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The Story Of Gate Pa, April 29th, 1864
Prior to the Battle — Ministerial Reasons for sending Troops to Tauranga
Prior to the Battle
Ministerial Reasons for sending Troops to Tauranga.
The following Correspondence relates to the sending of an Expedition to Tauranga prior to the battle of Gate Pa, and of the events leading up to that Engagement.
No. 1
Memorandum by Ministers to His Excellency the Governor, as to sending an Expedition to Tauranga:—
Ministers have carefully considered the subject of the expedition to Tauranga and have come to a clear conclusion. In their opinion the expedition should go, and that without delay. The grounds of Ministers' opinions are these:—
1. The General is of opinion that in a military point of view, he would derive considerable advantage from the diversion—and great deference is due to this opinion.
2. There is no doubt that Tauranga has been the route for all the disaffected natives from the East Coast to go and return from the war in Waikato. It was used for the same purpose during the war at Taranaki in 1860–61.
3. All the natives of the west side of the harbour are decided enemies, have been to the war, are there now, or are prepared to go.
4. There are large crops there, just ready for gathering in, upon which the Waikato rebels depend, especially on some plantations a short distance in the bush at the back of the harbour.
5. In 1860 the principal store house of gunpowder was at the back of Tauranga, and the supplies taken to it were taken through the harbour. During the present war it has been the route by which both munitions of war and food have been taken to the Waikato.
6. To stop this route would be a serious blow to the enemy, and would assure and encourage our friends. It would not raise additional enemies, but rather the reverse. In this point of view, advantage rather than disadvantage would result.
Ministers think there should be no delay for the following reasons:—
(a) It has become publicly known that such an expedition is in contemplation—to delay now would be considered a proof of weakness, and encourage the enemy, and operate injudicially on the undecided.
page 51(b) On Friday last a vessel was sent to Tauranga (a regular trader there so as not to create suspicion), with a view to take on board Archdeacon Brown, and the few European inhabitants who live near, as the natives, knowing the value of Tauranga to themselves, have declared their intention, if that part be interfered with by the Government, of destroying the Mission Station; and on finding the Europeans have left, or on hearing that an expedition is intended, they may proceed to carry that threat into execution. Apart from loss of property, it would be a misfortune if the Mission buildings were destroyed, as they would afford accommodation for about 500 men. It would therefore be highly desirable that the expedition should proceed at once, if at all, in order that the first information the natives should receive of it would be that the troops are on their way to take possession of the Mission Station.
Ministers are of opinion that 500 or 600 men are fully sufficient for all that can be done at Tauranga. Without further orders the troops should not go to the east side of the harbour at all: None of the natives from there, as far as is known, have gone to the war, and many are decidedly our friends. The expedition should take possession of the Mission Station and all the crops on the west side, stop the Waikato Road, and prevent communication across the harbour, the object being, not to open new ground, but to cooperate with the General, by creating a diversion in his favour.
The natives of Maketu are friendly to the Government, and have rendered assistance by stopping war parties from crossing their territory, compelling them to go by sea to Tauranga; and from the best information in possession of the Government, the great bulk of the natives to the East are well disposed. An expedition, therefore, in that directon, would be unjust, and if it were not, is altogether impracticable. There are no harbours for anything but the smallest vessels. Maketu is about 20 miles from Tauranga: Opotiki at least 60; and Tauranganui about 200 miles. To Maketu the road is open and good, but beyond that, most difficult—in fact to troops impracticable. There is no doubt that the Ngatiporan have sent men to the war, but the number was not large, and those left held a meeting, and it is believed decided that they would not receive this war party back amongst them. The latest information relating to the East Coast natives received by Government, will be found in the appended memorandum by Mr Baker.
