A.—No. Ba,

PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS

48

No. 151. Mr. Commissioner Branigan to the Hon. the Defence Minister. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 26th January, 1870. Received your telegram. Will send first intelligence I can obtain of Kemp's affair. I have, in telegram this evening, asked for more ammunition. Persons present at Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell's affair this morning say that the Natives of his force behaved most gallantly. St. John Branigan.

No. 152. The Hon. the Defence Minister to Manuwhiri. (Telegram.) To Tamati Manuwhiri, Te Kuiti — Auckland, 26th Januaiy, 1870. Salutations to you. It is correct that Te Kooti is being followed : that was made clear at our interview at Pahiko. Sir, what can be done to this man-destroying reptile, who insists that he alone is to carry out the murderous work of destroying the people. Donald McLean.

No. 153. Tarapipipi to the Hon. the Defence Minister. Father, Me. McLean— Shortland Town, 26th January, 1870. Salutations to you. This is a word of mine to you. Let these rivers be kept sacred —Waihou and Piako, and also Waikato; do not think of doing evil to the persons who are living in peace. This is a word about the Europeans who have gone to pursue Te Kooti. I think that those tribes should be sent back, lest other tribes should join that man (Te Kooti), and evil so spread more widely. But Father, Mr. McLean, keep carrying on properly the affairs of our district. That is all. Your friend, Tarapipipi.

No. 154. Mr. Commissioner Branigan to the Hon. the Defence Minister. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 26th January, 1870. I beg to forward the following, received while en route to Hinuera. I propose going on to see Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, and will be back in Cambridge to-morrow morning : — " Camp, Tapapa, 25th January, 1870. In continuation of my telegram of this day's date, I have the honor to report, for the information of the Hon. the Defence Minister, that Major Kemp returned this afternoon, having been out since yesterday, and reports that, on hearing the firing at Tapapa this morning, he thought it best to proceed at once to Te Kooti's camp at the edge of the bush and endeavour to capture it. On nearing the place he and his men were fired upon by the men left to defend it. After a few shots they drove them out and took possession. The enemy bolted to the bush. Major Kemp brought 100 of Te Kooti's horses in, and reports having shot twenty more, and burning the position, thus inflicting heavy loss on the enemy, who can have few horses, if any, left. It is my intention to mount as many men as I can to-morrow morning, and ride off to Horohoro, or somewhere in that direction, to intercept Te Kooti should he retreat that way, sending at the same time a good force into the bush here to pick up his trail, and endeavour to ascertain the direction he may have taken, leaving a sufficient number of men in camp to protect it and the wounded. I send a messenger to Taupo to-morrow morning at daydight, to warn the different posts there in case Te Kooti seeks revenge in that quarter. Lieut.-Colonel Fraser and the Rotorua Natives are, I presume, on the alert. "N.B.—Te Kooti's position was an open kainga, but the track up to it was most difficult of access. I have made this place defensible, and should I require to move the whole force from it, would require to have it held by some men from Cambridge or elsewhere. —Thomas McDonnell." St. John Branigan.

No. 155. The Hon. the Defence Minister to Mr. Commissioner Branigan. (Telegram.) Auckland, 26ih January, 1870. Inform Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell that I am much pleased with the progress of his operations, and with the steps he proposes to take in following Te Kooti's trail in the bush and holding a defensible position ; also with his forethought in sending to I'aupo. Lieut.-Colonel Fraser and the Arawa are on the alert with reference to the passes by Rotorua to the Urewera country, and 200 Europeans and 300 Arawa are on the advance to co-operate with him. lam much pleased with the action taken by Major Kemp, and with Topia and the whole of the Whanganui Natives.