D.— No. 21.

34

RETURN OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION

J.—No. 87. Copy of a Letter from Major Eraser to Captain Holt. (No. 13, W.-F.) Camp Te Tawa, Sir, — Upper Wairoa, 31st January, 1866. In reply to the circular sent to mo by you, No. 922-2, of the 3rd instant, I have the honor to inform you that I have never issued any arms to Natives, Mr. McLean having invariably given his own orders on the subject, and the issue having been made by magistrates or others acting under him. I have also the honor to inform you that I am not aware of any arrangements having as yet been made for the arms issued at this place being returned to the Government. I have, &c, James Fraser, Brevet-Major, The Under Secretary, Colonial Defence Office, Commanding Colonial Forces, Wellington. Turanganui and Te Wairoa.

X.—No. 88. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. Colonel Haultain to His Honor D. McLean. (No. 1733-2.) Colonial Defence Office, Sir,— Wellington, 3rd August, 1866. The Officer Commanding Militia and Volunteers at Napier having reported that he has issued to you eighty-eight Government revolvers, I should feel obliged by your Honor informing me what has become of the same, and what probability there is of their being returned into store. I have, See., His Honor Donald McLean, Wellington. T. M. Haultain.

X.—No. 99. Copy of a Letter from His Honor D. McLean to the Hon. Colonel Haultain. Sir,— Wellington, 6th August, 1860. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd instant, stating that the Officer Commanding the Militia and Volunteers at Napier has reported that he had issued eightyeight revolvers to me, inquiring what has become of them, and what probability there is of their being returned into store. In reply, I have the honor to state that I have told the chiefs Morgan, Hotene, and Ropata, Henare Potae, Ihaka, and Kopu, that I hold them responsible for the safe custody of all arms issued to their several tribes; and when the war is ended and no danger of further outbreak anticipated, the arms, including the revolvers referred to, will either be given up by the Natives, or produced for inspection at any place or time on the coast that may be appointed by the Government. I would recommend the latter course as most preferable. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Colonial Defence, Donald McLean. Wellington.

L.—No. 90. Copy of a Letter from Captain Holt to Captain Withers. (No. 252-3.) Colonial Defence Office, Sir,— Wellington, 23rd August, 1867. I am directed to request you will, on application, issue to' the Taupo chief Pohipi Tukairangi, or to such persons as he may send to you on his behalf, twenty-five long Enfield rifles, with accoutrements, and as much ammunition as the pouches belonging to the same will hold. If the Natives do not press for bayonets and side belts, it will be as well to retain them in store; but if they object to this, you can issue them. Tou will be careful to take receipts for these arms and the ammunition, with an engagement, signed by Pohipi, or on his behalf that they will return the same whenever called upon to do so. I have, &c, Captain Withers, J. Holt, Adjutant, Militia, Napier. Under Secretary.

L.—No. 91. Copy of a Letter from Captain Withers to Captain Holt. (No. 182-3.) Militia and Volunteer Office, Sir,— Napier, 24th September, 1867. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter No. 315-3, of the 18th instant, inquiring why I had not reported the manner in which I had carried out the instructions conveyed to me in your letters of the numbers and dates as per margin. In reply, I beg to say, that as nothing whatever was mentioned in either of those letters about reporting on the instructions conveyed therein, I did not consider it necessary to do so especially until they were fully carried out, excepting through the monthly return for August, where it will be seen that 4,000 rounds of percussion ball ammunition, with a due proportion of caps, was issued in that month. This was put on board the s.s. "Taranaki" at 12 o'clock p.m. on the night of her arrival

No. 278-3, Aug. 23, 1367. No. 282-3, Aag. 23, 1867.