The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-13 00:00:00

.C 28,757,0051
BAN IC LNG DEPARTMENT.

oprietors' Capi-
tal £14,553,000
Itcst
Public Deposits (in-
cluding Exche-
quer, Savings'
Banks, Commis-
missioners ot Na-
tional Debt, and
Dividend Ac-
counts) 5 826.351
Other Deposits.-- 15,414,609
Seven Day and
other Bills 472,003

Government Se9n-
rlties cmcluding
Dead IS eight A-
nnuity) .C10,981,941
Other 6ceuritles 20,194,962
Notes
Gold and bible!' 830,374
Coln

£39.43%202

£31,438 2.)2
• MILLER, Chief Cashier.

April 13, 180,

COURSE OF EXCHANGE-This Evening.

Amsterdam Short. 11 17 11 171
Ditto 3 Months. 11 19i 11 19
Rotterdam
Antwerp —
25 45 25 50
Brussels
Hamburg
Paris Short 25 15 25 221
Ditto 3 Months. 25 40 25 45
Marseilles
Frankfort on the Maine 1201 120 f
Vienna — 11 25 11 35
Trieste — 11 25 11 85
Petersburgh
Berlin
Madrid — 47 47k
Gediz
Leghorn
Milan
Genoa — 25 52 25 57
Naples — 25 52 25 57
Palermo
Messina
•
Lisbon — 511 51;
51 .L
511 4.
Oporto —
Foreign Gold in Bars (Standard) per 0z.... £3 17 9

Flags were displayed on all the public buildings
of Brussels the day before yesterday on the occasion
of the 30th anniversary of the Duke de Brabant's
birthday, and the city was illuminated in the even-
ing. A telegram from India of the 6th announces
the return of his Highness to Bombay from China.
He will return to Egypt about the end of the pre-
sent month, and may arrive in Belgium towards the
middle of May. His health is excellent.

The War in New Zealand,

(From the Times' Corresprident.)
WELLINGTON, Feb. 11.

