REPORT OF THE POKAIKAI COMMISSION.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1868 Session I, A-03

A.—No. 3.

REPORT OF THE POKAIKAI COMMISSION.

PRESENTED TO BOTH MOUSES OE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BY COMMAND OE HIS EXCELLENCY.

WELLINGTON.

1868.

A.—No. 3,

To His Excellency Sir George Eerguson Eowen, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of New Zealand, and ViceAdmiral of the same. We, the undersigned Commissioners, appointed by virtue of a Commission dated 27tli day of February, 1868, to inquire into alleged acts of cruelty and wanton outrage stated to have been committed by Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas McDonnell, commanding the Militia in the Patea District, by causing an attack to be made in the month of August, 1866, on the Native village of Pokaikai, and to report our opinion whether there is any, and if any, what truth in such allegations, and as to all the circumstances connected with such attack on the said Native village, do respectfully report that we have arrived at the following conclusions. Previously, however, to proceeding to express those conclusions, the Commissioners beg to premise that the inquiry was conducted during the latter end of the month of March last, at Wanganui, Patea, and Alatangarara, in the presence of Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell; that two witnesses named by that officer, Arapata and Uangiamohia, were absent at Taupo, and their attendance could not he obtained ; that those witnesses reached Wellington on the night of the 11th instant; that they were examined on the 12th instant, in the absence of LieutenantColonel McDonnell; and that no statement or defence on the part of that officer, who is now engaged in active service in the field, will be found with the proceedings. The conclusions at which the Commissioners have arrived are as follows : 1. That Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell was ordered by the Defence Minister, in a letter dated Wellington, 28th June, 1866, to collect the whole of the Colonial Forces in the District, at Patea or Waingongoro, and thence make such arrangements as he thought necessary for scouring the country, and for establishing two posts, one at Ketemarae, and the other further South, in the direction of Manutahi, where redoubts were directed to be thrown up. 2. That in consequence of these orders Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell did, up to the Ist August, 1866, exert himself to induce the different hapus of the Ngatiruanui tribe to come in and surrender. 3. That Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell went to Kauae, and there had an interview with Natanahira Ngahina, chief of the Tangahoe hapu of the Natiruanui tribe. 4. That Natanahira did promise to proceed the next morning to Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell's camp at Waingongoro, distant only five miles from Kauae, and there having made his submission, to proceed to Wellington to sec the Governor. 5. That Natanahira, instead of keeping his promise, induced thereto by some Natives then present at Kauae, proceeded to Taranaki, a distance of sixty-five miles, to visit Mr. Parris.

REPORT or THE POKAIKAI COMMISSION.

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6. That on the 31st July, 1866, Rangiamohia, the wife of Arapata, a private in the Native Contingent, was sent as a last resource —apparently at her own suggestion, she being related to the Tangahoe hapu, on the mother's side —by Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell, to Taiporowhcnui. and Pokaikai to endeavour to induce the Tangahoe people to come in and surrender. 7. That Rangiamohia returned to the Camp at Manawapou the same evening, and reported that she had been made to pay the Hauhau toll, and otherwise alarmed. 8. That the force would have started at once for Pokaikai had not the heavy rain prevented the force moving from Camp. 9. That the force did march at ten o'clock on the night of the Ist August, and that Pokaikai was attacked about one o'clock on the morning of the 2nd August. 10. That no wanton outrage was committed by any enrolled member of the force. 11. That medical aid was afforded to the only person wounded, and that the women and children who were taken prisoners were kindly treated. 12. And that the results of the attack upon Pokaikai, were the almost immediate surrender of the Tangahoe and Pakakohi hapus of the Ngatiruanui tribe, and the subsequent peace and order which prevailed for almost two years, until Tito Kowaru, of the Ngaruahinc hapu of the Ngatiruanui tribe, commenced creating disturbances almost immediately after the close of this inquiry, which was conducted principally in the village of Matangarora, in the latter end of March, 1868. J. Cracroft Wilson, C.8., Chairman, J. Cakoill, Member. 1 protest against tho above Report : Gkokge Graham, Member. Wellington, 11th August, 1868.

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Wellington, Monday, 9th March, 1868. Peesent: Mr. Cargill. Mr. George Graham. Mr. J. Cracroft Wilson, C.8., in the Chair. The Members of the Commission proceeded in the first instance to elect a Chairman, as suggested in Clause 4 of " The Commissioners' Powers Act, 1867." Proposed by Mr. George Graham and seconded by Mr. John Cargill, That Mr. J. Cracroft Wilson, C.8., be Chairman of the Commission. Letter of the Honourable J. C. Richmond (acting for the Colonial Secretary), No. 179 (68,255), of the 7th instant, and tho Commission of His Excellency the Governor, dated Wellington, 27th February, 1868, were read. Proposed, That a reply to the above letter of the 7th instant bo addressed to the Honourable J. C. Richmond, informing him that the Commissioners had resolved to proceed at 530 p.m. to-morrow on board the " Rangatira," to Wanganui, and thence by land to Patea. A greed to. Proposed, That the Chairman do apply to the Colonial Secretary for books and stationery. Agreed to. , Proposed, That Mr. Parris, Civil Commissioner, Native Department,.be summoned to attend the Commissioners at Patea. Agreed to. Proposed, That Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, commanding at Patea, be informed that the Commissioners purpose arriving at Patea on or about the 13th instant, and that he be requested to attend, with such witnesses and documents as he may deem necessary. A greed to.

"Wangajtot, 14th Maecii, 1868. PbESEUT : Mr. Cargill. | Mr. George Graham. Mr. J. Cracroft "Wilson, C.B., in the Chair. A letter from Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, dated Wanganui, 14th March, 1868, was read. Proposed, That the Chairman be requested to issue summons for the attendance at Matangarara of lit. Gudgeon, Aperaniko (Captain in the Native Contingent), and Coll McDonell, late sergeant in the Patea Rangers. Agreed to.

Patea, 16th March, 186 S. Peesent: Mr. Cargill. Mr. J. Cracroft Wilson, C.8., in the Chair. A letter from Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, dated Patea, 16th March, 186S, was read. Proposed, That the Chairman do immediately summon Captain Newland, xlrapata, and his wife Mohi, to attend and give evidence. Agreed to. Proposed, That Wi Hukanui be also summoned. Agreed to. Proposed, That, as Mr. Booth had mentioned in the course of conversation that he had received no instructions from the Colonial Secretary's Office to officiate as interpreter to the Commission, the Chairman do immediately write to Mr. Booth requesting that gentleman to act as interpreter, and guaranteeing to hold him blameless for acting without direct written authority from the Colonial. Oflice. Agreed to. Present : Mr. Cargill. Mr. George Graham. Mr. J. Cracroft Wilson, C.8., in the Chair. Proposed, That the following witnesses be summoned to attend at Matangarara:—Matanahira, of Ohiki ; Martha, wife of above; Tito Ilunataua, of Matangarara; Tukino, of Matangarara. Agreed to.

Patea, 17th March, 1868. Peesent: Mr. Cargill. Mr. George Graham. Mr. J. Cracroft "Wilson, C.8., in the Chair. Read a letter from Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, dated Patea, 17th March, 18G8. Proposed, That the Chairman do forthwith summon Mr. T. W. Rolfe to attend as a witness before the Commission at the village of Matangarara, on Wednesday, the 18th instant. Agreed to. Proposed, That as Mr. 0. Carrington, the gentleman alluded to in Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell's despatch to the Honourable the Defence Minister, under date the 19th June, 1866, is now present in Patea, and is on the point of starting immediately for New Plymouth, his deposition bo forthwith taken. x\ greed to. Matangarara, 18th March, 1868. Present : Mr. Cargill. Mr. George Graham. Mr. J. Cracroft Wilson, C.8., in the Chair. Examined, Mr. Robert Parris. On application from Mr. Rolfe to be allowed to report the proceedings for the Wanganui Times, — Resolved, That reporters be admitted, but Mr. Rolfe being a witness, that he give his evidence first. Examined, Frederick William Rolfe. Adjourned at 930 p.m.

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Matangaraea, 19th March, 1868. Peesent: Mr. Cargill. Mr. George Graham. Mr. J. Cracroft Wilson, C.B, in the Chair. Examined, Wi Hukanui Manaia, Tito Hanataua, Natanahira Ngahina, and Coll McDonell. Adjourned at 11 p.m.

Matangaeara, 20th March, 1868. Peesent : Mr. Cargill. | Mr. George Graham. Mr. J. Cracroft Wilson, C.8., in the Chair. Examined, Martha, wife of Natanahira. Tho Court had adjourned at a quarter to two o'clock p.m. The sitting of the Court was resumed at three o'clock, p.m. Mr. Booth, the Interpreter, represented to the Court, that since the Court adjourned he had an interview with Mr. Parris, who stated to him that an incomplete translation of a sentence in Martha's deposition had been given and recorded by the Chairman of the Commission. The sentence is that contained in the sentences in the English version commencing, " Before the bodies of my parents were buried I expressed a wish to be allowed to wrap them income clothes. The Lieut.-Colonel said to me my men will see to that. lam not aware whether any clothes were supplied or not." Mr. Booth, tins Interpreter, then continued, " I wish that Martha should be recalled in order that a question may be put to her. Mr. Parris said to me that Martha added to the above quotation, ' I suppose not, because the dogs scratched up and consumed a portion of the body of my father, which was naked.' I did not hear the above, and I interpreted all that I heard fall from Martha." The Court was cleared and it was decided by the Commissioners that the matter at issue between the Interpreter appointed to the Commission and Mr. Parris, the Civil Commissioner, who has been allowed to be present throughout the proceedings, being of no importance as to the charges they were directed to investigate, the witness Martha be not recalied. Examined, Coll McDonell recalled; Eruini Tukino, Walter Edward Gudgeon, Hamiora. Adjourned at IP2O p.m.

Matangaraea, 21st March, 1868. Present: Mr. Cargill. Mr. George Graham. Mr. J. Cracroft Wilson, C.8., in the Chair. At request of Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, issued a summons to Andrew Allen to appear as a witness. Examined, Mereana Matau, Captain Newland; Martha, recalled. At half-past two Commissioners went to Pokaikai. On return, examined Andrew J. Allan. Adjourned at 530 p.m.

Patea, 23eu March, 1868. Peesent: Mr. Cargill. | Mr. George Graham. Mr. J. Cracroft Wilson, C.8., in the Chair. Eight o'clock, a.m. At request of Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, issued a summons to Assistant Surgeon Samuel Walker. Examined, Samuel Walker. Adjourned at 930 a.m.

Wanganui, 24th March, 1868. Present: Mr. Cargill. Mr. George Graham. Mr. J. Cracroft Wilson, C.B, in the Chair. Examined, Samuel Austin, late Quartermaster-Sergeant Native Contingent. Adjourned at 3 p.m.

Wanganui, 25th Maech, 1868. Peesent: Mr. Cargill. Mr. George Graham. Mr. J. Cracroft Wilson, C.8., in the Chair. Examined, Apcraniko, late Captain Native Contingent. Resolved, That as the witnesses Arapata and Rangiamohia arc absent at Taupo, and that as it is not possible to obtain their attendance before the expiration of three weeks from this date, this Commission be adjourned to ton days antecedent to the meeting of the General Assembly; that the Commissioners do meet at Wellington at the time above specified, and then proceed to Wanganui to take the evidence of the witnesses above named, and to record the explanation which Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell may wish to offer, and that a copy of this resolution be sent to tho office of the Honourable the Colonial ..Secretary, for the information of the Government.

Wellington, 3ed April, 1868. Peesent: Mr. John Cargill, Member. Mr. J. Cracroft Wilson, C.8., Chairman. Read a letter (No. 267, of the 2nd April, 1868,) from tho Hon. Major Richardson, acting for the Colonial Secretary. — Resolved, That the suggestion therein contained be agreed to, and that the Chairman do reply to that effect to the Hon. Major Richardson: also, That the Chairman do inform Mr. Commissioner Graham, now in Auckland, of the change which has taken place in the arrangements made at Wanganui.

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A.—No. 3

Wellington, 12th August, 1868. Peesent: Mr. J. Cargill. Mr. G. Graham. Mr. J. Cracroft Wilson, C.B, in the Chair. The depositions of Rangiamohia and Arapata were taken down, Mr. Puckey officiating as Interpreter, and it was agreed that the usual certificate be given to the witnesses.

Wellington, 14th August, 1868. Peesent : Mr. J. Cargill. | Mr. G. Graham. Mr. J. Cracroft Wilson, C.B, in the Chair. Mr. G. Graham read a Draft of a Report, to which the other two Commissioners did not agree. The Chairman then read a draft of certain Resolutions, and they were agreed to by the Chairman and Mr. Commissioner Cargill. Mr. Commissioner Graham objected to Nos. 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, and 12 of the Resolutions, and declared that he could not sign the Report, and would enter a protest. It was agreed by the majority of the Commission that the Resolutions read by the Chairman should be submitted to His Excellency, with the printed evidence, as early as possible.

A.—No. 3.

EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE POKAIKAI COMMISSION. Camp Patea, Tuesday, 17th March, 1868.

Octavius Carrington called in, and having been duly sworn, was examined. 1. The Chairman.] What is your name and occupation ?—My name is Octavius Carrington, and lam Chief Surveyor of the Province of Taranaki. I am now engaged in the survey of the Patea District for the purpose of enabling the Military Settlers to take possession of their lands. 2. Were you travelling in company with Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell in the middle of the year, 1866, and did anything peculiar occur on the occasion? —I have no papers with me at this moment, and I spieak from memory. Some date in the month of June, 1866, Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, myself, Lieut. Wirihana of the Native Contingent, Mr. Percy Smith, and two mounted Orderlies, about II o'clock a.m. started from Waingongoro on our return to Patea. When we had reached a spot south of the River Waihi, about four or five miles from Waingongoro, we fell into an ambuscade. The Natives were concealed in some low fern on the right or sea side of the track, and they had covered their heads with fern. This fact was mentioned to us Europeans by Lieut. Wirihana. We were about twenty-seven yards distant from the spot where the Natives were lying hid. We were proceeding in single file, Lieut Wirihana leading. All at once he caught a glimpse of a gun-barrel and cried out "Hauhaus." The Natives then stood up, and wo in pulling up got jammed together. The Natives poured a volley into us before we had time to turn, the bullets cutting the fern at our feet. We had gone purposely unarmed, because two Natives (one of them is named Luke), told us at Patea, two or three days before we started for Waingongoro (the object of our going to Waingongoro from Patea was to select sites for blockhouses), that if we went unarmed and did not quit the track, no Natives would fire at us or molest us. We wheeled round, and turned our horses heads towards the River Waihi and Waingongoro. There was another ambuscade on the left or inland side of the road, a short distance South of the first ambuscade, and the Natives from both ambuscades kept up a constant fire upon us until we were out of range. As we neared the Waihi Stream, Lieut. Wirihana pointed out some more Natives inland of the road, wdio were apparently running down to cut us off from the ford of the Waihi. Two mounted Orderlies had left Waingongoro the same morning at about 9 o'clock a.m., that is to say about two hours before our party, and they had passed the spot where the ambuscades were placed unmolested. I cannot say to what hapu these Natives belonged. 3. Did you report the circumstance to Government ? —Yes ; I reported the whole affair shortly after the event to the Honorable the Defence Minister, Colonel Haultain. The witness then withdrew.

Mr. 0. Carrington. 17th March, 1868.

Camp Matangaraea, Wednesday, 18th March, 1868. Robert Parris having been duly sworn was examined. 4. The Chairman.] What is your name and profession ? —My name is Robert Parris, and I am Civil Commissioner for the district extending from Waitotara to Mokau. 5. Ho you know anything with regard to the attack upon. Pokaikai in August, 1866 ?—ln July, 1866, I was ordered to Wellington, to attend and give evidence before tho Confiscation Committee of the House of Representatives. While I was in Wellington two .or three Native messengers arrived from Wanganui, and reported that they had been sent by Hori Kingi, the Native Chief of Wanganui, to inform the Governor that something had occurred in the Ngatiruanui District, viz., an attack upon the village of Pokaikai. I was at the Native Hostelry staying with William Thompson Tarapipi. The Governor sent for me and explained to me what the above mentioned messengers had reported to him, and asked me if I would go to the Ngatiruanui District. I replied in tho affirmative. The Governor then said, " I will hold a meeting of the Ministers, and afterwards they will in all probability wish to see you." The same day, in the afternoon, Mr. Stafford the Colonial Secretary, sent for me to his office. I went there, and I found tho Colonial Secretary, Colonel Russell, Native Minister ; Colonel Haultain, Defence Minister ; and Mr Paterson, Postmaster-General, assembled. They explained to me the nature of the information brought by the messengers, and they asked me if I. had any objection to go to the Ngatiruanui District. I said I had no objection whatever. The following morning a steamer was starting for Taranaki, and I sailed on board her for that place. I proceeded thence overland towards the Ngatiruanui District, and I arrived at the camp of the local forces at Hawera, my object being to see Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell before I took any steps, having been instructed to inquire into the matter of the attack upon Pokaikai. On arriving at the Camp, I was informed that Lieut.Colonel McDonell had gone to Wanganui. I slept at the Camp that night, and the following morning I proceeded to this very village (Matangarara). After having a conversation with the Natives who were present in the village (I think the day was Saturday), I arranged for a meeting to be held on the following Monday, in order that those Natives who were absent from the village might attend. I then went to the Camp at Waingongoro, and on the following Monday morning I returned to Matangarara and heard all that the Natives had to say. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell was not present, and the Natives can make their own statements before the Commission. They complained of the whole affair of

Mr. It. Parris. 18th March, 1868.

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Mr. X. Parris. Contimied.

