A.—No. 4

I regret that the reasons I have given for not sending for reinforcements, appear to you to be the strongest reasons why they should be applied for. I have again considered the question, and I am quite satisfied that the decision at which I have arrived is the correct one, and can only regret that we should take different views of the subject. Mr. Volkner's murder has excited a general feeling of indignation throughout the country, and will, I believe, lead many Natives to declare themselves on the side of Government. I have not yet received any of my English letters, and therefore cannot send you any news. I have, Ac, Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron, K.C.B. G. Grey. No. 63. Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron to His Excellency the Governor. My dear Sir George,— Camp on the Waingongoro, 3rd April, 1865. I have answered your letter about the advances from the Commissariat chest, and have given the necessary orders to Mr. Jones on the subject. I have also had instructions sent to Mr. Strickland, who is now at Wanganui, to advance whatever may be necessary at oiice. We found no canoes at the place named in your letter, but there are several here, some of which we have used for bridging purposes, and we also saw some at the mouth of the Mata, near Waimate. These and those remaining here the natives can have whenever they come for them. I hope your operations up the Wanganui with the friendly natives and military settlers will have a good result. Pipiriki, according to your account of its situation, must be a point of some strategic importance, but rather far for us to occupy, and I fear that we have too many irons in the fire. If the defenders of the Wereroa Pa belong, as I believe, chiefly to Ngarauru and Ngatiraunui tribes, the closing of the communication with the Upper Wanganui will not have much effect as far as the Wereroa Pa is concerned. Major Eooke reports that he thinks there arc very few natives in the pa, which if I am right about the tribes, would be the natural consequence of our advance into this part of the country. It is very strange that with all our friendly natives we can get so little information. If Pipiriki is to be occupied because poor Captain Loyd's head was exhibited there, the same reason would exist for the occupation of almost every rebel settlement in the Island. After the letter I saw from Colonel Warre to Colonel Gamble, I am surprised to hear that the former was quite prepared for the withdrawal of the military settlers ; but if you are satisfied that Taranaki is quite safe all is right. I expressed an opinion that if the occupation of the whole country between Taranaki and Wanganui (not merely of the coast line) is to be effected in any reasonable time, reinforcements would be necessary ; but now I am very far from thinking that the Imperial Government ought to encourage the scheme by sending reinforcements. I presume the military settlers at Pipiriki and Koromiti are not supposed to be under my command. I have, Ac, D. A. Cameron, His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B. Lieut.-General. No. 64. The Assistant Military Secretary to His Excellency's Private Secretary. Sir, —■ Head Quarters, Camp Waingongoro, sth April, 1865. I have the honor, by direction of the Lieut.-Genera! commanding, to request that His Excellency the Governor will be good enough to cause a copy to be furnished of my letter of the 6th January, 1865, No. 4041, in order that the Lieut.-General may be enabled to give directions for carrying out the arrangements proposed by Commissary-General Jones, C.8., in his letter of the sth January, 1565 ; a copy of which was forwarded with my letter above referred to. I have, Ac, George Dean Pitt, (Major) The Private Secretary, Wanganui. Assistant Military Secretary. No. 65. Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron to His Excellency the Governor. Sir, — Head Quarters, Camp Waingongoro, 7th April, 1865. I have the honor to report to your Excellency, that in compliance with your instructions, I have advanced along the coast towards Taranaki as far as the Waingongoro river, and have established posts on the Waitotara and Patea rivers, at Kakaramea, Manawapou, and on the Waingongoro. I have now a moveable column left, of about eight hundred men, which I consider it uuadvisable for the undermentioned reasons, to reduce any further by occupying more posts along the coast. Ist. The communication with, and supply of some of the posts by sea, is extremely precarious. Since the force left the Patea on the 13th ultimo, we have only been able to disembark stores from a steamer on one occasion, and in trying to discharge a second steamer, the lives of four soldiers and two sailor 3 were lost by the upsetting of a surf-boat. Of four surf-boats, one has become entirely disabled, and two seriously damaged. A moveable force is, therefore, necessary to keep open the communications between the posts. 2nd. It is indispensable that there should be a Eeserve available for any emergency that may happen, in this or any other part of the island. At present, there is no Eeserve anywhere but here; the force at Auckland, Taranaki, and Tauranga, having been reduced to the lowest amount consistent with safety.

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GOVERNOR AND LIEUT.-GENERAL CAMERON.