The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-11 00:00:00

manner which deserves the warmest expression of the
Lieutenant-Governor's gratitude and approbation.
,e,) •• 6 hlro,e)r of the same
opportunity of stating his entire satisfaction at the
manner in which the officers and men of the Militia of
this district have acquitted themselves. The settlers
have shown that they can use their arms well, that they
are a most useful body of men in military operations in
this country, and that they are ready cheerfully to en-
counter any dangers or difficulties. They may take an
honest pride in feeling that they have fully shown that
they possess those qualities so essential to the men who
entered upon the task of colonising New Zealand.
When the inhabitants of a couniry can thus rely
upon their own efficiency and courage, no fear need be
entertained for the safety of their homes and families.
Nothing could have been more gratifying than the
kind and friendly feeling evinced for each other by the
settlers and large force of native allies when serving side
by side, a feeling which clearly showed that they are
mutually attached to each other, that they felt they were
one people, bound together by common interests, and
were willing and able jointly to defend themselves against
any enemy who should attempt to injure either race. The
Lieutenant-Governor felt, in witnessing this most grati-
fying sight, that it constituted in itself a complete gua-
rantee for the ultimate tranquillity and prosperity of this
part of New Zealand.
To the numerous native chiefs who so nobly came for-
ward on this occasion, the Lieutenant-Governor returns
his thanks for their services. The intercourse he has
had with many of them will make him take a lasting in-
terest in their welfare ; and for the future he will watch
over and endeavour to promote the progress of them-
selves and their families in prosperity and the conveni-
ences of civilised life, not only as Governor of the colony,
but as one who is personally interested in the welfare of
men who have established such just and strong claims
upon his esteem. _ _ _

By command of his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor,
M. RICHMOND, Superintendent.
Wellington, Aug. 16, 1846.

Porirua, Aug. 4, 1846.
Sir,—After frequent consultations with your Excel-
lency since your arrival from Auckland relative to the
movements of the force under my command, particularly
after the receipt of intelligence by the Government that
a number of disaffected natives had left Wanganui, and
were moving down the coast with a view of forming a
junction with Rangihaeta and the rebels at his pah of
Pauhautanui, in the northern branch of the Porirua
river ; and that this movement was being made with
the sanction and connivance of Te Rauparaba, and
some disaffected chiefs of the Ngatitoa tribe resid-
ing in the immediate neighbourhood of our posi-
tion, it was determined that an effort shotdd be made
to destroy this party, or to induce the friendly na-
tives on the coast to prevent their progress; also,
that an attempt should be made to arrest Te
Rauparaha, and the disaffected chiefs with him,
in the event of obtaining further evidence against
them; and, should these movements be attended with
success, it would enable us to make an attack upon
Rangihaeta and his foll.wers, without the apprehension
of Te Rauparaha, or any evil-disposed Ngatitoas aiding
him; and then the pah at Pauhautanui could be regu-
larly invested, and the rebels destroyed.
To effect these objects, a combined naval and military
force was embarked on board her Majesty's steamer
Driver, under ray command We found it. however, im-
practicable to attack the Wanganui natives as they pro-
ceeded down the coast, as gales of wind and excessive
bad weather prevented the landing of the troops; but the
rebels were precluded making a further progress than
Ohau, as the friendly natives opposed them.
The next movement, I am happy to inform your
Excellency, was completely successful, as, on the morn-
ing of the 23d ult., I disembarked before daylight in
boats of her Majesty's steamer Driver, with 1 officer
and 30 men of the 58th Regiment, 3 officers and 70
men of the 99th Regiment, 4 officers and 30 men of
her Majesty's ship Calliope, accompanied by Captain
Stanley, together with the Inspector (Captain Durie, of
the Militia), and some armed police, surrounded the
pah, and accomplished our object without any collision,
from the admirable steadiness of the whole party ,bring-
ing with us Te Rauparaha, Kanae, Hoapu, and some
others, who are now prisoners on board her Majesty's
ship Calliope, as well as disarmed the disaffected part of
the tribe.
Annexed is a list of the arms and ammunition taken at
Vie time.

