A.—No. 3

64

PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS

I will send a six-pounder Armstrong gun by her for Herrick, and the " Sturt" will be able to take it on from Napier to Wairoa. I suppose Bopata will take advantage of " St. Kilda" and go to Tuparoa. Hold on to Henare Tomoana, we may want him, for we must not fail at Waikare for lack of a few men, and no doubt Urewera will muster strong at Tiki Tiki. The gun itself weighs 3 cwt., and ought not to be too much for a sleigh. I hope Whitmore will bring two or three of the small mortars in the " Sturt. " Haultain.

Hon. Mr. Bussell to Hon. Colonel Haultalk. Napier, 30th May, 18G9. Major Withers just in from Waikare-Moana. Left same time as despatches telegraphed last night. Beports men very cheerful; weather has been very fine and their being hutted. Plenty firewood. Camp on banks of small lake and on edge of a bush. Commenced sawing timber for boats building, small boat within ten miles. " St. Kilda's " whaleboat going up also. Pontoons start to-morrow. Withers says twelve pack-horses must be sent forthwith or Commissariat will fail. Enemy appears numerous and busy. Are you sending lots of shell ? Withers says round shot are no good. What about an artilleryman ? Have you any in Wellington ? —if not, we should get Sergeant Harper from Auckland by "Ahuriri." Attend to this. I shall send pack-horses overland at once. Withers says road to Wairoa very bad in places; wants five or six men for a fortnight to put it to rights. Provincial Government will do nothing. If not repaired, our communication cannot be kept up after rain sets in. Shall I get this done ? Bopata went with Hamlin to select 100 to 150 men on Friday night. Took steamer all that time to discharge. " Sturt " had not arrived. Bussell.

Hon. Mr. Eussell to Hon. Colonel llaultain". Napier, 4th June, 1869. Despatches from Herrick dated Ist, 9 a.m. Weather had been unpleasantly wet and damp for two days, and was raining heavily. Constant mist up there. Men making themselves tolerably comfortable, especially Natives, who had constructed elaborate whares in anticipation of snow and frost. Another large plantation of potatoes discovered by Ngatiporous on the Ist; had returned laden with them and some apples. Herrick proposes, if reconnoisance towards Putahi is favourable, to detach say 200 men to get round lake in that direction, so as to make a combined attack by sea and land, and thus cut off retreat. Begrets Whitmorc could not get his Natives to come on to Waikare, as enemy must have been confined to their position by such movement; at present they can retire to Euatahuna or Maungapowhatu. Does not think Bopnta is favourable to your getting more men for West Coast, as he says we want all here. Boats and rafts progressing. Supplies kept well up. Bussell.

Hon. Mr. Bussell to Hon. Colonel Haultaix. Napier, 10th June, 1869. Herrick writes, sth June, that place fixed on by him for a redoubt turns out to be tapu"d. Natives do not like disturbing it ; old burial ground; they woi-k at it as if afraid of some fearful disease in legs which will lay them prostrate. Compromised difficulty by proposing Natives should bring palisading and Pakehas would put it up. While Herrick wrote, an old fellow was making a speech about it. Has another boat as far as Te Kuri. Pontoons at end of canoe navigation, boats being sledged up. Boads getting fearfully cut up. Country thoroughly saturated with incessant rain. Euemy keeping himself very quiet; rarely see anything of him except his smoke, and occasionally a canoe or two. Trust they are not bolting. Only one fine day for last week. Two officers laid up with had colds, and sent to Wairoa to recruit. Bussell.

Hon. Mr. Bussell to Hon. Colonel Haultain. Napier, 10th June, 1869. A Despatch from Herrick, dated the sth. Ho is getting on all right, but incessant rains for a week make the roads bad. He says enemy is very quiet, and is afraid they may be bolting. We must look out on the Taupo line or we shall have more mischief. We must also look out for this Province by way of Patea. Bussell.

lion. Mr. BtrssELL to Hon. Colonel Haultaix. Napier, 12th June, 1869. Despatch just arrived from Herriek, dated 9th June. Nothing of importance to say. Getting on quick as possible with dragging up pontoons and boat-building. Barely a fine day : either rain or mist. Potatoes exhausted. Finds men cannot work on pound of biscuit and pound of meat in that cold wet climate. No difficulty about transport of meat. Taken on himself to issue one and a half pounds meat. Bichmond authorized extra biscuit, but better to give meat, saves transport. Says he himself eats considerably above pound of meat. Asks me to get authority for extra issue. Biscuit procured in Wellington much better than Auckland ; stands packing better. Latter converted into powder when it reaches lake. Some flour got up can be used to advantage while stationary. One of the bullocks fell over cliff and was killed. "Will not give extra meat, if can be helped, to these lazy Natives. They object to do any fatigue, and all work comes on Pakehas. lam sending off despatch to Herrick at six, with Whitniore's order to send guides (15) to Haroto forthwith. I have suggested that they might be