OE MR. McLEAN ON THE EAST COAST.

11

A.—No. 4a.

No. 15. Copy of a Letter from His Honor D. McLean to the Hon. J. C. Richmond. Sis, Napier, 18th November, 1868. The several telegrams daily forwarded by me will have already advised the Government of leading events on this Coast, and of the steps which have been taken for the public safety. The latest reports from Poverty Bay are up to the 15th instant. I enclose a letter of that date from Captain AVestrup, which corroborates the melancholy intelligence already received, that 34 Europeans and 15 Maoris are known to have been killed by Te Kooti and his followers. Some of the incidents connected with this tragedy are too painful to relate, and I shall therefore for the present abstain from doing so. The steps that have been taken since this catastrophe may be briefly summed up as follows : — A reinforcement of 70 Natives of Karaitiana's tribe, with Captains AVestrup and Tuke, were immediately despatched for the relief of Poverty Bay by the " Ahuriri," which afterwards proceeded with letters to all the most important Chiefs of the East Coast to warn them of what had occurred, and to prepare them in case their services should be required. J. H. Campbell, Esq., late Resident Magistrate, was instructed to proceed to Waiapu to confer with the Chiefs Mokena and others, and keep the Government advised of occurrences in that part of the Island. A copy of his instructions are herewith enclosed. Ihaka Whanga and about 70 of his men were, with 20 refugee settlers from Poverty Bay, embarked at Whangawehi and taken on to Turanga. On the evening of the 16th, 15,000 rounds of rifle ammunition, 40 stand of arms, some tents, and 22 men of the Constabulary Force were despatched by the " Star of tho South" to Poverty Bay. To Mohaka, where a small band of Settlers and Natives are determined to hold their own, I sent per " St. Kilda " 6 stand of rifles and 10 casks of ammunition. Capt. AVestrup having given the strength of the enemy at 500, states that a larc;e European force is absolutely necessary to ensure success, and that for attack in the field 500 mixed forces would be requisite, also 200 for garrison duty. Considering that the safety of other Settlements would be secured by taking prompt steps with reference to Poverty Bay, I chartered the "Ahuriri" to proceed to Hick's Bay and the East Coast to obtain more reinforcements from the Ngatiporou Tribe, while about 200 of the Napier Natives accompanied by their chiefs Renata, Hapuku, and Tareha, have volunteered, and this day proceed to Poverty Bay in the " St. Kilda." Notwithstanding these large reinforcements, I cannot conceal from the Government the necessity for stationing a few companies of the Imperial Troops at AVairoa and Poverty Bay, and of providing a reliable European Force to take the field with the Natives. Without European aid, however eager and willing the friendly Natives may he to fight, it is scarcely to he expected, more especially if they meet with any reverse, that they will carry on a continuous warfare, although quite ready to take the field for occasional expeditions. Great credit is due to them for the aid and co-operation they have already afforded. I do not apprehend any immediate danger to Napier or its vicinity, but as a precautionary measure and to accustom the inhabitants to such discipline as will enable them to take their respective positions in case of attack, Captain AVray, of the 18th Pegiment, has kindly undertaken to form a night patrol with the Militia and A rolunteers, which will give the officers and men of those forces an opportunity of becoming acquainted under military direction with picquet and patrol duty. On the Northern frontier, towards Taupo, the place is not guarded against a surprise, and I have, therefore, considered it prudent to call upon the Settlers on the line of road from Meanee to Pohue to organise a system of communication by which they would be at once apprised of any movements of the enemy, besides having the opportunity of hearing direct from Napier any rumours from other portions of the Province. A copy of the instructions for this arrangement is herewith enclosed. Notwithstanding the measures that have been adopted, I feel that the Government should not relax in its endeavours to secure such a force as will suppress the present insurrection, and the sooner this is done the more speedily will the war on this coast be settled. The Government may rely upon my using every endeavour to assist in tho present emergency, but I feel it necessary to suggest that during a period of hostilities all instructions to, and letters from the different Military Officers on the Coast should come through me; I cannot but think it will be impossible to insure a successful carrying out of military plans where mixed forces are employed if even a semblance of divided authority is allowed to prevail. I herewith enclose copy of instructions to Mr. Hamlin, by whom I forwarded several letters to the leading chiefs of the East Coast of which I have not time to furnish copies. I also enclose translations of letters from the chiefs Henare Potae, Hirini te Kani, Ihaka Whanga and Hamiora Porourangi to whom I have sent acknowledgments. It appears that a few of the friendly Natives who joined the enemy voluntarily or from fear have been shot, and that Paratene Potote, a chief of high rank and excellent character, was with six others tied up preparatory to their being killed ; Paratene had previously returned all the rifles in his possession to the Government stores at Turanganui. I consider the Government has been most fortunate in the present juncture in securing Captain Westrup to command at Poverty Bay, cordially aided as he is by Captain Tuke and Lieutenant Gascoigne. It will be seen by Captain Westrup's letter that the friendly chiefs Henare Potae and Hirini have done good service, which entitled them to marked consideration by the Government. Ihaka AVhanga, who marched with 70 of his followers to the relief of Poverty Bay, also deserves the greatest credit for his conduct and example. I should not omit to mention that the A Tenerable Archdeacon L. Williams has done good service to the Colony by the excellent counsel imparted by him to both Europeans and Natives as well as by the courage and fortitude he has displayed during a period of unusual difficulty and anxiety. I have, &c., Donald McLean.