FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST THE REBEL NATIVES.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1869 Session I, A-03a

A.—No. 3a.

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST THE REBEL NATIVES.

(Return to an Order of the House of Representatives dated 23rd June, 18G9.) That there be laid on the Table of this House " All Correspondence between the Government and Major Noake, or Mr. Booth, relative to the capture of Taurua and other Natives on the West Coast." (Mr. Fox.)

WELLINGTON.

1869.

A,-No. 3a

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST THE REBEL NATIVES.

No. 1. Copy of a Letter from Major Noake to the Hon. Colonel Haultain. (No. E-2.) Sib,— Patea, 14th June, 18G9. I have much pleasure in reporting for your information that I have this day brought in 123 Hauhaus, of the Pakakohe Tribe, including Taurua and the principal chiefs. This number includes men, women and children, as per margin.* On the 9th instant, I left Patea with a force of 264 of all ranks, consisting of corps as per margin,t taking six days' provisions. On the second day we arrived at Makaroro, where there were a few cultivations ; here I left a half of the force, under Captain Hawes. I then pushed on with the Ngatiporou, Wanganui Natives, and a few Europeans, under Bub-Inspector Goring and Lieut. Blake. We soon found tracks, and were close upon the scouts of the enemy. On the fourth day we came upon a village called Paetata; here an envoy from Taurua, the chief of the Pakakohe Tribe, came down to sue for peace. Mr. Booth returned in the canoe, leaving the messenger " Ruka" as a hostage during his absence. Mr. Booth not returning as soon as I wished, I took fifty men with me to Te Kurinui; I there found Taurua and his people. Mr. Booth glad of our arrival, for no doubt he ran a great risk. Bearing in mind that these people had been most active in the contest on this coast, had been in almost every engagement,—l informed them I could not treat with them until they laid down their arms and surrendered unconditionally. This they appeared most reluctant to do, and it was only upon my sending a party to cut off their retreat at the rear of the pa that they came and laid their arms at my feet, and tendered their unconditional surrender. I then told Taurua, as he had thrown himself on the mercy of the Government, and expressed contrition for his participation in the war, I would spare his life, neither would I destroy his tribe or village, and I would allow him to take away such property as he could, with the exception of arms, ammunition, and canoes, all of which I took on behalf of the Government —the numbers as per margin. J These people had been watching our advance for two days, and had prepared to oppose us by levelling trees, making places from which they could sweep the river ; they, however, thought better of it, and decided at the eleventh hour to surrender. Every gun given was loaded and primed. I have given the prisoners into the charge of the Ngatiporou. There are but few cultivations up this river; the force has consumed and destroyed the greater part. The river is veiy winding, runs through a very rugged and uninhabitable country, as far as we went; it has several bad rapids, which we found difficult to ascend ;it was at such places that Mr. Booth, Mr. Blake, and the Wanganui Natives were conspicuous in their exertions. Several eel-weirs were being constructed. I could not destroy them, owing to the flood in the river caused by the heavy rains, which, together with the cold, was most trying to the men, being exposed with but a single blanket for their protection : their cheerful endurance reflects much credit upon them. I have to thank Mr. Booth, Sub-Inspector Goring, Lieut. Blake, and the rest of the officers, for their cordial assistance; the former gentleman more especially, for the zeal he displayed for the success of the expedition. I have, &c, Maillaed Noake, The Hon. Colonel Haultain, Defence Major, Commanding Patea and Wanganui Minister, Wellington. Military Districts.

No. 2. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. Colonel Haultain" to Major Noake. (No. 501 2-E.) Colonial Defence Office, Sic,— Wellington, 18th June, 18G9. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your Despatch of the 14th instant, reporting tho capture of the chief Taurua and 122 of the Pakakohe Tribe. This is a very great success, and is due to the energy and endurance that have been displayed by the forces to whom the duty of scouring the district and harassing the enemy had been confided ; and the thanks of the Government are due to yourself, as well as to Mr. Booth and the force under your command, for the service they have performed. The prisoners aro to be detained until you are further advised, and instructions as to their disposal will be given to Mr. Booth by the Hon. Mr. Richmond. I have, &c. Major Noake, Commanding Colonial Forces, T. M. Haultain. Patea.