In expressing these views, Ministers trust they will be coincided in by His Excellency, as however strong their own opinions may be on the subject, they desire to pay great deference to His Excellency's knowledge, and experience, in native matters, and would be most unwilling to urge forward the proposed expedition if the Governor feels there is any reason to apprehend unfavourable results, or that it would prejudicially affect his contemplated plans. With page 52 regard to Taranaki, Ministers do not think it necessary to strengthen the garrison there at present, beyond the detachment now under orders to proceed there, and with regard to Wanganui, they think that 200 men would be a sufficient reinforcement, and that it would be in time to send them on the arrival of the “Armenian,” now hourly expected, as the danger there is not immediate, but would be the result of what may take place at Taranaki, to which place a considerable number of natives are gone from Wanganui, and who are to be feared on their return from their present expedition, either successful or unsuccessful. The latest information received by the Government relative to the West Coast Harbour expedition, will be found in the appended memorandum of Mr Parris.
FREDK. WHITAKER.
19th January, 1864.
No. 2
Memorandum from His Excellency the Governor concurring in the Proposed Expedition:—
Ministers having expressed it as their clear conclusion after weighing all the circumstances of the case that the proposed expedition should go to Tauranga, and that without any delay, the Governor feels that under the present form of Government, he ought to issue the necessary orders for its departure, so soon as the preparations now, and for some days, in progress have been completed, and he will at once issue these orders.
The Governor has thus yielded to the opinion of Ministers with some reluctance, and he still thinks that the understanding on which the expedition proceeds to Tauranga, should be that it is only of a temporary character, and that it can at any moment be withdrawn, if the safety of the southern settlements, or any other urgent cause, renders such a course desirable.
G. GREY
.19th January, 1864.
No. 3
Memorandum by Ministers to His Excellency the Governor:—
Ministers quite concur wth His Excellency that the expedition should proceed to Tauranga, on the understanding that it can at any moment be withdrawn if the safety of the Southern Settlements, or any other urgent cause renders such a course desirable.
FREDK. WHITAKER.
No. 4
Memorandum by Ministers as to instructions to be given to the Tauranga Expedition:—
(1) That he (Colonel Carey) will, if possible, arrive at the Mouth of the Harbour of Tauranga at day dawn, and proceed, with the least possible delay, to take possession of the Mission Station, so as to prevent its threatened destruction by the natives.
(2) Hitherto the natives on the East side of the Harbour have not joined in the war, but recent information is to the effect that many of them are about to do so. In the meantime, however, until further orders, the East side of the Harbour, as regards both men and property, should not be interfered with.
(3) The crops and cattle, and other property of the natives on the West side should be taken possession of, and the crops gathered in.
(4) The Mission Station should be preserved from injury as much as possible.
FREDK. WHITAKER.
19th January, 1864.
No. 5
Copy of leter [sic: letter] from Mr T. H. Smith, Civil Commissioner, Tauranga, to the Colonial Secretary, as to the loyalty of the natives of the Bay of Plenty.
Sir,—I have the honour to forward, for the information of His Excellency's Government, copy of a letter addressed by me this day to Col. Carey, the officer commanding H.M. Forces at Tauranga.
On my arrived here this afternoon, I waited upon Col. Carey, and learnt from him that his instructions were to regard all natives living on the West side of Tauranga Harbour as rebels—to take their cattle, and destroy or gather their crops. As I believe that the carrying out of these instructions would be productive of results which I cannot suppose to be contemplated by the Government, I have felt it my duty to state my opinion on the subject; more especially as I have already despatched circular letters throughout this District, assuring the natives in the words of your Memoranda forwarded to me at Maketu this morning by Mr Baker “that the object of the expedition is to act as a check on the movements of Waikato sympathisers, but that unless forced upon them, active hostilities are not contemplated, and in any case will be only carried on against open rebels.” The assurance contained in my letters, and the intelligence that an indiscriminate seizure and destruction of property had taken place here, would be so much at page 54 variance, that I could hardly expect any statement I might make in future to be received as worthy of confidence. As the mail leaves in the morning, I am anxious not to miss the opportunity of bringing this matter under notice, and of suggesting the desirability of modifying the instructions given to Colonel Carey.
I have to report that the news of the arrival of the expedition at Tauranga, appears to have caused much satisfaction at Maketu, where there are now many of the Arawa chiefs from inland. The natives here, also those living on the East side of the harbour, express themselves satisfied with the result of their interview with Colonel Carey.