Pokaikai, and after I had listened to their complaints, I asked the Natives what was their intention with regard to the future, and I explained to them that the only terms which the Government could give them was, " unconditional surrender." I also explained to them the boundary line as near as I possibly could, of the land which the Government had confiscated, and I assured them that certain portions of the confiscated lands would be given back to them by the Government. Tito Hunataua, a chief of the Tangahoe, a section of the Ngatiruanui Tribe, arose and presented me with a document, the original of which I forwarded to the Native Minister's Office in Wellington, and of which I produce an authenticated copy sent me from the said office. On presenting me with the original document, Tito Hunataua said, "We should have revenged tho murders at Pokaikai, but for Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell's promise to give us back the whole of our land." Ho further stated that Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell and himself took an oath to confirm the document. Attached to the authenticated copy of this document is a copy of my report, dated Patea, 22nd August, 1860, to the Minister for Native Affairs (Exhibit No. 1). I also produce a letter and translation of the same from Tito Hunataua to Te Ua. The translation is made by Mr. Halse (Exhibit No. 2). I also produce a letter and translation by the same gentleman of a letter from Te TJa to Mr. Halse (Exhibit No. 3). I also produce a written statement, and translation of the same, of the Cth August, 1806, made by Ngahina Natanahira, presented to Mr. Halse, who was officiating for me in Taranaki during my absence in Wellington to give evidence before the Confiscation Committee (Exhibit No. 4). I also produce a statement and translation thereof, made by Hone Pihama, and presented to Mr. Halse, in Taranaki, on the same date (Exhibit No. 5). From Matangarara I proceeded to Patea to see Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. At this time Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, in returning from Wanganui to Patea, was thrown from his horse. I had intended to have taken his statement as to tho Pokaikai affair, but Dr. Young, of the 18th Eegiment, requested me not to do so, stating that he was labouring under concussion of the brain, and that if I entered into any discussion with him, my so doing might ruin him for life. I then wrote the report dated 22nd August, 1866, a copy of which I have laid before the Commission. Before I started on my way back to Taranaki, I mentioned to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell that I would endeavour to see the disaffected Natives between Waingongora and Warea, and that I would write to him the result. These Natives had at that time not come in, and were in fact in rebellion. On arriring at Kauae, I found the Natives who were in the bush not disposed to negotiate for peace, stating that the Government sent persons with good words on their tongues to lull them into security, at the same time having the sword close behind to take advantage of them and to slay them with; that Te Ha had been sent by the Governor with good words, recommending that fighting should cease, and that peace should be made ; that the Tangahoe people had consented to Te TJa's proposal, and had been betrayed into imaginary security, when they were fallen upon with tho sword and killed, and villages were being burnt at the same time. I then proceeded to Opunake. The chiefs were sent for from the bush, but they gave a similar reply to that given me at Kauae. From Opunake I wrote to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, as I had promised, to the effect that the Natives refused to come to terms. I then returned to Taranaki. While in Patea I told Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, that the Tangahoe and I'akahoe Tribes had consented to surrender. I also reported flic same to Major Inmau of the 18th Eegiment commanding at Manawapou. 6. Mr. Commissioner Graham.] Do you know of any act of treachery perpetrated by the Tangahoe Natives between the 15th July and Ist August, 1866 ?—I do not. 7. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] Did you ask the officer in command of the Hawera Camp to allow the senior officer or any officer engaged in the attack upon Pokaikai to accomparfy you to Matangarara when you went to make the inquiry which you mentioned above ? —Certainly not. 8. Don't you think it would have been but fair that some one representing me should have been present when you went to Matangarara to make the inquiry ? —I was ordered to report merely, and was not sitting in judgment upon the case. 9. Then you made your report on the statements of the Natives without hearing the European version of the matter ? —I made my report without conferring with Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell because he was too ill at the time. I gave no opinion of my own in that report. The witness then withdrew.

Camp Matanoaeaea, Wednesday, 18th Maecii, 1868. Frederick William Eolfe having heing duly sworn was examined. 10. The Chairman. —What is your name and occupation ? —My name is Frederick William Eolfe, and I was formerly a private in No. 8 Company, Taranaki Military Settlers. I have no occupation at present, hut I came to Matangarara, having hcen deputed hy the agent of the Wanganui Times to act as reporter for that newspaper of the proceedings of tho Pokaikai Commission. I had been previously summoned to appear before the Commission as a witness on. the part of Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. 11. Were you present at the attack of the village of Pokaika, and what do you know respecting it? —T was present on that occasion ; our Company formed the rear guard on the march to Pokaikai. We were ordered to march in silence, and we were directed to abstain from firing as much as possible and to depend upon our bayonets. We rested some time a little distance from Pokaikai, and on rising to resume the march Companies Nos. 8 and 10 were ordered to the head of the column. The Patea and Wanganui Rangers followed those two companies and the Native Contingent brought up the rear. When we were within a few paces of the palisading of the village the Natives took the alarm, and firing commenced on both sides. A great number of Natives ran out of a whare on our left as we entered, and in that whare one woman was wounded. She recovered from, the effects of the wounds and she is now present in Matangarara. I myself called upon Dr. Walker, who was then acting as surgeon to tho local forces, and who happened to be close to the whare, to attend to her wounds; he did so. She had rushed back info the whare, and as it was dark and she was concealed under mats, it was impossible to distinguish her from a man. The wounds proved to be slight, and I think that after haying her wounds dressed she was allowed to remain in the village, and was not taken away with the other

Mr. F. IV. Rolfe. 13! h March, 1888.

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5

prisoners taken on the occasion. The bayonet wounds were inflicted with'the medium Enfield bayonet, and she was saved by the amount of matting with which she was covered. I have often seen her since that affair, and I know personally that she is alive and well, and now present in the village. 12. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell?^ Was there any firing on the part of the Hauhau villagers after they had been driven out of the village ?—Yes, there was. There was a descent outside of the village, by which the villagers escaped, and from the bottom of that descent firing was kept up upon the local forces then in possession of the village. 13. Were any prisoners taken in the attack upon Pokaikai, and if so, how were they treated ?—A few prisoners were taken and they were treated with the greatest kindness during the march on our return. 14. Did you fire a shot on tho occasion ?—No : my rifle was not discharged on the occasion. 15. Do you know the Native woman now present (pointing to a girl who said her name was Mary (Mereana) ?—Yes, I know this Native woman. She is the same woman as that mentioned above as having been wounded in the whare on the left, and who was saved by the quantity of matting under which she was lying concealed. 16. Did you see any dead Natives in the village after the attack ?—Yes, I saw a man and a woman who, I believe, were buried in the village; and I saw one dead man at the bottom of the descent mentioned above as the spot from which the Hauhau villagers kept up firing on the local forces. 17. Do you remember a volunteer of the name of Spencer ?—Yes. 18. Was Spencer drunk or sober on the occasion ?—I do not remember seeing him on the occasion at all. 19. Mr. Commissioner Cargill.] Were any friendly Natives coining out of the village of Pokaikai to meet the local forces, and were those friendly Natives fired into by the local forces by mistake, and were any of them killed and wounded ?—I never heard or saw anything of such an occurrence. 20. Mr. Commissioner Graham.] Did tho attacking party rest in the fern some little distance from the village of Pokaikai before the attack was made ?—Yes, we halted in the fern a little distance from the village before we attacked it. 21. Was all reported quiet in the village before the attack was made ?—All. appeared quiet. 22. Were you ordered to attack with the bayonet ?—Yes ; we were ordered not to fire if we could possibly avoid it. 23. Were the villagers taken by surprise?—Yes, they were taken by surprise. 24 Did not the Natives escape from the large whare by a back window ?—No, not from the whare at which I was; from the whare at which I was they came out by the front door, and escaped by an opening in the palisading. 25. Are you positive that any shots were fired at the local forces by the villagers while attempting to escape ?—Yes, there were several shots fired, particularly from the whare on the right. 26. The Chairman.] Was the attacking party sober and fit for duty ?—There might have been a few men under the influence of liquor, but the main body was sober and fit for duty. 27. Were any children killed or wounded on the occasion ?—I saw none, and I believe none were killed or wounded. 28. Mr. Commissioner Cargill.] Was any liquor served out to the attacking force during tho march to Pokaikai ?—No, not during the march. Bum rations were served out to the force before marching from Mawanapou,—the night was very cold. 29. At what hour did the force march from Manawapou, and at what hour was the attack made ? —We marched from Manawapou about sunset, and the attack was made, I think, two or three hours before sunrise ; it was certainly made after midnight. 30. Mr. Commissioner Graham/] Is it usual to serve out rum to the local forces ?—Yes; to all forces in the field and to all detachments at outposts. 31. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] Did you hear any orders given not to fire if it could be avoided, but to take the Natives in the village prisoners ?—I certainly heard the order given to avoid firing if possible, but I do not remember any order respecting prisoners. 32. Was any resistance made by tho villagers ?—Yes; one villager had a hand-to-hand conflict with the Farrier Sergeant-Major of the Troop, and another hand-to-hand conflict took place between a villager and McArthy of the Military Settlers. 33. Were the villagers armed as a whole, and were the two Natives engaged in the hand-to-hand fights armed ?—As a whole the villagers were armed, for the Native Contingent took a good number of arms. I can't speak positively about the two Natives in the hand-to-hand fights. I saw the Earrier Sergeant-Major with his hand bleeding just after the conflict, and I saw the body of the Native who fought with McArthy lying at the bottom of the descent, but I did not see the conflicts.

Camp Matangaeaea, TntiESDAY, 19th Maech, .1868. Wi Hukanui having been duly sworn was examined. 34. The Chairman.] What is your name, where do you reside, and to what tribe do you belong ?— My name is Wiremu Hukanui Manaia. I reside at the Kauae, near Waingongoro. I belong to the hapu of Ngaruahine, of the Ngatiruanui tribe. 35. Do you know anything in connexion with the affair at Pokaikai, in August, 1860 ?—I cannot state the month, but I remember Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell coming to Waingongoro and my seeing him at that place. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell came from Waingongoro to my village at Kauae, and had an interview with me and Eeihana. Eeihana told Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell that he was a bad man. The Lieut.-Colonel replied by asking Eeihana, "What is my fault against you ? " Eeihana responded, "If youhad not been a bad man peace would have been made this day." After that Lieut.Colonel McDonnell, accompanied by Captain Dawson of the 18th Eegiment, returned to Waingongoro. The next morning I followed the Lieut.-Colonel to Waingongoro. He and I went into Captain Dawson's tent. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell asked me, " For what purpose has Te Ua come to the 2

Mr. F. W. Xolfi. Continue*.

Wiremu llakmini. 19th March, 1863.

A.—No. 3,

6

Ngatiruanui District? " I replied, " I believe that he has come by the instructions of the Governor, with a view to peace being made." The Lieut.-Colonel said " This is good." Then the Lieut.-Colonel said " Wiremu, here is a cartridge for you to take to Pokaikai, to Tito Hunataua." I replied, "I am afraid to go because of the wild men (Hauhaus)." He then gave me a cartridge, a percussion cap, a bottle of spirits, and a white handkerchief, and, pointing to the cartridge, the percussion cap, and tho bottle of spirits, he said, " These three things are bad and destroy life." Then, pointing to the white handherchief, he said, " This means peace." I then, taking all four articles, returned to Kauae, and I explained to the Natives there the meaning attached to the articles, and at the same time I called for a messenger who would volunteer to take the articles to Pokaikai. A Native belonging to Kauae named Beupena Tahi volunteered to do so, and ho started with tho articles to Pokaikai. 36. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] Are you certain that the place to which I asked you to take the articles was Pokaikai ? —The Lieut.-Colonel wanted me to deliver the articles to Tito Hunataua, and Tito was living at the time at Pokaikai. Otapawa had fallen during General Chute's campaign. 37. When I asked you where Tito and Te Ha were, did you not tell me that they were at Otapawa ? —I replied to that question that they were at Pokakai, and that Tito had taken up his residence permanently there. 38. Do you remember my going to Kauae with Honi Pehama, Captain Dawson, several officers, and eight or ten mounted troopers, some days after I gave you tho cartridge, the cap, and the handkerchief, mentioned above, when Matanahira was present in Kauae ?—I do not exactly remember the occurence alluded to. 39. Do you remember being present at tho Kauae when I held a conversation with Natanahira, and he promised to proceed the next day to see me at Waingongoro, with a view to his going on to visit the Governor in Wellington and making peace ? —Yes ; I was present, and I remember the circumstance. 40. Did Natanahira go as he promised to Waingongoro the next day, and did you go to Waingongoro yourself? —Natanahira did not go to Waingongoro as he had promised, but I myself went to Waingongoro and had an. interview with Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell the day after the conversation. 41. State before the Commission what you said, to me on that occasion.—Natanahira had not accompanied me, and Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell told me to go back to Kauae and to ask him (N atanahira) to come to him at Waingongoro, and that they (the Lieut.-Colonel and Natanahira) would then go together to Wanganui, and thence to Wellington, to see the Governor. I went back to Kauae. I saw Natanahira, and I said to him, " Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell wants you to accompany me to-morrow. Let us go together to Waingongoro. The Lieut.-Colonel is anxious that you should go with him to Wellington." Natanahira said "It is good; but I propose to leave the decision with some chiefs of the Tiatiawa tribe, namely, Pakau and Mohi." These two chiefs were present at the time in Kauae, and they said, " No ; don't go to Waingongoro,—rather let us go to New Plymouth, and thence by steamer to Wellington." Natanahira agreed to this proposal, and went with those chiefs. The following morning they started for New Plymouth, and 1 proceeded to Waingongora to see Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. The Lieut.-Colonel said, " Where is Natanahira? " I answered, "He has gone." The Lieut.Colonel asked, " Where has he gone to ? " I replied, "To New Plymouth. Natanahira said he was willing to go to Waingongoro, but Pakau and Mohi prevailed upon him to go to New Plymouth." The Lieut.-Colonel said to me, " Oh, Wiremu ! myself and men will return." They left Waingongoro. 42. Did you not on that occasion say to me, " I am very dark about Natanahira :he has not kept his word, but has gone northward with Te Ha and others. I hope that you will not blame me ? " —I did say those very words. 43. Did I not reply, " I do not blame you; but as he has not come to make peace, and has deceived us all, I shall commence operations ? " —And did you not answer, " I cannot help it ? " —lt is quite correct. Those words were used. 44. Did you not ask me to allow a lad, who as you said, was a son of Hone Pihama, to accompany our troops (I had a strong escort of about forty or fifty men with me,) to the cross road leading to Otapawa ? —T said to the Lieut.-Colonel on that day, " This lad is a son of Hone Pihama. He wishes to return to Pokaikai, whence he has come." 45. The Chairman.] You have said that Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell gave you a cartridge, apercussion cap, a bottle of spirits, and a white handkerchief. Are you quite certain that it was Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell who gave you the bottle of spirits? —Yes; I am quite certain that the bottle of spirits was given me by Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. 46. How long ago was it that Otapawa was taken by General Chute ; and have any houses been rebuilt and occupied since it was taken ?—I believe that Otapawa was taken in January, 1866 ; and I do not know from my own knowledge whether the village had been re-occupied by the Natives before the attack was made on Pokaikai. 47. Was the village of Turangarere occupied at the time of the taking of Otapawa ; and was it occupied after the fall of Otapawa up to the date of tho attack upon Pokaikai; and how far distant is Turangarere from Otapawa ?—I cannot answer this question. I was friendly to the Europeans living at Waingongoro, and I did not go among the wild men (Hauhaus). 48. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] Was not the bottle of rum given to you by Captain Dawson and myself for your own private use, and did you not often get bottles of rum from the officers stationed at Waingongoro ?—The bottle of rum having been given mo at the same time with the cartridge, percussion cap, and handkerchief, I concluded that it too was to form a portion of the symbolical message sent to the wild men. If the bottle had been placed apart from the three other articles I should have known that it was intended for me personally, —still it is possible that the mistake was mine and not that of the Lieut.-Colonel. I have often received presents of bottles of rum from the officers at Waingongoro. 49. Did you not explain to the Natives of Kauae that the bottle of rum was a present from yourself? —No ; I did not.

Wiremu Hukanui. Continued.

7

A.—No. 3,

Wiremu. UuJranui. Continued.

50. Try and recollect. Did I not tell you in the presence of the Natives at Kauae to explain to Natanahira that the bottle of rum was not sent by mo?—I have no recollection of this. 51. As the rum was not returned with the cartridge and the percussion cap, what became of the rum ? —The bottle of rum went with the other articles by the hands of Beupena Tahi to Pokaikai, and Baupena wheu he returned said that he had left all the four articles with Tito at Pokaikai.

