A—No. Ba,

PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS

6

the Waikatos kept aloof, and would not see him. Then Te Kooti selected twelve of the principal men of his party, including Te Rangikaitupuaki (Paerau), and sent them as a deputation to the Waikato. Eleven of the deputation spoke in succession, but the Waikato would make no reply. Then rose Rangikaitupuaki, and said—" Waikato, —You have taken offence, have you, because the bullets were sent whizzing over your heads ? You say that you will fight. Come over there, and let us fight it out. I know you of old. Look at Orakau. Did you lose there as I did ? Look at the trouble you have caused to other tribes by your "King" movement. Look at Taranaki, look at Tauranga, look at Napier, and other places. All the tribes of the Island have suffered through you, and here you are idle. I know you. You know how to take care of yourselves. If you are in earnest, come and let us fight it out. Yon dare not, for you know you will be beaten." Such was the effect of Rangikaitupuaki's speech, that all Ngatimaniapoto joined Te Kooti, including Tapihaua and Tikaokao. Te Kooti has now 800 men, and is on his way back to Taupo, there to await the Pakeha. If they will not attack him there, he will go to Kaingaroa and there wait, then to Ahikereru and there wait, and to Ruatahuna, and so on to Waikare-Moana. There he will take up the offensive, and destroy the Ngatiporou. When he has made an end of his own Maori enemies, then he will again return to Waikato, and from thence attack the Arawa, Tauranga, and the Pakeha settlements at Waikato. Te Kooti will make his name great. He can do nothing now, as there is no food. Great was our suffering for want of food. He desired Hakaraia to return home and encourage his people to grow food. Hakaraia and myself have been with Te Kooti during the whole time. He has now gone towards Taupo, and Rewi with him. True Memo, of Statement made by Ranapia, and corroborated by Arama Karaka and Parcti. 20th August, 1869. Henry T. Clarke.

No. 3. The Under Secretary, Native Department, to the Civil Commissioner, Tauranga. Sir,' — Native Office, Wellington, 15th September, 1869. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th August last, No. D. 58-2, reporting the continued urgency of the Pirirakau Natives that Ngaiterangi should visit them at their settlements in the bush, and enclosing letters from various Native sources giving conflicting reports as to Te Kooti's movements. Mr. McLean has read your letter with much interest. It is known for a certainty that Te Kooti is at Rotoaira, and has lately sustained a defeat at the hands of the loyal Natives. At the same time it is quite necessary that reports, however conflicting, should be furnished to the Government, as it would otherwise be impossible to arrive at the truth out of the various rumours afloat as to the movements of such men as Te Kooti. You are requested to keep Mr. Ormond supplied, as opportunity may offer, with all information of this nature which may reach you. I have, &c, 11. T. Clarke, Esq., Civil Commissioner, Tauranga. G. S. Cooper.

No. 4. The Under Secretary, Native Department, to His Honor J. D. Ormond, Napier. Sir, — Native Office, Wellington, 15th September, 1869. I am directed by Mr. McLean to enclose for your information the copy of a letter from Mr. Commissioner Clarke, and of my reply thereto. I have, &c, His Honor J. D. Ormond, Esq., Napier. G. S. Cooper, Under Secretary.

No. 5. The Civil Commissioner, Tauranga, to the Under Secretary, Native Department. (D. 62-2) Civil Commissioner's Office, Sir, — Tauranga, 29th August, 1869. In my communication of the 20th instant, I enclosed a memorandum of a statement made by Maihi Pohepohc, giving a narrative of the proceedings of Te Kooti during his visit to Waikato, and also a programme of his future plans so far as they were known. In addition to that statement I have the honor to inform you that, on the 22nd instant, the Venerable Archdeacon Brown had an interview with Maihi, and kindly furnished me with the substance of the intelligence he had obtained, and which related chiefly to Te Kooti's declared future movements, and which quite corroborates the statement given in the memorandum above