AGAINST THE REBEL NATIVES.

A.—No. 8

13

No. 9. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to His Honor J. D. Ohmoxd. (Telegram). Wellington, 21st September, 1869. Your letter of 13th instant, upon Native and Defence matters, received and read by Ministers. The steps taken by you appear very judicious. W. Gisborne.

No. 10. The Acting Under Secretary for Defence to Lieut.-Colonel Harington. (No. 230-7.) Colonial Defence Office, Sir,— Wellington, 11th September, 1869. I have been desired by the Hon. the Defence Minister to instruct you to forward Inspector Roberts and his division of Armed Constabulary to Tapuaeharuru, Taupo Lake, there to remain until further orders. Mr. Ormond, the Government Agent at Napier, has offered to supply meat for Inspector Roberts' force via Napier, and will be instructed by this mail to do so; and the Defence Minister relies upon you to use your utmost exertions to provide the other necessary rations. It is of the utmost importance that this force should reach Tapuaeharuru at as early a date as possible, and you will be good enough to report the date on which it started for that place. I have, &c, St. John Branigan, Comr., A.C., Lieut.-Colonel Harington, Acting Under Secretary. Commanding Field Force, Tauranga. P.S.—You will please take steps to inform Mr. Ormond if any delay takes place in Inspector Roberts' departure; and if no delay occurs, you will inform Mr. Ormond of the date of the departure of the force, in order that he may arrange to supply the meat.—St. J. B.

No. 11. Lieut.-Colonel Harington to the Under Secretary for Defence. Sir,— Tauranga, 18th September, 1869. I havo the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 230-7, 11th September. Major Roberts' division will march for Tapuaeharuru on the 20th instant, and Mr. Ormond will be informed at once of the probable date of their arrival. You may rely upon every exertion being made to keep the Native and European force supplied with necessary rations; but at the same time I beg leave to inform you that, up to the last few days, neither Mr. Clarke, Civil Commissioner, nor myself have been able to get any Natives to undertake the transport from Kaiteriria to Tapuaeharuru. Sub-Inspector O'Halloran (in charge of the transport) has had large supplies at Kaiteriria for the last week or more, but his horses could take them no further. I cannot purchase a sufficient number of horses here, and am now trying to arrange a contract with a European to pack from Kaiteriria to Tapuaeharuru, whilst the Government bullock dray and pack-horses convey the supplies to the former post. It was this difficulty that prevented my carrying out the former instructions of sending fifty men to Taupo. I have, &c, Philip Harington, Lieut.-Colonel, Commanding Field Force, Bay of Plenty District. The Acting Under Secretary, Defence Office.

No. 12. Lieut.-Colonel Harington to Under Secretary for Defence. Sir, — Tauranga, 21st September, 1869. I have the honor to inform you that Major Roberts' division (No. 6) of Armed Constabulary marched from here for Tapuaeharuru yesterday morning. At the last moment the Ngaiterangi Natives, who had promised to pack between Kaiteriria and Taupo, refused to go. Mr. Clarke, Civil Commissioner, has kindly offered to go to Rotorua to-day, and use his personal influence with the Natives of that district, to induce them to do the packing till other arrangements are made. I feel confident that after so many arrangements with Natives for transport, and so many failures, it is quite hopeless to place any dependence on them at all. I advertised here for tenders for packing supplies from Kaiteriria to Tapuaeharuru (as up to that point I can forward them with the Government bullock dray and pack-horses), and Mr. McPherson has undertaken to do it for 30s. per 100 lbs. 1 have consulted with Mr. Clarke, who thinks it. a fair price, as so much expense must be incurred in getting up oats for the horses, without which they are sure to break down. As I had just received the circular stating that " horses must be bought, and not hired," I did not like to accept a tender without authority; but, to save time, I have referred the matter with full explanation to Dr. Pollen. 4