A.—No. 4.

Manutahi is rather a large settlement. We found it entirely deserted, but it had the appearance of having been recently occupied. There is a good deal of cultivation about it, which we shall consume or destroy before we leave it. At some points, where only small posts are necessary, blockhouses would save men. Will the Colonial Government sanction the expense of their construction ? If this country is to bo occupied by military settlers, the sooner they are placed on the land the better, for its occupation by troops will put the Imperial Government to enormous expense. I have not heard from you for some time. I suppose that recent events will compel you to return to Auckland, and I should hope that the Ministers will now see the error which has been committed by the removal of the scat of Government to Wellington. I have, Ac, D. A. Cameron, His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B. Lieut.-General. No. 47. Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron to His Excellency the Governor. My dear Sir George,— Camp Manutahi, 15th March, 1865. I have just received throe letters from you, two of the 13th and one of the 11th instant, and I wish to make a few remarks regarding their contents. 1. It will not be prudent to withdraw one hundred bushrangers and two hundred military settlers from Taranaki, without the concurrence of Colonel Warre, who, I mentioned to you, has stated that the force uuder his command is barely sufficient to defend the country it now occupies. 2. I was very confident that the desire stated to have been entertained by the friendly natives to be allowed to attack the Wereroa pa was mere bounce ; and I was astonished that you should have believed in if, that is to say, if you really did believe in it, and yet you could hardly have proposed that five hundred natives should attempt what I told you I would not undertake at that time with fewer than two thousand soldiers, if you did not really believe that they would succeed. As to Mr. Mantell, he appears to me an excitable person, entirely devoid of common sense, and I shall pay.no attention whatever in future to his opinions. 3. All the reasons you mention for deciding not to apply for reinforcements are, to my mind, the strongest reasons why they should be applied for. 4. In my opinion, what is now taking place does not afford the most distant prospect that -the natives will soon submit in nearly all parts of the island. Their submission never appeared to m»- so far off as at present. 5. I do not agree with you that the Colony will be able to occupy the country between the Patea and Taranaki in two years; twenty would, in my opinion, be nearer the mark. I have, Ac, D. A. Cameron, His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B. Lieut.-General. No. 48. His Excellency the Governor to Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron. My dear General, — Wanganui, 16th March, 1865. I was very glad to hear from your letter of the 14th that you had given the Ngatiruanuis a thrashing on the 13th. This is the first time that tribe has come in for any punishment. It will, I think, do them good. I have just received your letter of the 15th ; Major Atkinson is here, so I daresay I can at once arrange about the blockhouses you require. It is possible that the Government may think that in the neighbourhood of the bush, where plenty of timber can be obtained, a stockade will suffice. This is all we had in former times ; they stood for several years, and the natives never ventured to attack them. We only kept small bodies of men in them :in my own opinion these would suffice. The Colonial Government would, if required, pay the expense of the working pay of the men. The " Ahuriri" is now here on her way to Taranaki, to bring down two hundred military settlers for the Patea. She will arrive there about the 20th; fifty of these men are to be Bushrangers, and one hundred men will shortly be here from the Waikato. If you require more they will be sent for. The "Ahuriri" will reach the Patea to-night, and will wait off the Patea to-morrow to take your orders to Taranaki, for these men being sent to the Patea. If more men are required at Taranaki, we must call out the militia there, but I do not think there is any probability of this being necessary. lam just sending to Wellington for the " Esk" to go to Auckland, but I shall still remain here for two or three days. I have, Ac, Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron, K.C.B. G. Grey. No. 49. Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron to His Excellency the Governor. Sir, — Head Quarters, Camp Manutahi, 16th March, 1865. I have the honor to inform your Excellency that Colonel Greer. C.8., commanding at Tauranga, has applied to me for instructions in reference to a letter he has received from you, directing him to try certain native prisoners by court martial. By the warrants I hold I am not authorised myself, or am I empowered to authorise any of the officers under my command, to convene general courts martial for the trial of any other class of offenders but officers and soldiers of Her Majesty's forces, and camp followers. I have therefore to B

17

GOVERNOR AND LIEUT.-GENERAL CAMERON.