A.—No. 7.

camp at Pipiriki. They have occupied a strong position on a low cliff, about four hundred yards opposite, below Captain Brassey's lowest stockade. This position is over a long and dangerous rapid, thus commanding any approach by water, but it is overlooked by hills, and accessible from the sea. I have, &c, John Nixon, His Excellency Sir George G-rey, X.C.8., Weraroa. Major, W.M. P.S.—I append names of Chiefs engaged in this war party —Pehi Turoa, Tahana, Ihaia, Matia, Te Waka, Ngarupiki. Enclosure 7 to No. 2. James Booth, Esq., S.M., to W. L. Buller, Esq., E.M., "Wanganui. Bie,—8 ie,— Wanganui, 19th July, 1865. I have the honor to report that I left town this morning with the intention of proceeding to Pipiriki; nine miles from town I met Natives from Pipiriki, they report as follows: — Monday night, 17th, Ilore Patene and Te Mokena went to Kanaeopou, opposite Pipiriki, to tell their friends of an intended attack on Pipiriki, and inviting the liberated prisoners to join the rebel force. Yesterday morning all the Pipiriki Natives, with the exception "of two men,joined the rebel force. Last evening, as soon as it was dark, the rebels passed amongst the high manuka scrub, and took up a commanding position about a quarter of a mile on this side Pipiriki, but on the opposite side of the river from that on which the force is stationed. The Chiefs of the rebel party are Tuhana Turoa, Topeni Te Manaku, Ihaia, Te Ngarupiki, Matiu, Tamati Waka, and Pehi Turoa. I have, &c, W. L. Buller, Esq., E.M., Wanganui. James Booth, R.M. Enclosure 8 to Ko. 2. Monsieur le Gouverneur, — Wanganui, July 20, 1865. Je me permets d'addresser a votre Excellence quelques mots sur la position critique et dangereuse dans laquelle se trouvent vas hommes de guerre a, Pipiriki. Comme Je connais tres bien cet endroit ainsi que la position dcs Militaires, je dois vous avertir, Monsieur le Gouverneur, qu'ils auront beaucoup a souffier si les Hau Hau sont un pen nombrense. D'abord leurs provisions de bouche se trouvent dans dcs maisons hors dcs redoutes qu'ils se sont construites ; en suite pour se procurer de l'eau ils s'exposent beaucoup, et pour le bois de cuisine il leur est presque impossible d'en obtenir sans tomber dans quelque quet-a-peus dcs Maoris. C'est cet etat do choses, Monsieur le Gouverneur gui mo fait remplir, cc devoir sacre d'humanite de renseigner celui que la Providence a mis ala tete de la Colonie. S'il faut en croire un Maori gui vient d'arriver dv haut de la riviere ou s'est deja battu, et plaise au Ceil que les soldats n'aient pas etc surpris. Je suis Monsieur le Gouverneur, Le tres humble et tres devoue Serviteur, J. Lampila, A Monsieur G. Grey, Gouverneur, &c. Miss. Catholique. [Translation.] .Rev. J. Lampila to His Excellency the Governor. Your Excellency,— Wanganui, 20th July, 1865. I take the liberty of addressing to your Excellency a few words relative to the critical and dangerous position in which your soldiers at Pipiriki are placed. As I know the place very well, and also the position of the soldiers, it is my duty to warn your Excellency that they will have much to undergo if the Hau Haus are at all numerous : firstly, their provisions are in the houses which they have built outside the redoubts ; secondly, to procure water they must expose themselves a good deal, and it is almost impossible for them to obtain firewood without falling into a Maori ambush. It is this state of things, your Excellency, which induces me to fulfil a duty sacred to humanity in warning him whom Providence has placed at the head of the Colony. If a Maori who has just arrived from up river is to be believed, they have already fought, and God grant the soldiers have not been surprised. I am your Excellency's most humble and devoted Servant, J. Lampila, His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B. Catholic Missionary. Enclosure 9 to No. 2. W. Buller, Esq., District Magistrate, to Major Gray, A.D.C. Sir, — Resident Magistrate's Office, Wanganui, 21st July, 1865, 4-1 p.m. I have the honor to transmit herewith, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, copy and translation of a Native letter (from Hiruharama), which has been forwarded to the friendly Chiefs now stationed at Nukumaru. Mr. Booth, E.M., who understands the position and relative value of the Pipiriki redoubts, has made an explanatory minute in the margin of the translation. It is worthy of remark that the report reaches us through three of the liberated prisoners, whose sympathies are known to be on the side of the attacking party ; their account must therefore be received with some degree of caution. That there has been fighting there can be little doubt, for the Ohoutahi and Hiruharama people heard constant firing on Wednesday from daylight till dark. I have, &c, Walter Buller, E.M., Major Gray, A.D.C, Acting Private Secretary, Nukumaru. District Magistrate. Hiruharama, Hurae 20, 1865. Haere ra c tenei reta kia Paora, kia Rewi, kia Wiripo, kia Toma, kia Pauro, kia Motuarama. kia Itini, kia koutou katoa.

7

CAPTURE OF THE WERAROA PA.