A.—No. Ba.

8

PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS

arrangements possible with a due regard to economy. I would strongly urge, as suggested in my semi-official letter, that an arrangement be made with the Natives to do the transport work at per cwt. or hundred pounds weight, rather than at a fixed sum per diem, and I think that some of those Natives already receiving pay might be detailed to do the duty. The advisability of sending an officer to assist you is under discussion; the principal difficulty being to select an officer of sufficient knowledge of the Maori language and Maori character, so as to render you efficient service. With regard to an Issuer, is it not possible to select from your force a man of sufficient intelligence and probity to do the necessary work ? In the event of your not being able to do so, Colonel Harington has named Trooper Maunscll. I ought to mention to you that the supplies sent you are to be issued on payment; that is to say, the Natives must understand that the price will be deducted from their pay. The Quartermaster has been directed to fix as reasonable a price on the different articles as he consistently can. I have, &c, 11. T. Clarke, Captain St. George, Taupo. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure 3 in No. 5. Captain St. George to the Civil Commissioner, Tauranga. Sir,— Taupo, 18th August, 1869. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, and the receipt of money as per margin. The men with the pack-horses have not yet arrived. I will do my best in making an arrangement for getting up the stores from Kaiteriria; but I think that arrangements could be made cheaper and better from that end, as we have very few horses, and those very poor ones; besides, wc have no pack-saddles. This being short of horses and saddles makes these people careless of taking this work, and they are always much longer on the journey than men with good horses would be. If I cannot get men to take the packing at per hundred pounds, I shall have to pay the usual five shillings per day for horses, but I will give a certain number of days to do the work in. lam sure that I shall not be able to arrange at less than 15s. per hundred pounds. I hope that an officer will be sent as soon as possible; even if he understands but little Maori, he will be able to take a good deal of the work off my shoulders, and give me more time to attend to other things. With regard to an Issuer, I have detailed a Native to this work, but find that I have to do the work over again myself; still, if one cannot be sent, I must manage as well as I can. I have, &c, Jno. C. St. George, H. T. Clarke, Esq., Civil Commissioner. Government Agent.

£215 17s. Od.

Enclosure 4 in No. 5. Captain St. George to the Civil Commissioner, Tauranga. Sir, — Tapuaeharuru, Taupo, 11 p.m., 19th August, 1869. I have the honor to inform you that one of my spies returned from Waihaha an hour ago and brought the following news : — Te Kooti was at Tuhua on Monday. On Tuesday he started for Rotoaira and would arrive there yesterday, when a party of 100 men were to be sent on to Tokano. Rewi Maniapoto is with him, but he has no men. Te Hcuheu and Tuwharctoa have returned with Te Kooti. Te Kooti intends to stay at Taupo and attack Tapuaeharuru; but he also said that if he was not molested he would likely go back to his own country. When Te Kooti comes to attack this place, he will come by the north end of the Lake. He has 240 men and a great number of women and children with him. My spy got this news from Patera, a Hauhau of Hiteri's hapu, who was returning from Tokangamutu with Te Kooti. I send a copy of Patera's letter. I cannot send the men for the goods to Kaitcriria now as I have too few men as it is. If I had sufficient force here now, Te Kooti might be attacked, as he is in an open place, and hampered with women and children; at any rate he could be prevented from getting back to his own country. I have not enough men to do this and hold this place. I send to-morrow to get in as many potatoes as I can. I have hardly any flour, and hope food will be sent up to me; also, some ammunition. I ought to have at least twelve kegs. Can an officer be sent up to assist me at once ? If one was here, I should go myself on an observing expedition; as it is I cannot leave. I have, &c, Jno. C. St. George, H. T. Clarke, Esq., Civil Commissioner, Tauranga. Government Agent. I start the orderly off with this at once.