A.—No. 8a

8

PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS

Rewi said to me, " Let the men be sufficient for you; let the land Taupo be returned to me." I said to Rewi, " I did not fight with Taupo about the land, but to put down evil and murder, so that it might be extinguished; also to assist our Maori friends of the Government— they have to do with the land. But a meeting had better be held at Taupo to decide." Your friend, To Te Poihipi Tukairangi, Taupo. Donald McLean.

No. 9. The Hon. the Defence Minister to His Honor J. D. Ormond. Sib, — Auckland, 13th November, 1869. I have the honor to enclose herewith for your perusal, the account of an interview I had on the 9th instant, with Tamati Ngapora, Rewi, aud other leading chiefs of the King party, by which you will perceive that preliminary terms of peace, of a highly satisfactory nature, have been entered into with those men, on behalf of the Waikato, Ngatimaniapoto, and other tribes. The perusal of the accompanying report cannot fail to disclose to you how necessary it will be to see carried out in its strictest sense the implied engagement which resulted from my visit to the King party. It being understood during this interview that general hostilities were henceforth to cease, you will, therefore, see the necessity of exercising the utmost care in confining the operations against Te Kooti, to Poibipi's and the friendly Natives' country at Taupo, so as not to interfere with any portion of the district over which Rewi's authority extends. Should Te Kooti find his way into the latter territory, it has been agreed that Rewi and his people will at once endeavour to either resist or capture him. On your side (within the limits referred to) punish, and if possible destroy, this rebel and his band. I have, &c., His Honor J. D. Ormond, Napier. Donald McLean.

No. 10. The Hon. the Defence Minister to His Honor J. D. Oemond. Sic, — Auckland, 13th November, 1869. I have the honor to inform you that preliminary terms of peace having been concluded with the Ngatimaniapoto and Waikato tribes, it has been agreed that hostilities should cease, and that military operations of an offensive character should be suspended, excepting such as may be necessary to be carried on in the Taupo District where Te Kooti and his followers are now at large. With reference to Napier and other districts on the East Coast, I have to request that you will be good enough to instruct the several officers in charge, that, whilst no precautions against surprise by hostile Natives should be omitted, offensive operations against them should not be undertaken, unless such operations are indispensable for the immediate protection of life and property. I have, &c., His Honor J. D. Ormond, Napier. Donald McLean.

No. 11. The Hon. the Defence Minister to His Honor J. D. Ormond. (Memorandum.) Auckland, 13th November, 1869. Te Kooti can be followed to Moerangi, Te Rua Mata, and the Matawaio, Whanganui, and to Okahukura, Rotoaira on to Waihi, and Taupo Poru and on to Mania Kuratau and ends there. Tuhua is Rewi's country. His Honor J. D. Ormond, Napier. Donald McLean.

No. 12. His Honor J. D. Ormond to the Hon. the Defence Minister. Sir, — Napier, 17th November, 1869. I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of the 13th instant, enclosing an account of your interview with the Waikato and Ngatimaniapoto Tribes, and beg to offer you my sincere congratulations on the success that has attended your mission, and I shall take care that no operations are undertaken in this district which will interfere with your arrangements, and have given instructions in terms of your letter of the 13th instant, which I beg at same time to acknowledge the receipt of. I have also to acknowledge and thank you for your memorandum of the 13th instant, informing me of the district within which operations would be carried on against Te Kooti. I at once availed of that information, and sent instructions to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to endeavour to find Kooti out if he were within the boundaries named.