A.— No. 8

PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS

18

No. 20. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to His Honor J. D. Ormond. (No. 40.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sir,— Wellington, 2nd October, 1869. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th ultimo, forwarding copy of report from Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell of an engagement between the friendly Natives under his direction, and a body of Hauhaus under Te Kooti, at Taupo, and to express to you the gratification of the Government at the gallant conduct of our forces, and at the success achieved. I have, &c, His Honor J. D. Ormond, W. Gisborne. Government Agent, Hawke's Bay.

No. 21. His Honor J. D. Ormond to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Napier, 28th September, 1869. I have the honor to inform you that the " St. Kilda" returned here from the East Coast on the night of the 26th, having taken Ropata and the Ngatiporou to their homes, and having called at Wairoa and Poverty Bay upon the way. I am glad to be able to report that nothing further had occurred, either at W rairoa or Turanga, to the date of the steamer calling, to give rise to further apprehension that the Urewera were in the vicinity of either of these places, and that, at any rate, the utmost precaution was being taken to avoid surprise and obtain early information of any movement on the part of the enemy. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. J. D. Ormond.

No. 22. The Under Secretary to His Honor J. D. Ormond, Napier. (No. 42.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sir,— Wellington, sth October, 1869. I have the honor, by direction of Mr. Gisborne, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th ultimo, on the subject of the state of Native affairs at W Tairoa and Turanga. I have, &c, A. C. P. Macdonald The General Government Agent, Napier. (for the Under Secretary).

No. 23. His Honor J. D. Ormond to the Hon. Dillon Bell. (Telegram.) Napier, sth October, 1869, 5.50 p.m. Until operations against Te Kooti were decided on the whole force on pay in my district, viz., to East Cape, and including Taupo, was as follows : —Poverty Bay, fifty Militia and Volunteers. I have recommended Mr. McLean to send fifty Constabulary from Tauranga to take their place. This will save fifty men's pay. Wairoa, sixty-five men, all Constabulary Force, from here to Runanga. Taupo, 232 Constabulary, holding posts, checking Urewera, and protecting telegraph line. These men were to have been employed on road to Taupo. Total in my district, 347 on pay. Considering the extent and difficulties to meet, this force is small enough. Te Kooti's presence in Taupo, backed by Rewi and Te Heuhcu, compelled action. His supremacy there was partly achieved by defection of Tc Heuhcu, and required promptly meeting, or entire Taupo would have gone over, and Tc Kooti's influence have extended to Waikato and surrounding country. Another fortnight and centre of Island would have been in Te Kooti's hands, and Waikato and Ngatimaniapoto would have backed him. One success would have done it. Rewi accompanied him to be witness of his power, and left him on his defeat by Henare at Tauranga. The Taupo friendlies appealed for help, and said they could not hold out without it; that unless supported, they must join Te Kooti or be killed. Ministers decided to support them, and authorized me to employ the only force available—friendly Natives. The force I collected was as follows : — Ngatikahungunu, 220; Arawa, 50 ; W ranganui, 40. The two latter are on regular pay. Arawa were before. Ngatikahungunu, I raised no question of pay with. To-day I discussed question with Karaitiana, the chief who sent them. He at once consented to leave the whole question of pay with me, but said the men had gone expecting something. I can settle with these people by bonus according to work done. Nothing can be better than the way these people have behaved throughout. They must not be treated shabbily. In addition to Native force named, there are eighty Tapuaeharuru Natives, and fifty of Hare Tauteka's men. Ido not propose topay them. If wc give them some food and clothes, it is all they can expect. We have gone to