A.—No. 1a

No. 10. Major-General Chute to His Excellency the Governor. Sic,— Head Quarters, AVellington, 14th October, 1865. I have the honor to forward for your Excellency's information the accompanying copy of a letter, with its enclosure, received from Brigadier- General AVaddy, C.8., commanding troops in the Wanganui District. I have, &c, His Excellency Sir G. Grey, K.C.B. J. Chute, Major-General. Enclosure 1 to No. 10.' Brigadier-General AVaddy to the Deputy A d.iutant-General. Sic,— Wanganui, 10th October, 1865. I have the honor to forward fer the information of tlie Major-General Commanding the forces in New Zealand, the enclosed letter received from Major Hassard, 57th Regiment, commanding troops, Manawaupo, relative to a man and two horses belonging to the Military Train being killed by the rebel Natives on the road between that post and Waingongoro. I have, Sbe., The Deputy Adjutant-General, R. AVaddy, Head Quarters, Auckland. Brigadier-General, Commanding AVanganui District. Enclosure 2 to No. 10. Major Hassard to the Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General. Sir,— Camp Manawapou, sth October, 1865. AVith much regret I have the honor to report the death of a soldier at this station, who was killed by the Natives, yesterday, under the following circumstances : Yesterday, at 930 a.m., lhe usual escort of Infantry started to meet the return convoy from Waingongoro. Five troopers of the Military Train having been detailed to accompany them, but owing to the spring tide they were unable to cross over so as to accompany the Infantry, and I directed that they were to hurry on and join the escort when the tide went down a little ; they were delayed about an hour and a quarter, and then proceeded on their way, about five miles in the direction of Waingongoro. AVhen passing a perfectly open part of the road, affording scarcely any cover for an enemy, except two or three flax bushes, they were fired upon by a party of the Natives 'as far as I can ascertain of from twelve to twenty, the volley killing the horses of troopers Abraham Smith and AVright, —the latter although actually in the hands of tlie Natives, two of whom he states he knocked down with his list, escaped unhurt, with the loss of his carbine, and after running some considerabledistance was taken up by trooper AVoods on his horse ; but the horse of Abraham Smith having fallen on his log, prevented his getting up, and he was tomahawked in eight places about the head and face. The remaining two troopers galloped on and having shortly met the escort, Lieutenant Waller with his party hastened to the spot, and although tlie gullies and every place in the vicinity of the attack waa searched carefully no traces of the enemy were found except a letter in Maori lying near the dead man, which Lieutenant Waller handed to Mr. Fisk, (meat contractor,) who has, doubtless through inadvertence, taken it away with him. I have further to state that two carbines, as well as the swords, saddle, and all the appointments of trooper Smith fell into the hands of the enemy, but they had not plundered his person. On trooper AVoods coming into camp, I hastened ou with Lieutenant Loir and three troopers of the Military Train, and twenty of my own men, and met the convoy about three miles and a half from camp. I have, &c, The Deputy Assistant J. Hassard, Adjutant-General. Bt.-Major, 57th Regiment, Commanding Troops, Manawaupo. No. 11. Major-General Chute to His Excellency the Governor. Sir,— Head Quarters, Wellington, 15th October, 1865. AVith. reference to your Excellency's letter of the 11th instant, respecting the murder of the Native Kercti, and the supposed murder of Mr. Charles Broughton, and to my letter addressed to your Excellency in reply, on the same day, No. 326-65, I have now the honor to forward, for your Excellency's information, the enclosed copy of a letter, of the 13th instant, from Brigadier-General AVaddy. containing his reasons for not undertaking operations against the Natives immediately after the murders above referred to. I feel sure that no officer would be more ready to undertake aggressive operations against the disaffected tribes by whom these atrocities have been committed, than Brigadier-General Waddy, it" lie Felt he was clearly justified or expected to do so; and I trust, after perusal of this explanation, your Excellency will be satisfied that nothing prevented his commencing these operations but the belief that, after the recent proclamation announcing the termination of the war, he had no authority to enter on any new military operation, and that, in the absence of such explicit authority, he could not legally act otherwise than in aid of tho civil power, if called upon. This impression may, perhaps, have been strengthened by tho fact of the Government having, I believe, offered a reward for the apprehension of Kereti's murderers, who were named. Your Excellency will perceive that, in conformity with the wishes expressed in your letter of tho 11th instant, to attempt to punish or bring to justice the murderers of his messengers, BrigadierGeneral AVaddy is moving against the Natives near Kakaramea, where Mr. Broughton was last seen

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