AGAINST THE REBEL NATIVES.

67

A.—No. 84.

horses are gone forward to bring in the wounded and stores. Camp at Hinuera will be broken up to-morrow. Cumming leaves for Rotorua to-day or early to-morrow. W. Moule, Inspector, A.C. Force.

No. 226. Mr. Commissioner Branigan to Lieut.-Colonel Moule. (Telegram.) Auckland, 12th February, 1870. Has Inspector Cumming left Tapapa? Is that camp now abandoned? What have you done about Hinuera? St. Jno. Branigan, Commissioner, A.CF. Lieut.-Colonel Moule, Cambridge.

No. 227. Lieut.-Colonel Moule to Mr. Commissioner Branigan. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 12th February, 1870. Inspector Cumming expected to abandon Tapapa this afternoon. The pack-horses had to make two trips to Tapapa to bring away surplus stores. I hope to have all stores &c, in from Hinuera early on Monday, when that camp will be abandoned. Wairoa Volunteers paid and struck off duty, except the detachment at Kihikihi. 3 wounded, 1 sick, and 2 Native attendants just arrived, and none theworse for the journey. W. Moule, Inspector A.CF.

No. 228. The Hon. Julius Vogel to Lieut.-Colonel Moule. (Telegram.) Auckland, 12th February, 1870. Do not think the camp at Tapapa should be quite abandoned, in the absence of instructions to that effect from the Hon. the Defence Minister. Is there reason to suppose Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell will wait for Inspector Cumming, or that owing to Inspector Cumming's delay to join him, his movements will be frustrated ? If you think no prejudicial effect will be the consequence, I authorize you to retain occupation of camp till instructions are received from the Hon. the Defence Minister. Julius Vogel Lieut.-Colonel Moule, Cambridge. (in absence of the Hon. Mr. McLean).

No. 229. Mr. Commissioner Branigan to Lieut.-Colonel Moule. (Telegram.) Auckland, 12th February, 1870. The Hon. Mr. Vogel has answered your telegram to me for instructions. I hope you will be in time to catch Inspector Cumming before he leaves. Lieut.-Colonel Moule, Cambridge. St. John Branigan, Commissioner, A.CF.

No. 230. Lieut.-Colonel Moule to the Hon. the Defence Minister. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 12th February, 1870. Instructions have been forwarded to Inspector Cumming to retain occupation of Tapapa until further orders. Ido not think that Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell will wait for Cumming, or that, owing to Cumming's delay to join him, his movements would be frustrated. W. Moule, Inspector, A.C.

No. 231. Lieut.-Colonel Moule to Mr. Commissioner Branigan. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 13th February, 1870. The following letters received from Inspector Cumming 2 o'clock this morning:—■ " Camp, Tapapa, 12th February, 1870. —I have the honor to forward copy of a note just received. The Ngatihaus alluded to have arrived, and I will march to-morrow morning for Tauranga. —George J. Cumming, Inspector.—To Colonel Moule, Cambridge." "Tauranga, 10th February, 1870. —Dear Cumming,—Forty-two Ngatihaus march to-night for Tapapa. If they do not find you there they will return here. If they find you there, you will send the sick and wounded into Cambridge, and come through this way with Ngatihaus. All well. Te Kooti is most likely at Ohiwa or thereabouts. Ohiwa has been attacked. The Colonel and myself wait for the ' Sturt.' The ' Tauranga' takes part of Kemp's people to Ohiwa to-day.—Drummond Hay." St. John Branigan, Esq., W. Moule, Inspector, A.CF. Commissioner, A.C.F., Auckland.