Upper Stockade, Wanganui, 20th May, 1847.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 193, 5 June 1847, Page 2

Upper Stockade, Wanganui, 20th May, 1847.

Sir, — f have" the honor to report that yesterday morning (19th May), between 11 and 12 o'clock, large bodies of Natives were observed approaching the Town in different directions ; some of the ai med Settlers, about 20, kept a portion in cherk for a shcrt time, but were obliged to retire on the Town. The enemy had possession of all the hills, and several clay houses about the outskirts of the Town, which afforded them strong natural breastworks, and kept up a fire for 5 hours at the Upper Stockade, but principally on the Town Stockade, under command of Captain Hardy, 58th Regiment, and the Gun-boat under Lieutenant Holmes, R. N.. H. M. S. Calliope, which he had moved down the river to Sank the Town Stockade ; several shot and shell with musketry were fired from the Upper and Town Stockades and Gun-boat, without being able to dislodge them. From the numerous detached parties of the enemy, they being about 300 strong, with large parties in reserve., I was utterly unable to send a sufficient number of men to drive them out, and hold my three Stockades ; some were so daring as to come and fire within 30 yards of our guns and Stockade. Under cover of darkness I determined to take the two clay houses, which I considered the enemy were still in possession of: I therefore ordered 1 20 men, with a proportion of non-commissioned officer.* from the three Stockades, and forty armed Settlers, to be divided into two divisions, one under command of Captain Hardy, with Ensign Barker, 58th Regt., to attack the clay house belonging to Captain Campbell, the other party, commanded by Lieuteuant Balneavis, with Lieutenant Pedder, 58th Regt., to take possession of Mr. Churton's house, and a clay one adjoining, and the Sand-hills ; the troops being covered by the fire from the Gun-boat. On the parties reaching the houses (which I ordered to be burnt) I regret to say it was found the enemy had decamped in the night with plunder. I should report the troops proceeded to their work half an hour before daylight. The friendly Natives reported this morning the enemy's loss to be, two chiefs killed (one supposed to be Maketu, the chief "lately pardoned), and ten wounded. lam happy to say we had no casualty on our side.

I have to thank Captain Hardy, 58th Regiment (who in his Report to me speaks m hiffh terms of the assistance received by him from Ensign Middleton, 58th Regiment), for the support and advice he has at all times rendered me. In fact, the assistance I have received from Lieutenant Page, Acting Adjutant, Lieutenant Balneavis, Acting Assistant Engineer, to D. A. C. General Power, for his exertions in securing supplies, and every officer of different services and stockades, has afforded me the greatest satisfaction; nor can I omit to mention the exemplary and good conduct of the non-commissioned officers and men of the Force under my command. To Lieutenant Holmes I am exceedingly obliged, the efficiency of the Gun-boat under his command (which was exposed to the fire of the enemy the whole of the day), his alertness with her at all times, and cordial co-opera-tion, I am only too happy to bear testimony to. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, J. H. Laye, Captain 58th Regt., Commanding Force at Wanganui. My sincere thanks are also due to Dr. Reesi for the praiseworthy and active manner he fortified his house, which has been full of the inhabitants every day and night ; also to Dr. Wilson, who most kindly volunteered his professional services to Captain Hardy's Detachment, Town Stockade. J. H. L. Lieutenant- Colonel M'Cleverty, Commanding Troops, &c, . &c, &c. Wellington.