THOMAS H. SMITH
, C.C.22nd January, 1864.
(Enclosure)
Copy of letter from Mr T. H. Smith, Civil Commissioner, to Colonel Carey.
Sir,—Referring to the subject of our conversation to-day, I take the liberty of repeating, in an official communication, the opinion I then expressed as to the probable result of treating all natives residing on the Western side of Tauranga Harbour as rebels, and proceeding to take their cattle, and destroy their crops.
I am satisfied that any such indiscriminate seizure, and destruction of property, would inflict injury upon many innocent persons, and that its effect would be to increase the number of the disaffected, to precipitate hostilities here, and to induce other tribes to take up arms, who might otherwise remain quiet.
I am of opinion that the occupation of Tauranga by Her Majesty's Forces will have a salutary effect upon the resident natives, and upon the tribes living on the coast between this and the East Cape, who may thus be deterred from attempting to reinforce the insurgents at Waikato, if it is understood that a force has been stationed here for the purpose of intercepting armed parties proceeding by this route. Should, however, a collision occur here arising out of any act which would be regarded as an aggression upon persons who are not, and have not been in arms against the Government, it is probable that many tribes now professing neutrality, would rise, and make common cause against the Government. Though true that the majority of the natives on the Western side of Tauranga sympathise with Waikato, and that many of them have joined the insurgents, yet there are very many individuals, and more than one considerable section of a tribe who have not committed themselves. To attempt to ascertain correctly, what property belonged to rebels, and what to persons not implicated in page 55 the rebellion, would be useless. Information obtained from the natives themselves would not be trustworthy, and it could not be obtained from any other source. If the object of the Government be to minimise the number of insurgents at the present seat of war without creating another if it can be avoided, I believe that this object is most likely to be attained by abstaining from offensive operations here, at least, while the resident natives refrain from any hostile demonstration.
T. H. SMITH,
Civil Commissioner,
Bay of Plenty.
22nd January, 1864.
No. 6
Minutes by Mr Fox and Mr Whitaker, with statements by John Faulkner and Daniel Sellars, as to disposition of Tauranga natives.
Mr T. H. Smith, Civil Commissioner, Bay of Plenty, told me about a fortnight ago in the presence of Mr Whitaker that all the natives of that district North of Tauranga might be considered as King natives—that they are in fact Wm. Thompson's people—and more or less implicated in this war. That most of them to the South of Tauranga have hitherto been loyal and kept out of the war. Mr Edward Clark, a settler at Tauranga, is assured that Rawiti, a leading chief of the southern natives, is now about to join the rebels with his people. He has openly said he would, and was lately met by Mr Clark with some of the leading Kingites, and seemed ashamed of being found in their company. The Mayor Island or Flat Island natives had gone to the war. W. Thompson has lately had emissaries in the Bay of Plenty, stirring up the natives there to join him with reinforcements. Archdeacon Brown does not think he will get much support, except from those who have been in Waikato already, and the Mayor and Flat Islanders who now join for the first time.
WILLIAM FOX.
From conversation with Mr Smith, Mr Clark and Mr Faulkner, I had come to the conclusion that all the natives on the Auckland side of Tauranga Harbour are engaged in the rebellion, and that they are connected with Wm. Thompson—in fact part of his people —and that they have for the most part been engaged in active hostilities.
FREDK. WHITAKER.
24th January, 1864.John Faulkner, of Tauranga, said:—
“I have been in New Zealand thirty-one years. I married a native of New Zealand. I have recently come from Tauranga because it is not safe to stay there. The Tauranga natives are divided into two parties. Those on the East side of the harbour have not gone to the war. They are divided in opinion; part want to go to the war and part to remain at home. Those on the West side have all gone to the war, every man except the old men. They are connected with Thompson. He has a sort of hold on them. A part of the natives have been planting in the forest as a standby, expecting something would be done at Tauranga by the Government.”
JOHN FAULKNER.
