A—No. Bb,

22

PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS

ask you to enlighten us upon this subject. If you discover that this letter is of outplace, write and say so—if right, write also. This proposal is not on our own account alone, but on behalf of the whole expedition. We scarcely know how to act. When your letter is received, then the people of the eastern settlements, who are willing to join the expedition, will know what to do. The point upon which they are not clear is the statement 'c that payment will only be given when Te Kooti is really taken." If this be the case, then we, the people of these eastern settlements, will not be willing to join in the pursuit. What we wish is, that the old system of daily pay be continued. Had we known of this new arrangement, we should not have joined in this present expedition. This is the end. Now, friend, send us a quick reply fo this letter. Let there be no delay. Na Te Eanapia Waiheka, Na Piahama Tiwai.

Enclosure 3 in No. 44. WiEEMtr Kingi to Major Male, E.M. To Me. Male,— 18th March, 1870. Eriend, salutations to you. I write to inform you that I have been on a visit to Tamaikowha's place, and we have seen him and his companions. Peace has been made with him by Major Kemp. Peace has been made with that tribe, who number fifty persons. This is the reason why our war-party did not reach the settlement of Maungapowhatu. It would have taken a day and night to have gone from Tauwharemanuka to Maungapowhatu. We therefore returned from Tauwharemanuka. Tamaikowha said to me, to us all, " You had better return to the Coast, as this is about the time that Kooti will make an attack upon Waimana and Torere." So we returned and reached Waimana, where we encamped for the night. While on our march from Waimana to Opotiki, the enemy made an attack on Waiaua. Some of tho Arawa fell at Oharamutu. The Whakatohea retreated quietly and in good order. Te Eanapia and Te Teira with their people were the only ones who fled to the settlement of Torere. As it was, it was through their relatives among the Hauhaus that they escaped and were saved. Bawiri, the Ngatirua, and the Ngatingahere were taken. Te Awanui and thirty of his people joined us, having heard of our movements by letter. Had they been at Waiaua at the time the attack was, they also would have been taken ; but even now they also are disposed to fly. The reason why Te Kooti did not make an attack upon Torere was because the Whakatohea told him that there was a strong party defending that settlement. Te Kooti inquired of them how many men there were, and he was told that there were fifty men ; and it was in consequence of this information that it was not taken. Another reason also was, that Te Matenga and Henare behaved with coolness and judgment. We found them occupying the pa, having sent their women and children to Te Kaha. Friend, there is much more that I could say, but must leave it for the present, having plenty to do. I will write again. Friend, I am much pleased with the arrangement made by Mr. Clarke and yourself for stationing fifty men at my settlement, by which means my people were saved from an attack. Wieemu Kingi.

No. 45. Lieut.-Colonel Haeington to Mr. Claeke, Civil Commissioner. General Government Office, Sic,— Auckland, 23rd March, 1870. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th instant, enclosing the report of Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell relating to the proceedings of Te Kooti in the neighbourhood of Opotiki, and am directed by the Hon. the Defence Minister to inform you that he intends to visit that place by the first opportunity, so as to ascertain personally the actual state of affairs. I have, &c, Philip Haeington, Lieut.-Colonel. H. T. Clarke, Esq., Civil Commissioner, Tauranga.

No. 46. Mr. H. T. Claeke, Civil Commissioner, to the TJndee Seceetaey, Native Department. Civil Commissioner's Office, Sic — Auckland, 31st March, 1870. I have the honor to acquaint you, for the information of the Hon. the Native Minister, that I arrived in Tauranga by the " Star of the South " on tho 14th instant. Directly on my arrival, I was greeted with the intelligence that Te Kooti had made a raid on the settlement of Opape, near Opotiki, and had carried off all the Whakatohea found in the place ; that Captain Walker, the officer in charge at Opotiki, had gone out with a small body of mounted men and a few Arawa from Ohiwa; that two of the Arawa had been killed, one the only son of the Chief Wiremu Maihi; but so meagre and unsatisfactory was the information, that I felt very much