The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-24 00:00:00

" SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT.

" I beg to enclose the enclosed list just received from
Captain Clear of the Auckland Militia, who at first was en-
gaged with the enemy, and these joined my force, and ren-
dered every possible assistance, and behaved in a most
creditable manner.— I have, &c.,

" J. RING, Captain."

" Camp Drury, July 23, 18G3.

have the honour to request you will inform the
Lieutenant-General that yesterday forenoon, having been
informed by a mounted volunteer that a man had been shot
by the natives on Mr. Hayes's grounds, and that his house
was threatened, I immediately got my available force under
arras (as per margint) and proceeded in that direction, di-
recting as I went along the detachment of Militia to crown
a small knoll, and thus protect the approaches to Drury,
and also ordering Lieutenant Raitt, It A., and his troopers,
to proceed in the direction of the Wairoa Valley, for the
purpose of calling off any marauding parties. On arriving
at Mr. Hayes's, his son, Ensign James B. Hayes, of the
Militia, volunteered to act as guide to my party, and I
Loured all the bush in that vicinity with 30 mon, having
previously directed Lieutenant and Adjutant Lewis, with 40
men, to remain outside, and thus cut off any natives at-
tempting to escape. On reaching the native settlement of
Keri Keri, I heard some desultory firing on my left, and
was led to understand by some militiamen that they had
fired at some natives towards the Wairoa escaping into the
bush.
"tieing satisfied with this explanation, I returned to-
wards Drury, having previously picked up the body of the
murdered man, and sent it there.
"When within 1 mile of that settlement, I was over-
taken by Veterinary Surgeon Anderson, R.A.,
who informed
me that a detachment of the 2d battalion 18th Regiment
was in a very precarious position near Wairoa, and required
a reinforcement, as they could not do more than hold their

position.
" Oa this I retraced my steps towards Keri Keri, and just
before sunset entered the wain bush under the guidance of
Ensign Hayes.
"As my party advanced firing and shouting were more
distinctly heard, and after proceeding about half a mile, a
turn of the road brought me suddenly upon the combatants,
the 2d battalion 18th Regiment, upon an entrenched knoll,
and the natives on the lower ground, but pressing them
hard on three sides, when the detachment, 65th Regiment,
cut off in their turn the immediate rear of two of them.
Lieutenant Pennefather, who commanded the rear-guard,
finding himself exposed to a cross• fire from both the 2d bat-
talion 18th Regiment and natives, directed the bugler to
sound the regimental call' and the 'fire,' and with a loud
cheer, which was answered by the 2d battalion 18th Regi-
ment, a rapid and continuous fusillade was opened on the
natives ensconced in the gullies, and sheltered by trees from
the fire of the 2d battalion 18th Regiment,
"Being completely taken by surprise, they, after a smart
action of about 10 minutes, fled towards the denser bush,
but the darkness which had now begun to set in rendered
all attempts at searching for their dead and wounded per.
fectly futile.
" The enemy's fire being now completely silenced, I di-
rected both parties to move off to their respective camps,
and while so doing a few desultory shots were fired high
over their heads.
"I must bring to the Lieut.-Generals notice the cool and
intrepid gallantry evinced On this occasion by Lieut. Raitt,
Royal Artillery—Captain Gresson, Lieut. and Adjutant
Lewis (who commanded No. 1 company, the officers being
both sick), and Lieut. Pennefather, who commanded the
advanced guard—and I trust you will recommend Ensign
James B. Hayes, of the Militia, to the favourable considera-
tion of his Excellency the Governor, for his coolness and
cleverness in guiding the party under my command so
rapidly into the scene of this brief but smart action.
"With a proud heart I must bring to the Lieut.-General's
notice the cool and quiet order and gallantry displayed by
all ranks of the force under my command,and the unflinch-
ing patience with which the men bore the harassing and
ivat
toilsome march to and from the scene of action.
" I
to
onehappy
private to saye killed.
at the casualties of my party were
limited

Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding
65 e
ig I have, &c.,
" ALFRED F. W. WYATT,
Colon
Regiment and troops at Drury.
44 The Military Secretary, Headquarters, Drury."
Colonel and L

jc:LLED AND WOUNDED AT
N 0 M IKNEARLT RKEETRU
2D OF JULY, 1863,
RETURN OF
Tlto

the head : fatal. J. Hamil-
ton, -----
Th"oPmraisvaistrasde,Js.hEavrros,ugshhot through the chest; fatal.
ton, severe gunshat wound through
upper part of right
thigh. W. Conroy, slight graze of right temple. J. Fitz.
patrick, slight graze of left shoulder. T. Dunbar, Blight
contusion.
‘‘ J. MOUAT, Deputy Inspector-General, p.
M.G.
"The Assistant Military Secretary, Headquarters,
Queen's Redoubt."

* 1 subaltern,:2 sergeants, 47 rank and file.
t Royal Artillery —1 subaltern, 1 staff, 1 sergeant, 1
drummer, 26 rank and file; 65th Regimont-1 field officer,
1 captain, 3 subalterns, 1 staff, 6 sergeants,3 drummers, 72
rank and file; Volunteer Militia-1 captain, 1 subaltern, 1
sergeant, 33 rank and file. Total, 1 field officer, 2 captains
5 subalterns, 2 staff, sergeants, 4 drummers, 131 rank and
file.