AGAINST THE REBEL NATIVES.

A.—No. Bb.

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Eopata Wahawaha has gone. Now, if you do not consent to this arrangement, let each hapu go to his own place. That is all. Your friend, Donald McLean.

No. 9. Hohaia Matatehokia to the Hon. the Defence Minister. To Me. McLean, — Whakatane, Bth March, 1870. Salutations to you. Your letter of the 3rd day of this month has reached us. That is informing us of the giving over of the pursuit of Te Kooti to the Maori Chiefs, to be pursued according to the mode of warfare of our ancestors, and the non-payment per day during the time we are engaged in pursuing him, and that when Te Kooti is caught, then the Government will have consideration for us (reward us). Friend, our parent, perhaps your orphan children who are here will not be clear (will not be willing) to carry out this view of you and the chief who proposed those plans to you. But as you and the chief have determined on that plan, let him pursue Te Kooti, and if he captures him, well; but these children do not approve of this mode of service. Let the words to you end. From your friend, Hohaia Matatehokia.

No. 10. Te Kepa Banoipuawhe to the Hon. the Defence Minister. Friend Me. McLean,— Te Ariki, March 11th, 1870. Greetings. On the 10th inst. we received your letter stopping tho daily pay, and stating that the war parties that are pursuing Te Kooti are to serve for the payment, upon completion of service, of £5,000. On our seeing this word, our hearts were quite perplexed, because you told us when we saw you in the Civil Commissioner's Office at Te Papa, on the 18th February, 1870, that £5,000 would be the payment given to us by the Government, above (besides) the four shillings which is paid per diem. On the 18th of that February we received your letter, giving over to the Maori the conduct of the war. The Europeans all remained, and there was no word from you to us in that letter respecting the pay. We then, these tribes (Tuhourangi, Tuwharetoa, and Ngatirangitihi), commenced immediately to proceed in pursuit of Te Kooti. As to the going of Te Pokiha, he was not asked or deputed by the Arawa to go, but he went of his own accord. On the day which McDonnell spoke the word about his (Colonel McDonnell's) returning, then I and Hohepa Tamamutu agreed that we should go with Te Pokiha. I then sent the war party on. When we two heard of the talk of Mr. Clarke, we two assented to come back, and Te Pokiha proceeded thither upon his persistence to reach you. As we were going direct to Buatahuna, your letter of the 3rd day of March came forth, stopping the daily pay, and the heart became quite sad in consequence of this new thought; but we did not cease proceeding in pursuit, and chanced whether he should be caught by others, or whether we should be thoroughly opposed by the Hauhaus on the way, and we should deliberate. Now this is a word from the chiefs of these hapus (of Tuhourangi, Tuwharetoa, and Ngatirangitihi) : that the love of the Government be given back to these hapus that are desirous of pursuing Te Kooti; that is to say, that the four shillings per day be again given. Mr. McLean, let love on your part again arise. Ngatiwhakaue, and the other hapus of the Arawa, with Ngatipikiao, have remained. I and my two hundred men are still desirous of carrying out the word of the Government, and are anxious to meet Whanganui and Ngatiporou, who are coming by the other roads. Here is another affliction of ours —having no food. The reason why we delay to enter Buatahuna is, we have heard three reports —that, during the days of March Te Kooti will return to Botorua, to fetch Te Tahau, and then they will proceed to Taupo, his permanent place. x These are the only subjects which we wish to speak to you about. Let another letter be written to us when this reaches you, that we may be clear. By me, Te Kepa Te Bangipuawhe.

No. 11. The Hon. the Defence Minister to Te Kepa Bangipuawhe. My Feiend Te Kepa Bangipuawhe,— Auckland, 23rd March, 1870. Salutations to you, my friend. I have received your letter of the 11th of March. I have looked at the words contained therein. Well, this matter, the lump sum, is not a mere idea ; it has been carefully considered in Council, and has been agreed to by other tribes. Friends, my love for my tribe, the Arawa, will not cease. It is not new, it is from olden time, from the time of the old men who are dead, and the thought is still the same, for the great deeds have been seen during the past times. My last word is this :If Te Kooti is caught by Te Arawa, the Government will settle with them without any trouble. This is another word about food, that is to say, the subsistence for the road while the work is going on : 0 friend, I consent that the Government should issue food for the subsistence of those who work in the battles. You ask Mr. Clarke. Your friend, Donald McLean. 2