A.—No. 12

40

PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS

to be of bad character. He states that he has been living at Pakaraka all along. There appears little doubt but that he has been with the enemy, or he would have been with the others of his tribe who remained neutral in Wauganui. I have kept them prisoners till I hear your wish concerning them. The woman and child I have given into the care of Mete Kingi. The man, after showing him that he had a narrow escape of being shot, I told I would spare his life provided he proved iiseful to me in getting at the Waitotara rebels, reported to be up the river. I have sent him out to Weraroa to start with an expedition I have organized for to-morrow, with the understanding that if he attempts to escape he will be shot. I have warned the Natives at Putiki, and sent up the Wanganui Biver a notice to all, that any Native now found in the Waitotara District runs the risk of being shot, aud that all well-disposed must keep away, or they will be treated as rebels. I leave to-morrow morning, with all my force, to endeavour to find those people where they are reported to be —up the River Waitotara. I take four days' provisions, though I may be away for a longer period, as I expect to find Maori supplies on my way. The country is reported to be very difficult of access. I have two canoes, one large and one small one, and hope to capture more :at any rate these will be useful. I have, &c, The Hon. Colonel Haultain, M. Noake, Major, Defence Minister. Commanding Wanganui Militia District.

No. 32. Copy of a Letter from Colonel Wihtmoee to the Hon. Colonel Haultaix. Sik,— Taranaki, Bth April, 18G9. I have the honor to report that, on the 3rd instant, a column under Major Kemp explored the neighbourhood of Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu, and returned without obtaining any traces of the enemy. On the next day I examined two of Titokowaru's women who had voluntarily come in, aud from their information taken separately, and from that of other Natives of Ahitana's tribe, on whom it appcai'ed that some reliance might be placed, I learned many particulars of Titokowaru's ilight, and that he had proceeded to the Upper Waitara. When the force surprised Te Ngaire, it now appears that at least seventy of Titokowaru's people (Araukuku, Ngatimaru, and Tangahoe fugitives) with all his women, except those who could keep up with the advance, were at the Kainga, and subsequently made off to follow his lino of retreat, though, to a slightly different part of the Ngatiinaru country. Under these circumstances, I decided to leave a sufficient force to prevent any scattered parties creeping back into the district, and to proceed as quickly as I could to Taranaki with the remainder of the force. The Wanganui Natives have returned to their homes, having, at my request, in going to Te Ngaire, already gone as a proof of good will beyond what is esteemed their district, and being anxious not to follow the force any further towards Taranaki. I have left the Ngatiporou with clear orders, and I think their well-known bush training will enable them to follow up any straggling parties, and to prevent any general return of any of the tribes lately in arms. With the rest of the force in two columns, I have moved to this place, and expect that all will be assembled at Waitara by the 10th instant. I shall further communicate with you on the arrival of the detachment which moved round by the back of Mount Egmont, when I shall know whether any trace of the enemy was found at Araukuku. I have, &c, The Hon. the Defence Minister. G-. S. Wjiitjiobe, Colonel.

No. 33. Copy of a Letter from Lieut.-Colonel St. John to Colonel Wiiitmore. Sib, — Mataitawa, 9th April, 18G9. I have the honor to report that, owing to No. 4 not joining me in time, I was obliged on the sth to camp at Fakake, at the entrance of the bush. At daybreak on the Gth I entered the bush with the force as per margin,* and by dusk reached the Patea Elver, on the banks of which I camped. I regret to state that on the march Lieut.-Colonel Fraser was struck down by an epileptic fit. I sent him to the rear on a stretcher with 20 men under Mr. Withers, and with Acting Assistant-Surgeon Leslie to attend him. The next day I started again at daybreak, and halted for dinner on the Mongonui (a branch of the Waitara). After passing through a bad bit of swampy ground, the scouts came upon a dead Maori, who had apparently perished from inanition. He had on his back a nearly healed bullet wound, and had been dead about three days. This day I halted earlier than usual, as the guide told me we had only six miles more to go and that there was no more water on the road. On the Bth I started as usual, and found the six miles lengthened out considerably, as I did not reach this post till 4.30 p.m. The track throughout is well defined, and is carried over the easiest bit of bush country I have ever travelled, it being a level plateau all the way till within about eight miles of this. The obstacles to our progress were the undergrowth of timber and supplejacks, the fallen trees and the numerous creeks, streams, and swampy gullies intersecting the plateau. We counted fifty-one of the first and twenty-four of the second ; the last were so numerous that I lost all count of them. In crossing them we were much aided by the remains of General Chute's corduroy roads. Most of the streams ran from west to east, and were very cold. Some eight miles from this we ascended a tolerably high hill, * Armed Constabulary : Inspectors, 2 ; Sub-Inspectors, 4; Acting Sub-Inspectors, 3 ; Sergeants, 17 ; Constables, 275 • Scouts, 12. Total, 313.