HISTORICAL REVIEW OF NEW ZEALAND. 



'057 



British loss was one killed and eleven wounded. Convinced that he had no timorous 

 enemy to cope with, the General determined to make more formidable preparations 

 before advancing further, and a delay of fifteen weeks therefore ensued, during which 

 the "Maoris entrenched themselves at Mere- 

 mere, which commanded the River. 



Meanwhile, in September, 1863, a party 

 of the enemy, about two hundred strong, was 

 encountered by Captain Lusk and his Forest 

 Rifle Volunteers, in the dense bush which- 

 environed Mauku, a settleraent about thirty- 

 four miles from the Manukau, and after a 

 fight from tree to tree the 

 enemy retreated with a 

 loss of six killed. Another 

 affair of slight importance 

 took place at the Puke- 

 kohe Church, some eight 

 miles distant, on the i5th. 

 The series of skirmishes 

 culminated on the 23rd 

 of October, in a desperate 

 action which has been 

 termed the " Battle of 

 Bald Hills." Three hun- 

 dred of the Ngatimania- 

 poto, under two of Rewi's 

 relatives, together with 

 fifty of the Ngatiporou, 



eluding the vigilance of . '.,,,;, 



the British forces which 

 confronted the enemy at 

 Meremere, passed safely 



down the Waikato River, and landing below Tuakau, avowed their determination 

 to kill all the settlers between that place and Auckland. Fortunately, the Mauku 

 Stockade was garrisoned by Captain Lusk and his company of Forest Rifle Volun- 

 teers, besides twenty men of the First Waikato Regiment, under Lieutenant Per- 

 cival, while at the Church farther up the valley were thirty men of the same regi- 

 ment under Lieutenant Norman. Captain Lusk, in reconnoitring, came upon a party of 

 the enemy evidently intent upon shooting cattle. He sent for assistance,, and meanwhile 

 entrenched himself in the Church Redoubt. After waiting about six hours without any 

 sign of activity on the side of the enemy, Lieutenant Percival determined to make a 

 bold push and compel the Maoris to show their hand. He therefore brought on an 

 engagement, and Captain Lusk moved out to his support. The enemy retired to the 

 edge of the forest, where it subsequently transpired the rest of their force lay concealed. 



THE RATTLE-FIELD OK MAUKU. 



