A.—No. 8,

No. 48. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Stevens to tho Offices Commanding Colonial Foeces, Patea. (No. 354-2.) Colonial Defence Office, Sic — Wellington, 10th July, 1868. ' lam directed by the Defence Minister to acknowledge receipt of Inspector Hunter's letter of the 15th nil., No. 3, reporting the destruction of property at Waingongoro, &c, by rebel Natives. A delay has occurred in replying to the above-quoted letter, through its having been sent by mistake to Auckland, and only received here on tho 7th inst. I have, &c, Feas. Stevens, The Officer Commanding Colonial Forces, Patea. (For the Under Secretary.)

No. 49. Insteuctions for Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. (No. 309-2.) The Force under your command in the Patea District will be increased by Major Yon Tompsky's Division of Constabulary from Auckland, and by Inspector Newlaud's detachment from New Blymouth. You are authorized to enrol fifty men of the Native Contingent; to call out such of the Militia and Volunteers in your district as you think it safe and expedient to inovo from their homes; and, further, to raise a corps of eighty men to serve for three months, or longer if required. Captain Page will command this corps, and will remain at Wellington until the steamer " Sturt " leaves, and enrol and equip any efficient men who may wish to join ; he will then go on to Wanganui and raise men there ; and, if necessary, Newland will be directed to enrol a few men at Taranaki tocomplete the number. You arc requested to nominate a medical man to join the force as surgeon, and if you cannot find a suitable person at Wanganui, it is probable that Dr. O'Carroll, of New Plymouth, would bo prepared to join. Lieut.-Colonels Gorton and Eeader will be instructed to render you every assistance in equipping and securing provisions for your men. You must, if possible, arrange with contractors at Wanganui or Patea for the supply of provisions, and may at once accept any contract which will deliver the daily ration at a rate not exceeding 2s. per man, taking care, however, that you have good security for the fulfilment of the contract. On her return from Manukau you may detain the "Sturt" to assist you in completing all these arrangements ; and the huts at Patea, not otherwise occupied, may be temporarily used by contractors for storing their supplies. It is to be understood that the Government will not supply rum. The Natives are to be enrolled on the same terms as the European Militia, namely, for so long as their services may be required, and at a daily rate of pay of 45., including Is. 6d. in lieu of rations, which will be deducted if the Government furnish provisions. If there is likely to bo any difficulty in procuring the authorized number, Hori Kingi and two or three other influential chiefs may bo sent down to Wellington to confer with His Excellency and the Government. Sub-Inspector Cumming may be appointed to do the duties of Adjutant and Quartermaster, with an allowance of 3s. 6d. a day for these services, and an additional ss. a clay for acting as Paymaster of the force. The dates on which he enters on these duties are to be duly notified. A supply of medicines, &c, will be sent from Wellington. As soon as your force has been assembled, you are to use your best endeavours to attack and punish the tribes who have been concerned in the recent murders of peaceful settlers. Whilst employed in active operations in the field you arc responsible to the Government only for the exercise of the powers committed to you. Full confidence is reposed in you ; but in tho case of your having to deal with tribes of suspected loyalty, you will no doubt find it desirable to consult tho opinions of Mr Booth. Tho Government desire that the severest punishment should be inflicted on tho actual murderers ; hut I need hardly remind you that it is your duty to exercise your influence to restrain men, whose passions arc naturally excited by horrible outrages, from unnecessary bloodshedding, to save women and children, and to spare life when resistance ceases. If you consider that the mounted men of Captain Newland's detachment can travel overland safely from New Plymouth, you will direct them to march; otherwise they must embark on board the " Sturt," leaving their horses behind them, and serving on foot until they can procure other horses. As you will have a quantity of stores, &c, some of which will be issucable on payment, and may have extra trouble in the supply and issue of provisions, and as you arc responsible, under the Public Stores Act, for all articles committed to your charge, you may appoint a person to act as quartermaster or storekeeper, to assist you in keeping the accounts, &c. His pay will be 12s. 6d. a day. Whilst in command of the Field Force you may draw the pay and allowances of lieutenant-colonel, namely, 235. per diem, with forage for two horses. Defence Office, 16th June, 1868. T. M. Haultain.

No. 50. Copy of a Letter from Colonel McDonnell to Captain Holt. Sic, — Wanganui, 19th June, 1868, 11 p.m. I have the honor to report, for the information of the Government, that I arrived at Wanganui this morning. The s.s. " Bangitira " passed us, outward-bound, after we had entered the heads. I was

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DISTURBANCES AT PATEA.