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English (ATL)

Wellington
27 Oct. 1870.


My dear Ormond,

The subject of Te Kooti's capture is giving me a great deal of anxious consideration. The natives keep surrendering from time to time and if Te Waru's party do so, and Paeraus his back bone in the Uriwera Country will be gone, the question then arises are we to arrest the present favorable course of events on a mere chance of his capture and with the numerous chances of escape to Tuhua, the Upper Thames or Waikato. Fox is of opinion that it would be unwise to risk any interruption of the present peaceful aspect of the Natives generally for a doubtful prospect of capturing Te Kooti, and there is a great deal of force in what he says. I believe we must resort to some strategy and avail of the Uriwera before his capture is effected.

Preece says if expedition is to capture Te Kooti rather than subdue the Uriwera that he would suggest following plan.

"That Ropata with 200 Ngatiporou start from Turanga via Waikahu, a party of 150 Ngaitae under Major Mair or Swindley start up Waioeka and Captain Mairs and my force start from Te Teko via Waimaua add Taewharemanuka leaving 25 men to guard Te Teko and same number at Kaiteriria and have 50 mounted men between between the two posts to parade the Kaingaroa plain daily."

You will perceive that Preece does not consider his force of 150 equal to the task and suggests a large expeditionary force of 5 or 600 men and only think then that one of the parties will have a fair chance of dropping across him, the expense of such an expedition would be fearful. Again the season is advancing and something has to be done but it must be on a well matured plan say in six weeks hence, if we can gain without creating alarm sufficient intelligence of the chances of success, a movement that would only drive him from Te Wera where he has fine cultivations would be fatal to the chances of his capture and only lead to greater complications.

I stillbelieve we must rely chiefly on Ropata and the Uriwera I feel certain that Ropata can glean more information as to the chances of success than any one else, as he is in earnest when he undertakes anything and I am writing to him that he may go as far as Opotiki to visit the Whakatohea where he will collect a great mass of valuable information Tareha wants to send for Paerau and the sooner he does so the better, the old fellow and Tamaikoha are still alive the latter at Ohiwa with Marsh of the Arawa. By a letter to Major Kemp from Whakatane I see that the Natives there regard the Uriwera peace as complete and final the expression used "Rongo take take" means a peace not to be broken. I am glad of this as some reports were more dubious of Uriwera intentions. In a native report from Bay of Plenty te Kooti is represented as having still a force of 150, this cannot be true.

Memo re Native Lands Act.

To insert a clause making it allowable to give the lessee valuation at end of lease for reproductive improvements.

The greater part of the inland country is valueless without expenditure of Capital in grass seeds and fencing and men of Capital would not lease such country unless provision was made that they would receive consideration for such expenditure. Men of small means might be tempted by apparently low rent to lease without this clause but the result would be, no valuable improvement, their sheep would starve, the lessees would loose their little all and the country get a bad name, as has already been the case with the country in Taupo district intrinsically valuable and capable of being formed into valuable stock bearing country. Thus not only lessees and lessors but the whole country suffers loss.

The conditions of lease could be so guarded as to prevent extravagant improvements indeed all that is wanted is fair tenant right for reproductive improvements.

Four Receiver of Rent are appointed, now there may be considerable difficulty in getting these four Native or European receivers together at one time, and place, would not one receiver suffice, or to pay the rent to the Native Lands Court?