OF MR. McLEAN ON THE EAST COAST.

No. 4a.

5

I make this offer apart from any political consideration, conceiving it to be the duty of every colonist to assist at a time like the present, also from a desire to avert war if possible, and to induce co-operation on the part of the friendly natives. The interests at stake are so great, that in undertaking to act for the Government, I feel it my duty to state that I should expect to have such co-operation and support as the circumstances required, with authority to initiate and carry out negotiations with the natives, and to control the actions of all officers, military or otherwise, that might have the effect of disturbing the peace of the district. Wellington, 10th October, 1868. Donald McLean.

No. 7. Memorandum by Mr. Richmond. In reference to Mr. McLean's Memorandum of the 10th October, the Government are willing to accept the offer therein made of assistance in settling the differences which exist with the Natives of the Northern part of Hawke's Bay and the East Coast. They will authorise Mr. McLean to make such arrangements as may be necessary to secure the alliance of the tribes hitherto loyal, and to satisfy the hostile and those inclined to hostility, that so long as they remain quiet no action will be taken against them. The Government will give every facility at their command for carrying out such negotiations, and will treat with much attention all Mr. McLean's recommendations as to the location and movements of the Colonial Forces within the District. They hope very shortly to place a small trained force in the District as a nucleus for defensive organisation. The Telegraph will generally facilitate prompt communication with head-quarters, but. failing that means, they will support Mr. McLean in any action necessitated by an emergency. Ministerial authorisation must in every case be obtained before any engagement for the payment of money is entered into. It is intended that the steamer " Sturt" should be despatched in a few days to visit the settlements on the East Coast, passing on to Auckland, and returning without delay by the same route. The earliest possible notice will be given of her readiness, and she will be for a time at Mr. McLean's command. AVellington, 12th October, 1868. J. C. Richmond.

No. 8. Copy of a Letter from Mr. J. D. Osmond to the Hon. Colonel Haultain. Sir,— Napier, 23rd October, 1868. The " Ahuriri" leaving for AVellington, affords me the opportunity of sending you more detailed information as to the position of affairs at Wairoa than the telegraph has permitted. Mr. McLean and Mr. Richmond, I presume, sent you full accounts up to the time of their leaving. I will therefore commence from then. At the time they were embarking for Wairoa, despatches arrived from Mr. Deighton and Capt. Tuke, dated the day before, i.e., October 18, 1868. Copies of these despatches I now enclose. These despatches Mr. Richmond saw. From their contents you will gather that both Mr. Deighton and Capt. Tuke led us to believe that the enemy was within three miles of the town of AVairoa, at a place called Scamperdown Creek, and that an attack upon the settlement was expected. Former letters from Mr. Deighton and Capt. Tuke (copies of which were sent to Mr. Richmond by a former opportunity) had led us to expect this result. The arrangements that had been made by Mr. McLean prior to Mr Richmond's arrival, to meet the difficulties in which the AVairoa settlement was reported to be, were as follow : —A contingent of friendly Natives from here was asked to go to the support of AVairoa —this they agreed to do. and about 100 or 120 men accordingly went. The " Star of the South" was chartered at £40 a day to take supplies, ammunition, and the Hawke's Bay Natives to AA rairoa, and she was then to have gone on to the East Coast to bring down such assistance from the Ngatiporou Tribe as Mr. McLean could obtain. These arrangements were all approved by Mr. Richmond upon his arrival here, the only difference being that the " St. Kilda" took the place of the " Star of the South" so far as transporting the Ngatiporou was concerned. The " St. Kilda" was unable to land Messrs. Richmond and McLean at Wairoa, they consequently went on to the East Coast for the Ngatiporous with no further information than they had before leaving Napier. Mr. McLean expected to obtain the services of from 200 to 30C men from the Ngatiporou Tribe, and I consider that the " St. Kilda" will in all probability be back at the AVairoa to-morrow, and may be here (if the weather at Wairoa is suitable for communication) by Sunday afternoon. The plans which I have just detailed will place at Wairoa, upon the arrival of the Ngatiporou, the following force according to my estimate: — Ngatiporou ... ... ... ... 250* Ihaka Whanga ... ... ... ... 80* Paora Rerepu (from Mohaka) ... ... ... 40* Hawke's Bay Natives ... ... ... ... 120* Wairoa Friendlies ... ... ... ... 150 AVairoa Militia and Volunteers ... ... ... 100 Armed Constabulary ... ... ... ... 40* Total ... 780 Those marked * are all on pay. 2