PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS

A.—No. 8a

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No. 118. The Hon. the Defence Minister to Mr. Commissioner Branigan. (Telegram.) Auckland, 22nd January, 1870. Received your telegrams. Do what you think necessary about supplies for Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. Let me know when he will be ready to strike a blow, that a general advance may be made simultaneously from Tauranga if there is time for it. lam sending overland there to-night to warn Arawa to be ready, and Lieut.-Colonel Fraser also. The two points on which I want information are Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell's and Te Kooti's positions. Mr. Commissioner Branigan, Cambridge. Donald McLean.

No. 119. Inspector Pitt to the Hon. the Defence Minister. (Telegram.) Alexandra, 22nd January, 1870. The following just received from Mr. Hetit: —Tawhiao, Sophia and family were here yesterday. They left Kuiti the same morning; they had nothing new. I expect that the messengers will be back from Ta Papa, and to-day I will send up one of the boys to sec what is going on. I told Sophia yesterday that all the Pakchas had made a move after Te Kooti, and she was quite pleased with the information. I shall wait for the return of the boy from the Kuiti, and then run down to Alexandra. We are are all quiet here. C Dean Pitt, Inspector, A.C.

No. 120. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to the Hon. the Defence Minister. Sir, — Wai Mahana, 21st January, 1870. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 18th January, 1870, and am now on my way to Patetere with Europeans and Arawas. Majors Kemp and Topia joined us yesterday morning, and move on with us to-clay. Kereopa and Te Kooti were at Kokako when I heard of them last. I move on with as little delay as possible, and trust to meet with the enemy the day after to-morrow; the strength of the force is : —Europeans, 98; Maoris, 150; Wanganuis with Topia, 370. I am moving on under the impression that your letter was evidently written under the impression that I was still at Tokano. I have, &c, Thos. McDonnell, Lieut.-Colonel, The Hon. the Defence Minister. Commanding Field Force.

No. 121. Mr. Hetit to the Hon. the Defence Ministeb. (Telegram.) Alexandra, 23rd January, 1870. Rewi has gone to Aotearoa to keep the Ngatiraukawa from joining Te Kooti. Topini is at Mangawahanga, on the Mokau River. Marino is at Kuiti; he left Topia at Taupo to join Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell's force. The force is on the road towards Patetere. All quiet in neighbourhood. Native reports here that Te Kooti musters 600 men. The Hon. the Defence Minister. L. Hetit.

No. 122. Mr. Commissioner Branigan to the Hon. the Defence Minister. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 23rd January, 1870. Lieut.-Colonel Moule marches, at daylight to-morrow, with supplies for Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell's force, to a place called Ilanuera, fifteen miles hence, and along the supposed line of Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell's advance towards Patetere. The latest intelligence of Te Kooti is given by a man named Marsh, a respectable Maungatautari Native, who came into camp to-day. He has taken up a strong position in the bush behind Taupara, his horses being in a clearing behind the pa, which he is actively engaged in building, and has now nearly completed. Marsh, who came from Patetere, says that Te Kooti will only wait to watch our movements, and if he finds himself closed in upon, he will get away by the many tracks leading from his position towards the Rotorua Lakes. If this is likely to be true, then I would suggest that Lieut.-Colonel Fraser should be moved up towards the rear of Tapapa, and the Arawa towards the lake, so as to be prepared should Te Kooti attempt to escape that way. I make this suggestion because I think it almost probable that Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, finding himself strong enough, may attack Te Kooti without seeking or waiting for co-operation. However, the Native has left the camp this afternoon with an urgent letter from Lieut.-Colonel