AGAINST THE REBEL NATIVES.

57

A.—No. Ba,

I send you Fraser's last note to me, and a memorandum of Native information. The Pirirakau Hauhaus are behaving well. Hakaraia's relatives and adherents require watching; they profess to be friendly, and I try to believe they are; but there is no harm done by watching them closely. The 150 posted at Oropi will effectually check any underhand work. The mail is closing. Captain Montgomerie is behaving splendidly, and deserves thanks. I have, &c. H. T. Clarke, The Hon. the Defence Minister, Auckland. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure in No. 192. Lieut.-Colonel Fraser to Mr. H. T. Clarke, Civil Commissioner. My dear Sir, —■ Ohinemutu, 30th January, 1870. I was extremely sorry to have missed you yesterday. Lieutenant Mair and I have managed to arrange as follows, viz. : —-We go first of all to Marsh's place, Pohirua, and there lay in food for the Maoris; we then march towards Tauranga by Mangorewha; so that we will cut Te Kooti's tracks in case he goes towards Maketu. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell must guard the back country, and I must trust to him to do so. Wc shall be about 450 strong. I have left forty men here to guard this place. My men are all in good spirits, and have three days' rations. The weather looks splendidly, and the Maoris seem determined to work, and to fall in with my views. I thank you very much for the trouble you have taken to get them to go. Please send this to Mr. McLean, as I have no time to write to him. I have, &c., 11. T. Clarke, Esq., Civil Commissioner, James Eraser, Tauranga. Lieut.-Colonel. P.S. —From Mangorewha the Natives wish to strike through by Poutahi to Tapapa, by an old track. J. F."

No. 193. The Hon. the Defence Minister to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. (Telegram.) Auckland, 2nd February, 1870. Received a letter from Lieut.-Colonel Fraser, dated Ohinemutu, 30th January, in which he says, "We go first of all to Marsh's place, Pohirua, and there lay in food for the Natives; we then march towards Tauranga, by Mangorewha, so we can cut off Te Kooti's tracks towards Maketu. I must trust to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to guard the back country. We shall be 450 strong; left 40 here to guard this place." Arawa settlements well guarded; 150 men stationed at Oropi. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, Field Force. Donald McLean.

No. 194. Mr. Commissioner Branigan to the Hon. the Defence Minister. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 2nd February, 1870. Nothing from Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell yet, but from a letter received from his camp to-day I learn that he left yesterday morning for the bush, dividing his force in two columns. He may not therefore have returned up to the time the messenger left. Letter in question (from Major Clare, in charge at Ta Papa in Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell's absence) also states that Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell sent a letter to Te Kooti, warning him that all the passes were guarded, and advising him to give himself up. Of course I cannot say what truth there is in this; I simply quote the letter. Tana has just come in from Te Kuiti; he wishes to see you, and I advised him to write his wishes. The Militia are paid off, except a few men at each post, who are retained in the absence of the Armed Constabulary. They behaved remarkably' well, and made a long march to be up to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell's camp in good time. I suppose that, under the circumstances mentioned in my former message as to your instructions for them to support Colonel Moule, that you will sanction their receiving one shilling per day extra pay during the few days they were ordered out of their district. St. John Branigan.

Enclosure in No. 194. Tana te Waharoa to the Hon. the Defence Minister. (Telegram.) To Mr. McLean, — Cambridge, 2nd February, 1870. Salutations to you. My word to you is, let the fighting against me cease. Let Te Kooti be sent away, and let the people of 4'apapa be left to be in peace. I have come from Tawhiao. I wish to go to Te Kooti, and I wish to sec you. My reason for wishing to see Te Kooti is that I want to tell him to leave this place, and return to that from whence he came. That is all. Your friend, Tana Te Waharoa. 15