A—No. 8b

38

PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS

Enclosure in No. 61. Major Mair to Lieut.-Colonel St. JonN. Sic, — Eesident Magistrate's Office, Opotiki, 23rd April, 1870. I have the honor to forward a translation of a letter from Erueti Tamaikowha to Kepa, Topia, and other Wanganui chiefs. The original was brought to Ohiwa by a son of the writer on the 22nd instant. I have, &c., The Officer Commanding, Opotiki. W. G. Mair, E.M.

[translation.] To Opotiki,— 18th April, 1870. To To Kepa, Topia, Kawana Paipai, and to Mete Kingi—that is, to you all. Friends, salutations. Your word has been acomplished by me. The Urewera will abide by their agreement. If you intrude in my places there will be trouble. If you invade me when Te Kooti is not here, there will be trouble. The Urewera have returned ; two hapu remained with him. Be watchful of that man. It ends. From Tamaikowha, Chief of these parts. This is a question of mine to you about Hiria : Is she dead or is she alive ; if dead, say so ; if alive, release her, that she may return, she and Turei, at once. Friends, bo kind to our Mokai ; do not permit any one to detain ; let her come back.

No. 62. Lieut.-Colonel St. John to the Hon. the Defence Minister. Sir,— Opotiki, 23rd April, 1870. With regard to my proposed expedition to Maraetahi, I have the honor to inform you that no answer has yet been received to my letters to Hera Te Popo. I have arranged that, should it have come during my kokiri after Eru Tamaikowdia, to start by way of Kemp's track. By scouts we can tako one or two prisoners, who will enable us to get hold of Te Hera. Once information procured of Te Kooti's whereabouts, the Whakatoheas seem unanimous in their determination to accompany me in chase of him. I have, &c, The Hon. D. McLean. J. H. H. St. John, Lt.-Col.

No. 63. Lieut.-Colonel St. John to the Hon. the Defence Minister. Sir,— Opotiki, 26th April, 1870. I have the honor to report, that having received accurate information of Eru Tamaikowha and Natana's whereabouts, I started from hero with twenty-five Whakatoheas, at 4 p.m., on the 24th. At the Ohiwa, Marsh, who had begged me to come up, joined me voluntarily with about the same number, and we went into the interior. Never was a better chance of securing these two ruffians. At 2 a.m. we were within 500 yards of the small kainga where they were asleep ; and here, my knowledge of the ground being nil, I assented to Wi Main's dispositions for completely surrounding the place. Unluckily, however, just as we were completing the circle, Tiwai's party got too near, a dog gave the alarm, and Eru and his mob rushed precipitately down a steep gully, the path by which they fled being reached by us a few minutes after their escape. One chief, Em's uncle, Tepine by name, was tomahawked while attempting his escape. Eru never had such a shave; he escaped with only his guns, leaving horses, saddles, blankets, &c, behind him. I have also two of his sons in custody, who will be sent to Wi Kingi's, at Torere ; and I shall find means of apprising him that they will be kept as hostages for his behaviour. The expense comes to only three days' pay for the few Whakatoheas employed. I have, &c, The Hon. the Defence Minister, J. H. H. St. John, Lt.-Col., Auckland. Commanding District.

No. 64. Lieut.-Colonel St. John to the Hon. the Defence Minister. Sir,— 26th April, 1870. I have the honor to inform you that on my returning from my unsuccessful attempt to apprehend Eru Tamaikowha, I found that no letter had come from Hira Te Popo. I have agreed to give four days to allow the Whakatohea chiefs a chance to obtain further information, and on Saturday I shall march with them to Maraetahi, according to your wishes. I have, &c, The Hon. D. McLean, Defence Minister. J. H. H. St. John, Lt.-Col.