AGAINST THE REBEL NATIVES.

A.—Wo. 8.

19

their assistance. Total Native force, 440. This is whole force I have taken on to meet Te Kooti. 100 Constabulary are at Tokano, and makes total of 550 men. The remainder of the Constabulary are barely enough to hold posts and convey provisions. I venture to say a force 130 miles off has never before been supplied from so weak a base. Indeed it is too weak, and is risking a great deal, the whole line being on the confine of the Urewera country and liable to attack. Further force have gone to Taupo, but I did not ask them. Kemp and the Wanganuis I know nothing of. They had not reached Taupo last Thursday. Tareha sent eighty men to Taupo on Saturday, but I refused to sanction their going, or to find them pay or food. The results so far are known. Te Kooti has lost prestige, been beaten twice, and Rewi has left him. Waikato and West Taupo look on to see result, and on that result very much, I believe, depends. Taupo is held, and very shortly Te Kooti will either be smashed or have to bolt. Expenditure can then be reduced at once; but I think cost of this expedition is over-estimated. The transport is enormously difficult and expensive, but I carry little there except biscuit and groceries. Meat is driven there, and potatoes are largely used. The utmost economy is practised, and every detail seen to by myself. I will append statement of actual payments in months July, August, and September. I expect every day to hear of definite action between our forces and Te Kooti. Government must remember that every step has been taken with possibility that Te Kooti might receive active support from Waikato. With regard to possible reductions in my district, the whole Native force, except fifty men for part garrison for Tokano and Rotoaira, can be dispensed with directly Te Kooti is dealt with. The European force will be required and their labour made use of in road-making. There is no excess of officers. Ten, I think, is the total of Constabulary officers. There is no waste of money in that respect in my district. I will now give actual payments during last three months :—■ First payment of liabilities incurred up to 30th June, 1869, month July .. .. " •. .. .. £12,787 Pay .". .. .. .. .. .. 3,267 Vouchers authorized—month August, pay .. .. 1,773 Vouchers .. .. . . .. .. .. 7,719 September, pay .. .. . . .. .. 144 Vouchers .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,153 Total pay, Europeans and Natives past liabilities .. .. 14,705 Total authorized vouchers—past liabilities, ... .. 13,140 Payment made on ordinary expenditure incurred since Ist July, 1869, month July, pay .. .. .. .. 3,142 Vouchers .. ' .. . . . . .. .. 378 August, pay . . .. .. .. .. .. 1,447 Vouchers .. . . . . .. .. .. 742 September, pay .. . . . . .. .. 449 Vouchers .. . . .. .. .. .. 482 Total, pay .. .. .. .. .. 5,038 Vouchers .. . . . . .. .. .. 1,602 The Constabulary are now being paid for past two months, and are not included. These figures. are as near as I can obtain from Paymaster's office. The Hon. Dillon Bell, Wellington. Ormond.

No. 21. His Honor J. D. Ormond to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Napier, 6th October, 1869. In consequence of telegrams received from the Hon. Mr. Bell, I yesterday made a sort of report on the Taupo operations by telegraph, in order that Ministers might have some information on the subject before considering it in Cabinet. My telegram conveyed pretty accurately the causes which led to the Taupo expedition against Tc Kooti being undertaken, and what, in my opinion, has been effected by the operations up to now. There can be no doubt that, unless Te Kooti had been checked, the whole of the centre of the Island would have got into his hands. The friendlies were in a miserable minority, and could only have saved themselves by joining him. Had he obtained the control of Taupo, he would, in all probability, have received the support of the Waikatos and Ngatimaniapoto, as well as have been in a position to open communication with the Upper Wanganuis and the Urewera, and the result it is needless to point out. The steps taken against him have stopped nearly all this. In the first place, I now have information that Rewi accompanied Te Kooti for the purpose of seeing him exhibit his power at Taupo before pledging to support him, and instead, saw him defeated and foiled. I hear that Rewi, immediately after Te Kooti's defeat at Tauranga, returned to W raikato and proclaimed him an impostor. Then, he has been checked in his communications with the Upper Wanganui Natives; although I believe he has obtained the support of Topini's hapu, from the very head of that river, consisting of some seventy men. Next, the Taupo Natives have only part of them joined him, the main body hanging back and watching