A.—No. BA,

PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS

58

No. 195. The Hon. the Defence Minister to Mr. Commissioner Branigan. (Telegram.) Auckland, 2nd February, 1870. Have the goodness to give the accompanying to Tana, and tell him that I shall be glad to see him in Auckland. I find I cannot go up to the Waikato so soon as I expected, but this should not in any way interfere with the operations now in progress. Donald McLean.

Enclosure in No. 195. The Hon. the Defence Minister to Tana' Te Waharoa. Friend Tana, — Auckland, 2nd February, 1870. Salutations. I have received your letter. I think that you had better come here to Auckland, where we can converse together. Your friend, Donald McLean.

No. 196. The Hon. the Defence Minister to Mr. Commissioner Branigan. (Telegram.) Auckland, 2nd February, 1870. I received your telegram, and am glad to hear that the Militia behaved so well. I have requested Lieut.-Colonel Moule to thank them, and will allow the extra Is. per clay for the few days they were out of their district. Donald McLean.

No. 197. The Hon. the Defence Minister to Lieut.-Colonel Moule. (Telegram.) Auckland, 2nd February, 1870. You will have the goodness to convey to the Militia the thanks of the Government for the prompt manner in which they responded to your call to go to the front. The Government regret there should have been any necessity for their services at a season of the year when their crops required looking after, by which they must have suffered considerable loss. Donald McLean.

No. 198. Mr. Commissioner Branigan to the Hon. the Defence Minister. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 2nd February, 1870. Following just received: —"Camp, Tapapa, 2nd February, 1870. —Sir, —Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, with 130 Europeans and Natives, went into the bush yesterday morning, and, in his absence, I have the honor to report that Lieutenant Mair, with 209 Natives, arrived in camp from Rotorua. He reports that Lieut.-Colonel Fraser will arrive here to-morrow with 86 Europeans and 150 Natives. He is coming by the Kaitcrenui road, and will probably come on the enemy. Kemp and Topia have been informed of this, and will be on the look-out. I have sent orders for the 100 Waikato Constabulary who are with Kemp to return to this post, and on Colonel McDonnell's return they will likely all be sent to Cambridge. Signal lights seen last night on the other side of the Waikato, near Panuitangi. I have sent Mr. Mair with some mounted Natives along the edge of the bush in that direction to scout. The body of a Native was found this morning under some logs at the edge of the bush. He had been wounded when this camp was attacked, and crawled under the logs. He is recognized as Hari, one of Kereopa's men. Major Drummond Hay has been taken on pay from the 29th ultimo, and has gone out with the force. I expect Colonel McDonnell will return this evening.—John T. Cumming, Inspector.— To St. John Branigan, Esq., Commissioner, A.CF." St. John Branigan.

No. 199. The Hon. the Defence Minister to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. (Telegram.) Auckland, 3rd February, 1870. I sincerely trust, now that you have Lieut.-Colonel Fraser and the Arawa, that Te Kooti will soon be disposed of. lam confident you will all do your best. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, Cambridge. Donald McLean.

No. 200. Mr. Commissioner Branigan to the Hon. the Defence Minister. (Telegram.) Following just received : — Cambridge, 3rd February, 1870. " Camp, Tapapa, 3rd February, 1870. —Sir, —I have the honor to report, for the informa-