A.—No. Ba.

PAPERS RELATIVE TO

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No. 32. Copy of a Letter from Captain Holt to Major St. John. (No. 175-3.) Colonial Defence Office, Sin, — Wellington, 2nd April, 1868. I have laid before the Defence Minister your letter of the 17th ultimo, No. 88, containing a report of your proceedings consequent upon the information you had received of the murder of two friendly Natives at Ohiwa. Colonel Haultain has directed me to convey to you his approbation of the steps you have taken, and he hopes to hear that you have been able, with bettor success, to repeat your attempt to follow up and punish these murderers. With such difficulties in the way of communication, it is impossible to give you instructions that would apply to every contingency that might arise, but you are to use every effort to chastise these rebels ; and (not having already done so), if you see a reasonable prospect of inflicting a heavy blow, you are to employ all the men and means at your disposal to effect this object, obtaining however, as you have previously been instructed, the assent of Mr. Mair, before undertaking any expedition. I have, &c, Major St. John, J. Holt, Commanding Colonial Forces, Opotiki. Under Secretary.

No. 33. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. Colonel HAr/LTALW to Major St. John. (No. 191-3.) Colonial Defence Office, Sib,— Wellington, 15th April, 1868. In a report made by Major Mair of the proceedings of the expeditionary force which marched up the Waimana Valley under your command in the early part of last month, after stating that the Arawas had refused to proceed beyond Te Ponga, he adds, " The disinclination to advance was shared by the European part of the force, and on the morning of the 13th some of them stated on parade that they would not go a step further, and actually returned to camp." In your letter of the 17th March, No. 88, you have made no mention of this circumstance, which you ought not to have concealed from the Government. You are therefore -immediately to state all_ the particulars of the occurrence, and to explain why you omitted to do so in your previous report. Major St. John, I have, &c, Commanding Colonial Eorces, Opotiki. T. M. Hattltain.

No. 34. Copy of a Letter from Major St. John to the Hon. Colonel Haultain. (No. 128.) Sin,— Opotiki, 19th May, 1868. In answer to your letter No. 191-3, respecting a report from Major Mair touching " a disinclination to advance on the part of the European part of the force," I have the honor to state that the evening before the march on To Ponga Captain G-wynneth informed me that he had overheard some men among the Constabulary attempting to dissuade Natives from going on, and I informed Major Eraser of it. On the morning of the march some four or five men of the Constabulary did leave the ranks after marching off, and Major Eraser reported it to me, as also the fact that three of them had rejoined. I left the punishment of these offenders to him, and did not think this bad behaviour on the part of a few men necessitated a special report, especially as they were young lads not yet accustomed to military discipline. The rest of the men marched cheerfully enough, and I myself was asked by some of them at Te Ponga whether there was no chance of our guides being persuaded to go on if a subscription was started for them. 1 hoard plenty of grumbling at the defection of the Arawas, but beyond what I have stated above, I myself heard no men refusing to move on. Major Mair informs me that there must be some error in the words quoted within brackets ; as they stand at present, they carry a slur on the whole force. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Colonial Defence, J. H. St. John, Major, Wellington. Commanding Opotiki District.

No. 35. Copy of a Letter frotn Major St. John to Captain Holt. (No. 102.) U SlE,— Camp, Opotiki, 24th March, 1868. No further action having been taken by the rebels, I have suggested to Major Mair, E.M., that the Arawas be allowed to return to their homes, and as he has agreed with me the order will go to them to-morrow. Lieutenant Grundry has made a plan for the stockade, but Major Eraser has given him temporary leave, and ho has taken his plans for completion. I have therefore not yet been able to call for tenders, and have retained the Engineer Volunteers. A copy of my memorandum to to Major Mair and his answer are enclosed. I have, &c, The Under Secretarjr, J. H. St. Joiin, Major, Colonial Defence, Wellington. Commanding Opotiki District.