A.—No. Ba.

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PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS

No. 215. Mr. Commissioner Branigan to the Hon. the Defence Minister. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 7th February, 1870. Just (2 p.m.) arrived from McDonnell's camp. No news of either Topia or Kemp when I left. McDonnell marched at 6.30 a.m. this morning straight towards Pacngaroa. He has taken four days' rations with him, and his strength is 146. Cumming remains in charge at Tapapa Camp 102 strong, and Henare at Hamaria with 50 of his own people. Topia and Kemp have 2 officers and 30 Constabulary with them. Road to Tauranga is easily accessible from Tapapa for horsemen ; distance between thirty and forty miles. St. John Branigan, Commissioner.

No. 216. Mr. Commissioner Branigan to the Hon. the Defence Minister. (Telegram.) Cambridge, Bth February, 1870. I have just received the following : —" Camp, Tapapa, Bth February, 1870.—Sir, —I have the honor to forward a note just received. It was brought by Sergeant Carkcek (the writer) and a Native. They left Ohinemutu this morning. Two of Mair's Natives arc killed and one wounded, and three of the enemy are killed. I have sent orders for Henry te Pukuatua to push across as quickly as possible to Ohincmutu. Nothing lias been heard by Mair of Lieut.-Colonel Fraser. I will try and get a Native to follow Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell with the news.—George J. Cumming, Inspector, A.C. —To St. John Branigan, Esq." " Cambridge, Ohinemutu, 7th February, 1870. —Sir, —I am directed by Lieutenant Mair to inform you of the arrival of Te Kooti and Kereopa within two miles of this place. The news was first brought in by a man named Louis Baker, a deserter from a man-of-war in Tauranga. He left Te Kooti last night, having travelled with him from near Tauranga. Te Kooti has taken prisoner a woman and children who were getting potatoes about a mile and a half from here. Lieutenant Mair, with most of the Maoris, are out in pursuit of him. The man Baker says that Te Kooti is trying to make his way to Ruatahuna. Baker is the man who was with Kereopa at Mr. Volkner's murder. —A. W. Carkeek, Sergeant, A.C." St. John Branigan, Commissioner, A.CF.

No. 217. The Hon. the Defence Minister to Mr. Commissioner Branigan. (Telegram.) Auckland, Bth February, 1870. If you see no urgent necessity for remaining at Waikato, you may as well come on to Auckland, and let Lieut.-Colonel Moule report and forward communications from the front. Mr. Commissioner Branigan, Cambridge. Donald McLean.

No. 218. Mr. Commissioner Branigan to the Hon. the Defence Minister. (Telegram.) Cambridge, Bth February, 1870. I will be in Auckland Thursday evening. Letter from Cumming this evening. No further news. Tana goes to Auckland to-morrow. St. John Branigan, Commissioner, A.CF.

Enclosure in No. 218. Inspector Cumming to Mr. Commissioner Branigan. Sir,— Camp, Tapapa, Bth February, 1870. I have the honor to report that Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell marched from this post yesterday morning, with a force of 40 Europeans and 106 Natives, total 146, taking four days' rations. His intentions are to endeavour to find out and co-operate with Lieut.-Colonel Fraser and Kemp and Topia. Henare te Pukuatua, with fifty men, arrived at Hamaria from Horohoro yesterday afternoon. I have directed him to remain there and daily scout the margin of the bush. Nothing unusual has occurred here since Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell left. The numbers left at Tapapa are- —Europeans, 33; Natives, 70; total, 103. I have, &c, St. John Branigan, Esq., Geo. J. Gumming, Inspector, A.C, Commissioner, A.C. Adjutant Field Force.

No. 219. The Hon. the Defence Minister to Major Kemp. Friend Kemp,—■ Auckland, 7th February, 1870. Salutations to you; to you who are now engaged in carrying out the work of pursuing