Road-making, which the Weld Ministry an-
nounced as the cardinal point in their policy—a
measure stamped with the authority of the late
Iron Duke as the only one calculated to give perma-
nent security to a country inhabited by a warlike
aboriginal race—is now being attempted on the
west coast of this island. Preliminary to the actual
work of road-making the troops are taking up posi-
tions, and are meeting with the opposition a people
so astute as the New Zealanders were almost cer-
tain to offer. Waikato having become no longer
the seat of war, in consequence of the inability of
the natives to prevent the gradual occupation of
that district by the troops, the only course open to
the Governor was to direct the removal of the
troops to the one remaining seat of rampant
rebellion, with the view of impressing on the
natives of the west coast the same hopelessness of
further contention as it is now certain the Northern
rebels at length feel. Not that the Waikato natives
believe themselves inferior to our troops ; on the
contrary, they regard themselves as vastly superior,
man for man, and as having only been defeated by
the overwhelming numbers and numerous appli-
ances brought against them. Against the thousands
of soldiers, backed by the hitherto inconceivable re-
sources brought into the field, they feel powerless to
contend, and, satisfied with having made a noble
stand in the eyes of their own countrymen, they
have abandoned Waikato as the seat of war, the
few fiery spirits who still hold out having migrated
to the country between Taranaki and Wanganui,
through which the General is making his way.
The country between Taranaki and Wanganui is,
coastwise, about 120 miles in length, and contains the
very scum of the Maori race, the population present-
ing nothing of that true nobility of character which
distinguishes some of the Northern tribes. They are
notorious as the murderers of women and children
and the mutilators of the dead. Although few in
number, unable to muster along the whole line more
than 800 to 1,000 resident men, they have hitherto
set at naught the efforts that the troops at Taranaki
have made against them, and there can be no peace
for New Zealand all the while their country continues
to be an impervious nursery of the most utter law-
lessness. To make simple war with the hope of
reducing them to submission is, under the present
system of tactics, absolutely futile. The primary
step is to establish military posts for the protection
of road parties, and to leave time and employment
for wages to do the rest. This is the Weld policy.
It is desired to have no fighting but that which the
natives insist upon. If they stop the way they are
to be pushed on one side, but if they keep at a
respectable distance they will not be interfered with.
The " sharp and short" theory was never, unfortu-
nately, anything else than the tediously long in
practice. Now the theory is to be as admittedly
slow as_its development
_must necessarily become.
The reoccupation of the Tataraimaka block, 12
miles from the town of New Plymouth, has been fol-
lowed by one small forward movement on Jan. 23.
The day previously Col. Warre and staff, Major
Atkinson, the Defence Minister, and Mr. Parris, the
interpreter, proceeded three miles southward to the
pah belonging to about 30 natives, whose represen-
tative chiefs had expressed their intention of sur-
rendering last December. They had erected a re-
doubt in true military style, from which they filed
unarmed, expressing their intention to live in
peace, and inviting the party inside, to re-
ceive the surrender of their arms. The sincerity
of these natives is strongly evidenced by
three of their number who had been concerned in
some of the local murders accompanying the party
to Tataraimaka and giving themselves up to confine-
ment as prisoners. Next morning 150 of the 43d
left New Plymouth to relieve the garrison at Tata-
raimaka, the 212 men hitherto garrisoning it march-
ing on to Te Ngana, six miles southward, where a
redoubt was at once erected, to be eventually occupied
by military settlers. We have learnt to be very
thankful for the smallest mercies in connexion with
Taranaki, but a six miles onward movement, together
with the submission of 30 natives, and the surrender of
three self - condemned murderers, would make us jubi-
lant and ready to prophesy all manner of smooth
things, were it not that the Upper Waitara natives,
in the opposite or northern direction—the adherents
of William King—had so recently shown how deter-
mined they were to resist every overture towards re-
conciliation. These people reside to the north of New
Plymouth, and have hitherto been on tacitly friendly
terms with those of their own countrymen who pro-
fessed to be favourable to the Europeans, but when
William King heard of the Governor's peace pro-
clamation of last October his suspicions were more
than ordinarily aroused, and he at once declared
that it was but a bait covering a hook to catch him
with, and that henceforth, " his eyes were shut and
his ears stopped, so that he should not know any
man coming to him ;" in other words, that he would
have nothing more to do with the Governor or any
one friendly to him. At the end of December a
loyal native went to King's place to tellhim of the ar-
rival of some natives fromthe Chatham Islands. He
went unarmed, but with considerable misgivings,
and before reaching his destination was metby some
rebels who fired, wounded, and eventually killed him.
A week afterwards his wife and an adopted child,
alarmed at his continued absence, went to seek him,
and were likewise fired at, wounded, thrown into a
hole, and killed. The settlers were even more horri-
fied at this barbarity than they had been at the
murders that had been committed on themselves.
The rebels might be expected to murder settlers, but
to murder their own countrymen under such circum-
stances was altogether a new feature in the events
of this unhappy struggle, and convincingly proves
that with such an enemy swift punishment is the
only argument that can be of any avail. Yet that
%venpunishment might follow decently and in order,
so that nothing might be left at which to cavil, the
Coroner directed the police to exhume the bodies
and bring them into camp for the purpose of inquest.
Military aid was applied for, the place of burial
being some miles within the rebel territory, but Gen.
Cameron, who happined to be at Taranaki at the
time, would not grant the request, and the lOyal na-
tives of course regard us as not only incapable of
protecting ourselves, but devoid of the courage re-
quisite for supporting those who are willing to do
what they can to protect us. Murders of friendly
natives, under very similar circumstances, have also
taken plaee near Wanganui, where a loyal chief
named Rio and three others have been barbarously
shot by their rebel countrymen.
New Plymouth is the northern basis of opera-
tions, and Wanganui, 120 miles lower down the
coast, is the southern. Into this latter place troops
and materiel have been pouring for six weeks past,
Principally from the now quiet district of Auckland,
Gen. Cameron himself arriving on the 20th January.
Although the extreme number of natives that have
yet congregated in the neighbourhood of the opera-
tions to be presently narrated can scarcely be more
than from 400 to 600, the General has ordered out
the Militia to the assistance of his large force of
nearly 3,000 troops, and 200 of the rifle Volunteers
have been sent forward to garrison an outpost.
English readers will regard this imposing array as
something like breaking a fly upon a wheel, and
must conclude that road making is progressing
rapidly, but the troops have done nothing of that
sort yet. Before the troops arrived an inland road
had been in construction towards the Waitotara
River by unarmed ordinary day labourers paid by
the Provincial Government. It had progressed about
14 miles from Wanganui, or within six or seven
miles of the newly-acquired boundary of European
land. Verbal opposition had been offered; the engi-
neers laying out the line thought it prudent to de-
sist, as the survey was considerably in advance, but
the labourers still kept at their work. To the Waito-
tara River, the boundary of the Queen's land, the
road would probably have been continued by a little
finessing with the 150 or 200 natives congregated
there, but beyond it there was little prospect of the
work being continued without coming to blows.
They declared that not a sod should be turned on
their own land on the other side of the river, and
with this view a pah had been constructed on a hill
commanding the passage of the river. The pah is on
a portion of a reserve made for the use of the natives

