E.—No. 3 .

The heroism and devotion of Captain Hamilton and Commander Hay reflect the highest honour oiv the Naval Service. The loss of the enemy must have been very heavy, although not more than twenty bodies and six wounded were found in and about tbeir position. It is admitted by the prisoners that they carried off a large number of killed and wounded during the night, and they also suffered in attempting to make their escape, as described in Colonel Greer's report. In my reports to His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief and the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for War, I have brought to their favourable notice the names of the officers who particularly distinguished themselves on this occasion. Commodore Sir Wm Wiseman on this, as on every other occasion, co-operated with me in the incst cordial manner, and I am much indebted to him, as well as to the whole of the officers and men of the Royal Navy and Marines who took part in these operations, for their valuable assistance. I have, &c., D. A. Cameeo*", His Excellency Sir George Grey, X.C.8., Lieut.-General, ite., &c., &c. Enclosure 1 in No. 41. COLOKEE. GBEER TO THE DEPUTY ADJUTANT GENERAL. Sir, — Camp, Puke "Wharangi, Ist May, 18G4 I have the honour to state for the information of the Lieut.-General Commanding, that in compliance with his instructions I marched out of camp with the GSth Light Infantry,. carrying one clay's cooked rations, and a greatcoat each, on the 28th ultimo, at a quarter to 7 o'clock p.m., my object being to get in rear of the enemy's jiosition by means of a flank march round their right. To accomplish this it was necessary to cross a mud-flat, at the head of a Bay, about three quarters of a mile long, only possible at low water, and then nearly knee deep, and within musketry range of the shore, in possession of the enemy —rough, high ground, covered with ti-tree and fern. 2. At the point at which I got oft' the mud-flat, there is a swamp about 100 yards broad, covered with ti-tree about 5 feet high, on the oj^posite side of which the end of a spur—which runs down from the high ground in rear of the pa —rose abruptly. This was also covered with heavy fern and ti-tree. 3. It being of the first importance that this movement should be accomplished without attracting the attention of the enemy, my instructions were to gain the top of the spur alluded to during the darkness, and remain there until there should be sufficient light to move on. 4. The regiment was all across,lying down in line along the crest of the ridge, with picquets posted around them, at 10 o'clock, which was two hours before the moon rose. I beg here to state that to the well-timed feigned attack made by the Lieut.-General Commanding, on the front of the enemy's pa, I consider myself indebted for having been enabled to accomplish this, the most difficult part of the march, without being attacked at a great disadvantage, and exposing the movement to the enemy; for when we reached the top of the ridge, the remains of their picquet fires were discovered, the picquets having no doubt retired to assist in the defence of the pa. 5. About half past 1 a.m., I advanced, and at 3 o'clock I reached a position about 1000 yards direct]v in rear of the pa. I was guided in selecting this position by hearing the Maoris talking iv their pa, and the sentries challenging in our Head Quarters Camp. It was dark and raining at the time. 6. I immediately sent Major Shuttleworth forward with three companies, to take a position on the left rear of the pa, and I placed picquets round the remainder of the rear, about 700 yards distance from it. 7. At daybreak I detached three companies to the right, under command of Major Kirby, and posted a chain of sentries, so that no one could come out of the pa without being seen. Up to this time the enemy did not appear to be aware that they were surrounded; they were singing and making speeches in their pa. Later in the morning. Lieut.-Colonel Gamble, C.8., Deputy-Quarter-Master-General, visited mv post, having an escort with him of 30 men of the Naval Brigade under Lieutenant Hotham, R.N., and seeing that I wanted a reinforcement on my right, he left his escort with me, and 1 received valuable assistance from that excellent officer and his party. About the same time Major Shuttleworth moved more to his left, and closer to the pa. 8. These positions were not altered during the bombardment, except temporarily, when the Maoris showed a disposition to como out at oue or other flank, or when it was necessary to move a little from a position getting more than its share of the splinters of shell which kept foiling about all day during the bombardment. 9. When the bombardment ceased, and the signal of a rocket let me know that the assault was about being made, I moved up' close round the rear of the pa in such a position that the Maoris could not come out without being met by a strong force. 10. About 5 o'clock, p.m., the Maoris made a determined rush from the right rear of their pa. 1 met them with three companies, and, after a skirmish, drove the main body back into the pa ; about twenty got past my right, but they received a flank fire from Lieut. Cox's party (GSth, 60 men), and Lieut. Hothan's (30 men) Naval Brigade, and sixteen of the Maoris were seen to fall; a number of men pursued the remainder. By the time I had collected the men again and posted them it was very dark. My force available on the right was quite inadequate to cover the ground in such a manner as to prevent the Maoris from escaping during the night; iv fact, I consider that on such a wet dark night as that was, nothing but a close chain of sentries strongly supported round the whole rear aud flanks, could hare kept the Maoris in, and to do that, a much stronger force than I had would have been neoee&arj.

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