A.—No. Ba.

6

PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS

Taupo in one spot, at Tokano. He has already spoken to Kepa, Tuhua, Ranga, and Henare te Pukuatua, that they remain with their people at Tokano, so that when he returns to Wanganui he may be able to look back, and, if necessary, to return; also, on his arrival at Wanganui, and when he hears what the King is going to do, through his mouthpiece Topia, he will then be able to see more clearly what the thing is that is meant, that is, intended to be done by the King party. He will then write fully and inform the Government. He strongly recommends, as I also do myself, that deep attention be paid to Topia's letter to Hare Tauteka by the Government, as we consider it fraught with significance. Kemp strongly advocates, and wishes me to impress on the Government, that roads be at once commenced from Wangaehu to Taupo, and from Ranana to the same place, so that, in case of the W^aikatos and other tribes rising, he will be enabled to collect his men with greater facility. Te Kooti is not at Manganui-te-ao—a woman having come in from that place this evening. I have, &c., His Honor J. D. Ormond. Thos. McDonnell.

Enclosure 2 in No. 5. To Hare Tauteka, —■ Ohincmutu, 28th October, 1870. O friend! salutations to you, and your younger brothers and our children, who are living yonder in the darkness. Hearken, I have just returned from Te Kuiti; I have come to bring back a word, which you will hear presently. That is all about that. Hearken, I have brought our younger brothers and our relatives. 0 friends, bring the women and children to Ranana. Don't say that you (have killed) Te Kooti, —no. It ends. Topia.

Enclosure 3 in No. 5. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to His Honor J. D. Ormond. Sir, — Camp Poutu. Bth November, 1869. I have the honor to report for your information, that on the morning of the 6th instant, I marched the force from this post to Okotuku. On arrival there Sergeant Mayling, of the Guide Corps, whom I had sent out the previous day to try if he could sec any fires, informed mc that he had seen two, about seven miles off in the forest. I halted the force for the night in consequence, as the enemy's sentries would have seen us cross the plain from Okotuku to the bush if we had attempted to do so in daylight. The next day before dawn we reached the edge of the bush, crossing several rivulets and a swamp, and halting at the Iwi-tua-roa. From here I sent out two strong scouting parties in different directions, aud accompanied by Major Kemp and three Natives, I entered the bush in another direction. Wc came upon old tracks, and further on a few maemae's, and one or two articles apparently thrown away in haste—a workbox, beads, and a bag of bullets. Not being able to detect any fresh traces of the enemy we returned to our camp. Shortly afterwards the two other scouting parties returned ; one of them reported having seen old tracks, and had discovered a wharc far back in the bush, and which had evidently been put up and used as a temporary shelter for wounded, as there were old bandages and dressings about, but no signs of any one having been there for some days. The other party had fallen in with a trail made by a body of men, but over a week old, and going in the direction of Tuhua, in the neighbourhood of which district I believe Te Kooti now is. To follow him there with the provisions we had with us was almost out of the question, and there was also the uncertainty of being able to provide my men with food when we got there, —to say nothing of the march back again to this post; it would take a force about four days' march to get there by the accounts I have of the road. After consulting with the chiefs I made my mind up to march the force back to Tokano and Poutu. lam sending a messenger by another road to Tuhua, to Ngatimaniapoto who are there, to inquire if they know anything of Te Kooti's movements, and if so, to inform me where he may be found, so that we may go straight to where he may be and attack him, taking with us as much provisions as we can carry. Tuhua is in the King's country, and to proceed there without giving them warning might possibly lead to disagreeable results, more particularly as some of the King party have sent us word that in case Tc Kooti retreats in that direction they are prepared to attack him. It is quite likely that Te Kooti with the men now with him would and could subsist for some time in the neighbourhood of Tuhua, on potatoes which Natives occasionally plant in small patches, in out-of-the-way places away from their settlements, as food for them when out hunting pigs, shooting pigeons, or eel-fishing. The messenger I am sending will most likely return in about five days, and much will depend upon the intelligence he may bring with him. I have. Sec., His Honor J. D. Ormond. Thos. McDonnell.