A.—No. Ba,

Then with the additional 3,000 men about Waimate and along the Taranaki coast belt (and this is one of the principal reasons for settling so many there), ready and able, at a short notice, to pour down to the assistance of Whanganui, we think the latter place might be considered safe; always considering that for some years, till the central country behind Whanganui is commanded, it must rely greatly for its immediate protection on the military force stationed, or to be stationed, there. The coast between Whanganui and Manuwatu would, perhaps, not require much defence, if the Natives that might reach it by Whanganui are cut off by the military jjosts and settlements in the last named district. It may, however, be reached from Taupo by the native track by Turangarere and Otara—by Taupo and Whanganui Natives. At a future day the country along this track will doubtless be covered with numerous settlements, as much of it consists of tolerably level forest land and open grassy valleys, up to the central Taupo terraces of grass land, interrupted by a considerable tract of broken forest land, between Turangarere and Otara. Were this line so settled and commanded, no doubt all this coast would be effectually protected from any Natives in the interior. At present we do not know any better plan than to place here and at Manawatu, 1,000 or 1,500 men, and to consider the Manawatu, from the sea-coast to the gorges, a line of defence from the sea to the great Tarirua and Ruahine Ranges, shutting the Natives on the West side and centre of the Island from all approach to thu settled districts about Wellington. The Native males, above fourteen, resident from Rangitikei inclusive to Wellington, comprising those in the Hutt Valley, are given in the last Census as 938 in number. It is proposed to settle about 2,000 men along this coast.— Some more, if thought necessary, could be placed here, taken from Auckland or Taranaki. The Eastern side of Wellington Province contains very few Natives. 500 or 1,000 settlers might be located in different places, so as to command the Upper Wairarapa and the road from the Manawatu Gorge pass by the Forty Mile Bush. The Tarirua Ranges form an effectual barrier against the West, especially with the Manawatu Gorge pass commanded ; and if the settlements were placed on some very fine land for such purposes, which lies at the entrance of the Forty Mile Bush, the approach to Wairarapa would be effectually cut off for any Natives from the bush. The great difficulty in settling this part of the country is the distance the settlers would be from a market or shipping place. But with Hawke's Bay protected, as is proposed, it would scarcely be necessary to place any here. Hawkis Bay. The defence of the Province of Hawke's Bay is, geographically speaking, comparatively a simple matter. The forested Ruahine Ranges run like a great impassable wall parallel to the seacoast from North to South on its West side, leaving only the openings (besides that of the Manawatu Gorge, already provided for, and through which indeed there are no Natives near enough ever to be likely to come) by the Gorge of the Tutaekure River, a little north of the latitude of Napier. This, and the Northern end of the mountain barrier, should be connected by settlements with the seacoast towards the North of the Province. As along this line the Province would be open to the Waikato and the numerous natives on the great tongue of land between Hawke's Bay and the Bay of Plenty (the point of which is the East Cape), it is proposed that at least 2,000 men should be stationed along it, in (say) twenty settlements, averaging 100 men each. This number is small considering the numbers of the Native tribes who might reach the Province from that quarter ; but the country is fortunately very open and, therefore, less likely to be invaded, as more easily defensible. The distribution of the 20,000 men would then be as follows : — Men. From Waikato Mouth and Raglan to Tauranga and Thames . . . 10,000 New Plymouth to Waimate path (on the North) . 1,000 Waimate path, South . . . 1,000 Coast from New Plymouth to Waitotara . 2,000 Whanganui .... 2,000 Manawatu to Pauahatanui . . . 1,000 Upper Wairarapa to Forty Mile Bush . . 1,000 North side of Hawke's Bay Province . . 2,000 20,000 Of course this distribution would be altered wherever its practical appliance in detail showed such alteration to be advantageous. Probably the number set down for Waikato is somewhat larger than would be required. In that case the excess might be given to Whanganui and the coast South of it, could land be got for the purpose. The above is a general sketch of a scheme of defence by settlement of the. country. It seems to show that 20,000 men are not too great a number for the objects to be attained, and perhaps may be quite sufficient, with the Military aid that must be continued for some years.

4

MILITARY SETTLEMENTS.