A.—No. 1.

18

MEMORANDA BETWEEN HIS EXCELLENCY

Enclosure 1 to No. 29. His Excellency's Private Seceetaet to the Assistant Militaby Secretary. Private Secretary's Office, Auckland, 16th May, 1865. My deae Major Pitt, — Mr. Mantell wrote a hurried private note to the General from Wanganui early in March, of which he retained no copy. In some of the General's letters to the Governor references are made to expressions of opinions attributed to Mr. Mantell, which he conceives could only have been derived from that note ; he is therefore anxious, for the satisfaction of his colleagues, to get a copy of it, and has requested the Governor if possible to obtain it for him. Would you be good enough to ask the General if he has any objection to a copy being forwarded. I have, &c, Major Dean Pitt, Feed. Thatciier, Assistant Military Secretary. Private Secretary. Enclosure 2 to No. 29. The Assistant Military Secbetaet to His Excellency's Peitate Seceetaby. My deae Me. Thatchee, — Assistant Military Secretary's Office, 16th May, 1865. The General does not think that he kept Mr. Mantell's note, but he will look for it, and if found, it shall be sent. The expressions attributed to Mr. Mantell were not however taken from that note, but from two private letters from Mr. Mantell to Mr. Strickland, which were shewn to the General by Mr. Strickland. I have, &c, His Excellency's Private Secretary. Geoege Dean Pitt. No. 30. MEMORANDUM for Ministers. I have this day received from Deputy Commissary-General Strickland the two notes referred to in Lieut.-Colonel Pitt's letter to the Private Secretary. I wish them to be attached to the former papers, and shown to His Excellency the Governor. 18th July, 1865. Walter Mantell. Enclosure 1 to No. 30. The Hon. the Native Minister to the Deputy Commissaey-Geneeal. Wanganui, Ist March, 1865. My dear Stbickland, — 7 p.m. Am I doomed not to meet you here, after all ? I arrived on Monday, and should have reported myself had the " Gundagai" been so kind as to wait three minutes ; but she was not, so I did not. Our news will reach the General through Logan. Hori Kingi and his party are not expected until to-morrow morning, and it is doubtful whether we shall get through the great korero to-morrow. If we do, and if it then seems to me that an interval of four or five days would, inevitably occur, or occur with apparent inevitability, before Pehi and his party could get the report of the meeting and arrive here, I shall appoint some day next week to meet him, and run down to Wellington by the " Wanganui" on Friday, returning immediately to keep my appointment. Our gallant fellows up river having been left to fight it out in their own way, have some sort of right to conclude it much in their own way ; so I am resolved, so far as is right, to act according to strict Maori etiquette, satisfied that so we shall attain our ends most satisfactorily. The Pai Marire and King are given up, or to be given up, by the conquered; and I trust that a week may see the river campaign ended. My little army is longing to go to Waitotara, but there will, I hope, be no need for that, as the General will swallow them up quick. Besides I fear that your friends, of all sorts of " teenths and tieths," would hardly distinguish between friends and foes. Amarama's taiaha was presented formally to me yesterday ; but, on reflection, my friends have discovered that all forms were not duly attended to, so it is to be re-presented at next meeting, with various other loot. I miss you much, and should greatly enjoy a good talk with you. Perhaps we may meet next week. lam told that Commissary-General Jones is likely to return per " Gundagai." Is it so ? lam writing in Mr. Owen's shop, on borrowed paper, with babies crying overhead. So adieu. When news occurs in your parts I should like to have it. Tours truly, Deputy Commissary-General Strickland. Walteb Mantell. Enclosure 2 to No. 30. The Hon. the Natite Ministee to Deputy Commissary-General Stbickland. My dear Strickland, — 745 p.m., Wednesday. I have just received the enclosed report, which the General should see without delay. I prefer asking you to look to this to putting the matter in moro formal course. This explains the white flag at Waitotara. I fear that unless relieved by the arrival of the Governor, which I have long ceased to expect, I must remain a few days to see this matter through. If the General wants anything in my way, he will of course let me know. I shall be glad to hear that Sir Duncan receives this news. I have, <&c, Deputy Commissary-General Strickland. W. Mantell.