Camp Matangaeaea, Thuesday, 19tii March, 1868. Tito Hunataua having been duly sworn was examined. 52. The Chairman.] What is your name ; where do you reside ; and to what tribe do you belong ? My name is Tito Hunataua ; I reside at Taiporoheuui; and lam a chief of the Tangahoe hapu of the Ngatiruanui Tribe. 53. What do you know in connection with the attack upon Pokaikai, in August, 1866 ?—General Chute made a campaign from Wanganui to Taranaki; and on his return from Taranaki by the sea coast he took, at Opunake, Te Ha, prisoner, and carried him away with him to Wellington. While Te Ha was in Wellington, I told my people that they should cease fighting. One portion of my people who lived at Puketarata, would not listen to this suggestion of mine, and they fired at Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, Mr. Carrington, and others, at Te Hauini, near the Waihi Stream. From Taiporoheuui on the North, to Waitotara on the South, the Natives ceased fighting from the time when Te Ha was taken prisoner to Wellington. Subsequently, Te Ua having been instructed by the Governor, came from Wellington to the Ngatiruanui country, and visited Pokaikai, on the 24th July, 1866. Te Ua told us all that the word of the Governor was that ho should make known to us that it was the wish of the Governor and himself that "Man should live." All the people from Taiporoheuui to Waitotara longed for that consummation. To Ha being satisfied that the people between Taiporohenui and Waitotara longed for peace, returned to his home at Matakaka on the 27th July, 1866. On the morning of that day a man named Eeupena Tahi came from Wiremu Hukanui, of Kauae, at the request of Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, to Pokaikai, bringing with him four articles, —a cartridge, a percussion cap, a bottle of spirits, and a white pocket handkerchief, on which was written the words Bongo Pai (Peace). Te Ua was present in Pokaikai when Beupena Tahi arrived, and he said to the people " Which of these articles do you lay hold of." The reply was " The white handkerchief." The three other articles were taken back by Eeupena with a view to their being given to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. Te Ua, as mentioned above, that same day returned to his home, accompanied by Natanahira, to Matakaha. One lad named Hamiora accompanied Natanahira. On their way they halted at Kauae. What took place there Ido not know. On the same day when they started from Matakaha I went to Turangarere, close to Otapawa. On the Ist August, 1866, Tv Kino wrote me a letter asking me to go to Pokaikai, which I did. In the letter was written " Hamiora has returned, — come." When I reached Pokaikai, Tv Kino said to me, Hamiora has two words. One word was a message from Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to give him some potatoes. The other word was a letter to Tv Kino in which was written " Oh, Friend, Tv Kino ! Salutations to you and the people and all tho tribe. I intend to-morrow to go to Patea. On my return I intend to go to Otapawa and see you there. This is all. From your friend, McDonnell." I did not see the letter written, but Lieut.Colonel McDonnell's signature was attached to it. On the 2nd August, 1866, I said to the people of Pokaikai, " I wish to take some potatoes to the road at Hawera for Lieut.-Coionel McDonnell tomorrow. That order had not been fulfilled, when on the night of the 2nd the village was attacked. We were all wrapt in sleep. I was sleeping with Tcripe. All of a sudden she awoke me and said, " Hear the guns. We are attacked. (Jet up." When I got up the place was full of white men, and they had possession of the front of the large house, and the Natives were escaping by the window at opposite end. When we were running away Tv Kino called out, "Be careful not to fire." After we had effected our escape we found that two men and one woman had been killed. Tho names of the men were Aperahama To Bunganui and Haira Nga Karaka. The name of the woman was Hera Hine Hawe. Another woman was wounded. Her name was Mereana. She is now alive in this village. Thirteen were made prisoners. At daylight we fugitives met together at Turangarere. I told my people that we ought not to avenge this attack, because it was made in a time of peace. The weapon of war had been put down after Generaf Chute's campaign, and 1 did not think it right to take it up on account of that attack. On the evening of the same day Martha, who was one of the thirteen prisoners, was released, and sent by Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to Turangarere. She said, " Lieut.Colonel McDonnell wishes you, Tito, to go to him and make peace." I sent a lad of the name of Aperaniko to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell with a message to the effect that I was willing to make peace. On his return, Aperaniko brought back a ring from the Lieut.-Colonel, which I have now on. my finger. Aperaniko told me that the Lieut.-Colonel wished me to name a place where he might meet me. I fixed upon Ohangai. On the sth the remaining twelve prisoners were released. On the 7th I met the Lieut.-Colonel at Ohangai. 54. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] You say that fighting had ceased from Taiporoheuui to AVaitotara after General Chute's campaign was over. If this was the case, how came it that the Manutahi Natives captured sixteen of our Government horses and refused to give them up when asked to do so ?—The weapon of war had been laid aside ; but we had not seen Europeans face to face till Lieut.Colonel McDonnell arrived and met me at Ohangai, after which time 1 ceased to take horses. 55. Were not two Government horses plundered on the 31st July, and taken into Pokaikai on the morning of the Ist August, or the morning after they were captured ? —I have answered this question in the reply given above. 56. Have you that letter of mine which, as you say, commences with " Oh, friend Tv Kino ? " — That letter and tho white handkerchief were destroyed in the attack on Pokaikai. I escaped in my shirt, and Tcrepe escaped in her chemise. 57. Did a woman by name Mohi accompany the lad Hamiora, and pay a visit to the Natives of Pokaikai, and tell them to come into camp and make peace or take the consequences ? —I was, at the time Hamiora went to Pokaikai, at Turangarere ; and I did not see the woman go to Pokaikai.

Tito llunuiatm. I9th March. 1868.

A.—No. 3

8

Tito ITunataua, Con inued.

58. The Chairman.] Do you know anything about the arms and accoutrements of a man of the Military Train, said to have been found in the village of Pokaikai, on the night of the attack?— Yes ; I do know that the man was shot by tho Natives during the time that hostilities were going on, and his arms and accoutrements were in the village.

Camp Matangaraea, Thtjesday, 19th Maech, 1868. Natanahira Ngahina having been duly sworn, was examined. 59.] The Chairman. What is your name, where do you reside, and to what tribe do you belong ?— My name is Natanahira Ngahina, and before the war I resided at Ohangai, but I now reside at Matangarara. lam a chief of the Tangahoe hapu of the Ngatiruanui Tribe. 60. What do you know about the attack upon Pokaikai ?—Whilst we were engaged in hostilities against the British Government, a number of Natives assembled from different villages at Otapawa. Some months before General Chute's Campaign, Mr. Parris came to Kauae, and he sent letters to Otapawa. The chiefs assembled at Kauae, and I was present. Notice was given to us all, that the Kauae Natives had agreed to make peace. The people of the Tangahoe hapu appointed Hone Pihama to represent them in their dealings with Mr. Parris, and . to watch his proceedings and the Governor's intentions with regard to our hapu. Hone Pihama went to Taranaki with Mr. Parris, and we chiefs returned to Otapawa, and the sword was resumed. The British Forces came, and Otapawa was attacked and taken. Te Ua, before Otapawa was taken, had been living there, but had left sometime previously and taken up his residence at Oco, which is Hone Pihama's village. The Kauae peace extended from Waingongoro to Matakaha, and Oeo is situated within those limits. Te Ua was taken by General Chute from Opunake to Wellington, and ho afterwards came back with instructions from the Governor to propose to the Ngatiruanui Tribe that they should make peace. Te Ua came to Pokaikai. All the people from tho neighbouring villages were assembled in that village. To Ua proposed peace, and all the people were willing to make jjeace. They appointed me to go with Te Ua to Taranaki, whence Mr Parris was to send me to the Governor. It was the twenty-seventh July, 1866, and we had not started, when Beupena Tahi came to Pokaikai bringing a white pocket handkerchief upon which were written the words Bongo Pai (Peace), a percussion cap, a cartridge, and a bottle of spirits. All these things were placed in the midst of the people. The people considered as to what these articles meant. They came to the conclusion that the cap and the cartridge meant tho destruction of man, that the bottle of spirits was made to cause man to be drunk, and that in the pocket handkerchief there was life. The pocket handkerchief was retained, and they returned the other articles by the hands of Beupena to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnelf, intending to convey to that officer their wish that peace should be made. Then Te Ua, I, and Hamiora, started for Taranaki, that Mr. Parris might send me to Wellington. On arriving at Waingongoro, we went to the quarters of Captain Dawson, and Te Ua wrote a letter to the Governor at Wellington, and I wrote a letter to Wirihana, Captain in the Native Contingent at Manawapau. Te Ua and myself gave the cartridge, the percussion cap, and the bottle of spirits, to Captain Dawson, who sent them by a Trooper to Lieut.Colonel McDonnell, at Manawapou. Wo then proceeded to Kauae and there slept. About midnight a letter arrived from Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell addressed to Te Ua, asking Te Ua to wait at Kauae till the Lieut.-Colonel should arrive. Hone Pihama was with us, and he went from Kauae to Waingongoro to meet Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. He found Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, Aperaniko, a Wanganui Native, and the Troopers on the road, and he returned with them to Kauae. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell proposed to us and some wild men from other parts to make peace. I saluted Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell and Aperaniko, and I sang a song to the effect that I was willing to make peace, but that I did not wish to be hurried into so doing. The Lieut.-Colonel asked me to dine with him, a dinner having been prepared by the villagers for him. When we had finished dinner, Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell told me that he wished me to go with him to Patea, and then he would send his brother with me to Wanganui, and thence to Wellington where I should see the Governor. Hone Pihama objected, saying that this plan was not good. " You have already seen him (Natanahira) at this place, let him go with us to New Plymouth." Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell persisted in pressing me to go to Patea, and at length I replied —" Oh McDonnell your words are good, but I have not power in myself to go with you, because the people who sent me told me to go with Te Ua to Taranaki, whence Mr. Parris was to send me to Wellington." He still persisted in pressing me to go to Patea, and Wi Hukauui said to me, " friend ) rou must go with him." I replied to Wi Hukanui as I had before replied to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. At length after a deal of pressing I consented to go with him to Waingongoro with Hone Pihama, but to return from'that place to Kauae. Lieut'.-Colonel McDonnell then returned to Waingongoro. In the night we had a talk, and the people who were conveying me to Taranaki would not permit me to go to Waingongoro, and these people were Mohio, Bahui, Kohara, and Matiu of the Taranaki Tribe, and Wi Pakou of the Katiawa Tribe, Te Ua, and Hone Pihama. I wen); with them on the following morning towards Taranaki^and I sent back Hamiora, who is my wife's nephew, with Wi Hukanui, to Waingongoro, to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, to tell him that the people with mo would not allow me to go to him at Waingongoro. 61. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] During the first part of our interview at Kauae, did you not say to mo that before peace could be made, I must return to Wanganui with my men, and that the survey of the confiscated land must be stopped at once?—l do not recollect using these words. 62. Did you not inquire about the conficated lands, and did you not ask me whether they would be restored. Did I not send you a letter couched in general terms promising that a certain portion of the confiscated lands would be restored ?—I do not recollect whether I asked about the lands. lam not clear about it. There was no talk about land at Kauae, but a letter from the the Government written in English, was translated viva voce by Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. The part of that letter which I remember related to peace and war. 63. Did you not promise me to come to me at Waingongoro the next day and make peace, and then proceed to Wellington to see the Governor about the land ?—Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell's word

jStatancrftira NgaJiinu. 19th March, 1868.

9

A.—No. »

was, as I have before stated, that I should go with him to Patea, and that he would send his brother with me to take me to Wanganui and thence to Wellington, and that I ought not to go to Wellington via Taranaki. I did not promise to go to Wellington under Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell's auspices, but I did promise that I would go and see Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell's people, viz., the Native Contingent at Waingongoro. 64. Did not Aperaniko, Captain in the Native Contingent, tell you at Kauae, that if you listened to my words and went to Waingongoro, all would be well, and that you and your tribe would have land restored to you for your use, and that your property, such as horses and cattle, would be spared to you ; but that if you were stubborn, evil would ensue ? —The words of Aperaniko on the occasion were not the words mentioned in the question. 65. Mr. Commissioner Graham.] When you received the white handkerchief did you believe that hostilities would cease ? —Yes. 66. Did you, when you started from Pokakai in the end of July, 1866, after receiving the white handkerchief, with Te Ua and others, intend to proceed to Taranaki, and there having made peace, to go on to Wellington to see the Governor ?—Yes. 67. Mr. Commissioner Cargill.] You say that you intended to make peace at Taranaki, would your people have abstained, and did they abstain, from hostile acts during the intervening period ? — The word of the whole of the Tangahoe and Pakakohi hapus was that the weapon of war should be laid down, and that I should be sent among the Europeans. No hostile act was committed by them after the 27th July, 1866, the day on which I started from Pokaikai, and not even after the attack upon Pokaikai, in consequence of the decision at which they had arrived, as mentioned above. The firearms were hung up, and the women and children were on the ground. 68. If tho above decision, had been really come to by the two hapus abovenamed, why was not this decision communicated to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell?—The decision was communicated first to Capt. Dawson, 18th Eegiment, by Te Ua, and then by me to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, at Kauae, and also by Te Ua at the same place. I also communicated the decision, by letter, to Wirihana, of the Native Contingent, at Manawapou. Wirihana, of the Native Contingent, is related to me. 69. The Chairman.] You have stated that when you saw Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell you saluted him and sang a song, to the effect that you were willing to make peace, but that you did not wish to be hurried into doing so. If the hapus abovenamed had really come to the decision above mentioned, what occasion was there for you to tell Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell that you did not wish to be huri-ied into making peace. All that was necessary was that some competent person should ratify tho decision before Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, commanding the district ? —I referred in my song to the still hostile Natives of the Ngaruahine hapu, and not to the Tangahoe and Pukakohi hapus. 70. Do you know a woman of the name of Mohi, wife of Arapata, and did she ever bring a message to Pokaikai, in the end of July, 1866 ? —I know the woman Mohi, and she went to Pokaikai after I had left. 71. Was she treated harshly, and in a hostile manner, by the people of Pokaikai, on the occasion of that visit ?—I cannot speak from personal knowledge, as I had left before she came to the village.

Natamaliira JYaftiiist, Continued.

Camp Matakgaeaea, Thtjesday, 19th Maech, 1868. Coll McDonell being sworn was examined. 72. The Chairman.] What is your name and profession ? —My name is Coll McDonell. I am at present proprietor of a billiard table at Middle Eangitikei, but I was formerly Sergeant in the Patea Bangers. 73. You have been cited as a witness by Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, will you state to the Commission what you know about the attack on Pokaikai in August, 1866 ? —I was present on the occasion. Wo marched from Manawapou a little before sundown, and halted on this side of the Biver Tangahoe till nearly dark. We then resumed the march towards Pokaikai. The Patea Bangers had led till we halted, and when the march was resumed I think Captain Wilson's No. 8. Company of Military Settlers was placed in. front of the column. The Patea Bangers followed the Bth Company, and Company No. 10 Military Settlers followed the Patea Bangers. After crossing the Tawhiti Stream and passing through some old Maori cultivation on a hill, I received orders from Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, through Captain Newland, to pass to the rear and bring up Lieutenant Fooke's Company No. 10 with fixed bayonets. I was also told to warn my own Company that on no account were they to fire into the Native whares, as the leading Company, No. 8, had been ordered to try and take the villagers prisoners. I forgot to state that Lieutenant Eookes refused to bring up his Company when ordered through me to do so. The column was then halted close to the village of Pokaikai. We remained for an hour or perhaps two hours halting, before the order for the advance was given. Captain Newland bad command of the Patea Bangers, and he directed me to restrain the men and prevent them from crowding upon the leading Company, No. 8. I cannot recollect whether Company No. 10 after the second halt went in rear of Company No. Bor not. When the leading Company got into the village I saw a shot fired on tho right of our men, from some palisading, at the leading Company. All the whares were for the most part, particularly the whares on the right, partitioned off from one another by stab fences, and it is one of these stab fences which I designated above as palisading. Immediately after this shot was fired it was answered by two or three shots from the left, apparently by our own men. By this time the leading files of our Company had come quite close up to a whare which was surrounded on two sides by men of the Military Settlers, some of whom fired into it. An officer, who by the voice I think must have been Captain Newland, cried out, " For God's sake stop that firing, men." Wright, who is since dead, and a man of the name of Spain, who was killed by accident on the occasion, entered the whare, and the firing ceased. Wright pulled out of the whare a dead Native, and Spain, as he was coming out of the door, was shot by Hudson, under the impression that he was Kimball Bent, an European deserter from the 57th Eegiment. I heard no more firing after Spain was shot. 3

Mr. C. McDonell. 19th March, 1868.

A.—No. 3

10

74. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] Do you know anything about the women that were taken prisoners? —In passing the door of a whare in the village, Private Bolfe, of No. 8 Company, called to me to come in for there was a Maori there. I went into the whare and stirred up the fire with my foot, and saw a naked woman in one corner of the whare, there was some blood on the upper part of her body and she was apparently dead. I went close to her and saw that she was merely in a swoon, and Mr. Spencer, who was attached to the Native Contingent, entered the whare and I left it. Some time afterwards I returned to the same whare and found the same woman, along with, several other women, smoking their pipes. Ido not know whether this wounded woman was left behind in the village, but several women were taken away by the force as prisoners. All of these women were treated very kindly, and some of the men of the force gave them a portion of the scanty share of bread which they had kept for themselves. I saw only two dead bodies, one that of an old man, the other that of an old woman. I saw three or four children running about—two of them I myself saw taken care of; one of these two I think, was taken care of by Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. I did not see any child killed. I heard it said, or rather I think I heard it said that a lad of sixteen or seventeen years was killed. I never heard of any children being killed or wounded on the occasion. 75. Was Spencer the worse for liquor on that night ? —I cannot swear that he was tho worse for liquor, but he certainly behaved to me in an extraordinary manner oil the occasion. 76. Did you see any one of the force the worse for liquor ? —No, I did not. 77. Did you see any grog served out to the men on the march or before the attack ? —No, there was no grog served out either on the line of march or before the attack. It was a very cold night and I should have been glad if it had. Before we marched from Manawapou a gill of grog was served out to each man, but the night was bitterly cold and a gill would be next to nothing in a long march. 78. The Chairman.] Did the Native villagers escape down a descent ? —They escaped, as far as I could see in the moonlight (the moon rose about twelve o'clock), in every direction. 79. Mr. Commissioner Graham.] How many shots did you fire that night ? —I never fired a single shot, and oniy one man of my Company to my knowledge fired, viz., Sergeant White, and he fired that shot in self-defence, a Maori having fired at him through a door.

Mr. C. McDonell, Continued.

