Letter from Thos. H. Smith to Donald McLean Esq. dated 26th. January 1856. Auckland. 26th. January 1858 My dear McLean, I was glad to receive your note of the 11th inst., this morning, and to find that there is a prospect of a termination to the Ahuriri feud. The Governor has been much distressed by previous accounts, and had formed the impression from the letters of the Resident Magistrate, at Napier, that interference on our part would be required to save Te Hapuku from his opponents. His views have undergone some modification on this point. I entered a mild protest against offering any kind of succour to Hapuku while the alternative of retirement was open to him; and the view I took of the matter has been confirmed by the accounts received to-day. The ''Eastfield'', however, leaves this on Friday, with a detachment of Troops for Napier; the object in sending them being to protect the European settlers, and also, if required, to defend any refugees who might claim the protection of the British flag, in the event of being hard pressed for their lives. I hope however, that we may soon hear that this strife is at an end. I have not written you since your departure, having been absent from Auckland during the greater part of the time. H.M. ''Iris'' came in about a week after you left, and a visit to the Bay was at once arranged. I was unwilling to allow His Excellency to go attended only by an Interpreter; and proposed to accompany him, leaving Rogan to take charge of the Office, The accommodation on board the ''Iris'' being scant, I went up in the ''St. Kilda'', two days before the Governor and his party, -- consisting of Mr. Gore-Browne, Mr. Whittaker, Colonel Mould, (whose assistance in selecting a site for a township at the Bay was greatly desired); and the Private Secretary. I left on the 4th. inst., and arrived on the 6th. occupying the interval until the arrival of the ''Iris'' in making arrangements for the natives to meet the Governor. On the 7th. the ''Iris'' anchored off Kororauka, and the following day the Governor landed under a salute of 17 guns. The levee was held at Clevedon's house, and the Chiefs who had arrived were presented, with the Europeans. After the levee, the Governor met the natives who had assembled to receive him in front of Tamati Waka's house, and after the usual course of complimentary speeches, in which reference was made to the re-erection of the flag-staff, and the general wish for the establishment of a town. His Excellency addressed them through me, touching upon the flag-staff in a way not to damp the ardour of the promoters of the movement. At the same time, not to give it undue prominence. One party endeavoured to make the erection of the flag-staff the prime object of the meeting, and would gladly have made it appear that it was the object of the Governor's visit. I took care to avoid giving any ground for so false an impression, and managed this, I think, without giving offence to the flag-staff party. In consequence of the short notice we were able to give, the number of natives assembled, was much fewer than it would have been. There was also a good deal of scheming on the part of both Europeans and natives in arranging a place of meeting. One party wished the principal meeting to take place at Kororareka; another, at Waitangi; and a third at Te Waimate. I, of course, told all parties that the Governor would meet both Europeans wherever most convenient to them to assemble. An effort was made to force the meeting at Waitangi; and a goodly number of natives assembled there in front of Mr. Busby's house; where His Excellency met them on the day following the the Kororareka meeting. The grand topic here was the selection of a township site, though many of the Chiefs were greatly annoyed that any other subject but that of the flag-staff, should be introduced. All passed off well. The Governor was pleased with the speeches of the natives; and they, with his reply, which was of a similar kind to that given at Kororareka. On Monday the 11th, we started for the Waimati, and were met half way by a party of about 100 horsemen. European and Maori were then drawn up in two lines, one on each side of the road, headed by two native Assessors, each bearing an ensign. They received His Excellency with three hearty British cheers; and fell in with the rear of our party, making a cavalcade of upwards of 150 horsemen. A pretty dust we kicked up, I assure you. At the Waimati we were received by a large party of probably 400, and welcomed with a war dance. His Excellency held a levee at Henry Kemp's at which both Europeans and Natives were presented. An address was presented by both. There was a little speechifying; and the proceedings wound up with a handsome present of food, -- beef, biscuits, and potatoes; old Rahe being the principal donor. He also presented the Governor with his mere ------(?); it being understood that it was to be returned to him afterwards by Kemp. The Governor replied to the speeches verbally through me, and I prepared a written reply to their written address. All passed off well. Hearing that the Hokianga natives were expecting the Governor to visit them, and thinking that a compliance with their wishes would be attended with good results, it was resolved to proceed to Hokianga the following day, which we accordingly did, reaching Mr. Webster's station in the evening. We were most warmly received. On passing Mangungo (?), the old Mission Station, we were greeted with shouts of welcome to the ''Manahiri tuarangi''; and on approaching Mr. Webster's, a salute of 17 guns woke the echoes of the Hokianga. The next day we went to Manungo to see the natives assembled there. The short notice given, with the uncertainity, prevented the numbers being so great as they would otherwise have been. All the principal men, however, were there; and some 600 or 700 natives hastily collected from the various settlements on the Hokianga, and its branches. A most loyal and affectionate address was presented and read by Aperahama Taonui, an intelligent Chief, son of old Makoare, with whom the Governor was much pleased. A written reply to the address was sent the next morning, and we returned to the Waimati greatly pleased with all we had seen and heard, excepting only the dust, which