Daniel Sellars said:—
“I have been trading to Tauranga these last twelve years. I came up from there about a week ago. The natives on the West side of the harbour are all King natives. There is not a village that has not sent its contingent to the war. When I was there a week ago many were going, and many were there already. A few were left to cut the crops.”
DANIEL SELLARS.
No. 7
Copy of a letter from the Native Secretary to Mr T. H. Smith:—
Sir,—1. I am directed by the Colonial-Secretary to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated January 22 covering copy of one addressed by you to Colonel Carey.
2. The Colonial Secretary desires me to state that it was not the intention of the Government that the information conveyed to Mr Baker in his instructions should have been communicated by you to the natives by circular as you report yourself to have done. Had the Government desired any such steps to have been taken they would not have failed to instruct you to do it, and they cannot help remarking that should it be found necessary for Colonel Carey to take any aggressive measures against those natives of the Bay of Plenty district, who are actively engaged in the rebellion, or aiding and abetting it, the step taken by you must place both the Government and yourself in a very false position towards the natives to whom you have conveyed an assurance that no such step should be taken. As you have acted entirely without instructions, the responsibility of your act must rest solely with yourself.
3. I am directed also to express the surprise of the Government at the information contained in your letter under notice, and in that addressed by you to Colonel Carey, in whch you state that there are page 57 very many individuals, and more than one considerable section of a tribe, who have not committed themselves, “and that the result of treating all natives on the Western side of Tauranga Harbour as rebels would be to inflict injury on many innocent persons and increase the number of the disaffected.” During your late visit to Auckland the Attorney-General and Colonial-Secretary both understood you to state to them, while inspecting the map of the district in the Attorney-General's office, that a well defined geographical line could be drawn between all hostile and friendly tribes of the Bay of Plenty; and that those on the West side of the Bay were almost to a man committed in the rebellion; that the greater part of them had been actually fighting in Waikato, that they were in fact Wm. Thompson's people, and the district in which they lived practically under his direct influence. This information (subsequently confirmed by five or six other gentlemen intimately acquainted with, and personally interested in the district) induced the Government to advise His Excellency to issue to Colonel Carey the instructions which he gave that officer.
4. As the tenor of your letters to the Colonial-Secretary and to Colonel Carey most materially differ from your previous oral statement, it becomes of the utmost importance that the Government should have immediate and accurate information on the subject. You will be so good therefore as to ascertain as accurately as you possibly can, and inform the Colonial-Secretary what particular hapus, or proportion of hapus, or the population of what particular kaingas have been actively engaged in the war, have hoisted the King flag at their places, or otherwise given distinct indications of their complicity in the rebellion, and also what hapus or villages may be considered quite free from all open participation in the rebellion. You will also communicate such information to Colonel Carey, so that he may not be paralyzed by the vague information you have given to him, in case he should consider it his duty to take active operations against supposed rebel natives on the West side of the Bay.
5. The Government will be glad to receive any explanation you may have to offer of the discrepancy which exists between the statement contained in your letter referred to and that made to the Government when in Auckland.
(Sgd.)
EDWARD SHORTLAND
,Native Secretary.
Native Department,
Auckland,
25th January, 1864.
No. 8
Copy of letter, His Excellency the Governor to T. H. Smith:—
I wish to mention that Colonel Carey sent me a copy of your letter to him regarding the error I had fallen into in issuing such instructions as I did for treating all the natives on the Western side of the harbour of Tauranga as enemies, seizing their crops, cattle, etc. I feel very much obliged to you for the fearless and honourable way in which you did your duty on this occasion, thereby preventing me from being the cause of bringing much misery upon many innocent people.
Faithfully yours,
(Sgd.)
G. GREY.
No. 9
Copy of a letter from Rev. C. Baker to the Colonial Secretary:—
I have the honour to reply to your note of yesterday, in which you request my opinion in writing as to the extent to which the Maoris on the West (or Auckland) side of the Bay of Tauranga are committed to the rebellion, and what may be regarded the geographical division between the hostile and friendly tribes.
For more than three years the greater part of the Tauranga natives have avowed their adhesion to the King movement, and in and since the month of August last, many from the west and the south, and some from the east of the Bay, joined the Waikato tribes in hostilities against Her Majesty's Government.