Camp Matangaeaea, Feiday, 20th Maech, 1868. Martha, wife of Natanahira, having been duly sworn, was examined. 80. The Chairman.] What is your name; to what hapu do you belong; and where do you reside?— My name is Martha. lam the wife of Natanahira. I belong to the Tangahoe hapu of the Ngatiruanui tribe, and at present I reside in Matangarara. 81. Do you know anything about the attack on the village of Pokaikai, in August, 1866 ?—I was present in the village when the attack was made. 82. Were you taken prisoner on that occasion?— Two days before the attack on Pokaikai a woman named Bangiamohia (Mohi) came to the village—she is a relation of mine by the mother's side. After the usual courtesies, crying and eating, were gone through, Tv Kino asked her to pay certain fees as toll for passing a boundary which the Hauhaus had established at Matangarara (a boundary line had been established by the Hauhaus, commencing the other side of the Tawhiti Stream and ending at Matangarara, across which no one not a Hauhau was allowed to pass without paying toll). Bangiamohia offered Tv Kino two shillings in silver, and Tv Kino replied "this sum is more than is required for the toll." She rejoined, "I know this custom of demanding toil, keep the money." She then asked Te Batoia, her cousin, to put the saddle upon her horse. Tv Kino repeated the order to saddle her horse. When the horse had been saddled, my father, Aperahama, told me to give her some potatoes to take to the British camp at Mawanapou. Bangiamohia had come from the camp, and my father of his own accord wanted me to present her with some potatoes for the use of the camp. She had come to us as a Pakeha, and we wanted to make her a present of the potatoes for the use of the Pakehas. The people of the village said to my father "Do not give the potatoes to-day, but wait till to-morrow when we shall know whether Tito consents to the potatoes being given." Tito was sent for the same day, and he gave his consent and said " Let the potatoes be dug up to-morrow." In the meantime Bangiamohia had left Pokaikai on her way back to Mawanapou, and she was not present when Tito arrived in the village. On the following morning we made kits of flax, and were engaged all day in that work. Three kits were filled with potatoes that evening and we purposed to fill the other kits the next morning, but the attack on the village was made that night, at midnight, when the people were asleep. The sleep was the sleep of fools, for the words of the Governor, sent through To Ua, had lulled us. My children were lying around me in fancied security. One of the children, a little girl, ran out of my house, and the rifles were pointed at her and fired at her, but she was not hit. Mjr father and mother went out of their house, and were both shot dead. No shot was fired by the Maoris. My little girl after going out of my house ran towards the house of my father and mother, and they were both shot as they ran out of their house. I was in my house when I heard the two volleys fired. I went out of my house, and saw my father and mother lying dead just outside tho door of their house. Their house was six or seven yards from my house. I then saw Captain McDonnell, and he said to me " Come to me and you will bo safe: " At first I refused, but he called me a second time and I then went to him. It was moonlight at the time. Captain McDonnell then left me for the purpose of going to his own men, and I remained standing at my own door with a second child in my arms. At this time an European took hold of the ornament which was in my left ear, and in pulling it the cartilage of the ear gave way. (Deponent here showed her left ear, and the cartilage had been broken through.) I said to that European "Do not rob me whilst lam alive, you had better shoot me with your rifle." The ornament not coming away, he took a sharp instrument and cut the cartilage of tho ear to enable him to take possession of it. My hand was also cut at the same time, but it has healed up and left no scar. I had lost sight of the little girl who had run out of my house at the commencement of the attack, and I and Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell went to look for

Martha. 30th March, 1868.

11

A.—No. 3.

her, but we could not find her. I complained at the time to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell that it was very wrong to attack the village whilst my husband, Natanahira, was absent, having gone to Taranaki to Mr. Parris to make peace, and Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell replied, " Who is Mr. Parris, I am tho person with whom peace should bo made." Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell and I went to the spot where my father and mother were lying dead, and I said to him, I wish to have them buried, and the Licut.Colonel's men buried them at once. Tho Lieut.-Colonel then told me to go with him to Manawapou, and I begged of him to order the houses to be spared. Before the bodies of my parents were buried I expressed a wish to be allowed to wrap them in some clothes. The Lieut.-Colonel said to me, "My men will see to that." lam not aware whether any clothes were supplied or not. The houses in the village were burnt, and all the property, guns, &c., were either taken away or burnt, and we went to Manawapou, as prisoners, with no clothing on. [Deponent afterwards stated that those who escaped went away without clothing, but that the prisoners who were taken to Manawapou had clothes on.] Ten prisoners, women and children, were taken to Manawapou. At Manawapou the Native Contingent cooked for us, and when it was daylight I went to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell and asked his permission to go and look for the little girl whom I had not been able to find. The Lieut.-Colonel consented, and leaving one child in the camp, and taking the youngest with me, I went to Pokaikai. Not finding my little girl in the village I wont into the bush and found her unhurt. Another of my daughters who had escaped with the fugitives had been hurt by a splinter running into her hand. That daughter is approaching womanhood, and she said that the splinter was caused by a bullet striking a piece of wood near her. When I left Manawapou to look for this daughter Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell asked me to take a letter from him to Tito, with a message from him to the effect that if he and his people did not come in and surrender he would send the prisoners to the Chatham Islands, making an exception in my favour. I was to be sent to Wanganui, to remain there until my husband's return. I was in fact no longer a prisoner. I delivered the letter to Tito, and the message also, and I also told him that if they did not surrender they would all be followed into the bush as if they were wild pigs. Tito agreed to the proposal of the Lieut.-Colonel and sent a lad into the camp. 83. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] Do you swear on your oath that the ornament in your ear was torn or cut out by any European of the force on the night of the attack of Pokaikai ?—Yes, I do swear ; and I saw the European in the Camp at Manawapou, when I went there as a prisoner. 84. Did you on the spot and during the night of the attack on Pokaikai hold any conversation with Captain Newland, Captain McDonnell, or myself, on the subject of your ear ornament ? —I had never seen either of the officers above named before, and I had no conversation with them on the subject during that night; but on the following morning after daylight, I showed the blood to Lieut.Colonel McDonnell and the men of the Native Contingent. 85. You have stated that you went that night with Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to look for your little daughter; how do you now state that you did not know Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, because you had not seen him before ?—On the night of the attack I did not know who it was that said to me, " Let us look for your little daughter," but I now know that the officer who made that speech to me is Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. 86. Do you know now Captain Newland and Captain McDonnell ?—Yes; I do know them both now. 87. Did you show on. the following morning at Manawapou the blood to either Captain Newland or Captain McDonnell, or to any one else ?—I did show it to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell; the two others I did not at that time know personally. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell was the only officer whom I knew at the time, he having been pointed out to me as their chief by the men of the force. 88. Did you not propose to me, the morning after the attack on Pokaikai, that you yourself should return to your tribe and endeavour to induce'them to surrender ? —Yes, I did. 89. Did I not say to you that I was afraid that you would not return, but that I would run tho risk of your absconding ?—Yes, you did say so; and I was in fact released as soon as I reached Manawapou. The Colonel had reached his tent before the prisoners arrived. On my arrival, being in great grief about the death of my parents and my missing little daughter, I went at once to the Lieut.Colonel's tent, and I was then and there released. 90. The Chairman.] Did Bangiamohia, of whom you say that she came to Pokaikai as a Pakeha, and paid Tv Kino the two shillings toll, say nothing to you and your people about the affairs of the Pakeha, such as coming in and surrendering at the Camp at Manawapou ?—We were then living in peace. Bangiamohia said nothing about coming in and surrendering. 91. With what intent did she then come to Pokaikai ?—Bangiamohia told us that it was her great love for us which induced her to visit us. 92. If you were living in peace, what is the meaning of Tv Kino demanding money, and receiving two shillings toll from Bangiamohia your relation, who came to visit you out of her great love for you, on the plea that she had crossed a boundary line established by the Hauhaus ? —That boundary had been established, and it was the intention of our people to do away with it when Natanahira returned from Wellington. 93. Do you remember what occurred to Merieana, a girl of Pokaikai, on the night of the attack ? ■ —She was fired at by an European whilst in a house ; the bullet grazed her side. She had a bayonet wound near tho collar-bone, another bayonet wound on the left cheek, and a tooth was also knocked out. She then turned upon her side, and the Europeans discovered that she was a woman. 94. Was she taken as a prisoner to Manawapou or left behind in the village ? —She was left behind in Pokaikai in my house, the only house left standing in the whole village. She was attended by Dr. Suther, who dressed her wounds, and she is now alive and well in this village. 95. Mr. Commissioner Graham.] Was Bangiamohia at Pokaikai on the evening or on the night of the attack ?—She was not. 96. Mr. Commissioner Cargill.] Was Bangiamohia abused or ill treated by any of the Pokaikai Natives on the occasion of her visit ?—Not an ill word was uttered; tears fell upon both sides.

Martha. Continued.

A.—No. 3,

12

Camp Matangaeaea, Feiday, 20™ Maech, 1868. Coll McDonell was recalled, and having been duly sworn, was examined. 97. Lieut-Colonel McDonnell] Do you know Martha, the wife of Matanahira ? —Yes, I do. 98. Do you know anything with reference to an ear-ornament of hers, or to any act of violence committed on the night of the attack at Pokaikai? —I remember that on the night in question a Native woman of the name of Martha was made prisoner. One of the officers took charge of her. A man of tho name of Bezer attempted to pull a greenstone ornament out of her ear, and Captain Newland told him that no one but a coward would attempt to do such a thing, and had him arrested and given in charge to the guard. This man, Bezer, did not belong to the Colonial Forces. He was a private servant in the employ of Dr. Walker, and he was present at the time in attendance upon his master, who was present on duty; and a Government rifle had been given to him, as every man at that time was armed for his own defence. I heard Bezer complain loudly of being put under arrest, urging that he had not taken the ornament from the woman. There was a crowd round her at the time, and I could not see the woman; but the next day I saw her sitting close to one of the tents of the men of the Native Contingent. 99. Do you know whether her car was torn or cut ? —No ; I never heard that it was either cut or torn until this morning.

Mr. C. McDonclZ. 20th March, 1868.

Camp Mataxoaeaea, 20th Maech, 1868. Tukino having been duly sworn was examined. 100. The Chairman. —What is your name, and where do you reside, and to what hapu and tribe do you belong ? —My name is Eruini Tukino. I reside at present at Matangarara, but I formerly resided at Ohangai. I belong to the Tangahoe hapu of the Ngatiruanui tribe, and am a chief. 101. What do you know of the attack upon Pokaikai, in August, 1866 ?—Some time before tho attack on Pokaikai, probably three months before, I took up my abode at Pokaikai. Te Ua came and visited me and my people at Pokaikai, with instructions from the Governor to the effect that fighting should cease ; and Te Ua told us that Mr. Parris counselled the same course. The whole hapu of the Tangahoe agreed that peace should bo made : I mean that every member of the hapu consented that there should be an end of fighting. On the second night of Te Ua's visit Baupena Tahi came to Pokaikai, bringing with him a cartridge, a percussion cap, a bottle of spirits, and a white pocket handkerchief. The people of Pokaikai retained tho handkerchief, and returned the other three articles hj Hamiora Patukohu to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. The lad Hamiora was sent in order that he might bring back a reply from the Lieut.-Colonel. He went to Waingongoro and saw Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. On his return Hamiora said, " there is but one word from the Lieut.-Colonel, that is, ' Send me some potatoes.'" We all agreed to do so. The following morning a woman came from Manawapou, from the British camp. She was sent by Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, and her name was Bangiamohia. 1 asked her why she had come to Pokaikai? She said, " the Lieut.-Colonel wishes Tito to go to him at Manawapou." Tito declined going. I then asked her to pay toll. The toll was fourpence, and as she had not fourpence she gave me two shillings. She then returned to Manawapou, and the lad Hamiora accompanied her. The toll was for crossing the boundary of the sacred (tapu) district. Our Hauhau religion had caused this toll to be enforced for crossing the boundary. Bangiamohia was related to us, but as she had joined tho English people we demanded toll from her. Tho lad Hamiora returned from Manawapou with a letter from Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to me to the effect that when he returned from Patea he intended to visit Otapawa to see me and my people. With the letter was a distinguishing badge, viz., a red scarf. We took no further thought, because we were living in peace, and had sent Natanahira northwards to carry to Mr. Parris our assent to the proposal of the Governor, that we should live in peace. In the night, about midnight, Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell attacked Pokaikai. On hearing the rush of the men I came out of my whare and I saw the men fire at a child who was the opposite side of a low fence. The child ran away to another part of the village, and I called out to my people not to fire upon Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell's men. I then ran away naked as I was. Some were taken prisoners, others got away, and some where killed. Three persons were killed, my uncle was one of them. He was killed at the bottom of the descent near the bush by a bullet, while running away. His name was Haira. 102. Mr. Commissioner Graham.] Did you see any of the villagers fire upon the attacking force?— Not a shot was fired by any of the villagers. The guns had been laid aside. 103. After Te Ua's arrival did your hapu of Tangahoe lay any ambush for murdering tho British Forces ?—No. 104. Did your hapu of Tangahoe lay any ambush within one month previous to the attack upon Pokaikai ? —We ceased to lay ambuscades after Otapawa was taken by General Chute. 105. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] What was your object in bringing your firelock with you when you were sent for to give evidence before the Commission? —I brought it to show that from the time of our retreat from Otapawa that firelock has been laid aside by me and not used. 106. Do you recollect a Military Train Trooper being killed by a party of Hauhaus near tho Tangahoe Stream ? —I killed him, before General Chute's campaign. 107. What weapons did you get from this trooper after he was killed ? —I got two breech-loading rifie carbines, a sword, a saddle, one cartouch box full of ammunition. There were six of us lying in ambuscade when we killed that trooper. 108. Were any of tho above articles retaken by us at the attack upon Pokaikai ? —One carbine and the cartouch box were retaken.

Tukino. 20th March, 1863.

Came Matangaeaea, Feiday, 20th Maech, 1868. Walter Edward Gudgeon, having been duly sworn, was examined. 109. The Chairman?] What is your name and profession ? —Walter Edward Gudgeon ; I was a

Mr. W. E. Gudgeon. 20th March 1868.

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A.—No. 3.

Lieutenant in the Native Contingent, and I am now a farmer, about to settle upon the land which I received from Government, near Waihi. 110. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] Do you remember escorting me to meet Te Ua, from Manawapou to Waingongoro, in Jul}', 1866 ? —Yes, 1 do remember escorting you with a detachment of the Native Contingent. I believe it was the 25th July, 1866. 111. Do you remember my going on from Waingongoro to Kauae, and my returning the same night? —Yes, I remember the circumstance. I remained in Waingongoro, and so did the Native Contingent. 112. Do you know Wi Hukanui, and did he have any conversation with me the following morning at Waingongoro? —I know Wi Hukanui well. When ho arrived from Kauae, I heard him say —" 1 am very dark hearted, for Nalanahera will not come to Waingongoro. He has gone off to Taranaki." By coming to Waingongoro Wi Hukanui meant to convey that Nalanahera would not come in ; and his coming in meant peace. The Lieut.-Colonel replied to Wi Hukanui, " Then Natanahira has deceived me ; I will not be played with any longer." This is all I remember as having passed between the Lieut.-Colonel and Wi Hukanui. 113. Did Wi Hukanui ask my permission that a lad, said at the time to be a son of Hone Pehama, might accompany the escort back on tiie road to Mawawapou, as far as the cross track to Otapawa ? — No, I do not remember this ; but the boy did accompany us, and he did not leave us at the cross road, but he went with us all the way to Manawapou. This was on the same day as that on which Wi Hukanui and the Lieut.-Colonel had the conversation detailed above. 114. Did that lad go to Otapawa or Pokaikai with any message from me to the Natives?—l cannot recollect. 115. Do you know whether any steps were taken before the attack upon Pokaikai to induce the Natives to come in and surrender? —Yes, I do. Bangiamohia was sent by Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to Pokaikai. On her return she stated, in my presence, that she had been ill-treated ; that she considered her life had been in danger; and she added the Pokaikai Natives told her that if her husband Arapata had been with her he would have been killed. She stated her belief that the Natives would not make peace. This occurred not more than two or three days before the attack was made on Pokaikai. 116. Do you remember my conversation with you and Captain McDonnell, in ray tent at Mawawapou, relative to tho plan and mode of attacking Pokaikai ?—Not at Mawawapou, but at Waingongoro. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, Captain McDonnell, and myself, were in a whare the night before tho day on which Natanahira was expected to come in. The Lieut.-Colonel said to us, "If Natanahira does not come in, I shall think he is deceiving me, and I shall attack him and his people. We will surround their place at grey dawn, and call upon them to surrender or bo shot. If we do that quietly, we can then take Taiporoheuui and Otapawa the same day; if we take them prisoners we shall do much more good than wo can. hope to obtain by killing them, for in the former case we shall get hold of the women and children, and their detention will cause the rest of the tribe to come in." 117. Were you present at the attack upon Pokaikai: and, if so, relate the circumstances connected with it?—l was present with the Native Contingent. We attacked that place about one o'clock a.m. on. the 2nd August. Captain Wilson's company was in front, armed with long rifles and bayonets. It was their duty to surround the whares. The company is No. 8. When they were close to the pa, I heard Captain Wilson call out to his men to charge. The men gave a loud cheer and rushed into the place. This noise startled the Maoris, and enabled almost alt of them to escape. Just as I entered the village I heard a heavy volley fired ; and as I passed the first whare I found myself separated from the Native Contingent, they having remained outside the village. There were two or three Europeans with me, and I heard a noise as of people in the whare. I kicked in the door of the whare, and struck a light by means of a lucifer match. I saw what appeared to be two dead bodies inside the whare. I told Private Spain, No. 8 Company, to go in and drag them out, to make sure that they were not shamming dead. He brought out one body, and it was that of a dead woman. He then returned and brought out tho other body, which was that of a man. While he was doing this several Bushrangers of Captain Boss's Company came up, and exclaimed " there are men in the whare." A man near mo cried out " here is a white man." Upon which they all cried out, "it is that d d Kimbal Bent, a deserter from the 57th Eegiment;" and in spite of all I could do one of the men fired at Spain as he was coming out of the whare, mortally wounding him. I then went down into tho whares which were upon lower ground, and in one of them I found a wounded woman. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell gave her a blanket, as she was entirely without clothing. Her wounds were slight, but we left her behind in the village, and did not take her with the other prisoners to Manawapou, because it was thought that she could not march that distance. When wo burnt tho whares of the village, we left one whare standing for her use. 118. Do you know Spencer ?- I do know him. He was present as a Private in. the Native Contingent; he is an European, and was engaged to conduct the Commissariat duties of the corps, and he was with us in the attack upon Pokaikai. 119. Was he drunk or sober during the attack ? —ln my opinion he was drunk, for I heard him quarrelling on the line of march with two or three persons. Sergeant Farrier Duff, of the Wanganui Yeomanry Cavalry, was one of them. 120. Did you see any other man drunk that night ? —I. saw one other man drunk, and he was a Maori, in the Native Contingent. 121. Did you see Aperaniko, Captain in the Native Contingent, in tho village of Pokaikai that night ? —I never saw him in the village; till the whares were being burnt, when he exhibited great delight on seeing the dead bodies of the man and woman, exclaiming repeatedly, " Tou Ika, Ton Ika : your fish, your fish." 122. Can you state what were Spencer's habits as regards sobriety, and what was his general, character ? —Spencer is by no means a sober man, and I think that he is the greatest liar I ever met. 123. Mr. Commissioner Cargill.\ Were any shots fired by the villagers?—l cannot answer this question ; for the Native Contingent, in which I was Lieutenant, was in the rear of the column, which 4

Mr. W. E. Gudgeon, Continued.