Nothing now remained but to attack Rangihaeta and
the rebels in the pah at Pauhautanui ; for this object,
after leaving 100 men to reinforce the camp at Paramatta-
point, the Driver returned to Wellington, in order that
the portion of the Calliope's crew which had embarked
in the Driver might return on board, and that both ships,
with the detachment of the 65th Regiment, just arrived
from Sydney, might return to Porirua.
On the 29th ult. your Excellency received intelli-
gence, which you did me the honour to communicate,
that;Rangihaeta, alarmed at the movements that were
going on, had evacuated his pah and fled, but where was
uncertain ; it was, however, supposed that himself and a
few of his followers were remaining in the vicinity of his
former position.
Apprehensions being entertained that the greater num-
ber of Rangihaeta's followers might have returned to
the hills in the neighbourhood of the Hutt, it was con-
sidered unsafe to detach, for any length of time, a large
body of troops from Wellington, until the couutry be-
tween the Hutt district and Porirua harbour had been
thoroughly reconnoitred. To accomplish this, a mixed
force of Militia, armed police, and friendly natives, were
therefore ordered to move from the Hutt in the directon
of Pauhautanui, sweeping the country as they went
along, and either investing or taking possession of the
pah on their arrival, as opportunity offered. A simul-
taneous movement was directed to be made by the troops
under my command, which, I regret to say, was defeated
from her Majesty's ship Calliope being delayed from
stress of weather; but, on our arrival, on the Ist inst.,
we found the movement of the force from the Hutt had
been successful, having found the pah evacuated, with
the exception of scouts, one of whom (an influential
chief) they captured, and another chief was captured in
the course of the same evening by the friendly natives.
On the 2d instant I proceeded to the pah at daylight,
in boats supplied by Captain Stanley, of her Majesty's
ship Calliope, with Major Arney, 58th. and 7 officers
and 160 men of the 58th, 65th, and 99th, Regiments,
which, on reaching, I found occupied by the Militia,
armed police, and native allies/
On examining the pah I found it to be built in a very
strong position, having a double row of timber pali-
sades, with trenches and traverses across, about 80 paces
long, and 35 broad, in the shape of a parallelogram, with
flanking defences.
There was also a bank of earth thrown up on the
scarpside of the trenches, which, owing to the heavy
rain, were full of water. The position altogether is a
very strong one, and would have been almost impreg-
nable without artillery; but a hill about 500 yards dis-
tant, opposite the front face, commanded it completely.
Therefore, had the enemy remained, we might soon
have dislodged them with our guns, which were in readi-
ness at Porirua, in command of Captain Henderson, R. A.
The pah stands on a very high ground fronting the
harbour; at the foot of it runs a deep narrow creek,
fordable at low water; the ground about it is excessively
swampy, which the troops had to pass over. On the
side the pah stands rises a very steep bank, which, even
without opposition, the men had difficulty in mounting.
And on the proper left of the position is a very deep
ravine, the side of which is thickly wooded. The right
face is also thickly wooded, and the ground gradually
slopes
s; awb toua itfsrnot
dome
ftieh v t
nse
locality,e,altleh the ground
g tiTh o
odnoe d rneeoaotryewraesd considert he weakest
with a thick
p e s
i-
dtieofne
nceoeusl de
ah athvee been tfaakeeenwuepreboyf at e.
dsiedsee.ripTtiohne
than any other.
On the morning of the 3d inst. a combined movement
was made from the pah at Pauhautanui and Porirua,
consisting of 6 officers and 120 men of the 58th, 65th,
and 99th Regiments, and 30 militia, followed by 150
native allies, from the former, and 4 fficers, 100 men of
the Royal Artillery, 58th and 65th Regiments, with 80
native allies, under command of Major Arney, from the
latter place, for the purpose of attacking the rebel chief,
and preventing his escape from the Horokiwi valley. We
proceeded about four miles into the woods, covering our
advance with the usual precautions. The enemy soon
discovered our rpproach, and quickly retired, but, from
his fires being still alight, it was evident he had fled into
the bush that morning.
Night coming on, and being uncertain as to the direc-
tion of the enemy, or the route they had taken, I deemed
it then unadvisa,ble to proceed further.
Although our eff3rts have only led to the dispersion, and
not to the total destruction of the rebels, which was my
anxious wish to have accomplished, yet, by gaining pos-
session of the stronghold of the enemy, we are enabled
to complete the line of outposts at Porirua, so as effec-
tually to prevent any return of the rebels to the district
of the Hutt.
I beg to assure your Excellency that all under my
command have well earned from their superiors every
credit and approbation for the zeal and cheerfulness
they have exhibited under the severe trials and pri-
vations to which they have been subjected to for a long
time past.
Your Excellency having been present with the troops
on this occasion, will, I trust, bear testimony to the
efforts and exertions made by the officers and men
of both services ; but I must not omit to offer my best
thanks for the ready assistance and co-operation ren-
dered me by Captain Stanley. of her Majesty's ship
Calliope, Commander Hayes, of her Majesty's steamer
Driver, and my second in command, Major Arney, com-
manding detachment 58th Regiment stationed in this
district. I also beg to recommend Mr. M'Kellup,
of her Majesty's ship Calliope, to your Excellency's
notice, who has rendered me great service while in the
command of the gunboat stationed at Porirua.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your Excellency's most obedient humble servant,
EDWARD LAST, Major, 99. h Regiment,
Commanding the Troops, Southern District.
His Excellency Governor Grey, &c.

List of Arms and Ammunition taken from the Pah of
ltauparaha and the Disaffected Natives at Tauro
on th.• 23d of July, 1846 :
Muskets, single barrel ..•
Ditto, double ditto ... •••
Axes ••• ••• •••
powder-flasks ••• •••
Pouches •• •••
Small iron gun and carriage
Casks of powder
Half ditto ••• •••
Empty ditto ... .•• „,
EDWARD LAST, Major, 99th Regiment,
Commanding the Troops, Southern District.

... 30

. 23

... 26
... 1
... 5

Porirua, Aug. 10, 1846

Sir,—Soon after addressing your Excellency on the
4th inst., I received intelligence that the native allies
who were left to watch the movements of the rebels had