when the land was sold to the Government, or so
near to it that the natives no doubt deemed it to be
so. As soon as the troops arrived at Wa !Lanni an
outpost was formed, and while waiting Gen. Came-
ron's arrival Brigadier-Gen. Waddy made one or
two reconnoitring expeditions. On an. 11 a force
of 600 men marched to within two miles of the pah
already mentioned (Warlroa), where it halted, send-
ing forward the 60 cavalry volunteers by which it
was accompanied. When about 600 yards from the
pah the natives fired a few shots of defiance, and
Gen. Waddy, having seen all he could see, returned
to camp. The natives fully understood this intima-
tion. They looked upon it as the usual preliminary to
an attempt to drive them out of the pah, and knowing
from northern experience that an attack does not
generally take place for a few weeks after the first re-
connaissance they have, from that time to this, been
strengthening it by every process known to Maori
ingenuity ; have sent out and secured assistance,
and the whole are seen daily working together with
more than the industry of bees. Nothing further was
done by the troops, and indeed nothing further was
intended to be done until Gen. Cameron arrived,
and now if it is attacked at all (which I understand
is not likely) 'a comparatively weak position, garri-
soned by less than a couple of hundred natives, will
be found to have been converted into the usual
strong fortification, defended by a number three
times as large. Our movements are slow and so
cautious—" timid" would be the better word were
it not liable tobe misunderstood—as to increase the
toil and prolong the intended operations until the
time has elapsed when they can be of the advantage
intended. It is doubtful whether General Cameron
intends to attempt any more pah taking while the
natives are in them, but hopes by pushing on in ad-
vance to compel the pah occupants in his rear to
vacate quietly, or leave him to go on unopposed.
How bold and dashing the native tactics are the
events of the 24th and 25th of January testify.
On the night of the 23d of January a party of
about 30 natives with their women and children
were on their way from Kai Iwi to join their friends
at Waitotara, when they came at early dawn within
sight of the tents of the road party before men-
tioned. Their own statement is that they knew
that if the Pakehas were frightened they would cut
and run, and they therefore only fired a blank volley,
but that before entering the tents, to loot them,
they fired low with ball in case of ambush. The
labourers, many of them diggers from Marlborough,
tieing mostly unarmed, naturally made the best of
lneir way out of danger as soon as the first volley
was fired, and the women then plundered the tents
while the native men kept watch. When the camp
was informed the cavalry were called out, groomed
their horses, ate their breakfast, and arrived
on the ground of course tat) late to be of any
service. During the day (the 24th) 800 troops,
under General Cameron, marched onwards to
take up a new position. The tents were being
pitched after a toilsome march along the sea coast
(avoiding the newly made road because it ran
through the bush occasionally), when the advanced
guard, 80 men of the 18th, were fired upon from an
adjoining bush, five privates and Lieut. Jolmston
killed, and four other privates wounded. A detach-
ment of the 50th was sent to support, and the na-
tives retreated without loss. This invulnerability
was attributed to their adhesion to the Pai Marini
faith, and they were emboldened to make on the
next day the most daring attack that the war re-
cords. In front of the camp was a quantity of
scrub, which was set fire to by the General's orders,
in order to prevent surprise. Under cover of the
smoke from this burning, the natives crept up, and
the engagement of Nukumaru took place. An officer
gives me the following account of it. He says :

" There has been nothing like it in New Zealand before.
The Maori plan of attack was admirable, and would have
done credit to any European force. It appears that our
troops were busy taking up a position for an encampment,
and pickets were thrown out in advance of each flank. The
Maories, from a neighbouring bush, watched these move-
ments, and at length sent out three distinct bodies, two to
drive in the pickets, and the other as a reserve to attacktho
camp. This attack succeeded most admirably, for they
drove in one picket belonging to the 18th before it could
fire a shot; the other one belonging to the 50th held its
ground and saved the camp ; but had the Maori reserve
come up it would have been very doubtful. It was as pretty
as a field day to see the cavalry charge. They went over
everything; but, unfortunately, the ti-tree was so thick
that a good many Maories escaped. You may imagine
what pluck these natives must have had when one was
seen to seize a soldier of the 18th and drag him bodily
away. One of the cavalry seeing this, however, came up
and sabred the native."

