OE REBEL NATIVES, ETC.

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by the mail to-day, by which you will get the news before you receive this letter. If the small steamer Napier goes to Auckland, on her return here it would be very little out of her way to leave the Ngaitai at Torere. William King is very anxious to see Tamaikowha as soon as possible, and if he can, get him to join an expedition; with your approval, he will do so. I believe that William King is able to get over Tamaikowha, as he has got a great deal of influence with him. I forward you a rough sketch of our track, with my proposed track from Opotiki to Turanganui. I believe a track can be made at the ordinary rate per chain of bush tracks which would take you from Opotiki to Turanga in two days on horseback, it will run on the Opotiki side of Motu, some twenty miles below the old Native track. It is impossible to make a track by the old track, nothing but broken ranges at the Opotiki end; by the track I propose,,you will follow up the AVaiau stream from near Opape, by easy gradients you will get into the Toura Valley, which we passed through, at the end of which you strike a leading range to Motu,Jwhich was our track. We should have gone in by Waiau but we did not want the Whakotohea to know when we started, on account of the powder. On the Turanganui side of the Motu, it is a very easy thing to make a good road. I am very glad that I went on this expedition, if only for the information I give you on this matter. The river Motu will, in my opinion, be soon occupied, if people once saw the country, splendid bush flats for miles, on both sides of the river. I have written to Mr. Kelly, and I hope, Sir, that as our member, he will urge upon the Government to get the track cut. I believe it would almost put a stop to hostilities, as then the two places Opotiki and Turanganui would be able to assist one another. I have, &c, The Hon. Donald M'Lean, J. R. Rushton, Lieutenant A.M. Defence Minister, Wellington.

No. 41. Lieutenant Rushton to the Hon. the Defence Minister. Sie,— Opotiki, June 19th, 1871. I have the honor to inform you that I arrived here yesterday, the 18th inst. ; the " Luna" landed us at Torere, and started back to Turanganui to get the despatches for you which the steamer " Napier" took, and return with them to Turanganui. You will see from Wm. King's letter what he thinks relative to Te Kooti; and since my arrival here, I am still more confident that he is in the hands of a section of the Urewera, and the only chance to catch him is by working with Tamaikowha. I forwarded in my letter from Turanganui, a rough sketch of our track with a proposed track to Turanganui. Should you not have received it, I will forward you another. I have, &c, J. R. Rushton, Lieut. A.M., The Hon. Donald M'Lean, Ngaitai Expedition. Defence Minister, Wellington.

No. 42. Inspector Robeets to the Undee-Seceetaey for Defence. District Office, Sie,— Tauranga, 12th July, 1871. I have the honor to forward herewith, for the information of the Honorable the Defence Minister, the following report from Captain Preece, detailing his late movements in the Urewera. country. I have, &c, J. M. Robeets, Inspector A.C., The Under-Secretary, Defence Office, Commanding Tauranga District. AVellington.

• Enclosure in No. 42. Captain Peeece to Major Robeets. Sie,— Te Teko, 3rd July, 1871. I have the honor to report for your information that, in accordance with instructions received from the General Government Agent at Napier, I left Fort Galatea for the Urewera country on the 25th of May, with force as per foot note.* Owing to the overgrown state of the road we were unable to make much progress. We arrived at Oputao, in the Ruatahuna A ralley, on the 28th, and camped there all next day, and sent messenger to Paerau the following day. Moved to Tata Hoata and met the Urewera, under the chiefs Te Whenuanui, Paerau, and Te Haunui. We explained to them the object of the expedition. They refused to give any assistance in capturing Te Kooti, but stated that should he at any time come into their part of the country they would give information of his whereabouts, and also prevent his passing * Captain Mair's Company—l Captain, 2 Sergeants, 2 Corporals, 47 Privates; total, 52. Captain Preeee's Company— 1 Captain, 2 Sergeants, 2 Corporals, 60 Privates ; total, 65. Armed Constabulary—l Sergeant; total, 1; grand totai, 118. 7