A.—No. Ba.

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PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS

of food for you. If you have reached that place where the Europeans at Waikato live, you will be all right. I have one word to say to you and to Topia: Do not tread upon the district of Matutaera, Manuwhiri, and Rewi; leave it to them. If they are willing to join you, very well. You must choose your own road. If you like to come by way of Taupo, very well. If you go to Waikato, wait for a word. Te Kooti is at Tapapa, in the Patetere District, wandering about and making his plans. Your loving friend, To Major Kemp, Taumarunui. Donald McLean.

No. 74. Topia Turoa to the Hon. the Premier. To Mr. Fox, — Taumarunui, 13th January, 1870. Friend, salutations. I have received your letter which you sent to me and to your people; our hearts were glad when we read your words. You say, " Let this man be caught." I quite agree to what you say. If he had gone to the Kuiti I would not have followed. I would have left that district with the King; but as he has gone outside, and not towards the Kuiti, I shall follow r that man, even until he is found. From mc, Topia Turoa.

No. 75. Topia Turoa to the Hon. the Premier. To Mr. Fox, Premier, —■ Taumarunui, Wanganui, 13th January, 1870. Friend, salutations. Wc have come to this place; on the 9th instant wc arrived here. On our arrival, we found Tc Kooti had made his escape. We are therefore going on in pursuit of him, and we intend to go on until we find him, wherever he may be, excepting in the case of his going to Tc Kuiti. We will not follow him to that place; the thought about him at that place will be with the King. I am sending back my Pakeha friend William McDonnell from this place. He will send on this letter to you. Listen, that man, William McDonnell, let him be a paymaster for my men. If you agree to this, write to me, and that Pakeha will forward your letter. This is another word : the old men of my party I have sent back, as they arc not able to inarch. This is all. From your friend, Topia Turoa.

No. 76. Mr. Booth to His Honor J. D. Ormond and the Hon. the Premier. (Telegram.) 15th January, 1870. Te Kooti escaped from Taumarunui on the ,6th instant. Topini Te Mamaku and Aporo had informed him of the approach of Topia's party. He has with him only the Chatham Island escaped prisoners, sixty in number, and Kereopa with his men, fifty in number; they have crossed the Waikato and are going in the direction of Tauranga. Topia and Kemp and 300 men are following on their track ; they left Taumarunui on the 13th. 100 men have been sent back by Kemp for protection of the Wanganui River. Topini Te Mamaku, with thirty of his men, have escaped up to Ohura, a tributary of the Wanganui River. Te Kooti had evidently intended to reside permanently at I'aumarunui, as our people found fifty acres of crops in the ground. Topia has written to Te Hana to say that he does not intend to return home until Te Kooti is found. James Booth, R.M.

No. 77. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to His Honor J. D. Ormond. (Telegram.) Camp Tokano, 8.45 p.m., 14th January, 1870. A messenger has this moment come in from Major Kemp, who will, be at Kuamata (twenty miles from here) to-morrow. -I enclose translation of his letter to me. My plans are altered, and I will communicate with Kemp to-morrow, and drive two head of cattle for his foree —they arc 500 strong. Messenger tells mc Te Kooti is making for Motu, two days and half march on foot for one man from Tauranga, and distant from Patetere about twenty miles. I shall go with Kemp unless I sec it politic not to do so, but will do all I can to urge him on. Te Kooti has sixty men with him, and Kereopa eleven; some of Ngatituwharetoa have come in to Kemp. Tc Waru is reported by messenger to have gone to Tokangamutu to the King. His Honor J. D. Ormond. Thos. McDonnell.