There have been 18 native bodies picked up, but
I do not believe the report that there were 70 killed.
After the first surprise the action was a constant re-
treat on the part of the natives, and they could not
have carried off many dead, and, though I doubt
not there were many wounded, yet Imuch fear their
loss was not much more severe than our own. How
severe that was the following list of casualties will
tell. The number of natives attacking was, from the
most reliable accounts, about 500. It has been stated
to have been 1,000, but that is ridiculous :
lin-J.11E1.-18th Regiment—Private James Brenny. 50th
Regiment—Privates John Murphy, Smith Hargreaves,
William Vine, George Poole, John Fisher, John Kenny,
Wm. Erwin, Wm. Land, Joseph Gold, Henry Paris, and
Robert Ridyard.

WOUNDED-18th Regiment—Private Trevors, mortally ;
Privates Thos. Lock, Daniel Wadkins, and Thos. Graham,
severely ; Privates Thomas High and Patrick Whelan,
slightly. 50th Regiment—Ensign D. L. Grant, dangerously;
Lieut. W. H. Wilson, very severely; Private John Lyden,
dangerously ; Privates Arthur Poor, J. Cunningham, Jas.
Reardon, George Box, John Barley, and John Christopher,
very severely ; Privates Phelim Brown, Thomas Dobell,
William Griffin, B. Hargreave3, Wm. Miles, John Flynn,
James Bleasdale, H. Handover, M. Burke, Robert Barrett,

and William Croat, severely.
No farther engagement has taken place. General
Cameron has reached the Waitotara river, into
which a small steamer has succeeded in entering
under the command of Capt. Cadell, of River Mur-
ray (Australia) celebrity, who has for some time past
been engaged in opening up the New Zealand rivers.
A further movement to the Patea river, distant
about 15 miles, is contemplated, if the river can be
entered so as to afford facilities for commissariat
purposes.

The loyal natives up the Wanganui river, those
who fought so well when the rebel horde attempted
to pass down last year, are still as zealous as ever.
It occurs to me to state, in proof of the good fellow-
ship between the settlers and natives, between the
much maligned, " greedy, covetous, land-sharking
settlers," and the natives whom they are • supposed
to have maltreated during the last 25 years, that
there is not a single soldier in the whole of the set-
tled districts of the Wellington province, the few
formerly garrisoning this city having gone to the
front last week, all the fighting being beyond the
settled province of the Wanganui district, which
does not extend more than 12 miles north of that
town. There is not a soldier within 120 miles of
Wellington city, nor a man-of-war in its harbour,
though there are five at anchor in the port of Auck-
land. All the garrison duty is being done by volun-
teers, and not only are the natives quietbut friendly;
even Wi Tako, whose kingism was once such a bug-
bear, lately paid into the Treasury a sum of £3O to
obtain the grant in aid towards a road his people
are making through the centre of his now friendly
settlement. I only hope that the calling out the
militia at Wanganui for service at the front willnot
give the rebels occasion for regarding it as a set-
tlers' war. It is bad enough for the orators of St.
Stephen's to misname it a settlers' war, but it would
be far worse in its immediate consequences if the
clearer knowledge of the natives should become simi-
larly beclouded. But I am afraid that my hopes
will not be wholly realised, for only this morning
the Wanganui steamer startles us with the intelli-
gence that on the night of the 9th Mr. J. D.
Hewitt, M.P.C.,wone of the settlers furthest out
from Wanganui (about nine miles), was brutally
murdered in his own house by natives, who carried
off his head. Mr. Hewitt's man servant escaped to
the stockades close by, the family having providen-
tially been sent into Wanganui a few days ago for
safety. As the news of the outrage spreads it will
make the out-settlers elsewhere very timid, and I
fear that if we hear of more such occurrences it
will tend to panic.

The agitation in Auckland for a separation of that
province into a distinct colony, under the irre-
sponsible government of a governor appointed by
the Queen, is continued all the more vigorously now