The Maoris occupying the east side of the Bay, Ohuki, and also a party residing at Maungatapu, the south-east side, have not, with few exceptions, risen in rebellion, but at a large meeting held on 28th December last, the voice in favour of the rebellion appears to have been general. Rawiti, who has been a staunch Kingite for several years, but has been ostensibly neutral of late, proposed to the meeting alluded to “that the wheat harvest should first be gathered in, and that then he would join and make common cause with the Waikato.”
My opinion is that a very inconsiderable portion of Tauranga has been untainted by the rebellion, the exception applies only to those on the east and south-east side of the Bay.
It is not improbable that had not the troops been sent to occupy a position in Tauranga, many who have been neutral, if not friendly, would have been induced, or coerced, to join the rebels.
CHARLES BAKER
.Note.—The writer is the Rev. C. Baker, missionary of the Church of England, for many years, and till quite recently, a resident of Tauranga, and thoroughly acquainted with the natives there.
WM. FOX.
No. 10
Copy of a letter from His Excellency the Governor to Colonel Carey:—
Sir,—In reply to your letter of the 23rd inst., pointing out certain difficulties which might arise in carding out the instructions contained in my letter of the 20th inst., I have the honour to express my thanks to you for the discretion with which you have acted in this matter, by delaying, after the facts the Civil Commissioner brought to your knowledge, to act on those instructions until I had an opportunity of again communicating with you.
I have now the honour to request that until otherwise instructed you will not adopt any aggressive movement aganst any natives, and that you will not seize the cattle or destroy the crops of any natives whom you are not satisfied are open enemies, but at the same time you should, if possible, intercept all armed parties passing by the Tauranga route to aid the natives now in arms against us in the interior districts.
(Sgd.)
G. GREY
.Auckland,
25th January, 1864.
No. 11
Memorandum by Ministers to His Excellency the Governor:—
His Excellency having requested Ministers to advise him whether any reduction should be made in the Tauranga force for the purpose of carrying out the wishes of General Cameron, to have a reinforcement towards the front, Ministers are of opinion that His Excellency, having already ordered such reinforcements to be provided from the Auckland Militia, and other sourees, it is not now necessary to recall any part of the Tauranga force, more particularly after the receipt of the news per ‘Corio’ this day from Tauranga.
His Excellency having also requested Mnisters to advise whether any Proclamation should be issued assuring friendly natives at Tauranga that they and their crops will not be interfered with, beg to enclose a notice to that effect, which, if His Excellency approves, shall be immediately translated for transmission.
WILLIAM FOX.
No. 12
Memorandum by Ministers to His Excellency the Governor:—
Ministers are of opinion that Colonel Carey should be instructed not to take any offensive measures at present, unless to stop war parties going to Waikato. If any such parties arrive by the East Coast, or collect in the district in positions where they can be successfully dealt with, he should stop them by force, otherwise for the present, merely to hold his position on the defensive.
WILLIAM FOX.
5th February, 1864.
No. 13
Copy of a letter from Mr T. H. Smith, to the Colonial Secretary:
Sir,—I have the honour to forward herewith, the information required by the Government, as to the natives of this place, who have hitherto implicated themselves in the rebellion.
The enclosed sketch and return have been carefully perpared, and may be relied on as containing correct information on the points referred to in Mr Shortland's letter of 25th ulto.
I received Mr Shortland's letter at Rotorua, where I had to attend several important meetings of natives. On its receipt I lost no time in coming over here for the purpose of obtaining accurate information on the points referred to, and communicating it to Colonel Carey.
I have to express regret that I have mis-interpreted the wishes of the Government, with reference to the information communicated to me by Mr Baker in accordance with his instructions. Having when in Auckland represented to the Government the importance of stating distinctly to the natives in this district, the intentions of the Government, before even sending a man-o'-war down to Tauranga, and having received no other intimation whatever from the Government, with reference to the object of the Tauranga expedition, I certainly supposed that the information which Mr Baker was instructed to communicate to me “immediately on arrival” was intended to be circulated in the district.
