A.—No. 4a

No. 1. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. Colonel Haultain to Major Biggs. (No. 533-3.) Colonial Defence Office, Sir, Wellington. 7th September, 1868. I have been informed by Lieut.-Colonel AVhitmore that, with his concurrence, you have not called out for Actual Service the Militia of Poverty Bay (as you were directed to do in my letter No. 476 of the sth ult.) because you considered that the state of affairs in the District was not such as to justify an expenditure of public money, in which I quite concur ; but I have now to direct you to issue the Notice that was forwarded to you, and to call upon the Ist and 2nd Class Militiamen to attend for the purpose of being completed with arms and accoutrements. You are to form them into a Company, and direct them to parade once in every three months for the inspection of their arms, &cThis they are required to do without pay, as is the rule in all those parts of the Colony where arms are placed in the hands of the Settlers for their own defence, and you are to fix such times and places for these musters as will least inconvenience the parties concerned. You should at the same time inform them that having been called out for Actual Service, they are liable to be placed on duty at any time that they may be required, when of course they will be entitled to the usual Militia pay and allowances. You may appoint to do duty with the Company any person in the District who holds a Militia Commission, and if necessary, recommend the names of any other eligible gentlemen who are willing to serve as Officers. I have, &c, T. M. Haultain. Major Biggs, Commanding Militia District, Poverty Bay.

No. 2. Copy of a Letter from Major Biggs to the Under Secretary, Colonial Defence. g IE Poverty Bay, Ist September, 1868. I have the honor to inform you that in accordance with instructions received from Lieut.Colonel AVhitmore, the Militia of the Poverty Bay District have been called out for training and exercise. The number of men enrolled are —forty of the Ist Class, thirteen of the 2nd Class, and seventeen of the 3rd Class, —making a total of seventy men. The Poverty Bay Volunteers are thirtytwo strong. AVith a case of rifles Lieut.-Colonel AVhitmore left, numbering twenty-five, and nine which were in charge, I have been able to arm only thirty-four of the Militiamen with rifles. Until more come I have lent as many breech-loading carbines as I have, so that as few as possible shall be without arms of some sort. I have therefore to request that I may be supplied with rifles as soon as possible. The number of Government arms amongst the Natives of the Bay is seventy-seven ; in this number Hirini Te Kani's men are not included, as his men are scattered along the Coast from TuraDganui to Tolaga Bay. The Natives are very anxious to obtain more arms, but I fear if given them they will prove but lukewarm friends. I do not apprehend that they will turn against us, but they have not the heart to fight against their relatives. Hotene, a Ngatiporou chief, told Colonel AVhitmore that he would not come here again to assist against an enemy, so that little support can be looked for from that quarter. Morgan would send some thirty men if they are paid. Henare Potae has also about the same number of good men, but before any of these people could arrive great damage might be done by an enemy as strong as the party collecting around the ex-prisoners. Considering how scattered the population is, the doubtful assistance we can expect from the Natives of the district, and the length of time it would take to obtain assistance from the coast, together with the close proximity of the enemy, I think it really necessary for the protection of the people and property of Turanga, that a force should be located in the district. Such a measure would give confidence to the loyal, and hinder the doubtful Natives from turning over to the enemy. Tho ex-prisoners are only four days' march from Turanga ; they have already been joined by some of the Wairoa natives, and will, I doubt not, get much support from the Ureweras. A message has already arrived here, asking the Natives of this place to get what arms they can frcta the Government, to remain outwardly loyal, and to join tho enemy with a hundred men when they come down in the summer; evidently shewing that it is their intention to attack this place as soon as fine weather sets in and provisions are plentiful.

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE AGENCY OF MR. McLEAN ON THE EAST COAST.