A.—No. 8

14

at the time of the attack was thus formed: Captain Wilson's Company, No. 8 ; Lieutenant Fooke's Company,No,lo; Patea Rangers; Wanganui Rangers; and Native Contingent. After the first shot was fired the companies diverged right and left. AVhen I heard the firing, I thought it came from tho villagers firing upon our men, and this was the cause why I hurried to the front as above detailed. Tho rifles of the force were loaded, and I believe that none of the pieces were reloaded : that is to say, that none of our men fired off twice, the firing lasted so short a time. As a body, the Native Contingent did not fire; one or two of tho Contingent who happened to be with some of the European Companies, might have discharged their rifles once. 124. Did you observe or hear of any cruelty towards, or ill-usage of, the women and children ?— I did not see any ; but I heard that a man of the name of Bezer, a private servant of Dr. AValker, Acting Assistant Surgeon of the Force, had torn an ornament from the ear of Martha. Captain Newland told me of the circumstance ; and I think he added that he had put Bezar under arrest.

Mr. W. 1-i. Gudgeon Continued.

Camp Matangaeaea, Feiday, 20th Maech, 1868. Hamiora having been duly sworn was examined. 125. The Chairman.] What is your name, where do you reside, and to what tribe do you belong? ■ —My name is Hamiora, and I reside at present in Matangarara, but I resided formerly in Ohangai. I belong to the Tangahoe hapu of the Ngatiruanui tribe. 126. Do you know Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell and Wi Hukanui?—Yes, I do. 127. State what you know about the Pokaikai affair, commencing from the time when Te Ua came from Wellington to the Ngatiruanui country ?—Te Ua came with a message to our tribe, but I do »ot know what that message was. Te Ua, Natanahira, and Hone Pihama went from Pokaikai to Kauae. On tho following day Beupena Tahi came to Pokaikai from Kauae, bringing with him a cartridge, a percussion cap, a bottle of spirits, and a white pocket handkerchief. These things, he told us, were sent by Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. Our people retained the white handkerchief, and they returned the other things by the hands of Beupena Tahi and myself to the officer commanding at Waingongoro. Beupena delivered them, but I did not sec him do so. That day wo went on to Kauae, and we slept there that night; the next morning Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell came to Kauae and had an interview with Natanahira. What passed I know not. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, returned that day to Waingongoro. .On the following morning Natanahira told me to go to Lieut-Colonel McDonnell at Waingongoro and tell him that he (Natanahira) was unable to go to see him at Waingongoro and accompany him to Wellington, and that he had sent me in his stead. I went the same day to Waingongoro as directed by Natanahira, and Wi Hukanui accompanied me. I saw Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, and he told me that I must go with Captain. McDonnell to Manawapou. I went to Manawapou with Captain McDonnell and the escort. The same day Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell also arrived at Manawapou, and I slept that night at that place. In the morning Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell wrote two letters, one to Tukino, of Pokaikai, the other to Captain Dawson, commanding at Waingongoro. Both these letters were entrusted to me to deliver. I delivered the letter to Captain Dawson, who asked me to sleep at Waingongoro, which I did. During the night several men were sent from Waingongoro to Manawapou. Tho following morning Captain Dawson told me to go away. I asked why he had kept me at Waingongoro all night, but he gave me no reason. I then went to Pokaikai and delivered the letter 1o Tukino, with a message which Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell had instructed me to deliver to Tukino. The message was, that when he (the Lieut.-Colonel) returned from Patea, he would pay a visit to Pokaikai. On the following day Bangiamohia came to Pokaikai. Her object in coming was to see her relations in Pokaikai. Tukino said to me, " You must accompany Bangiamohia back to Manawapou. Her husband's name is Arepata, and he was at Manawapou, a private in the Native Contingent." I did so, and I there saw Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, and he asked me to go into his tent, where he wrote a letter to Tukino, in which he asked Tukino to send him some potatoes. 1 heard this letter read in Pokaikai, and hence I became aware of the contents. I stayed some hours in Manawapou, and I returned to Pokaikai in the evening, when I delivered the letter to Tukino. The people having heard the letter read, consented to send some potatoes as a present to the Lieut.-Colonel. It was showery that day, but I did not get wet in riding from Manawapou to Pokaikai. That same night the attack upon Pokaikai was made. 128. Mr. Commissioner Graham.] Was Bangiamohia ill-treated by the people of Pokaikai ? —I did not see anyone ill-treat her, nor did I hear her complain of being ill-treated while I was at Manawapou. 129. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] You have stated that Natanahira told you to go to Waingongoro and explain to me (Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell) that he was unable to come to Waingongoro, and that he had sent you in his stead. Did you mention this to me at Waingongoro, or did you even speak to me on the occasion? —I did not tell to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell what Natanahira had said to me in Kauae about being unable to come to Waingongoro, nor did I speak to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell at all on that occasion. 130. Did you not ask Captain McDonnell when the escort had reached tho cross road leading to Otapawa to allow you to accompany the escort as far as Manawapou ? —The Lieut.-Colonel told me to go with Captain McDonnell to Manawapou from Waingongoro, and Captain McDonnell also told mo the same, and I did so. 131. Did you not, when at Manawapou, say to mo and others, Poma, Wirihana, and Captain McDonnell, alt of the Native Contingent, " Kanui te ho o Natanahira Erangi me haere ahau ko to rongo ratou ki taku kupu ko te haere mai ratou i rungi i taku kupu " —Natanahira has done a great wrong; rather let me go. They will listen to my words, and como in on my entreaty?"—l did not use the above words. 132. Did not Wirihana of the Native Contingent at Manawapou give you any message to the Hauhaus in Pokaikai as to what would be done to them if they did not come in and makepeace?— I do not recollect the circumstance.

Mamiora. 20th March, 1868.

A.—No. 8

15

133. Was it not on the occasion of your accompanying Rangiamohia to Manawapou that I gave you a letter to deliver to Captain Dawson at Waingongoro? Did I not at the same time give you a red scarf (the badge of the Native Contingent) at your own request, that you might show it to Captain Dawson as a proof to that officer that you had been sent by me? In that letter I told Captain Dawson to detain you, even if he had to make you a prisoner, to save you in the impending attack upon Pokaikai, and to ensure your delivering it that evening I directed Captain Dawson to give you half-a-crown. Did you receive that half-a-crown, and did you not reach Pokaikai a short time before the attack, and was not the red scarf which I had given you found in the village ? —Two things in this question are jumbled up together. I did carry the letter, as I have before stated, to AVaingongoro. I did receive half-a-crown from Captain Dawson, and as I have before stated, I was kept by him all night; but I did not receive that letter from Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell on the occasion of my accompanying Rangiamohia from Pokaikai to Manawapou. The letter which I received on that occasion was the letter addressed to Tukino, asking for potatoes. I received the red scarf when I accompanied Rangiamohia from Pokaikai to Manawapou, and returned to Pokaikai on that day wearing that badge. My object in wearing that badge was to show to my brethren that I was united to the British Government, and to save myself from being shot at by any Europeans on the road from Manawapou to Pokaikai. 134. You have stated that you arrived in Pokaikai the evening before the attack. AVhence had You come to Pokaikai on that occasion?— From Manawapou. 135. At what hour did you leave Manawajsou on that occasion, and did you go straight to Pokaikai without calling at any place on the road ? —I do not know the hour, but the sun was near upon setting. I did not call at any place on the road. I went by the public high-road, and when I reached the cross road where now Swinley's public-house stands, I turned to the right and went to Pokaikai through Matangarara. 136. How long before the attack was made did you reach Pokaikai ? —I reached Pokaikai during the evening, twilight. I eat the food that was cooked, and I then went to sleep in the house. We had slept some time. I suppose it was midnight when the firing commenced. 137. AVhat did I say to you when I gave you at Manawapou the note to be delivered to Captain Dawson at Waingongoro?—l cannot recollect Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell saying anything to me excepting about half-a-crown. I got half-a-crown from him. [Deponent then said], I also got half-a-crown from Captain Dawson. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell told me that I should get half-a-crown from Captain Dawson. Ido not know the reason why I was to get half-a-crown from Captain Dawson. I suppose it must have been for carrying the letter.

Hamiorm. Continued,

Camp Matangaeaea, Satueday, 21st Maech, 1868. Mercana having been duly sworn was examined. 138. The Chairman.] What is your name, where do you reside, and to what tribe do you belong ? —My name is Mereana Matau. I reside at Taiporohenui, and I belong.to the Tangahoe hapu of the Ngatiruanui tribe. 139. Do you know anything about the attack upon Pokaikai in August, 1866 ? —I formerly resided in the village of Pokaikai, ami I was present when the above mentioned attack was made by the Europeans. It was about midnight. I was asleep, and on waking up a bullet grazed my left side, causing a slight flesh wound. I was standing on my feet inside the whare preparatory to rushing out and making my escape. After receiving this wound I fell and was lying on the floor of the whare when I received four bayonet wounds, one of which knocked out a tooth, the other a slight wound under the left eye, and two slight prods of a bayonet above the right breast. [Deponent hero showed a vacant space in her left jaw on the upper side, and slight scars in the other spots indicated.] When my tooth was knocked out I cried, and I was, from my voice, recognized to be a woman. When the affair was over I was taken from my whare to Martha's whare, where the women and children who had been taken prisoners were assembled. While I was lying in my own house I fainted, [deponent used words which literally mean " I could not hear the voices of men, but I was breathing,"] and the surgeon of the British Forces came to me and administered some stimulants, [the word waipiro was used] and I revived, and my wounds were bleeding. The surgeon put a, bandage round my side, and caused me to be conveyed to Martha's house, and there spreading a bod for me he laid me down upon it. I was perfectly naked when I was wounded, just as I was when sleeping, and when the surgeon arrived to attend me an European brought a blanket and threw it over me. I was left in the house of Martha, and not taken with the rest of the prisoners to Manawapou, the reason being that I was considered not strong enough to walk that distance. No other clothes were given me excepting the blanket. 140. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] Did you express a wish to Martha or any one else to be permitted to accompany tho prisoners to Manawapou? —I expressed a wish to Martha to be taken along with the other prisoners, but Martha said Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell wishes you to stay behind because you are not strong enough to go. 141. Were you kindly treated after you were wounded ?—I do not know by what motives the Europeans were actuated, but the surgeon came and attended me, and I was healed as I have stated above. 142. Was any food, such as bread, or was any tobacco left with you ? —No bread nor meat, but three pieces of tobacco were left in my hand by the Europeans as I was lying in Martha's house. 143. You have been reported as having died of your wounds. Are you not alive and in good health, and now living under the protection of a person of the name of Whitelock, an European, formerly of the Patea Bangers ? —I am alive and well, and am living with Whitelock, and have been living with him for months.

Mcremia. Slat March, 1868,

A.—No. 3

16

Camp Matangaeaea, Sattjeday, 21st Maech, 1868. William Newland having been duly sworn was examined. 144. The Chairman. What is your name and profession ?—My name is William Newland, and I am at present a Sub-Inspector in the Armed Constabulary, of tho 3rd Division, and stationed at Sentry Hill, in the Province of Taranaki. 145. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] Were you present at the attack on Pokaikai, in August, 1866 ; and if so, relate the circumstances ?—Yes, I was present. On the evening of the Ist August, 1866, we marched from Manawapou, under Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, then a Major. The force consisted of No. 8 and No. 10 Companies of the Military Settlers, the Patea Bangers, the Wanganui Bangers, some of the Wanganui Yeomanry Cavalry, and the Native Contingent. It was about one o'clock of the morning of tho 2nd August, when the attack was ordered. No. 8 Company, under Captain Wilson, led the attack. The Patea Bangers, in which I was Captain, supported Company No. 8. The Wanganui Bangers, under Captain Boss, followed the Patea Bangers. Company No. 10, under Lieutenant Fookes, followed the Wanganui Bangers, and the Native Contingent brought up the rear. One or two men of the Native Contingent were acting as guides with Company No. 8. Captain Wilson rushed into the village with his Company, and I heard a single shot fired. My impression is that the shot must have been fired by one of the villagers, because we were all ordered not to fire, but to go quietly and take the villagers prisoners, and that shot was instantly replied to by sharp firing on the part of our men. I followed with my Company, almost immediately. Tho villagers at this time had for the most part escaped down a descent. I went with some of my men to a whare situated on the left of the opening in the palisade, by which the forces entered the village. One of the men opened tho door of this whare, and struck a light by means of a lucifer match, and we then saw some Natives inside the whare. I called to them three or four times, in the Maori language, to come out and surrender. They would not do so. Tho whare was then fired into, and on our entering into the whare we found an old man and an elderly woman lying mortally wounded, and a girl of ten years of age unhurt, crouching upon a kind of loft. I took the girl down in my arms, and carried her outside to a place of safety. Ido not remember whether there were any more Natives in this whare, but I can positively state that except the old man and woman who were lying mortally wounded, no other Native was wounded in this whare. 146. Do you remember any circumstances connected with the taking of some women prisoners ? t—Yes. There was a Native woman of the name of Martha, and a wounded woman, now present, and who was examined by the Commission this day, but Ido not know her name. Among the prisoners my attention was called to the woman Martha by hearing her screaming. I immediately went up to her. She was standing near a whare, and a man of the name of Bezer was struggling with her. He was trying to get an car-ornament out of her ear. I immediately seized him, and I called him a coward for meddling with a woman, and I caused his accoutrements to be taken off, and himself made a, prisoner, and put under charge of a guard. Bezer was a private servant of Dr. Walker, who was himself present at the attack, being Acting Assistant Surgeon to tho force, and who was on duty on. the occasion. Bezer had been allowed to arm himself with Government arms, and to accompany the force, but he went as a volunteer for the occasion, and was not in the receipt of pay or rations. 147. Did Bezer get the ornament out of Martha's ear ? —lt was night, and there was darkness at the time, but I saw Bezer's hand on her ear, and her hand raised protecting her ear. I was in a great rage with the fellow, and I did not observe whether Martha's ear was torn or not, but I am quite certain that he did not succeed in getting the ornament. I threatened to knock his brains out if he did not let go of her ear instantly, and he at once obeyed me, saying that he thought it was all fair to loot after taking a Native village. 148. Was Bezer trying to cut the ornament out of her ear with a sharp instrument?— Certainly not. 149. Do you know Spencer, and was he the worse for liquor that night ?—I know one man of the name of Spencer. Ho was present that night. He had been from the first attached to the Native Contingent, and he was drawing pay and rations as one of the Native Contingent. I had known him for about twelve months. I can't say that he was the worse for liquor, for I did not take particular notice of him, but he was rushing about in an excited state. 150. Did you observe any of the attacking party drunk on that occasion ? —No. Before the men started, a little after sunset, a gill of rum was served out to each. It was intensely cold, and there was no possibility of their getting any liquor either on the march or at Manawapou. 151. Do you recollect my ordering the force to halt a good distance from Pokaikai, and calling the officers commanding the different companies, and my giving them instructions as to the impending attack ? —Yes ; I do. The instructions given were that the village was to be entered in silence, and without firing a shot if possible, and the villagers were to be taken prisoners. 152. Were there any children taken prisoners as well as the women, and were both of them treated kindly ? —Yes ; there were children as well as women taken prisoners. They were all treated most kindly, and the men gave them something to eat, both at the village and on the march back to Mawanapou, from their own rations. 153. Mr Commissioner Cargill.] What effect had the attack upon the minds of the Natives ?— They all came in and surrendered within a very few days after tho attack, and I attribute their coming in to that attack. I feel certain that the attack had a very beneficial effect upon the minds of the Natives in general, and it conduced to their making peace. 154. Mr Commissioner Graham.] Were not the Natives making overtures for peace before the attack upon Pokaikai ? —I think not. 155. Are you aware that Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell sent to the natives a white handkerchief with the word " peace" written on it ? —I am not aware of this fact personally. 156. Are you sure that the villagers fired the first shot which was fired on the occasion?—l am not sure. I was commanding the Company in rear of Captain Wilson's Company No. 8, which Company led the attack.

Mr. W. Hacland. 2-Isl March, 1868.

17

A.—No. 3.

157. What was the name of tho officer commanding the Patea District in July, 1866 ?—Major Bocke, of the 18th Eegiment, commanded the district, and Lieut.-Colonel (then Major) McDonnell was over the Colonial Forces. 158. The Chairman.] Do you know whether Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell (then Major), in July, 1866, received orders direct from the Defence Office, and not through Major Bocke? —I believe Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell received orders direct from the office of the Defence Minister. 159. Mr. Commissioner Cargill.] With whom did the Natives consider they wore fighting—with. Major Bocke or with Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, then holding the rank of Major ?—I think that they considered they were fighting with Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. I am sure that they dreaded the Local Forces more than the soldiers, and all the Native letters came direct to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. 160. If the Natives wished that hostilities should cease, to whom would they apply, to Major Bocke or to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell?—They would have, without doubt, negotiated, with Lieut.Colonel McDonnell, as the Pokaikai Natives in fact did negotiate after the attack. 101. Mr. Commissioner Graiiam.] Are you sure that the Natives did not treat with Te Ua and other Natives sent by the Governor for peace ? —I am not aware of the fact. I know nothing about Natives treating with Natives for peace. 162. Would the Natives not treat with Mr. Parris, Civil Commissioner?—l really do not know. I saw Mr. Parris down in the Ngatiruanui country several times after the attack on Pokaikai. 163. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] Do you know whether the Native Contingent carried off from Pokaikai any articles, as spoils of war, to Manawapou with them ? —Oh, yes ; the Native Contingent carried off with them many things. In fact, they returned, as a rule, laden with fowling-pieces, cooking-utensils, mats, blankets, and other articles of Native use. A few of the Europeans also brought away plunder with them.

