A.—No. 8a

PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS

28

Kahungunu, Te Arawa. and Whanganui: but they have not been able to catch this fellow. Therefore it is that we have said amongst ourselves, What shall be done with, or about, this man ? From your friend, Na Hetaraka.

No. 70. Lieut.-Colonel Moule to Mr. Commissioner Branigan. (Telegram.) Hamilton, 13th January, 1870. Received the following from Louis Hetit, at 1 o'clock this morning:—" A woman has just been sent down from the King, to inform me that I am to send you word down to be on the look out, all of you, towards Orakau. They have sent for me to go up directly. They suspect Te Kooti is on some move in this direction. The Maoris at Kuiti are all in arms, going after Te Kooti. Topia and the Wanganuis are also in pursuit. They are all mustering. I will sec or send as soon as possible. I think it will be a case with Tc Kooti this time. I don't think you will have much cause to be alarmed in your posts, but caution is necessary at the present; stragglers may be about.—Louis Hetit." On receipt of the foregoing information, and as the steamer was to leave Ngaruawahia at 6 o'clock this morning, I availed myself of the opportunity to get up twenty-four Constables from that station to increase the garrisons at Alexandra, Kihikihi, and Cambridge. I trust that you will approve this step. St. John Branigan, Esq., W. Moule, Lieut.-Colonel. Commissioner Armed Constabulary, Auckland.

No. 71. Mr. H. T. Clarke, Civil Commissioner, to the Hon. the Defence Minister. My dear Mr. McLean, — Tauranga, 13th January, 1870. We arrived here at a little after 9 a.m., and found the whole district in a state of the greatest excitement and alarm. Fraser, who was absent at Whakatane on duty when the intelligence reached here, was immediately sent for, and arrived at 5 o'clock a.m. I hope the prompt action taken by Colonel Fraser will both guard against surprise and restore confidence to the district. The news is as follows : There is no doubt that the information received via Waikato is true and correct in every particular. Te Kooti's kareres are flying about in every direction, and the different roads from this to the Ilauhau settlement are guarded. Letters of warning have been pouring in from all directions, and a letter to the Ngaiterangi (which I enclose) has been intercepted, counselling them to keep separate from the Pakeha—that Te Kooti has no evil designs upon them. I found upon my arrival that Mair had sent off for a hundred Arawa, but as the Arawa settlements are in the same position as this, I have written a circular letter to them, telling them to collect in their different pas, and be in a state of preparation for a summons at any time. I have recommended Fraser to take on fifty of the most trusty of the Ngaiterangi, of which suggestion he has approved. He has sent forty Constabulary men to, occupy the Gate Pa, aud has taken fifty Militia on duty. Yesterday Mair sent out a Native policeman, ostensibly to carry a letter to one of the neighbouring Ilauhau settlements, but really to obtain information. He was seen approaching, and was intercepted by a party of armed Natives, led by Parihirihiri (one of Campbell's murderers). The party was all stripped to the waist. They said that they hoped he was a Pakeha, in which case they would have done for him. They would not allow him to proceed. Don't you think it will be as well if McDonnell were to move his men towards Tapuaeharuru ? You may rely on my doing all I can in the present state of the country. I shall try by all means to get accurate information, and will keep the Arawa up to the mark. I have, &c, lly. T. Clarke. P.S. —The Ngaiterangi are asking for more guns, but I do not feel inclined to let them have them. I will ask Colonel Fraser to let them have a little ammunition. H. T. C Fox, of the Ngatipikiao, has just been here, and concurs most heartily in all the arrangements we have made. He says that it is absolutely necessary that the Arawa put themselves into a thorough state of preparation. The most cordial and gratifying feeling exists. Fox says that, should there be a good opportunity of giving Te Kooti a hammering, the Arawa will ask to have a go in untrammelled by Pakehas. H. T. C