K—No. 3. SECTION I.

occupy in safety. The latter of these two blocks, several Natives told me was claimed as a conquest which had been taken at the edge of the sword, and although I only ridiculed such a pretention I think if they had been strong enough to try to make it good they would have done so. The enclosed plan will show your Grace, the position of the two Blocks of Land I am alluding to. 9. Finding, at the end of February, that the Road to the Waikato would be completed in a few days, and all the arrangements in regard to that river would be almost brought to a conclusion, I wrote on the 27th of that month the enclosed letters to Captain Sullivan, asking for a passage to Taranaki, and embarked on the 2nd of March for that place accompanied by the Lieutenant-General, the Colonial Secretary, and Native Minister. 10. We reached New Plymouth on the 4th of March, and all things proving favourable for the purpose, the Lieutenant-General at my request marched from that place with a force of sufficient strength, under the command of Colonel Warre of the 57th Kegiment, on the 12th of March, for the Omata block, which we occupied not only without any opjJosition from the Natives, but with signs of good will on the part of many of them. The Lieutenant-General immediately had a strong redoubt constructed at Poutoko, in which two hundred men are now quartered. 11. In order that the very imperfect communication we had with the town might be completed, I wrote upon the 11th of March a letter, a copy of which is enclosed, to the Lieut.-General, requesting that the troops might be employed in constructing the road between the redoubt and New Plymouth, at the cost of the colony. 12. It being clear that additional force would be necessary to enable us to undertake with safety the next step, viz., the occui^ation of Tataraimaka block, I wrote the enclosed letter to Capt. Sullivan, requesting him to return to Manukau and bring back reinforcements, and as a cavalry force was necessary in this country, for the rapid and successful completion of the undertaking on which we had entered, I arranged with the Lieutenant-General, that if he would as a temporary arrangement, until we could provide a mounted force of our own, convert Captain Mercer's troop of the Royal Artillery into a mounted corps, the Colony would bear the cost of their new equipments, which we had ready, and the other expenses consequent on this change of Artillery into Cavalry. The General at once went back to Auckland with Captain Sullivan to carry out these arrangements, and returned here in the "Airedale," on the 28th of March, with a most efficient cavalry force, and the " Airedale" again reached this place on the 1st instant with the remainder of this force under Captain Mercer; our cavalry force was thus completed to 100 men. 13. On the 30th of March, Captain Sullivan, who had reached this place on that day, again returned to Manukau for a further reinforcement of two hundred infantry, and with great expedition was back at New Plymouth with this force, on the 3rd of April. 14. Upon the morning of the 4th we marched for the Tataraimaka block. We not only met with no opposition from the Natives, but some chiefs who had been hostile to us, came to our boundary on this side of the block, and received us with loud cries of welcome. 15. On Easter Sunday we remained quietly on the block. This morning early, the LieutenantGeneral commenced the construction of a strong redoubt, and when I left the place the Natives formerly hostile to us were about to bring in large quantities of potatoes, &c, for sale. 16. Your Grace will, I am sure, be gratified at the happy turn events appear at present to be taking. For this, under Providence, we are greatly indebted to the energy and ability of LieutenantGeneral Cameron, and of Capt. Sullivan, R.N. ; Lieut.-General Cameron's standing is so high, that of him I need say nothing more, but Captain Sullivan has on this occasion conducted the service with such unwearied zeal, and has rendered me such very important assistance, that I should feel much obliged to your Grace, if you would bring these circumstances under the special notice of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. I have, &c, G. Grey His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, K.G.

Enclosure 1 to No. 12. [plan of omata and tatabaimaka.] Enclosure 2 to No, 12. SIB GEOBGE GEET, K.C.B., TO CAPTAIN SULLIVAN, B.N. Government House, Auckland, 27th February, 1863. Sib,— I have the honor to request that you would be so good as to afford myself aud the persons named in the margin, a passage on board Her Majesty's Ship " Harrier" under your command, from the Manukau to Taranaki; which place it is necessary I should visit with as little delay as possible. I have, &c. G. Geey. Captain Sullivan, H.M. Ship " Harrier."

w. Seed, P. s. £*PJj Bulkeley, A.D.C. one Servant,' n erpre er Two Natives.

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TO THE SECRETAKY OF STATE.