D.—No. 21.

Last year, out of eighty-five rifles, eighty-two were returned ; and I hope to get some explanation about the other three, now that the Kupapas are assembled together again. I have a roll of the Natives who received arms on this occasion, and shall be able to find out those who do not return them. I have, &c, Captain Holt, Under Secretary, Edward Gorton, Lieut.-Colonel, Colonial Defence Office, Wellington. Commanding W.M. District. E. —Enclosure in No. 48. Wanganui, 29th October, 1866. Required for Kupapas of Ngatihau, Putiki, and Ngatiapa — 8 Breech-loaders, pouches and belts, 34 Enfield medium rifles. W. E. Gudgeon, Lieutenant, N.C. N.B. —The Ngatihau have many of them arms; but they have left them behind, thinking they would get breech-loaders. W. E. Gudgeon, Lieutenant, N.C.

I exceedingly regret to be obliged to approve of arms being issued twice to Natives, but, as Lieutenant Gudgeon tells me my refusing it would most probably prevent the Kupapas from going to the front, I must approve of the issue, on the distinct understanding that every effort is used to get the arms back again before the Kupapas return to their homes. E. Goeton, Lieut.-Colonel, 29th October, 1866. Commanding W.M. District.

E.—No. 49. Copy of a Letter from Captain Holt to Major McDonnell. (No. 2110-2.) Colonial Defence Office, Sir,— Wellington, 3rd November, 1866. By direction of the Hon. the Defence Minister, I have the honor to transmit herewith, for your information, copy of a letter which has been received from Lieut.-Colonel Gorton, and to inform you that, on dismissing the Kupapas, you will (unless you see some special objection) take in the arms, &c, that have been issued to them. I have, &c, Major McDonnell, J. Holt, Commanding Colonial Forces, Patea, Under Secretary.

E.—No. 50. Copy of a Letter from Captain Holt to Lieut.-Colonel Gorton. (No. 2111-2.) Colonial Defence Office, Sir, — Wellington, 3rd November, 1866. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the number and date quoted in the margin, and, by direction of the Hon. the Defence Minister to inform you, that Major McDonnell has been instructed that, on dismissing the Kupapas, he is (unless he sees some special objectioU) to take in the arms, &c., that have been issued to them. I have, &c, Lieut.-Colonel Gorton, J. Holt, Commanding Militia District, Wanganui. Under Secretary.

No. 888, Oct. 30, 1866.

E.—No. 51. Copy of a Letter from Lieut.-Colonel Gorton to Captain Holt. (No. 944.) Militia and Volunteer Orderly-room, Sir, — Wanganui, 17th November, 1866. I havo tho honor to report, for the information of the Government, that out of the seventy-three medium rifles and fifteen breech-loading carbines issued to Kupapas last month, sixty-four and twelve have been returned into store, leaving a deficit of nine medium and three breech-loaders. There were other articles deficient, a return of which is annexed. I enclose copies of two letters from Lieutenant Gudgeon, explaining as well as ho is able how they became so. I may here state that it was with great difficulty the arms were obtained from those Kupapas who came in the " Waipara;" in fact, the permanent staff were employed in disarming the Natives as they left the steamer. Some of the Kupapas had rifles which had been issued to them for tho Wercroa expedition. I tried to get these from them ; they refused to give them up, and had I persevered it might have ended in a disturbance. Captain Holt, Under Secretary, I have, &c, Colonial Defence Office, Wellington. Edward Gorton, Lieut.-Colonel.

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ISSUED TO FRIENDLY NATIVES.