D.—No. 21

12

RETURN OE ARMS AND AMMUNITION

you, that the only arms belonging to the Government that have been issued to Natives are a few old muskets that were taken from the rebels. These were issued to some of the chief Kawakura's people, who are now in Government employ. I have, &c., The Under Secretary, Colonial Defence, William C. Lyon, Lieut.-Col., Wellington. Commanding Expeditionary Force.

D.—No. 10. Tauranga, 17th July, 1867. Go this my letter to Wellington, to the Governor. Friend, &c. Great is my regard for you. Friend, this is a word of mine to you. It was you sent the Whakatohea to live on the piece of land at Opape, and now we are killed by the Hauhaus, not having any guns to protect ourselves with; but now give them guns and they will live, or if you answer desiring me to take this word to you and speak face to face, in either case. Te Rangimatanuhu.

D.—No. 11. Copy of a Letter from Captain Holt to Major St. John. (No. 277-3.) Colonial Defence Office, Sir,— Wellington, 23rd August, 1867. I am directed to inform you that 20 percussion muskets and 4,000 rounds of ball ammunition have been sent to Lieut.-Colonel Harington, with instructions for the same to be forwarded on to you by the first opportunity. Twelve of these arms, with fifty rounds of ammunition for each, are to be issued to such of the Whakatohea Natives now residing at Opape as you, in conjunction with the Resident Magistrate, Mr. Mair, may consider suitable persons to be intrusted with them. Tou will be careful, however, to secure a personal receipt from each Native to whom you issue a musket, with an engagement from him to return the same whenever called upon to do so. The remainder of the twenty stand and the ammunition you will retain in store for the present. Tou will report fully on the steps you have taken in this matter, furnishing a nominal return of the Natives to whom you issue arms. I have, &c, Major St. John, J. Holt, Commanding Colonial Forces, Opotiki. Under Secretary.

D.—No. 12. Copy of a Letter from Major St. JonN to Captain Holt. (No. 310.) Sir, — Camp, Opotiki, 4th September, 1867. I have tho honor to acknowledge receipt of arms, as per margin, and to enclose a copy of the receipts given for the twelve stand issued to the Whakatoheas. Of the remaining eight, I have issued four, on Major Mair's requisition, to the Ngatiawas of Opape. I have, &c., The Under Secretary, J. 11. H. St. John, Major, Colonial Defence Office, Wellington. Commanding Opotiki District.

Percussion muskets, 20,

E.—No. 13. Copy of a Letter from Captain Holt to Major St. John. (No. 376-3.) Colonial Defence Office, Sir,— Wellington, 16th October, 1867. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter No. 311, of the 7th ultimo, covering a communication from Mr. Wilson as to a party of Hauhaus being at Ruatoki, and suggesting that the friendly Natives at Whakatane be armed. In reply, I am directed by the Defence Minister to authorize you to issue arms to those Natives. Mr. Mair and Mr. Wilson will bo able to point out the individuals to be trusted if, all are not; and, in making this issue, I am to request your careful attention to the instructions conveyed in mj letter of the 23rd August last, No. 277-3, as the same course in respect of taking receipts for the arms is to bo adopted in this case. The Colonial Storekeeper at Auckland has been instructed to send to your address, by the earliest opportunity, fifty percussion muskets (with fifty rounds of ammunition for each) ; but if, it be considered urgent that the Natives at Whakatane should be armed at once, you must issue such arms as you have on charge, exchanging the rifles you serve out for muskets when you receive the latter. Only twenty rounds of ammunition per arm are to be issued at one time to the Natives. I have, &c, Major St. John, J. Holt, Commanding Colonial Forces, Opotiki. Under Secretary.