E.—No. 3 .

Enclosure 1 in No. 40. MAJOR COLTILLE TO THE ASSISTANT MILITABY SECEETABT. Fort Maketu, Apri 21st, 1864. Sib, —I have the honour to report] to you an engagement with the East Coast Natives at Waihi, two miles from the Fort at Maketu, in which about 110 men of the force under my command were engaged. Vn ambuscade was laid near the for vat Waihi this morning; and at least 50 rebels opened fire on Ensign Way, 3rd "Waikato Regiment; Private Key, 43rd Light Infantry, and myself, when we were crossing the river at 10 a.m. in a canoe. The rebels were certainly not above fifty yards distant at the time, and I consider our escape as most providential and wonderful. They pursued us across the ford, on our jumping out of the canoe into the water, and followed us yelling and firing till we got into the bush and escaped. On arrival at the Fort, I immediately ordered out a party of 50 men of the 43rd Light Infantry and 3rd Waikato ltegiment, under command of Captain Smith, 43rd Light Infantry, to drive the enemy across the ford. They found ou arrival that the enemy had recrossed the river, and had established themselves about 400 yards distant on that side, and kept up a constant fire from the sandhills and bush around, which we returned with interest. Finding the enemy mustering strong, I sent for a further reinforcement of 30 men, under the command of Captain Harris, 43rd Light Infantry, and Ensign Wav, 3rd Waikato. Major Drummond Hay and Captain MacDonnell also arrived with the Forest Rangers (14 men) ; and a number of the friendly Arawa Tribe also joined. I requested Major Hay to cross the river with his Rangers and all the Native allies. This he did; but as very few of the Natives would follow him, he was reluctantly compelled to retire after remaining engaged for some time. My orders are so very stringent not to go far from the settlement of Maketu, that I was compelled to content myself with lining the side of the river, and firing at 400 yards and more at the rebels The East Coast Natives, apparently 300 strong, are now entrenching themselves at the position they occupied to-day, and I hear they are receiving further reinforcements. I have, therefore, requested Major Hay to attack them across the river in the morning, if he can induce the Native allies to follow him. At dusk I withdrew my men and returned to the Fort, leaving a strong party of Natives to protect the village of Waihi, and give the alarm in the event of the rebels coming on. My best thanks are due to Captains Smith and Honorable A. E. Harris, 43rd Light Infantry, for the able manner they led their Companies into action. Also to Ensign Way, commanding the detachment of the 3rd Waikato. I have the honour to enclos a the list of wounded, which 1 am glad to say is but small, considering we were under fire between six and seven hours. Besides the enclosed, Captain MacDonnell, of the Forsest Rangers, was slightly wounded in the hand. I consider I am strong enough to hold the settlement provided more ammunition is sent me as soon as possible, as 1 expect to be engaged again to-morrow. From the nature of the country and from our being unable to cross the river, it is impossible to estimate the loss of the enemy. They were, however, seen carrying off killed or wounded men on several occasions during the day. I have, &c, The Assistant Military Secretary, J. M. Colville, Head Quarters. Major 43rd L. 1., Commanding at Maketu.

DETACHMENT HOSPITAL, MAKETU. RETURN of Killed and Wounded of the above Detachment on the 21st April, 1864.

EEOM LIEUTENANT-GENERAL CAMERON TO HIS EXCELLENCY SIB GEOBGE GREY, K.C.B. Head Quarters, Tauranga, May 5, 1864. Sib, —It having been decided by your Excellency and myself, in consequence of information received from Colonel Greer, commanding at Tauranga, that reinforcements should be sent to that Station, detachments were embarked without delay in H.M. Ships ' Esk ' and ' Falcon,' placed at my disposal by Commodore Sir "William Wiseman, and by the 26th April were all landed at the Mission Station of Tauranga, to which place I had transferred my Head Quarters on the 21st April. On the 27th -April I moved the 68th Regiment, under Colonel Greer, and a mixed detachment of 170 men under Major Ryan, 70th Regiment, towards the rebel entrenchment, of which 1 made a close reconnaissance.

60

FUETHEE PAPEES EELATIVE TO

Regiment. Rank and Name. Nature of Wound. Remarks. 43rd Private S. Evers Slightly wounded in back • :• „ H. Churcher Severe wound of right arm 11 „ E. Shaw Severe wound of left arm Royal Engineer Sapper — Melntyre Slight wound of right knee P. J. O. Caeeoll, Assistant Surgeon 3rd AVaikatc In Medical Charge DeMilitia, .aehment, Maketu. i. 41.