AGAINST THE REBEL NATIVES.
67
A.—No. 3,
Either treachery has been at -work, or else this must be the work of a strong party moving from the Urewera country to Taupo. Messrs. Hallett report numerous tracks leading to Waitahanui, about fifteen miles from this, on the Lake. St. John.
Lieut.-Colonel St. Jonir to Hon. Colonel Hauxtain'. Opepe, 8 a.m., 10th Juno. (Query. Messenger left on 9th. —Telegraphist). Hate found seven bodies. Names—Sergeant Slattery, volunteer troopers Charles Johnson, Charles Poictier, Joseph Bedois, Ernest Lawson, Gillian Hector Eoss (both subalterns of Militia), John Cook. Te Kooti's letter, translation forwarded, says ten are killed, and one killed on the Bth. Tracks to Waitahanui show a very strong force. Bodies not mutilated. I return to Galatea to try and overtake the escaped, as they can have neither food nor blankets. The brothers Hallett have volunteered to take this on. Two more bodies found —Sergeant Dette* and Trooper Fred Gill. I have no time to write. St. Joh>-.
Hon. Mr. Eussell to Hon. Colonel HAUi-TAnr. Napier, 14th June, 1869. Lambeet had letters to-night, dated 11th and 12th, from Captain Birch, Patea, saying that Karaitiana (Patca) told him Te Kooti was at Tauranga, on the lake, with 300 fighting men, and women and children. Had killed one old man there, and burnt some whares. That he had killed tho scouts at Opepe on his way from Euatahuna. Was going to join the upper lake Hauhaus. Heu Heu and Kingi had gone to inform the Arawas of Te Kooti's whereabouts. That Hare Tauteku and his people had retired to Tauranga Eiri (I do not know where that is, but think it is not far from Patea Gorge, on the "Wangaehu, down where Hare has a pa that I slept at), leaving Paurini and a few people to watch Te Kooti; that Hare was going off to "Wanganui Eivcr to bring up some of his people. Hope Preece is in the " Sturt," should, go up to Taupo at once to gain reliable information. "We should hear from Paul Hapi to-morrow. Eussell.
Lieut.-Colonel St. Joh^ to Hon. H. Ettssell and Hon. Colonel Haultain. Fort Galatea, 10th June, 1869.—Napier, 17th June, 1869. Eeceived your telegram of the 4th this day. Eoberts, with 100 men, start to-morrow for Eunanga. As I consider a smaller garrison to be in danger, they take with them ten days' rations. You must supply them from your side, as it is with the greatest difficulty I have managed to send on rations. I have only sixteen pack-horses, and tho dray service has broken down. No oxen, and the horses bringing only five hundred pounds each trip from Fort Alfred to Fort Clarke. Heavy rain, has delayed the making of the road. Despatches from Napier for me have been intercepted, and one of the orderlies killed; either Donald or Black. I think the service of orderlies would be safe if a post were at Arawhata, but I have not enough men to put a sufficient force there, and a small post would only invite attack. St. George goes with Eoberts. No one else knows the country. Eoberts is to take up post at junction of Patea and Opepe tracks. St. John.
Lieut.-Colonel St. Jon>~ to Hon. H. Eussell and Hon. Colonel Haultain. Napier, 17th June, 1869. llTn. —The Native pack-men have bolted with their horses; I therefore can send only six days' rations with Eoberts. If you cannot supply him in time from your side he must return here. It is absolutely impossible for me to feed his detachment. This desertion has left me quito helpless, as far as transport goes. lam powerless to move up anything. Telegraph to him at once as to what ho is to do—whether to remain or return. The orderlies will wait for an answer. Eoberts is told to march on to the junction of tracks near Helyer's wool-shed. St. John.
Captain St. Geoege to Hon. H. Kitssell and Hon. Colonel HAriTAiu. Port Galatea, 11th June, 1869.—Napier, 17th June, 1869. The last I received from you was 27th May. Your telegrams of 30th May and Ist June I have not received ; orderly carrying them believed to be killed, and letters taken by Te Kooti; envelopes of letters seen on the track by later orderly. I marched up with Major Eoberts to Eunanga. I have protested to Lieut.-Colonel St. John about doing so, as I consider it of the utmost importance that I should return to Tapuaeharuru with a force of Arawa, as St. John cannot let me have any Pakeha. Tapuaeharuru is the key to "Waikato via north end of the lake. Te Kooti has got the south end ; Poihipi and others must give in if Te Kooti goes that way, if not supported. I believe they and the Ngatitahaha would be all right if supported at once. I have written to Civil Commissioner Clarke, Tauranga, for force of Arawa. St. Geoege.
Lieut.-Colonel St. Johx and Captain St. Geoege to Hon. Colonel Haulta^. Te Arawhata Tawhito, 11 p.m., 12th June.—Napier, 17th June, 18G9. Major Eobeets, three officers, myself, and fifteen men, A.C., are here (opposite Heru-iwi). Lieutenant Thompson and six men started from here this morning with telegrams for you. About ten miles from here, opposite Marinaru, he came across the tracks of about twenty-five of the enemy's * Sergeant Dette has since reached Fort Galatea.