that the Ministry and nearly the whole of the official
departments are located in Wellington, the new
capital ; but the mercenary motive which has pro-
moted the agitation, and the attempt which is thereby
made to throw all the burden of maintaining peace
on the Imperial Government, must be too palpable to
deceive the Secretary of State into an acquiescence,
although the influence of Governor Grey is paraded
by public speakers in its support. The agitation in
Otago to obtain the erection of that province also
into a distinct colony, but with a Governor limited
by the advice of a responsible Ministry, does not,
however, meet with individual local support. The
minds of very many revolt from the idea of any such
shabby method of clearing off from the Northern
Island while hampered with a war and an increas-
ing war debt, and a policy of increased powers to
the provinces is advocated instead. The cost of so
many petty governments, each with its little court,
would be intolerable. At the late Session of the
Wellington Council a petition to the Queen, pro-
testing against breaking up the unity of the colony,
was unanimously agreed to, and other provinces are
protesting in a similar direction. The necessity for
Federal action which lately manifested itself so
strongly in Canada, and the want of it which the
Australians deplore, ought to be sufficient warning
against wantonly destroying the Federal constitu-
tion of New Zealand, notwithstanding the specious
pretexts advanced and the gubernatorial influence
believed to be secretly backing them.
Proclamations have been issued by which certain
rebel lands in the Taranaki province have been con-
fiscated, amounting to a million acres.

The Victoria Cross, which we are glad to see by
every mail from England is graciously sent to deco-
rate some brave fellow's breast, has been recom-
mended by the Governor, at the instance of Dr.
Featherston, for ))estowal on Haimona, a Maori chief
whose courage changed thefight at Moutoa (between
the loyal and rebel natives) from an approaching
defeat into a famous victory. We hope the Queen
will grant it, and that one or two of the most dis-
tinguished among the European civilian forces may
come in for a similar honour, which in several cases
has been richly earned. If the Queen could be
also recommended to extend to the most prominent
of her civil servants an occasional C.B. or K.C.8.,
as well as to the officers of her army serving in the
colonies, she would fire an enthusiasm most bene-
ficial to the interests of the Empire. I write
" Empire" advisedly, because the Empire sometimes
shares directly by the devotion of those whose lives
are spent in the drudgery of a Colonial Executive.
In this province, for instance, larger than many a
colony, his Honour Dr. Featherston has filled the
office of superintendent for nearly twelve years,
and obtained an honourable report. Ever since a
constitution was granted to the colony he has held
that office, having been elected four times—the only
instance in which such has been the case—and by
his untiring exertion, personal courage, probity and
tact, has not only prevented collision between the
races during periods of great excitement, but
has succeeded in preserving the most friendly
relations between them. He was expected to have
gone home last month on behalf of the Go-
vernment to negotiate the remainder of the two
million loan, but so lengthened an absence at such
a juncture was thought unadvisable by his friends,
and he was induced to abandon his intention,
although many of them were sanguine enough to
believe that those who know his worth to the colony
by repute would, from their personal acquaintance,
have left no stone unturned to have had him sent
back as our Governor.

(From the Supplement to the London Gazette of Tuesday,
April 11.—Wednesday, April 12.)
WAR-OFFICE,, APRIL 12.

The Secretary of State for-War has this day re-
ceived a despatch, with its inclosures, from Lieut.-
Gen. Sir D. A. Cameron, K.C.8., commanding the
troops in New Zealand, of which the following are
copies :

"Head-quarters, Camp, Nukumaru, Feb. 4.

"My Lord,—l have the honour to forward herewith the
copy of a report from Brigadier-General Waddy,C.B., com-
manding the field force at Wanganui, of a skirmish which
took place batween one of our pickets and tho rebels on the
evening of the 24th of January, and also of a general attack
made by the latter on our camp at Nukumaru on the follow-
ing day, when they were defeated with heavy loss.
" The celerity with which the troops got under arms,
and the spirit with which they met and repelled this sud-
den attack, was very creditable.
"Brigadier-General Waddy was very active throughout
the engagement, and showed great judgment in the dispo-
sition of the troops under his command. I beg to recom-
mend him strongly to your lordship's favourable notice, as
well as those officers who are mentioned by him as having
particularly distinguished themselves in the action.
" The detachment of the Military Train were very gal-
lantly led by Capt. Witchell, and it was their steady and
well executed charge that put the rebels to flight on their
left attack.

" Colonel Mould, C. 8., commanding Royal Engineers,
was present, and Lieutenant-Colonel Williams, command-
ing Royal Artillery, directed the movements of the two
Armstrong guns.

" Col. Carey, C. 8., Deputy Adjutant-General, Lieut.-
Col. Gamble, C. 8., Deputy Quartermaster-General, Major
Pitt, Assistant Military Secretary, and my two Aides-de-
camp, Lieut.-Colonel M'lsteil and Lieut. St. Hill, were also
present, and were active in conveying orders.—l have, &c.,

" D. A. CA34EI2ON, Lieut.-General.
" P.S. A plan of the ground is herewith enclosad.

" To the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for War,
War-office, London."

