high up on the ranges, which had not yet been explored. After posting strong picquets round the bottom of the spur, I sent Major Atkinson with 100 Bushrangers, supported by parties of 57th and Militia, to the top of the range, where they found cultivations and several whares, which they destroyed. On their way up they found in a swamp the mutilated remains of Private Gallagher, of the Taranaki Militia, who was reported missing on the 6th instant, after the attack on Captain Lloyd's party. After destroying several more small cultivations, I returned with the whole of my force, reaching Oakura about 4.30 p.m. In concluding my report I must beg to mention how materially I was aided in carrying out your orders by the steadiness and ready obedience of the whole force under my command. I would also observe that Lieutenant Clarke, 57th Eegiment, 1).-A.-Qr.-Master-General, in carrying out tho duties of his department, Mr. Parris, Assistant Native Secretary, and Ensign Arthur Barley, Taranaki Miliatia, who accompanied me as guide, afforded me every assistance. I have, &c, Colonel Warre, C.8., H. Butleb, Commanding Troops, Taranaki. Major Commanding 57th Eegt.

NOMINAL RETURN OF KILLED AND WOUNDED OF THE TROOPS AT KOPUA, ON 20TH APRIL, 1864.

Enclosure 2 in No. 43. COLONEL WAKBE TO TIIE DEPUTY QUAETEI.MASTEK-GEXEU.I_L. Sin,— New Plymouth, Ist May, 1864. T have the honor to report for the information of the Lieut-G-onl. commanding, that at an early hour yesterday morning I received information by Telegraph from Sentry Hill that the rebel Maoris were in unusual numbers dancing their war dance within a short distance of the Eedoubt, and shortly after another telegram informed me that they had, with a courage proved by their severe loss. boldly advanced to the attack. I immediately ordered reinforcements* from town, and proceeded towards the scene of action. On reaching Mahoetahi, I was informed by Major Butler, commanding the outposts, that the attack had been most successfully repulsed by Captain Shortt and by the small garrison at Sentry Hill under his command ; and that although Major Butler with areinforeementf from theEegular and Militia Forces at Mahoetahi, and one 12-lb. howitzer, had immediately * 100 of 57th Regiment, 100 Taranaki Rifle Volunteers. t 1 12-lb. howitzer, 25 of 57th Regiment, 80 of Militia. LieHt. Lareom, R.A., Ensign Douglas, C7th, Captain Brassy, T.M.

72

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO

Regtl. No. Yea' rs of Nature of Injury. ! Result. Corps. Rank and Name. __■' so c o .r. 3 GO Remarks. 7th Regt. 2757 Private John Dowling.! 28 10 Gunshot wound of left shoulder. (With Fly-] ing Column under] Major Butler, 57th Regt, Kopua, Tara-. aki.) I Severe. Ball extracted H. J. AVARRE, Col., Commanding Troops, Taranaki. J. E. Y OUNG, >taff Surgeon