* 46 men, 37 women, 40 children—l 23. t Armed Constabulary, Sub-Inspector Goring; Wairoa Rifle Volunteers, Captain Hawes; Wanganui Veteran Volunteers, Captain Kells; Carlisle Rifle Volunteers, Lieutenant Blake; the Ngatiporou; and Wanganui Native Contingent. J 31 stand of arms and 18 canoes.

A.—No. 3a

4

MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST REBEL NATIVES.

No. 3. Copy of a Letter from Mr. J. Booth to the Native Ministee. Sic, — Resident Magistrate's Office, Carlyle, 14th June, 1869. I have the honor to report that I have just returned from a six days' expedition up the Patea River. The force which I accompanied was composed of about three hundred (300) men, under command of Major Noake. The successful result of the expedition is, that we have brought down to this camp one hundred and twenty-three (123) prisoners, namely, forty-six (46) men, thirty-seven (37) women, and forty (40) children. The chiefs are, Taurua, Iraia—who was falsely reported by the Ngatiporou to have been killed —and Kireona, the actual chief of the hapu, but who has not up to this time shown himself to the Pakeha. They laid down all the arms they had, thirty-one (31) stand, all of which are in good repair, and they are moreover all loaded ; they had very little spare ammunition; they were brought down the river in seventeen of their own canoes. We had no fighting; the Hauhaus showed themselves to us for the purpose of surrendering. Six men were sent down to the head of a rapid, who opened communication with us, the result of which I have already stated. They were evidently getting very short of provisions, and were only too glad to give themselves up. Taurua says he received a letter from Titokowaru a short time ago, in which the latter invites him to join him at Waitara with his (Pakakohe) hapu, for the purpose of making another attempt against the Pakeha; but that when the letter was read to the hapu, they one and all declined to give any further assistance whatever to Titokowaru. Taurua thinks the Tangahoo under Tukino are desirous to surrender themselves to the Government. No promise whatever as to tho future has been made to these men beyond this, —that the lives of those who can prove that they were not implicated in the first murders at Ketemarae, Waihi, and Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu, will be spared; they will be kept close prisoners at this post until further and definite instructions concerning them are received from Government. Taurua acknowledges that himself and the whole of his hapu, with the exception of six men who were left to look after canoes, &c, and a few Korohekes, have been actively engaged in this rebellion. In the first instance they were taken prisoners by Titokowaru, but that afterwards they fought willingly on his side. They were at Moturoa, Taurangaika, and Otauto; and they left him after the retreat from the last-mentioned place. Taurua does not plead anything in extenuation of his fault, and has thrown himself entirely on the mercy of the Government. There are still perhaps thirty (30) men of the hapu who have not come in, and it is proposed to employ Taurua, who will go with the Wanganui or Ngatiporou Natives, and use his influence in trying to bring them in. I have, &c, James Booth, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Resident Magistrate.

No. 4. Copy of a Letter from Mr. G. S. Coopee to Mr. J. Booth. Sic,— Native Office, Wellington, 18th June, 1869. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, reporting the unconditional surrender of the Pakakohe hapu, under the chiefs Taurua, Iraia, and Kireona, to the number of 123 souls in all. I am directed by Mr. Richmond, in the first place, to convey the thanks of the Government to yourself, and the force which accompanied you, for the activity which you have displayed in following up the fugitive rebels, and which has resulted in the capture and surrender of so considerable a number of them. The prisoners taken should be kept in safe custody until further instructions are received by you from the Government. I have, &c, James Booth, Esq., G. 8. Coopee, Resident Magistrate, Carlyle. Under Secretary.