A—No. 8a

72

PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS

The Hon. the Native and Defence Minister left instructions with the Commanding Officer of the District (Lieut.-Colonel Fraser) and myself to remain on the defensive, and not to undertake any offensive operations unless the safety of the district required it, but to make every preparation for a movement to co-operate with Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell in the event of a fair opportunity presenting itself of annihilating Te Kooti and his band, and that instructions would be sent from Auckland when a favourable movement was to be made. On Saturday, the 22nd, I went in the " Sturt" to Maketu, to convey ammunition for the Natives, and to intimate to them the necessity of making preparation to resist Te Kooti. The Native chiefs expressed themselves much disappointed that the Native Minister had not visited them. I succeeded in convincing them that it was absolutely necessary that Mr. McLean should be in Auckland to watch the course of events, so that proper instructions might be issued., and so insure a successful co-operation from all points. I promised to meet them again on the 26th. From Maketu 1 went to Motiti, to visit the Patuwai, and endeavour to settle a long-pending dispute, respecting the boundary line, between Hori Tupaca and the Patuwai. This having been successfully accomplished, I returned to Tauranga the same day. I have, &c., Henry T. Clarke, The Under Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 237. The Hon. the Defence Minister to Mr. 11. T. Clarke, Civil Commissioner. (No. 49.) General Government Offices, Sir, — Auckland, 22nd February, 1870. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant, and to thank you for the clear and able report you have furnished. I recognize with much pleasure, and take this opportunity of thanking you for, your zealous exertions during the threatened disturbances at Tauranga. I have, &c, 11. T. Clarke, Esq., Civil Commissioner, Tauranga. Donald McLean.

No. 238. Mr. 11. T. Clarke, Civil Commissioner, to the Under Secretary, Native Department. Sir, —■ Tauranga, 16th February, 1.870. In continuation of my report of the 12th instant, I do myself the honor to state, for the information of the Honourable the Native Minister, that at 4 o'clock a.m., of the 24th ultimo, I received by the Ohinemuri route instructions from him, requesting that all the available men of the Arawa might be sent to Patetere to support Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. It was suggested that one column should march by way of Kaimai, and the other through the Puraku forest, into Patetere. Immediately on receiving these instructions I went to Maketu, at which place rumours had already reached that Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell's force had advanced into the Patetere district. A meeting was at once assembled at which Ilori Haupapa, Te Pokiha, Paora te Amohau, Petera te Pukuatua, and other chiefs were present. No discussion took place, but they simply desired to know the nature of my communication from Mr. McLean. The assembled chiefs declared their willingness to go, and proposed that a more select meeting should be held on the following morning to discuss the best lines of road, &c. Accordingly on the following morning, a meeting was held in Te Pok.iha's large house, at which the proposal to march through Kaimai was unanimously condemned, and it was decided that the Ope should start in two parties through the forest and come out at Patetere, on Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell's left flank. This arrangement was made under the belief that no attack would be made on Tc Kooti till all the forces were ready to act simultaneously. I then wrote circular letters to all the principal hapus of the Arawa to rendezvous at Ohinemutu (Rotorua). I then returned to Tauranga, to acquaint Lieut.-Colonel Fraser of the alteration of the route proposed by the; Arawas, and to make other arrangements. As a precautionary measure, it was agreed that, after the Arawas had started for Patetere, 1 should collect a force of 150 men composed of Ngatipukeko, Ngaitai, aud Whanau-o-apanui, and station them at Oropi, to watch the different lines of road by which the enemy would be likely to retreat, and cover the Maketu and Rotoiti settlements. On the 26th the men of the Constabulary Force, under Lieut.-Colonel Fraser, were shipped on board the " Sturt" for Maketu. They were lauded at that place early on the-morning of the 27th, and marched towards Rotorua without delay. After distributing arms, ammunition, &c, amongst the Natives who required them, I proceeded to Ohinemutu, arriving there at 7 p.m. AIJ. the available men of the Ngatiwhakaue, Tuhourangi, Raugitihi, Ngatiuenukukopako, &c, were assembled, ready and anxious to start. During the afternoon intelligence arrived that a fight had taken place at Tapapa, and that Te Kooti's forces were in the woods between Patatere and Tauranga.