AGAINST THE REBEL NATIVES.

11

A.—No. BA.

From the latest accounts there is no reason to believe that Te Kooti has left Rotoaira, and I trust that the force at Runanga will be able at any rate to prevent him from returning to the Urewera country. I would urge that it is most important that the friendly Natives at Tapuaeharuru should be supported by a European force under a judicious officer. It is one of the keys to the centre of the country, and is well worth supporting. I would advise that fresh instructions should be sent to Lieut.-Colonel Harington to send Inspector Roberts and his division there at once, and that authority should be given to increase the transport horses sufficiently to enable him to keep them supplied from Tauranga and Maketu. When the Constabulary arc posted at Tapuaeharuru, the Arawa Contingent at present there, and who arc seemingly tired of their employment, could be dispensed with. 1 have, &c, The Hon. the Defence Minister, Wellington. J. D. Ormond.

No. 8. His Honor J. D. Ormond to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Napier, 13th September, 1869. My reports upon Native and Defence movements have heretofore been made to the Honorable the Defence Minister, and my last communication to him was dated the 2nd instant. At that time, a considerable body of the Hawke's Bay Natives had started to support the friendly Natives of Taupo, who were threatened by Tc Kooti; a post at Runanga had at the same time been occupied by 130 Constabulary under Lieut.-Colonel Herrick with a similar object. Since that date I have kept the Hon. the Defence Minister fully informed by telegraph of all information that has reached me as to movements at Taupo and elsewhere. I will now endeavour to supply such fuller particulars as time will permit; but my time is very fully occupied, and my report must be necessarily hasty. On Monday evening, the 6th instant, Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell arrived here from Patca, having seen as he passed through that district the Patea, Wanganui, and Hawke's Bay Natives who were there assembled. He acquainted mc that the Patea Natives had fallen back before Te Kooti, but being reassured by the support of the Hawke's Bay Natives under Renata, then just arrived, they were about to advance again upon Taupo. The information he brought confirmed the report that Te Kooti was at Rotoaira, and had built pas there and at Tokano. I enclose a copy of the instructions which had been prepared for Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, prior to his coming to Napier, and which I handed to him for his guidance. I further directed him to return with all speed to Patea, to lead the Natives there assembled, to whom I accredited him; I also informed him of the position of Hcnarc Tomoana's force, and the necessity of supporting him as speedily as possible, by moving on Taupo. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell started back to Patca on Tuesday morning, and I fully anticipate the Patea force, numbering 150 men, would be at Taupo by Friday last, or Saturday at latest. I specially acquainted Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell with the desire of the Government that no advance should be made in pursuit of Te Kooti which would complicate matters with the W raikatos, and I am sure no such step will be taken ; —at the same time that I arranged the advance of the Patea force under Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, Henare Tomoana, with 160 men, was to move on South Taupo by way of Runanga and the shores of Taupo Lake; and he was promised support from Runanga, of such of the Constabulary as could be moved to assist him, should Te Kooti be still in that neighbourhood, and Lieut.-Colonel Herrick was instructed accordingly, and was to move to Henarc's. support, on hearing from him. Henare Tomoana moved in accordance with these arrangements, and reached Tauranga, a settlement on the south-east shore of Taupo Lake, on the Bth instant. By telegram received yesterday from Lieut.-Colonel Herrick from Runanga, I heard that he had received intelligence by way of Tapuaeharuru, that Te Kooti had attacked Henare at Tauranga on Thursday, the 9th September, with a force of one hundred foot, and eighty horse, afterwards supported by another hundred foot; but that Hcnarc had driven him back and killed three of his men, having two of his own men wounded, and that Tc Kooti had retreated to Tokano.' It was evident from this, that the Patea force under Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell had not reached Taupo, as the firing would have quickly brought them to Henarc's assistance. Lieut.Colonel Herrick also did not move with his force, as he awaited, as had been arranged, a direct messenger from Henare confirming Te Kooti's presence at Taupo; but from later information, it would appear that Henare was unable to send to Lieut.-Colonel Herrick, being hemmed in by the enemy, and that the reported retreat of Te Kooti was inaccurate. However this may be, the latest intelligence received brings information up to Saturday night, when heavy firing at Tauranga was heard at Tapuaeharuru, believed to have been a renewal of the attack upon Henare by Tc Kooti. The result of this engagement is not yet known, but I fear Henare was out-numbered, whilst I feel almost certain that Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell must have been in the vicinity of South Taupo on Saturday, and trust that he may have gone to Henare's assistance. Upon intelligence