Mr. W. Newland. Continued.

Camp Mataxgaeaea, Sattjeday, 21st Maech, 1868. The witness Martha was recalled, and having been duly sworn was examined. 164. The Chairman.] You yesterday produced a shark's tooth ornament before the Commission, will you state whether that is the same ornament which you had in your ear when the European laid hold of it and you cried out in the village of Pokaikai?—lt is the very same ornament. Captain McDonnell, the brother of the Lieut.-Colonel gave this ornament to Wirihana, of tho Native Contingent, with instructions to restore it to me. Wirihana gave it to me at Hawera, on the occasion of the return of my husband from New Plymouth, and of his visiting the Lieut.-Colonel's camp at that place. Wirihana also, at the same time, gave me back a greenstone ornament and seven pounds sterling which I had intrusted to his care when I was starting from Manawapou with the letter addressed by Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to Tito, and with a view to finding my missing little girl. ] presented Wirihana with that greenstone ornament to show my sense of the obligation which he had conferred upon me by taking care of my property during my temporary absence.

Martha. 21st March, 1868.

Camp Matangaeaea, Sattjbday, 21st Maech, 1868. Andrew John Allan having been duly sworn was examined. 165. The Chairman.] What is your name and profession ? —My name is Andrew John Allan. I am a farmer residing at Waihi, in the Native Contingent block. I was formerly in Captain Wilson's Company, No. 8, of Military Settlers. 166. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] Were you present at the attack upon Pokaikai, in August, 1866 ? —if so, relate the circumstances. —Yes, I was present, I was under Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell's command, at Manawapou. I do not remember the date, but a force was ordered to march in the evening for Pokaikai. The force consisted of Nos. 8 and 10 Companies of Military Settlors, Patea and Wanganui Bangers, and the Native Contingent. There were a few mounted men under Mr. Bear. We marched from Manawapou in the evening and we were ordered to halt near Pohaikai. After we had halted some time we were ordered to attack the village. Company No. 8 was then ordered to the head of the column, and we marched till we got close to the village. Captain Wilson, our commandant, was then ordered to tako the village, and he was directed not to fire, but if the Natives resisted to use the bayonet, —that is to say, there was to be no firing unless we could not manage without it- We got inside the outer fence, and some of the Maori viliagers fired at vs —one, especially, fired at me —from a whare on the right hand of ,the spot by which we had entered the village. I fired at a Native as he was coming out of this whare, and that was the only shot which I fired that night. All our men got into tho pa and the affair was settled. 167. Were you the first man in the village ? —Three or four of us got into the village together, but I believe that Felix McArthy was actually the first man in the village; I was close to McArthy. Sergeant-Major Duff of the Cavalry was one of the first men in the village. He died of his wounds received at Pungarehu subsequently to the Pokaikai affair. 168. Did the Maoris of the village fire the first shot ? —I cannot swear that they did fire the first shot, for this is a difficult thing to swear to ; but I believe that they did do so. 169. Do you know anything about some women and children who were taken prisoners ? —Yes, I saw some women and children on the return march who had been taken prisoners. 170. Was any man to your knowledge the worse for liquor on that night ? —I did not see a single man the worse for liquor on the occasion. The column was not drunk or disorderly. 171. Did the Native Contingent bring back any plunder ? —I cannot answer this question, for I did not see them bringing back any plunder, but I did see some white men who had got some loot. 172. Were any. of the women or children harshly and cruelly treated ? —I did not see such a thing. 5

Mr. A. J. Allan. 21st March, 1868.

A.—No. 3

18

Camp Patea, Monday, 23ed Maech, 1868. Dr. Walker having been duly sworn was examined. 173. The Chairman.] What is your name, and what is your profession ? —My name is Samuel Walker. lam a medical man by profession, and I am attached to the Local Forces in the Patea District as Ensign, and acting as Assistant Surgeon. 174. Were you present at tho attack upon Pokaikai, and if so, do you remember any circumstance during the attack in connection with a man named Bezer ?—I was present with the attacking force. Bezer was my private servant. He had nothing to do with the Local Forces under Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, and he drew no pay. He was permitted to accompany the attacking force as a volunteer for the occasion. As a rule, whenever I was ordered to attend any force going out to attack any place, during the Patea campaign, Bezer accompanied me. On the occasion of the attack upon Pokaikai, I was present acting as assistant surgeon, and I took with "me everything necessary for the performance of my duties. I saw nothing particular in connection with Bezer that night, and he was not under arrest when the column returned to Manawapou. 175. Were you called upon during the night of the attack to attend any wounded person ? —After the village was taken and the firing had ceased, I was ordered by Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to go into a whare in the village to attend upon a wounded woman. I was standing about four or five yards from the whare at the time. Inside the whare I found a Native woman sitting in the corner of the whare. She had a slight wound, inflicted by some sharp instrument, under the left eye, at least I think it was the left eye. It was so slight that I did nothing to this wound. On further examination, I found a slight wound as of a bullet having passed over one of the ribs. She might have fainted before I arrived, but she was not in a faint when I first saw her. I gave her a little brandy and water, and I applied lint wetted with cold water to her side. At this time the Lieut.-Colonel ordered a house to be spared for this wounded woman's use, and I went out to convey this order, and on my return I found Mr. Suther, the chief medical officer of the forces. He put on a bandage round the body. I did not notice any other wounds on this woman. 176. The woman has deposed before the Commission that one of her teeth was knocked out by a bayonet, and she showed the vacant space in her upper left jaw. She also showed the Commission two slight scars, one above the other, between the right breast and the right collar bone, and she stated that these scars were the result of bayonet wounds received on the occasion. Did you see these wounds ? —I did not see them. 177. Was the woman left behind or taken to Manawapou with tho rest of the prisoners ?—Lieut.Colonel McDonnell asked me if I thought her wound dangerous, because, if I was of that opinion, he he would take her with the force back to camp. I told the Lieut.-Colonel that there was no danger whatever, and she was left behind in the village, in the whare alluded to as having been preserved for her use. 178. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell] Was the Native Contingent present, and did you see them firing off their rifles ? —The Native Contingent brought up the rear of the column. After they had got into the village, several of them fired shots down a descent outside the village. Some of the villagers had escaped by that route. 179. Did the Native Contingent bring away any loot from the village ? —I saw one man of the Native Contingent carrying back to camp a gun, and I saw others, as they generally do, looking in the whares for what they could get. 180. Do you know a man of the name Grey Spencer, and was he present during the attack ? — I know Grey Spencer, and he was present at the attack. 181. Was he the worse for liquor that night ?—He was not sober. 182. Was Spencer ever your hospital orderly ?—Yes, he was, for about three weeks. 183. Why did you retain him for such a short period?—l caught him one day drinking the brandy which was a portion of the medical comforts, and I sent him back to his corps, tho Native Contingent. 184. What was his character with regard to veracity ? —I never considered him a truthful person. 185. Did you know of any man of the force being drunk that night ? —I did not see any one drunk, but I heard of one man being drunk: that man's name was Hotson, and he was sent to the rear, I believe, because he was not sober.

Dr. Walker. S3rd March, 1868.

Wanganui, Tuesday, 24th Maech, 1868. Samuel Austin having been duty sworn was examined. 186. The Chairman.] What is your name and vocation ? —My name is Samuel Austin and I am a labourer residing in Wanganui. 187. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] Were you ever in the Native Contingent; and what position did you hold ? —Yes ; I was in the Native Contingent, and I held the rank of Quartermaster-Sergeant. 188. Do you understand tho Native language sufficiently well to enable you to converse with the Natives ?—I can understand the men of the Contingent well, but I cannot speak the language well. I can understand what is said to me, but I am not able to reply in Maori as well as I could wish. 189. Do you know the woman Mohi, wife of Arapata ?—I know her well. I have known her for the fast eighteen or nineteen years. She is called Mohiarangi by the Natives. Her husband was a private in the Native Contingent. 190. Do you know whether she was sent on a mission of peace to Pokaikai, and did you hear her make any report of tho result ? —She was sent from our camp at Manawapou to Pokaikai with some letters from Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. She returned to camp sometime during the night. The following day I saw her. She was greatly excited when she came into my tent, and she said to me " the villagers of Pokaikai threatened to strip me naked, and send me back to camp in that state, but that in conse-

Mr. &'. Austin. 84th Mardh, 1808.

19

A.—No. 3,

quence of my having relations in the village, they would not do so on the present occasion, but that if I ever came back to the village they would certainly do so, and if my husband Arapata came to the village they would tomahawk him, or any man of the Contingent who might come to Pokaikai." 191. Were you present at the attack upon Pokaikai ? —No ; I remained in camp. I was unwell, and though I could do the duty of Quartermaster-Sergeant in camp, I was not fit for active duty in the field, —crossing rivers on cold nights, &c. 192. Did you see the men of the Contingent return to the camp at Manawapou with any plunder ? —No ; I did not consider it loot. They brought back with them blankets and other things, but the prisoners, women and children, claimed all the things, and they were returned to them. There were two tents full of the prisoners. 193. How were the prisoners treated ? —I received an order from the Lieut.-Colonel to give them rations, and I gave them rations of bread, meat, and grocery. Their daily allowance was the same as that served out to the men of the Contingent. I asked the Lieut.-Colonel if the children were to have half allowance, and that officer ordered them to have full allowance. 194. You have stated that the woman Mohi took letters from me to Pokaikai: are you certain that Aperaniko, of the Native Contingent, did not send a letter by her ? —Aperaniko and Power, shortly before Mohi started, came to me and asked for pen, ink, and paper, saying that they wished to write letters as Mohi was about to start for Pokaikai. 195. Do you know a man named Grey Spencer ?—Yes, I do. 196. What position did he hold in the Contingent ?—I considered him as a volunteer private attached to the Contingent, and treated him as such. He used to say that he had been a Major in the East India Company's Service, and that Colonel Haultain, the Defence Minister, had appointed him to the corps with the same rank as that which he had held in the Indian Army. 197. Can you state what kind of character he bore during the time of his serving with the Contingent ? —I can say from personal experience that he was a liar and a rogue. He never was sober so long as he could get rum to drink ; if he could not get it honestly he did not scruple to steal it. When I was in charge of the rum which I had drawn from the Commissariat on account of the Contingent I caught him several times taking it from my tent, and I was compelled in consequence either to remain myself in the tent or to leave some one in the tent to watch it. 198. Mr. Commissioner Graham.] Did Mohi speak to you in Maori or in English ? —She spoke in half English half Maori, —what we call Pakeha-Maori. 199. You have said that you do not speak the Maori language so well as you understand it when spoken : are you sure that you understood what Mohi said to you? —Yes, I am on my oath; and I have sworn, that I did understand her. I would not have made that assertion on my oath if I had not been quite certain on this point. 200. If Mr. Booth, the interpreter attached to the Commission, asked you a question in the Maori language would you be able to understand it ? —lf Mr. Booth will ask me a question in the same kind of Maori language as that in which the men of the Contingent and Mohi are in the habit of addressing me, I will reply to the question. [Mr. Commissioner Graham then wrote a sentence in pencil in the English language, and proposed that Mr. Booth should interpret it to the witness, which was accordingly done, and the witness explained to the Commission the meaning in English of that sentence in pencil, he not having been permitted to see the writing in English.] 201. Mr. Commissioner Cargill.] Did Grey Spencer act as an officer in the Native Contingent ?— No ; he went out on expeditions armed as a private. He did not march in the ranks because being an European he was not allowed to march in the ranks with Native troops. Ho used to give orders to the men while on expeditions, but the men objected to it and never obeyed his orders; and he attempted two or three times to give me orders, but I at once complained to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, and told him that rather than submit to be commanded by' Spencer I would leave the force, and Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell told me not to obey his orders for that he had no authority over me whatever. 202. The Chairman.] How many days intervened between Mohi's report of the result of her visit to Pokaikai, and the attack upon that place ? —I have a diary at home, and had I known that I was to have been brought up as a witness when I left home this morning I could have from my diary, told the Commission the exact dates ; but, speaking from memory, I think that a few days intervened. 203. Did the men of the Contingent express any feelings of anger when they heard Mohi's statement ? —Yes, they did. They were much annoyed, and they exclaimed openly in the camp that if they could get hold of the men who had thus insulted Mohi they would show them who would get the tomahawk first. 204. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] Did the officers commanding the Imperial Forces stationed at Patea, Manawapou, and Waingongoro, whenever stores, &c, were sent from one post to another, order a strong escort to accompany those stores both before and after the attack upon Pokaikai ? —Yes, it was the rule to do so. A small convoy was escorted by twenty rank and fife; a large convoy was escorted by an officer, fifty rank and file, and fourteen or fifteen troopers. 205. Did the Local Forces before the taking of Pokaikai bear a portion of the burden of this escort duty ? —Yes ; the Local Forces furnished half of the escorts which were ordered. 206. Were the wood parties who went for firewood for the Manawapou Camp protected by a covering party, and how far had the wood parties to go from camp ? —Something less than a mile, and the wood parties were always protected by a covering party.

Mr. S. Austin. Continued.

Wanganui, Wednesday, 25th Maech, 1868. Aperaniko having been duly sworn was examined. 207. The Chairman.] What is your name, where do you reside, and to what hapu do you belong ? —My name is Aperaniko Bangihikitea; I reside at Karatia, on the Wanganui Biver, and I belong to the Ngapoutama hapu of the Ngatihau tribe.

Aperaniko. 25th March, 1863.

A.—No. 3.

20

208. Were you in the Native Contingent? —Yes ; I was a captain in that corps. 209. Were you at the attack upon Pokaikai, and if so state what you know ?—Yes ; I went up with Captain McDonnell. Ido not remember the exact date, but we reached Manawapou on the third day. We remained three days at Manawapou, when a letter came to our camp from Te Ua, who was at Kauae. The letter was addressed to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, and that officer having returned to Patea, it was forwarded on to that place. I did not see the contents of that letter, but I believe it was written to inform the Lieut.-Colonel that Te Ua was at Kauae, and that he wished to see Lieut.Colonel McDonnell at that place. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell returned to Manawapou to our camp, and then he told us what the contents of the letter were. The Lieut.-Colonel ordered thirty of our men and twenty Europeans of the Bushranger Corps to escort him to Kauae, which, is to the north of Manawapou. AYe of the Contingent were under the immediate command of Captain McDonnell. That afternoon the escort reached Waingongoro, and two officers from that post having joined us, the Lieut.-Colonel and I, with»ten troopers, proceeded tho same evening to Kauae. The Hauhaus were in the village. They were of the Ngatiruanui tribe. Te Ua, after a little time^addressed the Ngatiruanui's, saying, "You Ngatiruanui, this is Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. This is the officer in whose hands it rests to give you peace, or to continue the fighting. I am not authorized to say anything in the matter. If you wish for peace, you must go to him." After he had finished, Reihana and ten other Hauhaus rose up and came over with Wi Hukanui to the side on which Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell's party were then sitting. They shook hands with the Lieut.-Colonel and myself. Before the shaking hands, Reihana made a speech, and said to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, " You are a bad man; you are the person who destroys men." Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell then stood up and said, " Explain the evil and tho wrongs which I have done to you. I have n/fc murdered any men. I charge you with being the murderers." Reihana's party had not a word to say in reply. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell then said, " I invite you all to make peace." Ihakara replied, "It is not good that we who are so few should make peace : rather let the whole tribe come in at bW'time and make peace." I then spoke, " Now is the time for you to make peace. If you will not make peace now it will bo too late." The reason why I said this was that I heard Ihakara suggesting that peace should be made through Mr. Parris. I said " Never mind Mr. Parris. This is Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, Do you all come, every one of you, and make peace with him to-morrow." Natanahira Ngahina replied, " AVait till I have been to Mr. Parris." Two of us, Te Ua and myself, said "Leave Mr. Parris out of the question. Treat with Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell at once." Natanahira still persisted in maintaining his views, and Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, Te Ua, and myself, stood up to oppose them. During the feasting which followed the meeting, Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell said quietly to Ngatanahira, "Come with me, and I will send my brother or Aperaniko into AVellington with you, so that you-may see the Governor." Tho talk lasted from the evening till ten o'clock at night, and at length Natanahira agreed to proceed tho next morning to Waingongoro, for the purpose of seeing the Governor at Wellington, and we all returned to Waingongoro the same night. The following morning AVi Hukanui came to AVaingongoro, which is about six miles from Kauae, and reported to the Lieut.-Colonel that Natanahira had gone to Taranaki to Mr. Parris. lat once said to Wi Hukanui, " This is very wrong on the part of Natanahira. He has placed Mr. Parris above the Lieut.-Colonel." The Lieut.-Colonel was just as angry as I was, and AVi Hukanui too was just as anxious as we were that peace should be made through Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. Ido not remember Wi Hukanui expressing himself that morning as being hurt at Matanahira's breach of faith. The whole of our party then returned towards Manawapou, and every one of us were depressed with tho unfortunate result. The following morning Rangiamohia went of her own accord to visit the Hauhaus. She is the wife of Arapata, who is in the Native Contingent. She proceeded to Pokaikai, where she had relatives, and returned the same day. She complained of having been ill-treated at Pokaikai, that she had been beaten and her clothes torn by her own relatives. [Deponent then, according to the Interpreter, added the word "if" at the end of the sentence, and the Interpreter explained that the addition of that word " if" would now make the sentence run—lf she had not relatives in the village she would have had her clothes pulled off, and she would have been killed.] The men of my corps were indignant at this tale of Rangiamohia for two reasons, firstly, because Natanahira had deceived us, and secondly, because her life was saved only through her having relations in the village. According to her account, all the villagers are related to her. The evening of the following day the expedition to Pokaikai started. We attacked the village about midnight. When we arrived outside the village the villagers were awake. We waited some time, but the Europeans getting impatient, the attack was made before the villagers were all asleep. The Native Contingent was in the rear of the column. We supposed the villagers fired the first shot, but I cannot bo positive, because I was in the rear. When my corps got into the village all the villagers had escaped. I saw Aperahama, chief of the village and also chief of the Ngatiruanui tribe, and his wife. They had been shot in a whare. Another man was killed at the bottom of a descent while he was running away. Ido not know this man's name. Capt. McDonnell stood in a doorway of a whare, preventing Europeans going in, because there were some women inside. Martha then asked the Lieut.-Colonel to help her to look for her children, which he did. A shark's tooth had been pulled out of her ear by a European, who was placed in arrest. Aperahama was buried in the village. We returned, bringing one dead man of our party with us. We also had with us ten prisoners. No children were killed or wounded. One woman was wounded, but as soon as she was discovered by her voice to be a woman, she was saved. 210. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] Do you know whether Hori King or Captain Kemp were annoyed at the Native Contingent accompanying me to Patea ? —Hori King and Captain Kemp attempted to prevent the Native Contingent from going to Patea. 211. Did you not tell me at Manawapou, that Hori King and Kemp had told you to hinder my movements as much as possible, but that you had resolved to do nothing of the kind, and that you would render me every assistance in your power ? —Hori King and Kemp did tell me to thwart the Lieut.-Colonel in his operations, but I resolved not to do so. Kemp and Hori King wanted to get authority from the Governor, but I would not wait for this. I trusted the Lieut.-Coloncl's word, and resolved to assist him as much as I could.

