A.—No. 3

68

PAPEES EEEATIVE TO MILITAEY OPEEATIONS

horse. Recognized the tracks of some of the horses as belonging to the men killed at Opepe. They had only passed a few minute, as the dung was still warm. Thompson halted for a few minutes, when he heard the voices of Natives coming up a valley, evidently following their cavalry. He then turned and galloped back here, and was sent on at once to Fort Galatea with the news. The enemy came from the direction of Opepe, and are the force (or part of) that went to Taupo the other day. We are about twenty miles from Galatea. Enemy evidently gone to Heru-iwi, six or seven miles from here. Most likely will attack some of the lower outposts if he is in force. I am inclined to think that it is only a party of cavalry sent out to intercept orderlies. Roberts stays here for orders. Orderly starts at daylight, so I write to-night. St. Joiin. The two men who take this go up Rangiora. The short road via Maniania ought not to be taken by orderlies. A troop of cavalry would be invaluable ; they would be able to turn the tables on the enemy ; but they ought not to be used for any other purpose. St. George. 13th June, 10 p.m. Orderlies started this morning with the telegrams, but returned afternoon, saying that they had fallen across eight of the enemy's cavalry. The few orderlies that 'are here are regularly frightened. However, I have got two (Raymond and Cook) to promise to start at midnight. I have told these men to get fresh horses wherever they can, and have given them a letter to this effect. If they succeed in delivering this telegram I hope that the Government will remember their services. Roberts has just got orders to return at once to Galatea. By letter from Galatea I find that the orderly that carried your letters to me of the 30th May and Ist June was killed by enemy. His fellow-orderly returned to Galatea yesterday, his horse having been shot under him. Some of enemy's cavalry at Heriwiwi, not certain about infantry. St. George.

Major Lambert to Hon. Colonel Haultain. Napier, 18th June, 18G9. Te Haroto, 18th June, 1569. —Paul Hapi, with twenty men, thirty women and children, just arrived. He informs me that Te Kooti has killed, six men and fifteen women and children of his people. I have given them provisions. Te Kooti is at Tauranga (Taupo). I have sent a party to Runanga for the purpose of ascertaining if the troops from Galatea, under Roberts, have arrived. It will not be safe to forward supplies until they appear. Napier Natives not arrived. I fancy we can do without them. Lambert.

Captain St. George to Hon. Colonel Haultain. Sir,— Tapuaehararu, 2ith June, 18G9. I have the honor to send the following report. Te Kooti is now at Moerangi, a few miles from the southward of the Lake ; he has only 100 men with him and intends to make a stand ; he has sent letters to the Hauhaus and a few friendlics on the western shores, asking them to join him, but I hear they decline to do so. The King party are also against him, as far as I can make out. On his march up to the eastern shores he destroyed Te Hatepc and killed one man (perhaps two) ; he then went on to Tauranga (Taupo), where he stayed for some days, and the people of that place joined him. He then went on to Tokau and "Waihi —l hear that he burnt those places. Hare Tauteka and Kingi bolted in the direction of Wanganui. To Heu-Heu and Paurini joined him, perhaps were taken prisoners, but the general idea is that they joined willingly. They certainly could have got away if they had liked, as they were on board canoes ready to start when Te 'Kooti's messengers arrived at Waihi. From the Hatepe or Tauranga the Urewcra portion of Te Kooti's force returned towards their own country. I fancy that they had a split. As far as I can make out there were about 100 Urewera: this was the party that I mentioned in my telegram of 13th instant. Hohepa Tamamutu and thirty men have gone round the Lake as far as Te Hatepo to look for stray friendlies that may be hanging about the kainga. They are to return to-night. I have now here sixty-three Taupos and 100 Ngatiwahakauc, I think a sufficiently large force to attack Moerangi; certainly large enough if they were Pakeha. If there had been a force here when Te Kooti was at Tauranga, we could have got round him completely by canoes. I have enough canoes to carry at least 100 men. I have just heard that 100 more Arawas are on their way up. I have received nothing from you since your telegram dated (I think) the 4th instant. My telegrams of 12th and 13th instant were the last I have sent. I fear the return of the force from the Arawhata to fort. I went round via Maketu and Rotorua to get people to come to the assistance of Taupo. There is one orderly here now belonging to the Tauranga side, and lam obliged to send him on with this. The great difficulty is orderlies ; Maoris are of little use, they often will call at a kainga on their way, and stay two or three days; and besides, they would not travel the road now. One Pakeha orderly that I had refused to go. The men who took my telegrams of 12th and 13th were fired on at Tearawhatahou, and came on hero; one of them (Raymond) got a fresh horse, and started on the evening of the lGth. I only heard this two days ago at Rotorua; till then I thought that they had got through all right. 25th, morning.—This letter was to have started last night, but no horse could be got. A prisoner escaped from Te Kooti came in this morning. He says that Te Kooti is on his way now to attack this place ; he comes via the western side of the Lake and past Oruanui. "We are all right if he does attack, and. do not want any help. In haste. St. George.

Hon. Mr. Russell to Hon. Colonel Haijltain. Napier, 2Gth June, 1869. I send abstract of Stevenson's reports of Opcpe affair. Ton will observe the Natives are said to have been well clothed ; this would lead to conclusion that these were the party who plundered Hudson's