As Agent of the Government here, I am supposed to be informed as to the objects, and intentions of the Government in matters affecting the district under my charge, and in a matter of such importance as the military occupation of a portion of it, it would not be believed by the natives that I was without such information. I had then the alternative of remaining silent, or of giving such information as had been furnished to me by the Government. Had I chosen the former it would have increased in a ten-fold degree, the suspicion which already exists in consequence of the sending of page 61 troops here without previous notice. My statement that I was uninformed on the subject is disbelieved, especially having so recently returned from Auckland, and I am charged with purposed concealment.
Without presuming to dictate to the Government on the subject, I beg respectfully to state my opinion that any false position in which the Government or its officer may now stand would have been avoided by placing that officer in a position to state plainly, to those who looked to him for such information, what the intentions of the Government were in sending troops into the district.
As regards the assurance given by me in the circular letter referred to in Mr Shortland's communication, I have to state that the circular was not sent to any tribes in the Bay of Plenty district who are actively engaged in the rebellion, or are known to be aiding or abetting it. It was sent to the Arawa and Ngatiawa tribes, and my object was to counteract the effect which I feared might be produced among the latter—at Te Matata and Whakatane—by the news of the arrival of troops, reaching them unaccompanied by any explanation from Government.
When in Auckland, my opinion was asked as to the effect likely to be produced on these natives, and others not implicated in the rebellion, by sending down a man-o'-war to Tauranga. My reply was that if due notice were given, and the object of doing so explained, no ill consequences would follow, but I strongly urged that these precautions should be taken, and I left town under the impression that the course indicated would be followed. I was therefore much surprised, after hearing and contradicting a report circulated among the natives a few days before the arrival of the Tauranga expedition, to the effect that steamers and soldiers were on their way hither, to find that the report was verified.
With respect to the statement made by me in the Attorney-General's office, with reference to the line of boundary between those natives who were for the most part compromised, and those who as a whole were not implicated, I cannot perceive that any discrepancy exists between that statement and the letters addressed by me to the Government and to Colonel Carey on the 22nd ult. The return now sent, I submit, bears out the statement that the majority of the natives and tribes on the west side of Tauranga, are concerned in the rebellion, and that, with a few exceptions, those on the east side are free from complicity in it. It also shows that there are important exceptions in favour of the former, the existence of which was pointed out in the letters under notice.
THOS. H. SMITH
, C.C.,Bay of Plenty.
February 11th., 1864.
Return Accompanying Foregoing Letter.
| SETTLEMENT | TRIBE | Joined insurgents at Walkato | Total Adult Males | |
| East side of Tauranga Harbour | Maungatapu | Ngatihe, Ngatiwhainoa | 5 | 74 |
| Ohinekahu | Te Whanauwhero | |||
| Auhi Tokitoki | Ngatirakei Ngatirurea | |||
| Te Apititu | Te Matekiwaho | |||
| Poiki or Hairini (Hoisted King Flag) | Ngai te Ahi | 16 | 30 | |
| Poihakena, Ranana | Ngatiruahine | 3 | 11 | |
| Okaeke, Tongaparoa | Ngatitama, Ngatirehu | 0 | 13 | |
| Te Matapihi, Tumatanui | Te Rangihouhiri, Ngatuikairangi | 10 | 78 | |
| Karakari, Te Mania, | Ngapotiki, Ngatitapu, Ngatiuarere | |||
| Te Rauwahine | ||||
| Otuawahia | Ngatipau | 0 | 12 | |
| Opoutea | Ngatirawharo | 0 | 20 | |
| West side of Tauranga Harbour | Huria | Ngaitamarawaho | 18 | 30 |
| Otumoetai W. | Patutahora | 2 | 13 | |
| Otuatara (Hoisted King Flag) | Te Matewaitai | 19 | 25 | |
| Peterehema | Ngatihangarau | 19 | 21 | |
| Papaoharia, Poteriwhi | Ngatitamahapai Ngatirangi | 30 | 43 | |
| Pukekonui, Purakautahi | Ngatipango, Ngatimotai | |||
| Opounui | Te Ngare | 4 | 30 | |
| Matakana | Ngaitamawhariua | 30 | 31 | |
| Poututerangi (Hoisted King Flag) | Te Pirirakau | 23 | 27 | |
| Te Ngarue | Ngatitokotoko | 20 | 21 | |
