in letter of 25th as an excuse for Col. Lambert. It can hardly have escaped your recollection that only a few days before you had in a telegram to the Govt. do the 17 Novr. expressed the opinion that the removal of the Ngatiporou from the Wairoa would be followed by the defection of the bulk of the friendly Natives. He does not add that Mr.McLean on the 20th Novr. telegraphed as follows -- Wrote to Tuparoas overland to be prepared to March or go by sea when news of Enemy being still at Turanga is confirmed. This altered the state of the case and left no such excude for Col.Lamberts action -- Mr.Richmond also remarks that ''the circumstances and the nature of the country require that Officers at exposed outposts should be allowed a certain discretion in the mode of carrying out operations which involve more or less danger to their command''. But this seems to have been lost sight of on the 23rd Novr. When he telegraphed a positive order that every available man was to be despatched to intercept Kooti, 100 men are the utmost that need be retained at Wairoa. It seems that a Minister in Wellington is supposed to know movements are to be made better than a resident Agent. There is no discretionary power here, and if the movements of the enemy had required a change of plants, how would it have been managed. This case shows clearly how lamentably unqualified Mr.Richmond is to arrange Military matters -- Mr.Richmond remarks in telegram of 23rd Novr. ''There should be no need of a garrison of 100 anywhere with large force in field close by -- This is condemnatory of Col.Lamberts interference in reference to Wairoa movement.