" Camp Nukumaru, Feb. 1.
" have the honour to report, for the information
of the Lieut.-General commanding the forces, that, in com-
pliance with orders received from him, I marched from
Camp at Alexandeisfaun, on the 24th Jan., at 9.40 a.m.,
towards the Waitotara river. The advance of the troops
was necessarily very slow, owing to the steep ascent of the
road from the beach to the sand hills at the Okehu river,
and the passage across these hills of the carts conveying
baggage and stores. The force reached this position about
4 30 p.m., the same day, when I formed the camp close to
the Paetaia Lake, and about half a mile from the small
native village of Nukumaru. Immediately after the camp
had been formed I ordered out pickets, and, as a picket of
the 18th Regiment approached a bush close to the village,
which I considered necessary to occupy, it was fired upon
by a party of rebels, who quickly retired and took up a
strong position at the edge of the bush, further away from
the village. The men of the picket got under cover behind
a railed fence with a small ditch. Firing was kept up by
both sides till dusk, after which it gradually slackened, and
ceased altogether about midnight.
" It is with deep regret I have to report the loss to the
service of Lieutenant Johnston, 40th Regiment, Deputy-
Assistant-Adjutant-General, a most zealous and gallant
officer, who proceeded with the picket to see it posted:as I
had directed. He was mortally wounded soon after firing
began, and died next day at noon.
"Seeing the rebels were in a strongposition, and believing
they occupied it in considerable numbers, which might soon
be increased from the pah at Weicroa, about two miles off,
I sent out a reinforcement of 100 men. The rebels retired
during the night, and next morning they were not to be
seen or heard in the bush.

" I have also to report that about 2 p.m. of the 25th of
January the outlying pickets were suddenly attacked by
the rebels in large numbers, who managedto approach under
cover of the high fern and flax plants unperceived till close
upon the sentries ; after a short resistance the pickets were
overpowered and forced to retire. Immediately after the
firing commenced allthe troops in camp got underarms, and
I sent a reinforcement to each picket of 100 men. The attack
on the left was at once checked, and the Maories were soon
driven back, but on the right they advanced with great de-
termination, and pushed on through the village of Nuku-
maru. Into this bush the Royal Artillery, having movedto
our right at the same time as the cavalry, fired some rounds
from their two 6-pounder Armstrong guns, and the Maories
soon retired from it. Considering the very difficult nature
of the ground across which the cavalry had to move their
advance was rapid and their charge effective.
" Two wounded Maories were brought into the camp ;
one of them is Te Arawa, eldest son of Hine Pumipi Ngah-
mamapoto, a leading chief and, I believe, a near relative of
Re vvi. Both these men said that 600 Maories came on to
the attack of our position ; 22 bodies have been buried by
us, and I feel convinced they lost many more men, particu-
larly on the left. I have since heard on reliable information
that the rebels acknowledge a loss of 70 men on the 25th
of January ; their loss on the 24th was not ascertained.

" I enclose a list of casualties, which I regret were heavy,
particularly on the left, where the 50th Regiment was
engaged.

" I beg leave to mention most favourably the names
of the following officers who were in action :—Colonel
Weare, 50th Regiment (who happened to know the ground
on:the left), most ably directed a portion of his regiment in
the repulse and pursuit of the enemy. Brevet-Major Locke,
50th Regiment,who was in command of the first reinforce-
ment sent out, fully carried out the orders 1 gave him.
Captain Witchell, Military Train, commanding the cavalry,
led his men most gallantly, and kept them well in hand.
Major Roche, commanding detachment of the 18th Regi-
ment with his force,•took out a reinforcement of 100 men
to the right picket on the evening of the 24th of January.
He remained there during the night, and withdrew his

men judiciously about daybreak. -He was also engaged
on the 25th of January.
"Captain Shaw, 18th Regiment, who commanded the
right picket, also behaved well, and directed his men with
coolness and judgment. Captain Dawson, .18th Regiment,
was first officer of his corps to move out with a rein-
foreenieot to the right picket on January 25; and I have
always found him ready where duty required him. Brevet-
Major Greaves, 70th Regiment, Deputy Assistant Quarter-
master-General, directed the cavalry in their advance to
charge ; and afterwards he was conspicuous in cheering on
the infantry, when driving the enemy into the bush on the
right. From my aide-de-camp, Capt. Leach, 50th Regt.,
I received very great assistance on the 24th and 25th of
January in the conveyance of orders with rapidity and cor-
rectness.

