morning the sentries reported the natives in sight. After giving them some time, I left a short party in charge of the horses, which I put as much out of sight as I could, in a deep gully. My force being then told off, advanced on the settlement. On arrival on top of the hill we had previously left, we took possession of the rifle pits. I then mixed the natives and Europeans together, extended them in skirmishing order, and advanced as quietly as possible, through the bush; which they did with steadiness and discipline, on the settlement, which we found abandoned, apparently only a few hours before our arrival. We were accompanied by a man named John Gemmel, and his native wife. She was very anxious to go and see her child, and her father, Potihi; who were with the Hau Haus. I determined, after having some conversation with Messrs. Worgan and Preece, who had consulted the Chief, Tamihana, to send the Maori woman forward with a letter, a copy of which I enclose. Gemmel accompanied her, but I gave him positive instructions not to do so. We remained all day and night at Te Kiwi. I took the opportunity, in company with Messrs. Worgan and Preece, to carefully examine the various positions, wherever we believed the enemy to be. I did not consider it safe to venture as far as the Lake, to which we had advanced to within four miles (four); as the majority of the natives returned to Tukarangi, for the purpose of packing potatoes, Hapamana remained with us; also a few others.