A.—No. 8.

26

PAPERS RELATIVE TO NATIVE

McDonnell was with his reserve, and tell him to come on as quickly as he could, there being every probability of shots being exchanged." This is all the information I can give you on the subject, from the time I entered the pa until I left. I have, &c, Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, Davis Canning. Commanding Forces, Patea District. J

No. 39. Copy of a Letter from Captain Holt to Colonel McDonnell. (No. 265-2.) Defence Office, Sis,— Wellington, 21st May, 1868. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the I.6th instant, No. 292-1, and in reply am directed by the Defence Minister to inform you that the Government approve the action you have taken in endeavouring to execute the warrant for the apprehension of certain Natives charged with stealing horses, &c, from the settlers, and have again the pleasure of recognizing the judgment and conspicuous courage you have displayed in performing this duty under very hazardous and difficult circumstances. The Government have also received, with much satisfaction, your report of the conduct of the officers and men under your command. The Government cannot, however, comply with your request to place the management of the district in your hands. They quite admit the qualifications you claim for yourself, but they also have every confidence in the existing civil authorities, and see no reason at present for substituting anything like martial law for the ordinary constitutional administration of Government. As you appear to think it possible that you may be required to lead your officers and men into unnecessarily hazardous positions, I am to state that Mr. Booth will be cautioned to consult with you before calling upon you for military assistance, and I am to point out that you have the power —indeed, that you are held responsible —to decline to undertake any expedition which you may consider could not be successfully carried out with the means at your disposal. I have, &c, Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, J. Holt, Commanding Colonial Forces, &c, Patea. Under Secretary.

No. 40. Copy of a Letter from Colonel McDonnell to Captain Holt. (No. 295-1.) Sic,— Patea, 19th May, 1868. With reference to the postscript of my letter, number and date as per margin, I have the honor to report, for the information of the Hon. the Minister for Colonial Defence, that I proceeded to Waihi, with Captain Cumming, on tho 17th instant. I found that a sack of stolen articles had been sent into camp by Araukuku. I enclose a statement received from Katene, and I wrote to Tauke, expressing my regret at his wife's death, and requesting an interview with him as soon as he could to have a talk. No answ-er has as yet been received, but I will report to Government when I receive one. I have, &c, Captain Holt, Thos. McDonnell, Lieut.-Colonel, Under Secretary, Wellington. Commanding Patea District.

291-1, May 16, 1868.

Enclosure in No. 40. To Colonel,— Arakawa Hatepe, 18th May, 1868. Salutations. When I left this (for Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu) and I arrived at Te Ahipaipa, I asked the old man (whom I saw there) whether I should return safely or not. He told me to go on my way without fear. When I reached the forest I met an old woman. I said to her, " Perhaps I shall be killed." She replied, " I will not say yes, neither will I say no." I then went on my way. When I came out (appeared) at To Maru, I was discovered, and three men came to meet me. When I got across tho stream they asked mo, " Who is behind you ?" I replied, "I am alone." They exhorted me to speak the truth. I said, "I am speaking the truth." I was then called to by the rest to advance towards them. We all went together to the main body, and when we got there I sat down. Kokiri then stood up and said to me, " Say what you have come to say." I then stood up and said to him, " I came to see how it is that no one has come to the Colonel in reply to his letter which has reached you." Kokiri then called out, "You are right in coming here; the reason there has as yet been no reply to that letter is because the wife of Tauke is dead : he is the man we intended to have sent in company with Tipene." I then answered, "It is quite right, but choose you now some one to go back with me." They chose out a son of Kokiri. I told them he would not do, as he would not be able to speak (did not know how to speak). Kokiri thereupon went to Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu to get some one; he brought back a woman; but when she arrived she was sent back again, and in her stead they got the mother of Ihaka, who is in prison. Those words end. I then inquired of them how it was they had their guns with them, and why they had their cartridge-boxes strapped on to their waists. Then Kokiri stood up and said, " The reason is first the case of Butu, which was an investigation. After that came a large war party. All the Pakehas came by night and carried off property and men, and Tauke. We thought that was the end of it, but immediately after that there came another war-party of Pakehas, who took the pa, caught horses as well as people. Some of the people at this fled into the woods. This is why we are cautious, and arm