Camp, New Zealand, 12th July, 1845.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 49, 13 September 1845, Page 4

Camp, New Zealand, 12th July, 1845.

You will be glad to hear that we have taken Heki's pa, and without losing another man. On Thursday, the day before yesterday, we found a way of getting our large guns to the top of the hill not far distant from the pa, and firing down on them into the deep holes they had made in the ground to shelter themselves, a number of them were destroyed, and in the night, which was dark, they evacuated the pla<e, and had gone away two hours before we knew of it, and they were then too far off to follow them in a country where there is nothing but continual wood and no roads. Our troubles are now I think quite over, and we go back to Waimate on Monday next, the 14th, where we shall remain ior some days, and we expect that Governor Fitzroy will join us there, to arrange about dividing the country that has been taken amongst the native chiefs that have been faithful to us. We have taken four pieces of cannon. We have.got our friend Heki's colours, which we shall take back to Sydney. Our poor wounded men and officers are doing very well, all except Mr. Beatty, and it is very doubtful whether be will recover or not. Major Macpherson has left not n:any days ago, and is now comfortable on boara ship. His wound was severe, but no danger whatever.

While I have been writing this letter, a report arrived that poor Mr. Beatty is dead. He and Mr. O'Reilly had been carried down to that they might be more comfortably taken care of than they would be in camp, and this poor young man died there last night.

July 14th. This morning we all returned to Waimate, the principal missionary station, and I am now .■writing in a comfortable cottage, and the soldiprs -are also all well housed and comfortable. It is understood that a small detachment of troops will be sent flown in the British Sovereign, which may shortly be expected, and also a number of bullocks and a supply of ammunition ; but we believe it is not intended to add materially to the force now in New Zealand. The native chiefs Waka and Noble having joined their forces against Heki, will most probably capture him without British assistance. It appears to be the prevailing idea among the British, that there were several Europeans in the pa directing the operations of Kawaiti and his party.

Copy. Waimate, July 16, 1845. Sir,— l have the honour to acquaint your Excellency that the pa belonging to Haratooe, about six miles fiom this place, was totally destroyed by the troops under my command this merning. I marched from hence before daylight with two hundred rank and file, two gun 3, and a proportion of the volunteer pioneers, and artillery men; and on our aniving near the pa, the enemy evacuated it, and retired through a very thick wood where pursuit was out of the question. The enemy had set fire to a bridge over a difficult river within half a mile of the place, which we found burning. I have, &c, (Signed) H. DESPARD. His Excellency Governor Fitzroy, &c, &c, &c.

A private letter fully bears out the remarks respecting the strength of the pa, giving the following description of it : —

Waimate, July 16. We had the opportunity afforded us of observing how well skilled these savages are in the science of defence : their stronghold was a perfect warren — houses under ground, a triple row of stout fencing, strong enough to resist sixpound shots, two of which were found sticking in one of them; the space between the fences deeply trenched, affording shelter to the defenders, and also the means of firing low and with correct aim. Another pa near this place was destroyed by the light companies of both regiments, accompanied by forty of the 96th and the friendly natives. No lives were lost on either side : a horse fell into our hands, and an old woman, and abundance of potatoes. We understand that about two hundred soldiers are to be sent to New Zealand immediately. The detachments of the 58th now at Bathurst and Moreton Bay, will be called in, and their places supplied by detachments ot the 99th. ,