AGAINST THE REBEL NATIVES.

27

A.—No. 8.

No. 36. The Hon. the Defence Minister to His Honor J. D. Ormond. Sir,— Auckland, 27th October, 1869. ' Owing to my absence at Kaipara, I have been deprived of an earlier opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of your several important despatches relating to military operations at Taupo. The skilful and energetic manner in which those operations have been conducted, and the success which has attended the Colonial forces and Native allies in a part of the interior which our forces had never before penetrated, are highly gratifying, and reflect the greatest credit upon the judgment and zeal you have displayed in discharging the very arduous and difficult duties with which you have been intrusted by the Government. The late military achievements at Taupo must produce a most salutary effect upon the whole of the disaffected tribes throughout the North Island. The thanks of the Government are due to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell for the great ability and skill he has displayed in conducting the military operations. The disposition of the forces, and the gallantry displayed both by Europeans and Natives engaged, deserves the highest commendation. The Hon. the Premier having already conveyed the thanks of the Government to the several officers and men of the Taupo expedition, I need only add that I fully concur with Mr. Fox in appreciating, with thankfulness, the signal services rendered to the Colony by the Taupo expeditionary force. I have, &c, ' His Honor J. D. Ormond, Donald McLean. General Government Agent, Napier.

No. 37. His Honor J. D. Ormond to the Hon. the Defence Minister. Sir, — Napier, Ist November, 1869. I have the honour to acknowledge your letter of the 27th October, conveying to me your approval of the conduct of the operations lately carried out in the Taupo District. I regret to have to report that up to this time the further attempts that have been made to find Te Kooti and his band have been unsuccessful, although Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell and the force under his command have used great exertions, and undergone great hardship, in the endeavour to find his hiding-place. Weather permitting, the force was to start again to-morrow on another expedition in search of him, and I sincerely trust they may be successful. The difficulty of getting supplies to Taupo rather increases than otherwise, and the very wet spring we are having adds to the difficulty. I have, &c, The Hon. the Defence Minister, Auckland. J. D. Ormond.

No. 38. His Honor J. D. Ormond to the Hon. the Defence Minister. Sir, — Napier, sth November, 1869. I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of 27th October, covering memoranda for my guidance as to the course to be pursued with Te Heuheu. I have now to inform you of the steps I have taken in respect to that chief. He arrived here on Wednesday in charge of Henare Tomoana, and I saw him yesterday, the 4th instant, Karaitiana and Henare Tomoana being present at the interview. In the first place I informed him that the Government intended to deal leniently with him, and that his behaviour since his surrender assisted that determination. I then said I did not intend at that interview to hear his explanations of the causes that took him over to Te Kooti, nor to receive the assurances, I understood he was ready to give, of future good conduct; that I thought these had better be made more publicly, and accordingly, on another day, I would invite a few of the chiefs of the district to be present to hear his statements, and the determination the Government have come to in regard to him and his people. ■ I would observe here that I have slightly deviated from the view contained in your memoranda, inasmuch as I have arranged that the Government shall determine, and announce the course they decide in respect to Te Heuheu, and hear his explanations, in place of a commission of Natives and Europeans doing so; and the part I propose the Native chiefs whom I intend to invite to be present (some five or six of the leading men, including Hapuku and Tareha,) shall take is, to be witnesses of the assurances and explanations Te Heuheu may make. I have thought carefully over this question, and trust that on consideration you will agree with what I have done. Te Heuheu expressed himself perfectly satisfied, and said he was glad the Government itself was going to decide about him. He is quite aware of the line that is intended to be taken with him, but his behaviour was most quiet and submissive, and everything that could be wished. I purposely treated him distantly, and it was evident he looked for nothing else.