30 Transactions. 



murders. The natives demanded the surrender of the youth, which, of 

 course, was refused. Crozier was replaced by Midshipman John Carnegie. 

 During the months of April and May, 1847, good work was done by the 

 gunboat. On the 19th May, in consequence of the gunboat being injured 

 from its own firing, Lieutenant Holmes moved his 12-pounder on board the 

 " Governor Grey" (Plate IV, fig. 1), a Wanganui -built schooner of 35 tons, 

 from whose unbarricaded deck he continued to fight until the enemy retired. 

 Captain J. H. Laye, 58th Regiment, who commanded the forces at that 

 time, reported to the Governor, " To Lieutenant Holmes I am exceedingly 

 obliged ; the efficiency of the gunboat under his command (which was 

 exposed to the fire of the enemy the whole of the day), his alertness with 

 her at all times, and cordial co-operation, I am only too happy to bear 

 testimonv to." 



J 



In a despatch from Wanganui dated the 21st February, 1848. Major 

 Wyatt, O.C., states, " The repairs to the gunboat are progressing." 



On the outbreak of hostilities in the Taranaki Province in 1860 the 

 Government advertised for two vessels suitable for gunboat service. In 

 April the schooner " Ruby," 24 tons, recently launched from a shipbuilder's 

 yard, was purchased by the Defence authorities, renamed " Caroline " 

 (Plate IV, fig. 2), and armed with a 32-pounder gun, and a supply of ammu- 

 nition from H.M.S. " Elk." The cost of the schooner was £630 ; the cost of 

 stores, fittings, and the cannon, £300. Mr. Smyth, of H.M.S. " Niger," who 

 had distinguished himself at the attack on Waireka, near New Plymouth, was 

 appointed to the charge of the gunboat. He hoisted the pennant on the 

 14th April, 1860, and sailed from Auckland for Manukau on the 17th April. 

 Mr. Hannibal Marks, " an old, experienced, and dauntless seaman, who 

 knew every nook and inlet of the coast," was appointed pilot and sailing- 

 master, being later appointed to command. The vessel acted as guard- 

 ship on the Manukau Harbour, also being used as a despatch-boat between 

 that port and New Plymouth. Later, she was transferred to Auckland, 

 where she was chiefly used as a despatch -boat. I can find no record of her 

 being engaged in any action. Her commission ended on the 12th October, 

 1863, and she was sold out of the service, the purchaser being Captain 

 Davidson. Her name was changed back to " Ruby," and for many years 

 she traded between Wellington and Kaikoura . She was wrecked off Jackson 

 Head in 1879. 



An urgent call for help had been sent to Australia, and in reply the 

 Government of Victoria had lent its warship, the steam-sloop " Victoria," 

 Captain Norman, which arrived at New Plymouth on the 3rd August, I860, 

 bringing Major-General Pratt, C.E., Commander of the Forces in Australia, 

 and his staff. General Pratt took command of the troops in Taranaki 

 until the arrival of Lieut. -General Cameron in May, 1861, when he returned 

 to Australia in the " Victoria." The " Victoria " also brought a detach- 

 ment of troops from Australia during this period, and was engaged on the 

 coast on various duties, including the transferring of refugees from New 

 Plymouth to other ports. Officers and men from this vessel took part in 

 some of the Taranaki land engagements. 



On the 28th March, 1860, Captain Peter Cracroft, H.M.S. "Niger," 

 with a force of sixty men and a 24-pounder rocket-tube, landed and 

 captured the Maori pa at Waireka, Taranaki, incidentally relieving a party 

 of Volunteers who were in difficulties. This is the action in which Seaman 

 William Odgers won the first Victoria Cross to be awarded for service in 

 New Zealand. He was the first man to enter the pa, and he hauled down 



