The Express.
London, England, 1864-09-17 00:00:00

THE NEW ZEALAND WAR.

(nom Lao. MONTI{ camrts-)
WAR-OFFICE, Sam 16.
The Secretary of State for War has received a
despatch. with its each:mires, from Llsoteemint-Geosral Sir
DUOOIII2 Camaro°, K.C.B.,coananding bar Majesty's farces
in New Zealand, of wtich the following are copies :

Headquarters, Mick.lead, JUly 7, 1864.
My Lord,-1 informed your lordship in my lest despatch
that I had made arrangements for removing the smogs not
required for the deteoc. of Tauranga to Auckland. and ao-
cordieglv, on the 9th ultimo, her Majesty's ship Esk and
the steamer Alexandra proceeded to Tamengs for that pur-
pose. Before their arrival, however, intelligence had been
received at Tams. es' that the rebel, were mumbling is
' foros in that neighbourhood with the avowed intention of
attacking our position, whereupon Colonel Greer, 68th
'Regiment, whom I had left in command, suspended the
'embarkation of the troops, end, in my absence on the
Waikato frontier, reported the Mate of affairs to the
Governor of New Zealand, who immediately reinforced him
with 280 Waikato militia. After the arrival of this rein-
forcement, the force at Colonel Greer's disimal amounted
to 1,500 men. The district occupied by us at Taanega is a
peninsula about three and a half mile" bog, oossedd with
the main land by a very Barrow oeck, on width wee
situated the Gate Pah, abandoned by the rebels os the
30th April, and wavered by sty order into • strong re-
doubt. •
This work and anothm small redoubt, commanding
the only ford by which the rebels could cross over from
the main land to the peninsula, rendered our position so
secure that, whew Colonel Greer's report reached me, I felt
sore the rebels would not venture to attack it. Consider-
ing it, however, not unlikely that they might attempt to
construct a pad somewhere in the vicinity of our position,
I instructed Colonel Greer to watch their movemeata
closely . to patrol frequently, and if they made the attempt,
to attack them before they had time to establish them-
selves. In patrolling the country beyond the Gate Pah, on
21st Jana Colonel Greer came suddenly upon • large body
of natives who had just began toentrench themselves. He
at once attacked them and defeated them with peat leg.
Two reports from Colonel Greer, containing the details of
the action fought on that occasion, are herewith enclosed.
The conduct of all the officers and men engaged wee ad-
mirable, and I beg to draw your lordship's 'Wallas to the
brilliant charge with the bayonet made by the tlird and 68th
Light Infantry, and to the great bravery disOsyed by those
two distinguished regiments in the hand to hand Night with
the rebels at the rifle-pits. I cannot praise too highly the
teal and energy with which Colonel Greer carried out his
instructions, sod his able conduct, not only on the day of
the engagement, but during the whole period be has been in
command at Tauranga. I beg to recommend to your
favourable notice his meritorious services, as well as those
of all the officers and men mentioned by him as having par-
tieularly distinguished themselves in the action.-1 have,
D. A. Camenou. Lientemat.Gemiral,
The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for War.

Camp, Ts Papa, Midrange, Juno 21,1864.
Sir.—l bays the honour to report, for the informatics
of the lieutenant-general commanding, that 1 marched
out of camp with • force, as per =erste,' this morning at
eight a.m. 1 found • large force of Maoriee (about
600) entrenching themselves about four mitre beyond
Pukokmahina ; they bad made a single hoe of rifle pits of
the usual form across the road, in • po.ition exactly similar
to PukekmahMa ; the commencement of a (mendable pah
having driven in some skirmishers they bad thrown out, I
extended the 43rd and a portion of the 68th in their front
and on their flanks as far as practicable, and kept op asharp
lire for about two hours, while I mot back for retaforce-
meats, as parse:gin ;1. as soon as they were sueleMatly sear
to support 1 mended the advance, whey the 43rd, 68th, arid
Ist Waikato Militia charged and carried the ride pits in the
most dashieg manner. under • tremendous tire, but which
was for the most part too high. For a few minutes the
tlaones fonrht desperately, and then were utterly routed.
GA were killed in the rifle pita. The position was very fa-
vourable for their retreat, otherwise few could have escaped.
The defence force pursued them several miles, but could
not get well at them, owing to the deep ravines with
which the country is everywhere intersected. The infantry
pursoed as long as they could keep the Maoris is sight ;
all did their duty galliintly. The 43rd were under the cons-
, Daudet Major Synge ( whose horse was shot), the 68th order
Major Shuttleveorth, the Ist Waikato Militia under
Captain Moore, and they each led their men well.
It to impossible for me, in this hurried report, to
do justice ; I will, therefore, hays the Pleasure is • supple-
mental report to bring those to your notice who more para.
cularly distinguished themselves. I marched the men back
to camp this evening. Oise hundred and seven Maori's were
found and carried up to the rifle Pita, and we have brought
in LI wounded, all severely, and 10 prisoners. Many more
must have been killed in the ravines, whom we did not fled.
I enclose a return, which snows that • large number of chiefs
have been killed, including Ranieri. Iye happy to say our
casualties hare been comparatively small. I enclose •
return of the killed sad wounded. I must net conclude
without temarki•g on the gallant staid made by the Mao-
ries at their ride pit ; they staid the charge without flinching,
sod did not retire until forced out at the point of the bayonet.
The name of the panties which the therms occupied Is `•Te
Range." I have thought this of sufficient importance to re-
quest Captain Militating to take my report up in the link.
—1 have, kc.. H. H. Gamut, Colonel, Commanding Tan-
ners District. The Deputy Adjutant-General, ke., Hood-
qualm, New Zealand.

Camp, Te Pape, Tannage, June 27 1864.
base the honour to state, for the information of the
Lientenaat-General Commanding in New Zealand, that I
have little to add to the report which I wet in on the 21st
i oat., relative to the engagerneot at Te Range, beyood bringiog
to his notice those who more particularly distiossished them-
selves. About ball-put 10 o'clock the troops were so dial:coed
in front and on both flanks that retest without heavy
loss seemed impossible for lb* Maoris'. About a quarter

• 3 Field came, 9 captains.. 14 subaltern, 34 esegenate.
13 buglers, end 531 rank sad Ile.
t 1 gun, t'o men.