| Motuhoa | Te Pohoera | 4 | 12 | |
| Islands | Tuhua (Mayor Is.) | Te Urungawera | 19 | 23 |
| Motiti, Orangatia | Te Whanau o Tawhao te Papaunahi | 12 | 22 | |
| Otungahoro, etc. | Te Patuwai | 0 | 35 |
| SUMMARY: | |||
| East side of Tauranga Harbour | — | — | 34 out of 238 |
| West side of Tauranga Harbour | — | — | 169 out of 253 |
| Islands— — — — | — | — | 30 out of 80 |
| TOTAL | — | — | 233 out of 571 |
No. 14
Copy of a letter from the Native Secretary to Mr T. H. Smith:
Sir,—I am directed by the Colonial Secretary to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of February 11th, covering a return of the natives at Tauranga, and explaining the reasons which led you to communicate with Colonel Carey on his arrival, wth the view of inducing him to suspend action on the instructions he had received from His Excellency. The Government, I am directed to state, regrets that it cannot regard your explanations as satisfactory.
The object of the expedition under Colonel Carey was to create a diversion, by operating on the district from which a considerable number of the rebels were known to have gone, to fight with Her Majesty's troops in Waikato. The expedition was despatched at the most urgent request of General Cameron. And the instructions given to Colonel Carey were the result of several days' anxious consultations between His Excellency and his Ministers. The Government can see in the facts of the case, as now explained by you, no ground for your taking the responsibility of urging Colonel Carey to suspend the intended action, which by those instructions, he was directed to take.
The tabular information now furnished by you, does not appear to justify your interference, on the ground taken by you. A district from which fully two-thirds of the adult males have gone to join the rebels, and are actually fighting with the Queen's troops, leaving only their old men and a few others, barely sufficient in all probability to reap their crops, is as much a rebel district, to all intents and purposes, as Waikato itself. And in this instance, is the more emphatically so, in consequence of the close relationship of William Thompson with the Tauranga natives. If the fact that one-third of the adult males are left behind, while two-thirds have gone to the war, were held to be a reason for not invading their territory, when strategical reasons demand it, the Government would find it very difficult to undertake any operations for the suppression of the existing rebellion, for with the exception of Central Waikato, there is probably no part of the country occupied by natives, engaged in fighting the troops in which considerable numbers have not been left behind to look after the kaingas, and to grow food for those who fight.
In advising His Excellency to give the instructions which he did to Colonel Carey, Ministers acted on a mass of information collected from various sources, and substantially identical with that now furnished by you, which does not materially differ from that you gave to them when in Auckland. You have since not communicated anything material to them, which they were not aware of when Colonel Carey received his instructions. If the course pursued by you, in interposing the weight of your official influence between that officer and his instructions were allowed to pass with- page 64 out the disapproval of Government, Ministers could never feel certain that their instructions would be executed in any case where a local officer might think proper to criticise the expediency of their orders, and take upon himself to urge their suspension by another officer specially charged with their execution.
In conclusion, I am directed to express the regret of the Government that after giving the most favourable consideration to your letter under notice, it cannot approve of the course pursued by you on this occasion.
EDWARD SHORTLAND
,Native Secretary.
Native Department,
Auckland,
22nd February, 1864.
Memorandum by Mr Russell as to blockade of Tauranga:—
His Excellency is respectfully advised to instruct Captain Jenkins to maintain a strict blockade of the Tauranga Harbour. The Government will immediately prohibit supplies leaving Auckland for Tauranga, and as soon as possible will communicate with the other southern ports; but Captain Jenkins should be authorised to prohibit the landing at Tauranga of stores of any kind, except for the use of the troops.
T. RUSSELL.
Auckland, 31st March, 1864.