"As Sir Duncan Cameron was in the field on the 24th
and 25th of January, I have not thought it necessary to
enter more fully into details of the affairs of those days, and
I beg to say I felt fully sensible of the great advantage I
derived from the presence and able advice of the Lieut.-
General commanding the forces.—l have, &c.,

. .
"R. WADDY,
"Brigadier-General, Commanding Field Force.
" The Assistant Military Secretary, &c., Camp Nukumaru."

" List of Killed and Wounded at Nukumaru, New Zea-
land, Jan. 24:-40th Regiment, Lieut. and Deputy-Assist-
ant Adjutant-General Thomas 0. Johnston, dangerously
wounded; since dead, 2-18.—Lance-Corporal Patrick Cau-
line, killed; Private Patrick Conolly and Private James
Heathwood, dangerously wounded; since dead; Private
John Bozle, Lance-Corporal John Scott, and Private Chas.
Rivers and Private Charles Gallaghar, severely wounded;
Private James Dorez and Private Patrick Cranny, slightly
wounded.—J, MOUAT, Inspector-General, Principal Medi-
cal Officer.—The Assistant Military Secretary, Head-
quarters, Camp Nukumaru, New Zealand."

"List of Killed and Wounded at Nukumaru, January
25, 2.lB.—Privates James Brie; killed; Francis Trevor,
mortally wounded ; Thomas Lock, Daniel Watkins, and
Thomas Graham, severely wounded; Robert High
and Patrick Wheelon, slightly wounded. 50th Regiment
—Privates Michael Murphy, Smith Hargreaves, Joseph
Gould, William Vine, George Poole, Jonathan Fisher,
John Kenny, William Irvin,' William Land, Henry Paris,
and Robert Redyord, killed ; Private John Lyden and
Ensign T. L. Grant, dangerously wounded; Privates Ar-
thur Poor, James Reardon, George Box, John Barley,
John Christopher, and Lieut. W. Wilson, very severely
wounded ; Privates Phelon Brown, James Cunningham,
Thomas Dobell, William Griffin, , Henry Hargreaves,
William Miles, John Flynn, James Bleasdale, Boez Hand-
over, Michael Burke, Robert Barnett, and William Crout,
severely wounded.—J.MouAT, Inspector-General, Principal
Medical Officer.—The Assistant Military Secretary, Head-
quarters, Camp Nukumaru, New Zealand."

Railway and other Companies.

GREAT WESTERN GF CANADA.

The half-yearly meeting of this company was held
yesterday at the London Tavern; Mr. Alderman
Dakin in the chair.

