AGAINST THE REBEL NATIVES.

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This constant moving along the skirts of the bush, with a good force inside, I consider the best use I can set the men to, to prevent Te Kooti's escape, till I can get such information as would justify me in making an attack with my whole force. Simply guarding passes or tracks out of the bush is useless. Tc Kooti can always make a road out where there is no guard, but he is never sure where he will come on my scouting parties. I send back to-day all the Waikato Constabulary except four mounted constables. I have also kept Lieutenant Owen, as he has considerable knowledge of Maori and the country. From all I can sec and learn here, I believe the Ngatihaua and Te Hira are helping Te Kooti. You may depend if I could find a Native here who could take me to Te Kooti, he should do so. I released the prisoner Harawira, and sent him with Topia. He may be of use, but I fear Te Koo'i is not long in the same placs, more particularly when he knows some of his men are missing.—Thos. McDonnell, Lieut.Colonel Commanding Field Force.—To St. John Branigan, Commissioner, A.C.F." I received a private note this evening from McDonnell. He begs me to go to him. He says " There are one or two things I wish to speak to you about of importance." 1 therefore purpose going to his camp, and will leave this about mid-day to-morrow, if you have no objection. Rewiti te Atatu came into camp to-day, and denies that he was at Kurunui when our people entered that place the other day, and he is anxious you should know it. Several other chiefs and men of influence from Ohineroa were with him. Wilson is their agent, and I think has considerable influence with them. He (Wilson) is of opinion that they know where Te Kooti is, and could, if they liked, disclose his present whereabouts. Of course I have not failed to impress upon Wilson the importance of his using his best exertions to gain intelligence on the subject, and he has readily fallen into my views. The more I consider the matter, the more I feel convinced that Wilson can do a great deal, by using his influence and exertions properly, to assist us in tracing Te Kooti. I should like to hear from you to-night or to-morrow morning respecting my visit to McDonnell's, and also whether you have any instructions for him. St. John Branigan, Commissioner, A.C.F.

No. 205. Mr. Commissioner Branigan to the Hon. the Defence Minister. (Telegram.) Cambridge, sth February, 1870. Just (10.20 p.m.) received following from McDonnell: —" Camp, Tapapa, sth February, 1870.— Sir, —I have the honor to request you will inform the Hon. the Defence Minister that it is my impression that Te Kooti has gone or will go to Hauraki, either to Tc Hira or other tribes in that locality. It is my intention to follow him, but before I could have sufficient force to do so, will have time to receive Mr. McLean's ideas as to whether he would consider this right or otherwise.—Tnos. McDonnell, Lieut.-Colonel." St. John Branigan, Commissioner, A.CF.

No. 206. The Hon. the Defence Minister to Air. Commissioner Branigan. (Telegram.) Auckland, sth February, 1870. Received McDonnell's telegram. I find that the 150 men I referred to were brought up to Tauranga by Mr. Clarke, aud I feel satisfied with the course he has taken. I approve of your going to see him, but will send no instructions, as it may only hamper him. He knows what is required to get at Te Kooti, and that is enough. Donald McLean.

No. 207. Mr. Clarke, Civil Commissioner, to the Hon. the Defence Ministfr. My dear Mr. McLean, — Tauranga, 4th February, 1870. You will see by the enclosed copy of a hastily written note from Lieut.-Colonel Fraser, that he has had a brush with the enemy; estimated number about 200. We have had some loss ; Mr. Crapp, who brought in Lieut.-Colonel Fraser's note, has described the whole affair to me. It appears that our people were aware of the presence of the enemy, and were movingforward with caution; when advancing towards any suspicious-looking place, men were thrown out in skirmishing order, but in this particular place, where the ambuscade was laid, it was impossible to do this; our men were fired into at 10 yards distance, and the wonder is that there were not more killed. A sharp skirmish ensued, and the enemy fled. Mr. Crapp says (he has seen a good deal of hard fighting) one of the peculiar features of the fight was, that instead of shrieking and shouting like demons, as they usually do, they kept perfectly silent. Mr. Crapp says that there were fully 200 men at Paengaroa. The whares there are pretty extensive but could not accommodate the enemy; they had to build long sheds; the party have been there some days. This is a proof of the assertion I have so often made, that any number of people could be concentrated within a few miles of us without our knowing anything of it. I have done as Lieut.-Colonel F'raser desired—sent out the Natives I brought up from the 16