A.—No. 4.

attacked by superior numbers. What is most to be apprehended is an irruption of rebels into our settlements on the south side of the Wanganui river. No advantage that we can possibly gain north of the Waitotara would compensate for the loss of life and property which would in that case bo inevitably sustained by the settlers. Our proceedings are something like those of a man who, living in a glass house, is constantly throwing stones at the blackguards about him. All the well-to-do settlers are I believe aware of the folly of this cruise, and deprecate the war, but the shopkeepers and settlers, greedy of land, of course delight in its continuance. I have, &c., D. A. Cameron, His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B. Lieut-General. No. 20. Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron to His Excellency the Governor. Sib, — Head Quarters, Wanganui, 29th January, 1865. I have the honor to forward for your Excellency's information a cojty of a letter I have written to Colonel Warre, com mandiug the troops at Tarauaki, relative to the proposed march of a flying column under his command down the Coast to the Patea Eiver, alluded to in the confidential Eeport of the 25th instant, a copy of which will have been forwarded to your Excellency. I have, &c, D. A. Cameron, His Excellency Sir George Grey, X.C.8., &c, <fee, &c. Lieut.-General. Enclosure to No. 20. Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron to Colonel Warre. Sir, — Head-Quarters, Wanganui, 29th January, 1865. I am directed by the Lieutenaut-General Commanding to acknowledge the receipt of your confidential Eeport of the 25th instant, No. 4, and to convey to you the following remarks relative to the proposed march of a flying column down the Coast from Taranaki to the Patea Eiver. The Lieutenant-General considers that the march of a small column so great a distance, and through a country so little known, would be hazardous, except on the assumption that it would meet with little or no opposition ; for a body of natives of less than half the strength of the column with which you have proposed to march down the Coast, strongly entrenched on your lino of march in a position that you could not turn, would effectually bar your progress ; and as you would march without artillery and other means necessary to enable you to dislodge them, you would be compelled to retrace y rour steps, a measure which would have a bad moral effect. On the other hand, should your column be unopposed, the Lieutenant-General thinks that little advantage would be gained by its mere march down the Coast beyond a diversion in his favor, in which respect it might certainly be useful; but as your column would commence its march from too distant a point to produce any effect in the way of a diversion until it had accomplished the greater part of the distance between the Patea and the Stoney rivers ; and as you might be detained a considerable time by the difficulties of the road, or stopped altogether, as above explained, it aj>pears to the LieutenantGeneral that, should it become desirable to employ any of the troops under your command in co-operation with him, it would be better to bring them round to the Patea or Wanganui Rivers by sea, which could be done in a few hours without any of the uncertainty attending the march by land. Should, however, anything occur to render the proposed march of a column down the Coast advisable, the Lieutenant-General approves of the arrangement detailed in your memorandum on the defence of the settlement during its absence. I have, &c., Colonel Warre, C.8., Geo. Dean Pitt, Commanding Troops, Taranaki. Major, Acting Military Secretary. No. 21. Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron to His Excellency the Governor. Sir.— Head-Quarters, Wanganui, 30th January, 1865. I have the honor to submit for your Excellency's consideration whether, under present circumstances, it is not advisable to apply at once for reinforcements from England. Our last engagement with the rebels near Nukumaru has shown that they have concentrated a large force, and are likely to offer the most determined resistance to our advance through this difficult country. I fear that with the force at my disposal the operations are not likely to be of a decisive character, or to fulfil the objects for which your Excellency was desirous they should be undertaken in this country. I need not point out the great encouragement which the rebels will derive from seeing our only remaining disposable force involved in operations which its strength is not sufficient to bring to a successful termination, and the temptation it holds out to them to attack some one of our unprotected settlements. I would therefore recommend that your Excellency should apply by the first opportunity for a reinforcement of at least 2000 men, and for a still larger reinforcement if, in addition to the occupation of the country between Wanganui and the Patea, the road between Taranaki and Wanganui is to be opened and more land is to be confiscated and occupied north of the Waitara, which I understand to be the plan of the Colonial Government approved by your Excellency I have, &c., D. A. Cameron, •. His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B. Lieut.-General.

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GOVERNOR AND LIEUT.-GENERAL CAMERON.