Mr. B. Baker, the secretary., having read the
notice convening the meeting, the report, an abstract
of which has appeared in The Sun, was taken as read.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report and statement of accounts to Jan. 31 last,
and also a dividend at the rate of 2 per cent. per
annum for the half-year, payable on May 2, said he
did not think it necessary to make many remarks
on that occasion. He 'thought they would agree
with him that, under the circumstances of the past
half-year, the report was tolerably satisfactory. The
sum available for dividend was a matter for con-
gratulation. The capital account had been reduced
by the discharge of the 6 per cent. bonds (£,72,681)
which became due, and were paid off. This ope-
ration saved about £4,362 in interest, and he had no
doubt they, would be able to re-issue those bonds at
a lower rate of interest. The revenue account for the
past half-year was as satisfactory as could be ex-
pected. The passenger traffic showed an increase of
£24,550, and the goods traffic a decrease of £13,455
as compared with the corresponding half-year, leav-
ing an increase on the whole of £10,093. The pro-
portion of the through traffic for the half-year end-
ing Jan. 31, 1864, was 591 per cent., and of local
traffic 404 per cent. ; for the half-year ending Jan.
31, 1865, the through traffic amounted to 65/ per
cent., and the local traffic to 34i per cent. The
larger proportion of through traffic receipts was
caused by the "increase in the through rates. The
charges for through traffic were increased under the
convention agreed to in July, 1864. That gave the
advantage in amount as compared with the local
traffic. Were it not for the large deductions foi
losses on the American currency and the heavy cost
for the renewal of the permanent way they would
have had, a very satisfactory amount for dividend.
The heavy charge for the latter was being brought
to a close, and the loss by exchange of the American
currency would become less. But for those two items
the revenue would have presented a most satisfac-
tory account. The working expenses had been re-
duced and the traffic receipts increased. The per-
centage of working expenses was 43.95 per cent, for
the past half-year, against 45.5 per cent. for the
corresponding half of the preceding year. When he
and his colleague, Mr. Falconer, were in New York
last year they undertook the responsibility of stop-
ping the conversion of pop() at 280, and even-
tually they were converted at 192, by which a saving
of £8,415 was effected, and this sum came in oppor-
tunely for this half-year's account. The sum of
£74,502 was a large amount of loss on the conver-
sion of American currency, but that rate was gra-
dually reduced during the half-year. On the 6th of
August it was 260, and on September 29 185. Now
the rate was only a little over 150. If they could
keep up the increased staff, and the rate of conver-
sion should be further reduced, they would be for-
tunate. The directors and their new executive gave
the utmost attention to the interests of the company,
including their general manager, Mr. Swinyard.
They were now obliged to reckon on a diminished
traffic,
from h but
the
eer line i causese h
were
beenerepur purely temporary. The
traffic stopped on the New
York Central from a deficiency of rolling stock on
the line, but the Central Company had ordered 50
new locomotives to prevent a recurrence of such
stoppages in future. They had made arrangements
to lease a new line now in course of construction,
which would give them an alternate route for the
conveyance of the through traffic in case other routes
should be impeded. The short line into Buffalo
would give them access to the New York Central
and the Atlantic Great Western. The agreement
was to work the Erie and Niagara line for 12 months,
and to lease it for 21 years on the basis of the traffic,
or on terms to be settled by arbitration. The Board
had taken no steps for laying down the third rail,
nor would they do so until they saw their way clear.
Another obstruction to the traffic of the company
was the passport system, which had now been
abolished. With regard to the renewal of the rails
on the line, it was commenced by Mr. Reid, their
engineer, on the Ist of Feb., 1861, and the estimated
cost was £331,279, which was to be spread over ten
half-years. Of that amount £257,403 had been
expended, leaving £73,876 to be expended. Instead
of expending the sum over the next two half-years,
their engineer proposed spreading it over two half-
years, averaging about £24,600 for each half-year
instead of £37,000. The renewal of the whole
of the permanent way had been a very heavy
tax on the shareholders, but that charge
would soon be removed. Another gratify-
ing matter was that the company would soon
have much more convenient goods and passengers
stations in the city of Toronto. The traffic on
the Detroit and Milwaukie Railway had not pro-
gressed so satisfactorily as they had expected. It
had suffered from the passport system and the high
price of labour and materials, which latter had
caused the working expenses to increase by 5 or 6
per cent. as compared with the corresponding period
of last year. They had, however, been able to pay
their ordinary bond interest. The appeal case of
the bank suit would be settled in the course of the
next three months by the Privy Council in this
country, and they were assured that the company
could not be made liable for anything more than
was authorised by the proprietors, and that the
company could not be; bound by Messrs. Brydges
and Reynolds. The directors had succeeded in get-
ting the rates for the through traffic increased. He
then read a correspondence which had been printed
by the Grand Trunk Company for political pur-
poses, with a view to show that application on the
part of the. Great Western of ,Canada had been made
to the executive of the Grand Trunk Company with
a view to raise and equalise the local rates between
certain points on both lines ; and that the Grand
Trunk had declined to act on the proposition with a
view to give the Canadians the full benefit of the
present low rates. The object on the part of the

Great Western was to obtain fair and remunerative
rates for the shareholders. He hoped that a wiser
and better frame of mind would come over the
Grand Trunk authorities with respect to adoption
of equal rates.

Mr. Hons seconded the motion for the adoption
of the report, &c.

Mr. FILDES said he was glad the overture had
come from the Great Western Company. He had
advocated on former occasions the joint-purse sys-
tem for both lines between certain places. He now
advocated the same policy, and offered his services
to conduct negotiations for that object between the
Boards of the two companies. The joint-purse
system was found to work advantageously between
the London and North-Western and the Lancashire
and Yorkshire Railway Companies, with respect
to the Liverpool and Manchester traffic, and
also between the North British and Edinburgh
and Glasgow Railway Companies. He thought
that they should not declare any dividend on the
present occasion.
After a few observations by Mr. Evans, Colonel
Evelyn, Mr. Conder, and Mr. Godfrey, the report
was unanimously adopted, and the dividend at the
rate of 2 per cent. per annum for the past half-year
declared.

The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks
to the chairman and directors.

BRISTOL AND EXETER.

The Earl of Devon has, at the invitation of the
board of directors, accepted a seat at the board and
the chairmanship of the company, which was held
for many years by the late respected chairman, Mr.
Buller, M.P. Mr. M. Castle succeeds Mr. W. D.
Wills as deputy-chairman. Mr. Wills retains his
seat as a director, which he has held from the ori-
ginal formation of the company, being named in
the act of incorporation.