A.—No. 3f.

No. 1. Copy of a Letter from Major Bitowir to Mr. C. E. Hatjgiiton. Tarauaki Militia and Volunteer Office, Sib,— New Plymouth, 2nd April, 1869. I havo the honor to transmit, for tho information of the Hon. Colonel Haultain, a resolution passed by a public meeting (which I havo obtained from the Chairman), imputing blame to myself in the first instance, and generally to the authorities here, in reference to a communication from the Hon. Colonel Whitmore to myself. On receipt of this letter it appeared to me that, in the absence of active hostilities in this district, it was my duty to submit the action I proposed to take for the approval of the chief civil authorities, His Honor the Superintendent and Mr. Commissioner Parris, who approved of tho memorandum I laid before them on the subject. I accordingly wrote to Colonel Whitmore enclosing copy of it, and informing him that the expedition to co-operate with him was in progress. Further information received during the day by His Honor and Mr. Parris appeared to His Honor to render a reconsideration desirable of the approval they had given, and a discussion took place in the evening, at which I saw no reason i'or countermanding the expedition. At about midnight His Honor and Mr. Commissioner Parris withdrew tho approval they had previously given, for the reasons shown in the memorandum of which I enclose a copy, and I accordingly countermanded the expedition. In this matter I assumed the position that Colonel Warre did when the "Lord Worsley " was wrecked, when he was anxious to move a force to the relief of the passengers and crew, but in the absence of active hostilities awaited the approval of the Superintendent before doing so; the approval was withheld, and the force did not move. I have, &c, The Acting Under Secretary, Chaeles Brown, Major, Colonial Defence Office, Wellington. Commanding Militia and Volunteers.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1. Tiiat an application for assistance in men having been made to Major Brown, as the officer in command of the Taranaki Militia, by Colonel Whitmorc, who stated that with such assistance it might be possible to effectually crush Titokowaru, we, the settlers of Taranaki, most indignantly protest against the withholding such assistane-e by those in authority, particularly as it did not represent either the wishes of the men detached for the service, or the views of the settlers themselves. W. H. Hulke.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1. Copy of a Letter from Colonel Wihtmoee to Major Brown. Sir,— Tc Ngaere, 24th March, 18G9. I have the honor to inform you that Titokowaru is, or was yesterday, at this place, where I have been delayed i'or thirty-six hours already by tho difficulty of getting through the swamp ; he has no other retreat than by the well-known AVaitara track. I write to suggest that you should collect a party to go by that route and waylay it as near Te Ngaerc as possible, lighting no fires except two hours after dark, and concealing their whereabouts as much as possible. I learn that Tc Ngaere is one good day's walk from Waitara, (Upper) Ngatiinaru country. There is no practicable route from this place round this great swamp or lake, on a promontory of of which the kainga stands ; as yet I have not been able to bridge it. being necessarily obliged to work at night, and very much crippled by the dark in making progress. I hope to-night to be more successful; yesterday I tried and failed, being afraid of being seen, and having tried a bad line. Titokowaru's force is short of ammunition, dejected, and much reduced by desertion. They have been hunted from camp to camp, often obliged to break up twice in the day, and they will not stand anywhere;—you may therefore safely take some risk, and if your men carry like mine did four days' rations, there will be no difficulty in carrying out this operation, which must ensure cutting off the enemy if he tries to retreat again. As nothing can be of greater importance than this, I trust you will not allow any trifling obstacle to prevent its being carried into effect. I have, &c, The Officer Commanding, New Plymouth. G-. S. Wuitmoke, Colonel. P.S.—My fear is that, unless caught as I propose, Titokowaru may obtain an asylum and rest in your district, and hereafter, like ihe snake revived in the bosom, turn round and bite Taranaki. He will never again be so hard pressed, short of powder as he now is. ' Gr. S. W.

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST REBEL NATIVES.