Aperaniko, Continued,

21

A.—No. 3.

212. Did you not warn mo not to sleep at Kauae on the night above mentioned, saying, " I will not let you sleep here; Ido not trust the speeches of these Hauhaus?" —I merely said, "Let us return to Waingongoro to sleep," but I did not mean thereby to give any warning: at the same time tho village was full of Hauhaus. 213. That same night, at Kauae, did not Wi Hukanui explain to the Natives assembled that I did not send the bottle of rum, with the cartridge, the percussion cap, and the white handkerchief? —I know nothing about a bottle of rum ; but Ido know about the cartridge and cap. I have heard that the people of Kauae sent a bottle of rum, but I do not know who was the individual who sent it. 214. Did not Wi Hukanui, when he came to Waingongoro to tell me that Natanahira would not come, ask me to allow a lad, alleged to be the son of Hone Pahama, to return with us along the high road to Manawapou, as far as the cross road to Otapawa? —Yes; it is perfectly correct. That lad had come with Wi Hukanui from Kauae to Waingongoro; but when the detachment reached the cross road to Otapawa he did not leave it to go to Otapawa, but ho accompanied the detachment to Manawapou. 215. Did the Imperial Troops at Patea, Manawapou, and Waingongoro, furnish escorts for convoys before the attack upon Pokaikai, and did the Local Forces assist in this duty ?—Yes, they did. 216. The Chairman.] Did you, after the Pokaikai affair, obtain leave of absence and visit your friends in Wanganui ? —Yes. 217. Did you write a letter to Mete Kingi?—Yes ; I did. Mete Kingi was in Wellington, and I wrote that letter from Wanganui. 218. What did you mean by comparing yourself to a dog in that letter ? —I compared myself to a dog because ho goes to catch a pig when he is ordered to do so. 219. Do you think that the dog in that case does any wrong ? —There is no fault in the dog, because he merely does what he is bidden to do. 220. When you saw the body of Aperahama lying dead at Pokaikai, did you use expressions of joy, saying to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, " Tou Ika, Tou Ika?" —Yes; I did. The meaning of that phrase is this: Aperahama was descended from Pikauterangi, the head Chief of the Ngatiruanui tribe; consequently his son, viz., Aperahama, was the fish of the net. 221. Had Natanahira kept his promise, and followed the advice of the Lieut.-Colonel and yourself, and accompanied Wi Hukanui to Waingongoro, would the attack upon Pokaikai have been made ? — In that case there would have been no attack. 222. Mr. Commissioner Graham.] The letter bearing date 18th August, 1866, purporting to be signed by you, has been read to you. Did you write that letter, and if so, are the contents true and correct? —I wrote the letter with my own hand. There is one error in the letter, and that is the part about the bottle of spirits. Perhaps I have given a different version of the story, but I acknowledge the letter to be mine.

Aperaniko Continued.

Weijjngton, Wednesday, 12th August, 1868. Eangiwhakaanga, having been duly sworn, was examined. 223. The Chairman?] What is your name, where do you reside, and to what tribe do you belong ? —My name is Sophia; I reside at Aramoho, near Wanganui ; and I belong to the Patutokotoko hapu of the Wanganui tribe. lam the wife of Arapata. 224. Are you called by any other name ? —They sometimes call mo Mohi, and sometimes they call me Bangiamohia ; but my proper name is Eangiwhakaanga. 225. Did you ever proceed to Pokaikai, about two years ago?— Yes, I did go to Pokaikai. 226. State what you know about your visit to Pokaikai. —One day, before tho attack upon Pokaikai, I was with my husband, who was at the time serving with the Native Contingent at the camp of Manawapou. We both started on horseback, and when we reached Ilawera my husband returned to Manawapou, and I continued my journey alone. When I approached Pokaikai I met some of the Pokaikai people ; they were on their way to shoot cattle at Taiporoheuui. When they saw mo they returned with me to Pokaikai. It was about noon. When I reached Pokaikai I went to tho house of Martha, the wife of Natanahira. All the people of the village came to Martha's house, and I gave them, a letter which Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell had entrusted to me to deliver to them. After they had read the contents of the letter, the man who read the letter then said, It will not do for us to go there yet; we had better wait till Natanahira comes back from Taranaki, then all the people will go there to carry food. Tukino was the person who said this. He said to me, It is well that you came to Pokaikai, and did not go to Keteonetea, otherwise they would have stripped you of jour clothes and taken away your horse ; you had better give us payment for your having broken through our Kati; by Kati I mean the line which tho Hauhaus draw on the ground praying to their God, and this line constitutes the boundary which no one not a Hauhau may cross. I became alarmed, and I gave Tukino two shillings, which I believe to bo the usual toll. Martha had cooked some food for me, of which I had partaken. The people of Pokaikai, after I had paid the two shillings, caused my horse to be saddled, and I rode away back to the camp at Manawapou ; Hamiora accompanied me back to camp. On my return to camp, 1 told Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell what had passed. It was about sunset when I reached camp. I told Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell what I have detailed above. 227. Did you make any complaint to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, or to your husband, or to the men of the Native Contingent, on your arrival in camp, of tho treatment which you had received? —I made no complaint; I merely said what I have detailed above. 228. Have you any relatives at Pokaikai?—-Yes ; my mother belonged to their hapu. 229. How came Tukino to make you pay toll if you were related to the villagers ?—I cannot tell; but I suppose they made me pay toll because I was on the side of the Government, and they were Hauhaus, and they had held no intercourse with Europeans, —had not even seen a European since the beginning of hostilities. 6

Jlangivyhakaanga.

A.—No. 3.

22

230. Were you threatened at Pokaikai with any ill-treatment, such as stripping you of your clothes, or of taking your life ?—No ; the only ill-treatment which I received was the asking me to pay toll.. 231. Did the men in camp appear to be angry after they heard your tale ? —I told my tale to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, and he told it to the Native Contingent, and the first thing I saw was, that the force started for Pokaikai. 232. Did you bring back any written answer to the letter which you delivered to Tukino ? —I brought back a written letter from Tukino. 233. Did you know the contents of the letter, and of tho reply? —I did not hear the letter read. Tukino opened the letter, and then took it away into a house, and he returned with tho reply closed. 234. Did you ever say to any one in the camp that the villagers of Pokaikai threatened if your husband, Arapata, went to Pokaikai, they would tomahawk him ?—No ; all I said then I have detailed now.

Sangiwhakaanga Continuod.

Wellington, Wednesday, 12th August, 1868. Arapata to Bata having been duly sworn was examined. 235. The Chairman?] What is your name, where do you reside, and to what tribe do you belong ? —My name is Arapata to Bata ; I live in Aramoho, and I belong to the Ngapaerangi hapu of the Wanganui tribe, and I am related to the Ngatiapa. 236. Were you in the Native Contingent ?—I was a private in the Native Contingent, and was present in the campaign of 1866, under Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. 237. What occurred the day before the attack upon Pokaikai ?—I was in the camp at Manawapou ; my wife, Bangiamohia, was with me in camp. She rode with a letter from Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to Pokaikai. She delivered the letter to the Hauhaus, and she brought back a reply. I did not see the reply. She returned to Manawapou about five o'clock the same evening. She told us that she had seen people at Taiporoheuui, and heard from them that the people were at Pokaikai, —that the Taiporoheuui people accompanied her to Pokaikai, —that she and the Pokaikai people had a cry (a tanr/i), and afterwards she sat down and ate food. After she had finished eating, Tukino came up to her and said "It is well that you came here ; if tho Keteonetea people had seen you on the road they would have stripped you of your clothes and taken away your horse." Tukino then said "You must pay." She wondered what this meant. When Tukino pressed her for the money she became alarmed, and gave him two shillings as toll for having crossed the Hauhau boundary. She returned in the evening with a boy named Hamiora to the camp at Manawapou, and told us what had passed. We the privates were not angry, but perhaps our chiefs were. The following night the force started for the attack upon Pokaikai. Wirihana gave us notice that wo were to march at ten o'clock the following night. It rained the night of the evening on which my wife' returned to camp from Pokaikai. My wife reported to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell and tho rest of us, that Tukino and his people would bring us potatoes on the following day. Deponent then said, My wife said this was the intention of Tukino, but that he had subsequently changed his mind, and resolved that they would not bring potatoes until Natanahira returned from Opunake. 238. Mr. Commissioner Graham.] Did you see any one drunk in the attacking force on the night of tho attack upon Pokaikai ?—No ; I did not see any one drunk, but I heard that some men were drunk.

Arapata te Rata.

LETTEES BEFEEBED TO IN EVIDENCE, Page 4. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Paeeis to the Hon. J. C. Eichmond. Snt — Patea, 22nd August, 1866. In obedience to instructions which I received from the Government on the Bth instant, I have the honor to report that on arriving at New Plymouth, as soon as the weather permitted, 1 left to come overland to this district. I started from New Plymouth on the 15th instant, and was met by Hone Pihama, with several of his young men, who had come to Warea to take me on to Opunake, where we arrived the night of the same day. On the following day Wiremu Kingi Matakatea and some of his people came in from tho bush to see me, and occupied great part of the day relating their grievances. I told Wiremu Kingi that I believed the Government would take his case into consideration, which appeared to give him satisfaction. He informed me that a deputation of twenty Natives had been in the district for a short time from Hangatiki, with a request from Matutaera for all the Wakato Natives in this part to return to their own district, which they were on tho eve of doing when the news of the attack on Pokaikai was received, when they immediately proceeded to the Ngatiruanui district, and arc said to have been engaged in watching for an opportunity to revenge their loss at that place. Wiremu Kingi led me to hope before I left Opunake that if I went to see the Warea Natives they would give in. I therefore requested him to try to see them, and tell them that on my return I would go to them, he, Wiremu Kingi, and Arama Karaka having promised to accompany me. On the 17th I came on from Opunake to Waingongoro, calling at the village of Te Kauae, where I saw about fifty Natives of the Ngaruahine tribe, and learnt that the remainder of the tribe were at a place called Pungarchu, in the bush. I sent them a message offering to see them any day they would appoint. Saturday, the 18th, I came on to Major McDonnell's camp, and finding he had gone to Wanganui, I went to see some Natives at a place near Wareroa, where I arranged to have a meeting the following Monday. On returning to Waingongoro I was surprised to find that Captain Dawson, of the 18th Eegiment, who commands the post, had for the first time been out to harass tho enemy, by burning the village of Katatauru, in which there were no Natives living; but on seeing the place on

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A.—No. 3.

fire the Natives came out of the bush and attacked them, when they retired to tho camp, without any casualties. Monday, the 20th, I went to Wareroa, according to appointment, when about eighty Natives of the Tangahoe tribe met me. On commencing to talk over the subject for which I had met them, they presented me with a document signed by Major McDonnell, agreeing to give back the whole of the land from Taiporoheuui to Whenuakura to tho Natives. This caused me some trouble to explain away, which I felt I was bound to do in honour to the Natives, believing the Government had not given Major McDonnell any such authority, which I told them. They told me that in consideration of this promise made to them by Major McDonnell they had been induced to sign the oath of allegiance. I told them that I had not come to flatter them with any such promises which were not likely to be true, but that a portion of the land would bo given back to them; before which it was necessary for them to surrender everything and trust to the Government, which I believed would be liberal with them. They agreed to surrender unconditionally, after I promised them that some of their favourite places should be included in tho land set apart for them. Finding at this place that the Ngaruahinc Natives were exasperated at the burning of Katataura I deemed it tho better course to leave them for a few days, until I had seen the Pakakohi tribe; I therefore sent off a message to them that evening requesting them to meet at Mokoia the next day. Tuesday morning, I left Major McDonnell's camp early with a few of the Tangahoe Natives, and proceeded to Manawapou to inform Major Tnman, of the 18th Eegiment, who commands that post, that I was going inland to see the Natives, when he very kindly promised me he would allow no one to move in any direction likely to excite suspicion, expressing at the same time his entire disapproval of Captain Dawson's movements at Waingongoro on Saturday last, whilst I was engaged negotiating with the Natives for peace. I proceeded inland to Mokoia, where I found upwards of a hundred Natives waiting for me, chiefly of the Pakakohi tribe, and a few Ngaraurus. I was engaged talking to them for four hours, they having at first pressed to have the whole of the land given back to them, which I told them would not be done, but that sufficient land would be given to them ; and in discussing this point I found they were anxious for some land on both sides of the Patea Biver, which I told them they should have reserved for them. They tendered most unreservedly their unconditional surrender, when I promised them to recommend tho different detachments in the district not to molest them, which I have done. I arrived here late last evening, and hope to leave again for the North to-morrow. On arriving at Waingongoro I shall endeavour to see the Natives under Tamati One Oraukama, the only one who is now standing out. From Waingongoro I shall proceed to Opunake, and from there open a communication with the Warea Natives, and communicate the result to Major McDonnell before returning to New Plymouth. In conclusion I beg to state that I have good hopes of settling the whole matter in the district if nothing occurs in the meantime to thwart my work, which I find myself liable to by the system of looting which is constantly going on, and which I am well aware it is almost impossible to prevent, than which nothing is more calculated to keep up a bad feeling, and render negotiating a very unpleasant duty. I have, &c, E. Paeeis, Tho Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

Copy of Document signed by Major McDonnell. Akuhata 7, 1866. Kua whakaae pono a maki kia mutu te whawhai, kia kaua c paka ki nga mea ngokingoki o te parae, kua whakahoki pono mai i toku pihi no Taiporoheuui tae noa ki Whenuakura. Na Tito te Hanataua, Thos. McDonnell, Major, Commanding Colonial Forces, Patea District.

[Translation.] 7th August, 1866. Mc (Donnell) has fully consented to the cessation of hostilities, nor will he touch the creeping things of tho plain. Ho has truly given back to me my piiece (of land) from Taiporoheuui to Whenuakura. Tito te Hanataua, Tuos. McDonnell, Major, Commanding Colonial Forces, Patea District.

Copy of a Letter from Tito te Hanataua to Te Ua. Manawapou, 18th(?) Akuhata, 1866. E Koeo ma, tena ra koutou me nga mate, o Aperhama, o Haira, o Hera. A c aku matou kia pewheatia eau i runga i a takoto. Koia tenei c maharatia c au, heoi ano. takahia iho c au ki aku waewae, tohe ana au ki to pai me te ora karangatia mai c au a Makitonore kia haere ake ki Ohangai kia kite i au, a kua tae ake. Ko ta maua korero ko Makitonore ko te homaitanca i toku whenua ki toku ungaringa a kaua ia c pa kitetahi meangokingoki o te parae, no Taiporoheuui te timatanga, tae noa ki Whenuakura kua purutia c taku ringaringa a kei pouri ia nei noku. Kihai i tatari ki a koutou tenei ano a roto c talari ana, kua tae mai au ki Manawapou. Heoi ano. Na ta koutou tamaiti, Xi a Te Ua, Xi a Te Ngohi, Xi a Ngahina. Na Tito Hanataua.

[Teanslation.] Manawapou, 18th(?) August, 1866. Feiihds, salutations to you all, on the d?ath of Aperhama, Haira, and Sarah, My Fathei s, what am Ito dj (now that the people have consented) to lie down. I have

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been considering, enough. I have trampled upon myself. I urged for peace and for life. I asked Major McDonnell to come up to Ohangai, that he might see me, and he came. Our conversation was about giving my lands into my hands, and that he was not to molest any creeping thing in the plain, commencing at Taiporohenui and going as far as Whenuakura (these lands) are retained by my hand. He must not be grieved with me (he) did not wait for you, the Natives inland are wa'itin"-. I have come to Manawapou. Sufficient. From your child, To To Ua, to Ngohi, to Ngahina. Tito Hanataua.

Copy of a Letter from Te Ua to Mr. Halse. Xi a Haee— Opunake, Akuhata 13, 1866. Kua tae mai tau rota aroha ki au; c tika ana to pouri, me au haki c pouri nei mo taua mate. E tika ana to kupu iki mai nei kia mahi tonu au i taku mahi whakaara tangata. Katahi c mahi ana au c tapahia mai ana a muri o taku mahi, inaianei kua hikohiko te mahi a tana tangata ko te patu ko te pai. Ko tana mahi tena i roto i nga ra nei. Kua tv te pariki o Makitonore kei te Hawera, kei tai tata mai otepa i patua eia o Pokaikai. Kia rongo korua ko Parete katahi ano ka tuturu nga tangata i mate, ko Aperahama te Eanginui, ko Haira Paraka, ko Hera Waiata. Ko Mata Moerewarewa i ara i hereherea me ana tamariki. Kua mau te rongo a Tito te Watikini raua ko Makitonore ma karua c titiro iho kite pukapuka a Tito Watikini. Na ta hoa aroha, Na Te Ua.

