E.—No. 3 .

proceeded to Captain* Shortt's assistance—the rebels were already driven back, and it only remained tor Major Butler to give directions to collect the killed and wounded, thirty-four (34) of whom, scattered at different distances, and one within fifteen yards of the Eedoubt, were brought in, and nearly double that number, as is stated, were wounded, and carried away by their comrades. ()n reaching Sentry Hill 1_ had much satisfaction in witnessing the result of this most successful engagement, in which we had only one man wounded ;J and as I had taken out the friendly chief Mahau and one or two other influential natives, I was able through Mr. Parris to identify several of the principal chiefs killed, among whom, by the enclosed Report, the Lieut.-General will be glad to observe the names of Parengi Kingi, Manaihi, and some of the most troublesome and warlike of the neighbouring tribes. On Captain Bhortt hearing the Maoris in the adjoining bush, he, without the slightest noise or evidence of his watchfulness, fell iv the men of his det_nment at their appointed stations, and made them sit down on the banquette, with strict orders not to show themselves or to fire until they received the order to do so. The Maoris (reported by the prisoners as over 300 in number) advanced to within 300 yards of the Eedoubt. They hesitated, evidently startled by the unexpected silence, then approached a little nearer, and some more bold than the others rushed forward. Captain Shortt called upon his men to stand to tlieir arms, and a succession of volleys, with an occasional shell from the 4 i-inch cohorns by which the Eedoubt was defended, stopped tho Maoris in their advance : they hesitated, broke, and fled, leaving, as above stated, upwards of thirty killed and several wounded ; while numbers were seen to fall, and to be dragged oft'by their comrades. Major Butler, with the reinforcement from Mahoetahi, followed up the pursuit, but the bush offered facilities of escape, and the weakness of his force prevented his attempting to gain any further advantage. It was too late to do so upon the arrival of 200 men from town (nine miles distant) ; and I then determined that it would be better to await the reinforcements for which we have so anxiously looked than to attack an enemy whose strength was unknown,and who had reached the cover of his entrenched position at Manutahi. In this decision Major Butlers and Atkinson cordially coincided, although I fear it must have greatly disappointed the eager but small force under my command, who, flushed with the morning's success, would have doubtless driven the enemy from both the positions at Mataitawa and Manutahi, but I should have been obliged immediately to withdraw, as I have neither men to garrison nor transport to supply any new outposts. _ t 1 need scarcely take the liberty of recommending to the Lieut.-General's favourable consideration the excellent conduct of Capain Shortt, commanding the detachment, and of Lieut. Waller, 57th Eegiment, (in the absence of Ensign Down on temporary leave) the only two officers in the Eedoubt. Captain Shortt the Lieut.-General will kindly recollect recommending for the Victoria Cross for his gallant conduct in storming the enemy's position ou the Katikara river on the 4th June, 18G3 ; and Lieut. "W. Waller was brought to the Lieut.-Geueral's notice in May last, when having tallen alone into a native ambuscade after his horse was shot, he beat off seven natives, and with his revolver wounded Hori, who was afterwards taken prisoner and tried. To the conduct of the above officers, and to the steadiness aud strict attention to orders (as reported to me by Captain Shortt) of the non-commissioned officers and men in tho Eedoubt, I must attribute the excellent result of this engagement, which has entirely restored the confidence for a moment shaken by the unfortunate disaster at Ahu-ahu. Our vengeance has been at least five-fold ; and to show how we appreciate the desperate gallantry of the natives, I sent to offer to return to them tlieir dead, but they had not the courage to send for them, and they were buried near the Eedoubt. Major Butler and the officers and men placed in support at Mahoetahi promptly responded to Captain Shortt's application for assistance, but too late to render any effectual aid. The men of the 57th Eegiment under Captains Stewart and Sehomberg, and the Taranaki Bifle Volunteers aud Militia under Major Atkinson from Town, were equally zealous in inarching to the scene of action. Assistant-Surgeons Tomlinson (Staff) and Spence (T.M.) were in attendance on the wounded prisoners, two of whom died shortly after removal to Mahoetahi, the other, Hori Piriri (brother of Mancihi, the murderer of Mr. Pord aud other settlers), a native of this town, is now in hospital, severely wounded in three places. He awaits, with the other prisoners now in gaol, the orders of the Government as to their disposal. I have, &c, H. J. "U' .KE, Colonel Commanding Troops in Taranaki. The Deputy-Quarter-Master-General, Head Quarters. 3rd May, 1864. P.S.—I have since writing the above report ascertained that although ,only 300 rebel natives advanced to the attack of the Eedoubt, they had a support of 300 in the adjoining bush on the Waiongana river, and that about 200 were left at Manutahi ready as a reserve in case we should Lave attacked them, as they expected, on the open ground, and driven them back upon their entrenched works. 11. ,T. Wabbe, Colonel. X Drummer D. Hurley, 57th Eogimeut.

73

THE NATIVE INSURRECTION.