NATIVE INSURRECTION.

E—No. 3.

No. 22

COPT OF A DESPATCH FROM GOVERNOR GORE BROWNE, C.8., TO HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE. New Plymouth, New Zealand, 20th March, 18G0. My Lord Ddke, — I have the honor to forward a Report, received from Colonel Gold, of the destruction of a Native pah, together with a letter I addressed to him previous to his undertaking the operation. ■ I have, &C, (Signed) T. Gore Browne. His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, &c, &c, &c.

No. 26. mutiu. 1. Colonel 19 March, — The Governor, 11 March. '«so.

Enclosure in No. 22. COLONEL GOLD TO THE GOVERNOR. Gore Browne Redoubt, Waitara, 19th March, 1860. Sir,— I have the honor to report, for your Excellency's information, that having been informed by Mr. Parris, Native Commissioner (copy of letter marked A, attached), that William King's party had erected another pah on the Government block of land for hostile purposes, I determined to destroy it as soon as the 24-pounder howitzers, I had ordered from New Plymouth, arrived. I accordingly on the 17th instant, at 12.20, marched with the force as per margin, leaving one Company 65th Kegi- ( raent under Captain Bulkeley of that Corps, who, though very unwell, cheerfully volunteered to protect ; our camp and stores. ' We passed the pah, which was about 1 J miles distance from this, leaving it 200 yards to our left, , and took up a position suitable for Artillery, having the Mounted Volunteers on the extreme right, to threaten the line of retreat of the enemy, and the Infantry, part extended and part in companies, to ' protect the guns. I then sent a summons to the Natives to surrender by Mr. Parris, whose services have been very valuable throughout; he speedily returned, and reported that the rebels vpould neither read nor receive it. The guns and rockets now opened upon the pah at about 750 yards. In half an hour I moved to the right to batter another face at shorter range, when the Natives opened fire upon us. I again took the same direction and fired at about 300 yards. Having made considerable havoc on this side, and a swamp debarring our further progress, I took ground to the left, when a rash but flaring move- i ment of the Volunteer horsemen occurred towards the pah. A heavy and well sustained fire was then ' opened upon us from two faces, on which occasion Mr. Sartin, of the Mounted Volunteers, and two privates, fisth Regiment, were dangerously wounded ; one of the latter, private William Corbett, I ! regret to say, is since dead. The enemy's musketry was silenced by the guns, and I continued the movement as far as the road on which we had advanced in the morning, 200 yards from the pah, where we should have commenced operations at first, had it not been necessary to make a show of turning the rebels' flank, ere I summoned them to surrender. The troops were now halted and formed in closed column, covered by the guns. A line of intrenchment was then drawn out by Lieutenant Mould, R.E., which the soldiers speedily converted into a suitable cover, guided by the intelligent non-commissioned officers of the Royal Engineers. During this operation we were within good range of a rapid anil continuous fire from rifles and musketry, and but for a kind Providence, might have sustained considerable loss. The guns were put in rear of the trenches, and it being nearly dark, we laid down on our arms, the fire from the pah continuing nearly all the night. On the morning of the 18th, as soon as there was sufficient light, the guns were advanced towards the stockade, covered by skirmishers of the 65th Regiment, who, with the Royal Engineers, soon threw »ip a trench in their front ; fire was then opened, after which another approach to about 50 yards, protected as before was made, and a breach in the pah soon made; into which the troops entered at 11.40 a.m., finding it, to their great disappointment, evacuated. The pah was strong and well built, with a fine double palisade of green wood, and curiously hollowed out and banked up with timber, fern, and earth. I have the honor to enclose a plan. After much labour it was taken to pieces and burnt. They left their flag and several tons of potatoes. We filled in our trenches and arrived at the camp by 4.30 p.m. I have, &c. (Signed) C. E. Gold, Colonel 65th Regiment, His Excellency the Governor, Commanding the Forces in New Zealand. &c, &c, &c. ■

No. 2422.

General Staff—l Colonel, 1 Lieut.-Colonel, 1 Captain, 2 Staff Sergeants. Royal Artillery—l Sub., 2 Sergeants, 17 Rank & File, 2 24-pounderhowi tiers, 112-pounder howitzer 65th Regt.—l Capt.. 6 Subs., 2 Staff, 10 Sergti., 7 Drs., 210 Rank it File. Royal Navy, " Niger"— 1 Lieutenant, 6 Seamen; 1 Rocket Tube. Mounted Volunteers—l Officer, 20 Men. Civil Aide-de-Camp to Officer Commanding the Forces—Lieutenant King, Militia. Royal Engineers—l Sub-, 9 Rank and File.

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