[Teanslation.] To Me. Halse— Opunake, 13th August, 1866. Your kind letter has been received by me. You are grieved, and lam grieved about that killing. Your advice to me to continue my mission (for the purpose of) saving men is correct. I am at work, but my work is afterwards cut up. At the present time the work of that man (Major McDonnell) is uncertain; (he) strikes and (then talks of) peace; (such is) his work in these days. McDonnell has thrown up barracks at Te Hawera, near the pa on the sea side, (viz.,) Pokaikai taken by him. Do you and Mr. Parris hearken. It is now positively known who were killed (at Pokaikai) :— Aperahama to Eanginui, Haira Paraka, Hera Waiata. Mata Moerewarewa is alive; she and her children were captured. Peace has been made between Major McDonnell and Tito to Watikini (a nephew of the late Hanataua, killed in action at Waireka, April, 1860) ; do you both look to Watikini's letter. From your dear friend, Te Ua.

Copy of Statement of Ngahina Natanahiea. No te rua tekau ma toru o nga ra o Hurae, 1866, ka tae ake a Te Ua ki toku kainga, he kawe ake i te pai ate Kawana, a manaakitia ana etc iwi Tangahoe te kupu aTe Ua, kia takoto. Kimihia ana etc iwi te tangata, ka kitea ko ahau ko Ngahina Natanahira kia whai mai i a To Ua i te tangata i tukua mai etc Kawana kia kimi ritenga ite iwi. Ite rua tekau ma whitu o nga ra o Hurae, 1806, ko te ra tera i haere mai ai matou, ka tae ake nga tohu a Makitonore ki toku kainga, katahi paraki ma, kotahi mata, kotahi kepa, kotahi patara rama, ka takoto kite aroaro ote iwi Tangahoe. Ko te ritenga o ana mca he rapu kino, he rapu pai, kia tangohia ko te mea pai, ahe pai ano. Heoi, ka niahia c te iwi ana mea, ka tangohia ko te paraki ma ko te rongo pai, whakahoki ai ki a maki ko te mata, me te kepa me te patara waipiro. Heoi, haere mai ana matou ka tae mai ki Waingongoro, kaore a maki i reira ka ngarea te Turupa kite whakahoki ite mata, ito kepa, i te patara ki a Makitonore. Ka haere mai matou kite Kauwae. Ite rua tekau ma waru o nga ra o Hurae, 1866, ka tae ake a maki kite Kauwae ka tv ia ki runga, ka karanga kite iwi, ka mca: —" Haere mai kite Kawana, whakamutua te kino; kia renei me tenei kua takoto nei, heiaha ma koutou te mahi kino?" Ka whawhai raua ko Eeihana. Ka tv atu au ki runga ka mea: —" E maki, kia rongo mai koe, kahore aku kupu ki a koe, heoi ano taku kupu kua kite iho koe, kua hold atu na te mata, me te kepa, me te patara ki tau ringa, kua purutia c te iwi te paraki ma." Ka whae [whakaae ?] mai ia, ka ki atu au ki a ia: —" He kupu ano tenei mo te kupu kite iwi Ngaruahine:— ' Tcnci lea noho i oku raro c, Kaua c maki, c pa, c Horoa mai. Waiho ano ra Id ata hurihuria c Wha noho ki he a.'" Ka karanga atu au:—" E maki, titiro mai ki au, kua noho nei au ki waenganui o tau pakeke me ta te iwi pakeke, heoi ano taku kupu." Ka noho a maki ki raro, katahi ia ka kai, ka karanga mai ki au : —" Haere mai tana kite kai." Ka haere atu au ka kai. Ka tohe ki au kia haere au i a ia, mana au c tuku ki Poneke kia te Kawana. Ka karanga atu te Bunanga Kawana oTe Ua : —" Kahore ta-te-mea ko te taha i tukua mai aiae te iwi he haere ki a Parete." Ka tohe taua Pakeha ki au, kahore au i rongo. Ka tukua eau taku tamaiti hei whakamana ite kupu a taua Pakeha. Ite taenga atu o taku tamaiti kite pariki kua tupu te mahi manakia i roto i taua Pakeha. Ka haere mai nei matou. I muri ka tikina te kainga o taku wahine ka mate ia ki reira i a Makitonore. E hoa ma te nga rangatira Pakeha, he mate kohuru tenei mate tatemea, kua atu tohutohuria mariretia ki taua Pakeha te ritenga o nga rohe o te wahi kino me te rohe ote wahi pai. I runga ite main a taua Pakeha kahore i haere ki to pa nanaiai pupuhi, akuanci paka .ana kite tangata hara kore. Heoi ano aku kupu whakaatu mo tenei he. Na to koutou hoa aroha, Ngamotu, 6 Akuhata, 1866. Na Ngahina Natanahiea.

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[Teanslation.] Ngamotu, 6th August, 1866. On the 23rd July, 1866, To Ua came to my village, 1 and made known to us tho goodwill of the Governor. The Tangahoo tribe was pleased with Te Ua's advice to lie down (discontinue fighting). The tribe looked for a man, and selected me, Ngahina Natanahira, to go with Te Ua, with the man sent here by the Governor, to ascertain tho mind of the peopfo. On the 27th July, 1866, the day wo arrived, Major McDonnell's signs wore received at my village, one white flag, one bullet, one cap (percussion), and one bottle of rum: they were laid down in the presence of the Tangahoe tribo. The motive in sending these things was (for the Natives) to choose evil or to choose good ; if the bad things were taken, evil would follow ; if the good things were taken, good would follow. Enough, the people considered these things, took the white flag (the emblem of) good news, sending to Major McDonnell the bullet, the cap, and the bottle of spirits. Enough, we came away, aud arrived at Waingongoro. Major McDonnell was not there. Te Tnrupa was sent to tako back the bullet, the cap, and the bottle, to Major McDonnell. Wo came on to the Kauwae. 3 On the 28th July, 1866, Major McDonnell arrived at tho Kauwae. He stood up and calling to the people said, " Come to the Governor, and discontinue evil: act like these who are now lying down. What is the advantage to you of evil work ?" He and 3 Eeihana had an angry discussion and it ended. I stood up and said, " McDonnell, do you hearken, I have no word for you ;it is sufficient that my word has been seen by you. The bullet, the cap, and the bottle, have been returned to you; the white flag has been retained by the people." He assented. I said to him, " This is a word in reference to your word to tho Ngaruahinc 4 tribe." [Here follows a song.] I called out, " McDonnell, look at me, lam now between your hardness and the hardness of the people (meaning, I have now assumed the position of mediator between you and the people), that is all I have to say." Major McDonnell sat down and had some food. He called upon me to join him; I did so and had some food. He urged me to go with him, and said he would send me to Wellington to the Governor. Te Ua's Government party called out " no," because the object of my being sent by the people was that I might go to Mr. Parris. That same Pakeha (McDonnell) urged me, but I did not attend. I sent my child 5 in fulfilment of the word of that Pakeha. When my child arrived at the barracks 6 the annoying work within that Pakeha had commenced. We came on. Afterwards my wife's village 7 was attacked, and she was killed there by McDonnell. Friends, the Pakeha chiefs, this killing is a murderous killing, because we had carefully and particularly pointed out to that Pakeha the line of boundary of the bad places, and the boundary of' the good places. In reference to the mission of that Pakeha, he did not go against the pa that fired upon him, but wrongfully against men who had not offended. Enough, these are my words of information respecting this wrong. From your affectionate friend, ' Ngahina Natanahiea.

MB. GEAHAM'S BEPOBT. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Geoeoe Geaiiam to His Excellency the Goveenoe. House of Eepresentatives, Sic,— Wellington, 14th August, 1868. I beg permission to transmit to your Excellency the draft of a Beport which, as one of your Excellency's Commissioners on the Pokaikai affair, I submitted to my colleagues, but which was not adopted by them. I have, &c, Geo. Geaham. To His Excellency Sir George Ferguson Bowen, G.C.M.G., Governor of New Zealand, &c, <fee.

Sic,— Wellington, 22nd July, 1868. I, one of the Commissioners appointed by your Excellency, by commission dated 27th February, 1868, attached to this report, " to make enquiry into alleged acts of cruelty and wanton outrage, said to have been committed by Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, commanding the Militia, &c.,inthe Patea District, by causing an attack to be made in the month of August, 1866, on the village of Pokaikai," have the honor to report as follows : — Meetings were held by us for the purpose of investigating the questions submitted to us by your Excellency at Wanganui, Patea, and Inatangara, on the several dates mentioned in the minutes of proceedings attached to this Beport, and at such meetings we took the evidence of several witnesses whose names appear in the minutes of evidence annexed to this report. I find that tho first intimation received by the Government of the attack on Pokaikai was contained in a letter addressed by Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, and dated 4th August, 1866, to the Hon. the Defence Minister. In considering the motives which induced Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to make the attack in question, I find that in the latter part of tho month of July, 1866, negotiations for the surrender of the Tangahoe hapu, of the Ngatiruanui tribe, were opened by Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, through the medium of one Wiremu, of Kauae, and that certain emblems, representing peace and war, were confided to this Native by Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, to be delivered to the Tangahoe people, in order that they might signify their intentions by the selection of the one or the other. I further find that the peace embiem was retained, the war emblem being returned —and that Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell understood from this that the Natives were willing to make peace. All this took place 1. Pokaikai, situated one mile southward of Paiporohenui. 2. A pa at Waingongora. 3. A Ngatiruanui chief residing at Te Kauae. He has recently tendered his allegiance. 4. One of the Ngatiruanui sections hostile to theGovernment. 5. His nephew, sixteen years of age. 6. At Waingongoro. 7. Pokaikai. 7

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between the 25th and 30th July, 1866. The evidence further leads me to believe that Lieut.Colonel McDonnell was anxious to push forward the surrender of tho Natives as rapidly as possible ; but that they themselves, although evidently sincere in the professed intentions, did not desire to push the matter so rapidly, and were anxious to secure the co-operation and advice of relatives and friends of the tribe living at a distance, before bringing it to a conclusion. It does not appear, however, that sufficient time was given to them for this purpose. I find that Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell followed up the negotiations, and, anxious to complete the matter, requested the chief Natanahira to meet him at Waingongora on the day following the return of the emblems of war, for the purpose of proceeding to Wellington to complete the surrender. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, in his letter to the Defence Minister, states that Natanahira agreed to this course ; whereas the chief himself, whilst admitting that this course was urged by Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, denies that he agreed to it, and alleges that he was bound, in deference to the wishes of his people, to proceed with Te Ua (whom they iooked upon as a delegate from the Governor commissioned to urge peace) to Taranaki, to be forwarded from thence to Wellington by Mr. Parris. It appears, however, that Natanahira did agree to meet Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell at Waingongora before proceeding to New Plymouth, but that he was persuaded by influential Natives to proceed at once to Taranaki, and to send messengers to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to explain his reasons for his absence. Hamiora and Hukanui, the messengers referred to, both confirm the statement of Natanahira, and Hukanui states that he informed Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell that Natanahira had proceeded to New Plymouth ; but does not mention expressly that he had done so for the purpose of proceeding to Wellington with Mr. Parris. It thus appears that tho Tangahoe people were sincere in their intentions to make peace, but that they had determined that it should be done through Mr. Parris, instead of through Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. I further find that Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, for reasons not sufficiently explained to us, immediately conceived an opinion that the Natives were deceiving him, and made up his mind to treat them still as rebels, and that he then took the steps detailed in his own letters for lulling them into a feeling of security prior to the contemplated attack. I do not find any material discrepancy between the account of that attack given in Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell's own letter and that given by the witnesses on both sides; but I think it very doubtful that the first shot fired was fired by the Natives, the whole circumstances attending tho attack leading to the contrary belief, and the evidence of the Natives themselves absolutely denies it. , After a careful consideration therefore of the evidence, both documentary and otherwise, presented to us, I am of opinion that the attack on Pokaikai was unnecessary ; was determined upon by Lieut.Colonel McDonnell hastily, and without sufficient examination of the reasons for Natanahira's absence from Waingongoro at tho appointed meeting; and that the course taken by Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell for lulling the Natives into a feeling of security whilst contemplating an attack upon them, and whilst they still retained the emblem of peace held out by himself, was improper and unjust, and calculated to lead to serious complications in our relations with the tribe in question. I have, &c., To His Excellency Sir George Bowen, G.C.M.G., Geo. Geaham. Governor of New Zealand, &c, &c.

Copy of Letter from Captain G. Dawson to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, relative to the Natives of Pokaikai retaining the emblem of peace, and returning the emblems of war; also, reporting that " Te Ua reported that, from Otapawa downwards, the rebels wish for peace " : — My Deae McDonnell, — Waingongora, 27th July, 1866. I send you two letters, one for the Governor and one for Wilson. Te Ua and his men returned this morning with an idea of seeing you in accordance with Wiremu's message, which reached him this morning early. I told them the reason of your going away last night, and they are quite satisfied, but they wished to have seen you. I have persuaded them to leave the letter to the Governor open for your perusal, and then you are to send it on closed. Wiremu sent the bottle of rum with the other things to the rebels, and they have sent back the rum and the cartridge and cap, and retained the wipe. Te Ua tells me that from Otapawa downwards the rebels wish for peace ; but he has not yet seen the others, but they —I mean Te Ua and his people —are going to bring Mr. Parris up. Wiremu arrived here about ten minutes to twelve o'clock. He had not been out himself, as I told you, but the man named Beuben, whom I told you he would use as his messenger. I send you these letters by special orderlies, and hope they may catch you at Manawapou. I must say lam very glad you started last night as things turn out. Honi was very anxious to see you, as well as Moses. I hope you will soon be here, and, with kind regards from all here, Believe me, &c, G. Dawson. A chief from Otapawa has come in ; his name is Ngahina. If this catches you at Manawapou, I am asked to tell you to como back here to-night to see Te Ua, as ho wishes very much to see you. G. D.

Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, in a letter to the Hon. the Defence Minister, at Wellington, written from the Camp Manawapou, and dated 30th July, 1866, says : — " I have the honor to report that I arrived at Patea on tho evening of the 25th instant. The following day I proceeded to Waingongoro, and saw Wiremu, of Kauae. He informed me that Te Ua and Hone Pehama were at Otapawa, and that the rebels might make peace. After some further conversa-

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tion of no importance, I gave him a white handkerchief and pistol cartridge, and told him to send them to the pa as emblems of my willingness to make peace or fight, and also to inform the rebels that by the return of the messenger I must have an answer one way or the other." The letter also states that, " On nearing Kauae, I rode on with Hone Pehama, and reached the village first, and, on entering a house, saw from twenty to thirty young men —Hauhaus ; Te Ua was among them. Soon after Wiremu came in and took me away. When the remainder of the party came up, I ordered the men to dismount and cap. Then the korero commenced. I need not relate all that was said. The chief Natanahira at length agreed to come to AVaingongoro the next day, and thence proceed to Wellington to represent the tribes south of Otapawa. The cartridge already mentioned was returned, but the handkerchief was retained." " I shook hands with him, and said it would be all right." " I then proceeded to salute the tribe ; but the young men meanwhile had gone away, leaving ten old men, with whom I shook hands. I returned to AVaingongora that night." " The following morning AViremu came to me and said that Te Ua had gone northward with Hone Pehama and the chief who had promised to come in and go to Wellington on behalf of his people." " I said no more ; but, thoroughly disappointed at not having succeeded in making peace, I inarched to Manawapou."

The following extracts from Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell's letter, dated the 4th August, 1866, and addressed to the Hon. the Minister for Cofonial Defence, reports the attack on Pokaikai. He says : — " I publicly announced to the Native Contingent my intention of returning to Patea, and at the same time I wroto a letter to tho rebels at Otapawa, saying that I would visit them in a few days. This, as I imagined they would, they looked upon as bounce. " On the morning of the 31st, I started the fad off to Otapawa, and determined to attack the Hauhaus tho same night, having ascertained that they were dweifing in fancied security in a village called Pokaikai, about two miles north-west of Otapawa. " To the intense annoyance of myseff, and the whole force under my command, who were eager for a brush with the enemy, it rained heavily all that afternoon, and continued to pour far into the next day, Ist August; but towards the afternoon the weather commenced to clear, and a short time before dusk I paraded the force named in the margin, and, crossing the Pangahoo Biver, halted in the sandhills until it became dark. I then marched along the Waingongoro road," &c. " In this order, and in perfect silence, the force crept up until the head of the column was within 100 yards of the village. I then ordered the men to lay down in the fern on either side of tho road, while Captain McDonnell and two Natives crept up to within 20 yards of tho village : here they heard the inhabitants talking in their whares, so that I was obliged to keep the force laying in the fern for nearly an hour, until all was reported quiet. " The village was situated on a spur inclining gently downward from where we were lying to a precipitous and thickly-wooded gully, which nearly surrounded the position, and afforded an easy escape in case of attack. It was therefore impossible to surround the place without running great risk of arousing the inhabitants, who would all have escaped with their arms ; I therefore determined to rush it suddenly. The word was passed down the column to advance, and the whole force crept up silently, and, when close to the palisading, rushed in with fixed bayonets, taking the enemy completely by surprise; but owing to the position of the village, as already described, the bulk of the enemy threw themselves down the gully, closely followed by our own men, who poured volley after volley into them." Tho same letter, in conclusion, says : —" This morning I released Natanahira's wife, and sent her to Otapawa with a letter to the rebels, telling them that if they do not immediately submit, I will carry fire and sword through their country, and give them no rest by day or night. I have detained his child as a hostage." (Signed) Thos. McDonnell, Major Commanding Colonial Forces, Patea District.