A.—No. 12.

20

PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS

his knowledge of the position, derived from a previous chivalrous attempt to take the place with a handful of his tribe and three or four Europeans, was of the greatest value. He was w:ell supported by Hotene, Wikiriwhi, and other chiefs. Captain Gundry and the Arawa (No. BA. C.) were the admiration of the whole force. Always in front, always cheerful and obedient, as brave as they were well behaved. Much ofthe credit of this belongs to their officer. I wish to bring to your notice, for any reward or decoration that may be deemed proper, Constables Black and Biddle, who defended the advanced rifle-pits at close quarters with resolute bravery. The Medical Staff, under Dr. Ormond; the Quartermaster's Department, under Mr. Anderson ; the Artillery, under Sergeant-Major Anderson; and the Commissariat in port, under Captain Bower, — are equally entitled to praise. I have also to thank Mr. Eichmond, who was present during the whole of the operations, either in port, on the road, or at the front, and who, seconded by the energy of Captain Towgood, secured the effective working of my hastily-organized commissariat and transport service. Lastly, I have to thank my volunteer A.D.C. Mr. Forster, and Captain Skeet, who volunteered his services as engineer, and displayed great courage. Among the list ofthe casualties, happily a short one, two have caused great grief to all who knew them—Captain Brown, of No. 7 Division, A.C, and Sergeant Hetaraka, No. 1 Division. Captain Brown was modest, gallant, conscientious, and his men grieved sincerely over his death. In the work he carried out, and in the discipline and affection of his men, he has shown how good and faithful a servant the Colony has lost. Hetaraka, one of the bravest and highest-born of the Arawa, known to the whole force by his intelligence and smartness, fell in the very front of Major Eraser's division, while in conversation with Major Fraser, and engaged reconnoitring the enemy. Very full plans and sections have been executed by Mr. Bousfield, and accompany this despatch. I trust I shall not be thought to lay too much stress on the capture of Ngatapa, which, besides the interest attaching to the overcoming of the physical difficulties of forest and mountain at a distance from supplies, has the great advantage of reassuring our men as to their own capacity to deal with a desperate and remorseless enemy, and to perform any service which the Colony can require at their hands. I have, &c, The Hon. Colonel Haultain. G. S. "Whitmore, Colonel.

Casualty Return of the Killed and 'Wor/TOED at the Siege of Ngatapa, Ist to sth January, 1869. Officer Killed. Non-commissioned Officers and Men Wounded. Sub-Inspector Captain Brown, Wo. 7 Division, A.C. No. 1 Division, A.C. —Constable Crosbie. Officer Wounded. 3 Division, A.C. —Constable Smith, Constable Clancey. . .. ct.T i.n itn.t>7tv-- An No. 8 Division, A.C. (Arawas.) —Constable Ihaia Matunau. Acting Sub-Inspector Capel, No 7 Division, A.C. Ngatiporou.-Horepa Pokino' Hexewini Te Mano, Eiwai 3 on-commissioned Officers and Men Killed. Pakerua. No. 1 Division, A.C. —Sergeant Iletaraka, Constable McEwen, Total —1 officer and 10 non-commissioned officers and men Constable Sawyer, Constable Chislett. killed. 1 officer and 7 non-commissioned officers and men No. 3 Division, A.C.—Constable Clarendon. wounded. Ngatiporous.—Hori Pourewa, Ropata Paingaware, Hunia G. S. Whitmobe, Colonel. Huapapa, Heremaiah Taurai, llimiona Matahu.

No. 15. Copy of a Letter from Colonel Whitmore to the Hon. Colonel Hatjlt.un\ Sib,— Head-Quarters, Kai Iwi, 22nd January, 1809. I have the honor herewith to forward the enclosed Reports from Lieut.-Colonels Lyon and McDonnell of certain operations carried out by them. I have, &c, The Hon. Colonel Haultain. G. S. "WuiTMOitE, Colonel.

Enclosure 1 in No. 15. Copy of a Letter from Colonel Lyon to Colonel Wiiitjiore. Sir,— Camp Westmere, 18th January, 1869. I have the honor to report for your information that I sent a force, on Tuesday, the 12th instant, at 5.30 p.m., to encamp for the night at Kai Iwi. I joined the force next morning at 7 a.m., accompanied by Lieut.-Colonel Herrick, with eight troopers as an escort, and marched to Nukumaru, arriving there about noon. My object for so doing was to test the efficiency of the gunners, there being no place in the immediate vicinity of this camp for gunnery practice, and I considered the rebel pa suitable for the purpose. The gun was placed in position at 1 p.m. behind a bank and ditch, a small portion being levelled in front, and 100 men placed in it in skirmishing order. I opened fire at what I considered 800 yards, but the shell falling short the gun was sighted for 1,000 yards, at which range very good practice was made, every shell bursting inside the palisading. After firing twelve rounds, I ordered Major Cumming to return to camp with the Constabulary, and went with the Wanganui and Kai Iwi Cavalry to Patea, arriving there about 6 p.m. Eemained at that place the next day, and left for Waihi on Friday at 8 p.m., reaching the redoubt at 2 a.m. Started at daylight and went to the Ketemarai clearing; from thence to Taipaihanui, which village was burnt, took the inland track to Mokoia, on to Manutahi, and arrived at Patea 3 p.m. Not a