is to be remembered. We were all half-choked. We returned to the Waimate on the 14th., having been most hospitably entertained by Webster, whose residence on the Hokianga is of the greatest benefit to the natives. I wish we had only men of that class residing among the natives all over the country. Their influence for good can hardly be over-estimated. From Waimate we went over to the Keri Keri. An eligible site for a town was fixed upon on the Waimate side of the river, a few miles below the Mission Station, near the anchorage for large vessels. The plan now proposed is to try an experiment to see how far the amalgamation theory may be realised in the North by laying out a settlement to be occupied by both Maoris and Europeans, who are to have allotments side by side. The details of the scheme I cannot now go into, if indeed they have been settled, which I doubt. One part of it is to send Fenton there to endeavour to bring the whole into practical operation. It is thought that he will here find scope for his energy and enthusiasm, without the danger of doing mischief, and a fair field for the exercise of his abilities. I think the scheme an excellent one, but it will require patience and careful management to carry our successfully. If enton succeeds, it will entitle him to much credit. On our return to the Bay, we found the flag-staff up. The Governor did not land, as it was thought that he should not identify himself too much with affairs. A party of 700 men were seated on the beach awaiting His Excellency. Maihi Kawiti came on board the ''Iris'', and had an interview with the Governor in the presence of Tamati Waka; and was assured that the conduct of himself and his tribe met with His Excellency's warm. approval, especially having been spontaneous; that they should complete what they had begun, so that the Governor might be able to write and tell the Queen that they had, of their own accord and without any assistance or solicitation on the part of the Government, made this this public acknowledgment of a past error, and declaration that in future they would preserve allegiance to the Queen, and submit to her Laws I landed and addressed the assembled natives, explaining that no slight was intended by the Governor's not again landing at Kororaieke, as he had paid his last visit; then had communicated personally with their principal men; had heard of their intention with respect to the flag-staff, and had now seen its fulfilment; that his arrangements for visiting the different places had been made and kept; and that in accordance with them he should leave that evening in the ''Iris'', in order to keep other appointments; that he could say no more, were he to land, than he had already expressed to Maihi, etc., etc., There was a grand War Dance; three cheers; firing of muskets; and the meeting broke up in very good humour, though not so pleased as they would have been had the Governor landed. The flag-staff party wished to make the erection of the flag-staff the grand subject; and would have had it appear that the Governor's visit was connected with it. This was undesirable, therefore carefully avoided. All passed off well. We were, everywhere, received with the most hearty welcome; and the impression on both sides was, I believe, a most favourable one. Addresses were presented, and replied to, and at Waimate a handsome present of food was given to the Governor's party. As the Governor wished to visit Coromandel on his way homw, and was anxious that I should accompany him, I availed myself of Capt. Loring's offer of a shake-down on board the ''Iris''; and we left Kororareka next morning, arriving at Coromandel the following day. The natives were unprepared for a visit, and did not come to meet the Governor. Preece was led to believe they would come, but I believe they connected the Governor's visit with land-buying; and not being prepared to enter into that subject, they kept out of the way until it was too late to make arrangements for a meeting. His Excellency was much annoyed, but I am not surprised at what took place. C.O. Davis had been at work like snake in the grass, and we may thank him for any indifference shown. Pita was the only one who came, Paora te Putu wrote to excuse himself, Kitahi took no notice whatever. On our arrival at Auckland, we were met by the news, just arrived from Taranaki, of the slaughter of Katatore and Rawiri Karire, -- by Ihaia's brother Tamati Tiraurau. I need not enter upon this, as I have forwarded you copies of correspondence; and we have heard again since, by the Overland Mail yesterday (28th.) no further hostilities. Parris and Halse think the natives are inclined to sympathise with Katatore's party. Flight thinks not. A general impression prevails that Katatore's death will end this feud. The Superintendent has issued a proclamation, calling upon the settlers to keep away from the scene of warfare, Many think the Government should now interfere, and compel both parties to desist. If this could be done, it ought. But the question is, how far we are in a position to enforce obedience. I am writing in great haste, to be in time for the ''Eastfield's'' mail, which closes at 4 today. All is going on well, as far as the natives are concerned. Friend has been absenting himself from the office, and deserves to be dismissed. He has scarcely been at work since you left, -- took his leave of absence more than a fortnight since, without reference to the locum tenens and the office, beyond a note announcing his intention of so doing; and where he may be now, I know not, I have kept Rogan to assist me in the office. Over head and ears in work. Fenton gone to Waikato with Carleton, Munro going on steadily. White, of little use. Went with me to the Bay, and might as well have stayed at home. Dickson still with us; likely to get into the Colonial Secretary's office, as precis writer. Many thanks for forwarding my letters to Wellington. My mother has been very poorly, but is now better, My wife is quite well. Both unite with me in kind regards, Archd. Brown, from Tauranga, and Mrs. Chapman, from Maketu, here. No time for more. Yours truly (Signed) Thos. H. Smith. P.S. Will write again by next opportunity. Rogan is, I hope, giving you all the news. Jan. 29th. 1858 To:-Donald McLean Esq.