A.—No. 3a

4

MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST REBEL NATIVES.

No. 3. Copy of a Letter from Mr. J. Booth to the Native Ministee. Sic, — Resident Magistrate's Office, Carlyle, 14th June, 1869. I have the honor to report that I have just returned from a six days' expedition up the Patea River. The force which I accompanied was composed of about three hundred (300) men, under command of Major Noake. The successful result of the expedition is, that we have brought down to this camp one hundred and twenty-three (123) prisoners, namely, forty-six (46) men, thirty-seven (37) women, and forty (40) children. The chiefs are, Taurua, Iraia—who was falsely reported by the Ngatiporou to have been killed —and Kireona, the actual chief of the hapu, but who has not up to this time shown himself to the Pakeha. They laid down all the arms they had, thirty-one (31) stand, all of which are in good repair, and they are moreover all loaded ; they had very little spare ammunition; they were brought down the river in seventeen of their own canoes. We had no fighting; the Hauhaus showed themselves to us for the purpose of surrendering. Six men were sent down to the head of a rapid, who opened communication with us, the result of which I have already stated. They were evidently getting very short of provisions, and were only too glad to give themselves up. Taurua says he received a letter from Titokowaru a short time ago, in which the latter invites him to join him at Waitara with his (Pakakohe) hapu, for the purpose of making another attempt against the Pakeha; but that when the letter was read to the hapu, they one and all declined to give any further assistance whatever to Titokowaru. Taurua thinks the Tangahoo under Tukino are desirous to surrender themselves to the Government. No promise whatever as to tho future has been made to these men beyond this, —that the lives of those who can prove that they were not implicated in the first murders at Ketemarae, Waihi, and Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu, will be spared; they will be kept close prisoners at this post until further and definite instructions concerning them are received from Government. Taurua acknowledges that himself and the whole of his hapu, with the exception of six men who were left to look after canoes, &c, and a few Korohekes, have been actively engaged in this rebellion. In the first instance they were taken prisoners by Titokowaru, but that afterwards they fought willingly on his side. They were at Moturoa, Taurangaika, and Otauto; and they left him after the retreat from the last-mentioned place. Taurua does not plead anything in extenuation of his fault, and has thrown himself entirely on the mercy of the Government. There are still perhaps thirty (30) men of the hapu who have not come in, and it is proposed to employ Taurua, who will go with the Wanganui or Ngatiporou Natives, and use his influence in trying to bring them in. I have, &c, James Booth, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Resident Magistrate.

No. 4. Copy of a Letter from Mr. G. S. Coopee to Mr. J. Booth. Sic,— Native Office, Wellington, 18th June, 1869. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, reporting the unconditional surrender of the Pakakohe hapu, under the chiefs Taurua, Iraia, and Kireona, to the number of 123 souls in all. I am directed by Mr. Richmond, in the first place, to convey the thanks of the Government to yourself, and the force which accompanied you, for the activity which you have displayed in following up the fugitive rebels, and which has resulted in the capture and surrender of so considerable a number of them. The prisoners taken should be kept in safe custody until further instructions are received by you from the Government. I have, &c, James Booth, Esq., G. 8. Coopee, Resident Magistrate, Carlyle. Under Secretary.