AGAINST THE REBEL NATIVES.

83

A—No. Bb,

it by coming to vs —come let us go outside together. Come to one side, come to where there is safety, do not stay any longer in darkness. Come outside (to the coast) so that the land may be clear for any disturbances that may shortly take place. There will be hard work shortly ; it will not end. Friends, you old men (chiefs) of the tribe, confirm this work of ours, that it may be binding. "Come, come to us, let us go outside together. In future you can return to your own places, as soon as the evil is cleared away. Do not be afraid ;do not remain away : come at once, and trust to the fair dealings of the Government; come quickly. This is our last word. From Ihaka, Baora, Hamlin, Hamana, Te Hapimana, Hone Te Wainoho, And from all the men at Matuahu.

No. 105. His Honor J. D. Ormond to the Hon. Defence Minister. Telegram. Napier, June 21st, 1870. I forward a despatch from Mr. Hamlin, dated 19th instant. As expected, the report of Te Kooti being at the Lake proves incorrect ; there may be something in his having been sent for. The reported attitude of Paerau and Whenuanui is not satisfactory, and is borne out by their letters sent by Makarini. We shall see if Makarini does surrender, and a few days will also tell us what position the Ureweras decide to take. If they are contumacious an effort ought, I think, to be made to force them to give in, and I would recommend that Captains Mair and Preece, with their contingents, should be ordered up to the Bangataiki, by Ahikereru, to meet Major Boberts and a body of constabulary. I believe a demonstration of force would suffice to bring them to reason, and would materially assist Hapurona's negociations. It was such a demonstration that brought Hapurona to book, and with Waikaremoana occupied, Paerau & Co. would not feel very comfortable if they knew a force was on the other side of them. If you agree to my view the sooner it is carried out the better. lam never certain of how long our Wairoas will hold on. The move to the Eangitaiki need end in nothing, and is merely a preparation for what may be forced on us. I hope you will approve ; a little firmness just now will wonderfully assist negociations. The Hon. Defence Minister. Ormond.

Enclosure in No. 105. Mr. F. E. Hamlin to His Honor J. D. Ormond. Sir, — Matuahu Pa, June 19th, 1870. I have the honor to inform you that I yesterday sent you a despatch stating, that from information extracted by the Natives from one of the Hauhaus who accompanied Makarini, Te Kooti .and Te Waru were both at the end of this arm of the Lake. At the time I sent you this information I could not get an opportunity of personally examining this native unknown to Makarini, but after he (Makarini) went back the other remained here, and last night I ascertained from him, and also more fully from two native women who stopped here, that the natives had jumped rather too hastily to the conclusion that Te Kooti is here. The real truth, as far as I can ascertain is this, Te Waru went off with the avowed intention of joining Te Kooti; after that a letter was sent from here to Te Kooti asking him to come here, and an answer has been received stating that he will come, and it is believed that he is on his road here. I lose no time in thus modifying my former report in order that the Government may not be put to unnecessary expense. I requested that reinforcements should be sent up and a post established at Onepoto, not because I considered my force insufficient to hold their own here and at the same time to attack the enemy, but simply to protect our rear and guard supplies which might be sent up, because I imagined that if Te Kooti and Te Waru were here, the first thing they would try to do would be to ambush the road from Wairoa to Onepoto. Under the altered, or rather I should say present state of affairs, I do not consider this now so absolutely necessary as it would be if Te Kooti and Te Waru were really here, and perhaps on hearing we are here, the former, if strong enough, might deem it a fair opportunity to attack the settlements. I would even still urge on the Government the advisability of sending a force into Euatahuna because although Makarini has promised as far as he and his own people are concerned (27 men) to surrender; yet still, from his report, the tone taken by Baerau and Whenuanui is still so defiant, that if true, it will be necessary to reduce them by force, and the present (excepting the season) is a most favourable opportunity. Makarini has promised to use all his influence to try and induce the others to come in, and I have tried my best to impress upon them that they will meet with every consideration from the Government. I have retained one of the orderlies here, and will inform you as soon as any change takes place up here, either surrender or otherwise, which I hope two or three days will determine. I have, &c, His Honor J. D. Ormond, F. E. Hamlin. General Government Agent. 22 "