A.—No. 4,

I hear that you are still at Wanganui. I was anxious to hear whether you had considered it necessary to apply for the reinforcements I recommended, and what the friendly natives are about. I expect to hear that their supposed desire to attack the Wereroa Pa was all bounce, though both you and Mr. Mantell seem to have believed in it. However, if our operations should have the effect of drawing the greater part of the garrison out of the pa, which I expect they will, the friendly natives may have an opportunity of attacking it with some prospect of success. Colonel Weare marched from the Waitotara on Thursday night, and was caught in a dreadful gale of wind, with torrents of rain. The whole of his men and baggage had not crossed the Whenuahenu before late on Friday afternoon. They had great difficulty in fording the river, on account of the heavy surf breaking on the bar. The violence of the gale on these heights was such that my marquee, all the tents and marquees of the General Staff (except Dr. Mouatt's), and a great many of the men's tents were blown down, and about fifty of the latter so much torn as to be unserviceable. It was of course impossible to remove troops in such weather, but I hope to march to-morrow morning at seven o'clock. There is a report that we are likely to see you here again, but this I doubt, as from the flying nature of your visits you do not seem very fond of a camp. I have, Ac, D. A. Cameron, His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B. Lieut.-General. No. 42. His Excellency the Governor to Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron. My dear General, — Wanganui, 13th March, 1865. I had no news of any importance the other day to send you by the " Gundagai," I did not therefore trouble you with a letter. Pehi has taken the oath of allegiance, and returns a short distance up the river to-morrow. He sent back the party said to consist of two hundred men, which the Taupo chief's sent to his^assistance. I feel quite satisfied that the settlement of Wanganui is now quite safe, and that your mind may be at rest on that point. The Ministers tell me that you have a troop of thirty-two Irregular Cavalry now with you, which they will complete at once to fifty men, and that the captain appointed to this force, Captain Percy, shall join you at once with the additional men he raises. If you require more mounted men, they shall be raised as rapidly as possible. One hundred Bushrangers have been ordered here from Taranaki; if that place cannot furnish the number, it shall be completed by men from the Waikato. This body of one hundred men will be sent to Patea, unless you give orders to the contrary. Fifty Bushrangers are also to be raised at this place. They will be retained here to act in the country lying between Wanganui and Waitotara, until you give further orders on the subject. Captain Cameron's troop of Volunteer Cavalry will be brought up to a strength of fifty men, for service in the Wanganui district. Two hundred Military Settlers have been sent for from Taranaki, to occupy Patea permanently ; they will be at once sent on to the Patea, which we will afterwards occupy with other settlers. We had a dreadful gale of wind here on Friday, but the " Esk" rode it out at her anchors. lam sorry to hear that you suffered so much ; you must have had a very unpleasant time of it, as I know from experience, for I was on the Wanganui river in the worst part of the gale, and got a thorough soaking. I have thought it better to remain here for some time, so that I may be able to get any aid for you that it is in my power to procure, and to render myself useful in any way I can. You are mistaken about my not liking a camp : many of my happiest days have been passed in a camp, and I never enjoy life more than when I am in one. I have, Ac, G. Grey. P.S. —I see I have not answered that part of your letter which relates to the Wereroa pa. Mr Mantell tells me that when the natives arrived at Wanganui, elated with their late victory over Pehi, they were anxious at once to have proceeded against that place, but he did not feel justified on his own responsibility in allowing them to do so. Since that time many of them have dispersed, and although they have repeatedly pressed me on the point of their going there, I have thought it better for a little time to watch the course of events, and see what opportunities presented themselves, and what your movements may be, and what results flowed from these. Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron, X.C.8., Patea. G. Grey. No. 43. His Excellency the Governor to Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron. My dear General, — Wanganui, 13th March, 1865. I again talked over with the Colonial Ministers your recommendation that I should apply to England for a reinforcement of at least two thousand men. I found that it would be impossible for me to obtain their concurrence in such a recommendation, for various reasons which they stated at length. They came to this conclusion, entirely on their own convictions, and I came to the same decision for the following reasons : — I think it essential to the future peace of the country that the whole line of coast between this and Taranaki should be open to us, in fact, occupied by us, and that friendly relations should exist between us and the natives inhabiting that tract of country. The sooner these ends are gained, the more speedily will peace be restored to all New Zealand. Believing this, lam naturally anxious to see these ends attained as soon as possible.

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GOVEENOK AND LIEUT.-GENERAL CAMERON.