FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST THE REBEL NATIVES.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1869 Session I, A-03f

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FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST THE REBEL NATIVES.

Return to an Order of ilie House of Representatives, of Bt7i June, 18G9. That there be laid on the Table of this House —" All Correspondence and Documents in possession of the Government relating to the action taken by Colonel Whitmore, the Superintendent of Taranaki, Major Brown (commanding the Militia at Taranaki), Mr. Parris, and any other persons, in reference to the request of Colonel Whitmore for the co-operation of a portion of the Colonial Force at Taranaki, to enable him to follow up Titokowaru near Te Ngaere, in March and April last." {Mr. Fox.)

AVELLINGTON.

1869.'

A.—No. 3f.

No. 1. Copy of a Letter from Major Bitowir to Mr. C. E. Hatjgiiton. Tarauaki Militia and Volunteer Office, Sib,— New Plymouth, 2nd April, 1869. I havo the honor to transmit, for tho information of the Hon. Colonel Haultain, a resolution passed by a public meeting (which I havo obtained from the Chairman), imputing blame to myself in the first instance, and generally to the authorities here, in reference to a communication from the Hon. Colonel Whitmore to myself. On receipt of this letter it appeared to me that, in the absence of active hostilities in this district, it was my duty to submit the action I proposed to take for the approval of the chief civil authorities, His Honor the Superintendent and Mr. Commissioner Parris, who approved of tho memorandum I laid before them on the subject. I accordingly wrote to Colonel Whitmore enclosing copy of it, and informing him that the expedition to co-operate with him was in progress. Further information received during the day by His Honor and Mr. Parris appeared to His Honor to render a reconsideration desirable of the approval they had given, and a discussion took place in the evening, at which I saw no reason i'or countermanding the expedition. At about midnight His Honor and Mr. Commissioner Parris withdrew tho approval they had previously given, for the reasons shown in the memorandum of which I enclose a copy, and I accordingly countermanded the expedition. In this matter I assumed the position that Colonel Warre did when the "Lord Worsley " was wrecked, when he was anxious to move a force to the relief of the passengers and crew, but in the absence of active hostilities awaited the approval of the Superintendent before doing so; the approval was withheld, and the force did not move. I have, &c, The Acting Under Secretary, Chaeles Brown, Major, Colonial Defence Office, Wellington. Commanding Militia and Volunteers.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1. Tiiat an application for assistance in men having been made to Major Brown, as the officer in command of the Taranaki Militia, by Colonel Whitmorc, who stated that with such assistance it might be possible to effectually crush Titokowaru, we, the settlers of Taranaki, most indignantly protest against the withholding such assistane-e by those in authority, particularly as it did not represent either the wishes of the men detached for the service, or the views of the settlers themselves. W. H. Hulke.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1. Copy of a Letter from Colonel Wihtmoee to Major Brown. Sir,— Tc Ngaere, 24th March, 18G9. I have the honor to inform you that Titokowaru is, or was yesterday, at this place, where I have been delayed i'or thirty-six hours already by tho difficulty of getting through the swamp ; he has no other retreat than by the well-known AVaitara track. I write to suggest that you should collect a party to go by that route and waylay it as near Te Ngaerc as possible, lighting no fires except two hours after dark, and concealing their whereabouts as much as possible. I learn that Tc Ngaere is one good day's walk from Waitara, (Upper) Ngatiinaru country. There is no practicable route from this place round this great swamp or lake, on a promontory of of which the kainga stands ; as yet I have not been able to bridge it. being necessarily obliged to work at night, and very much crippled by the dark in making progress. I hope to-night to be more successful; yesterday I tried and failed, being afraid of being seen, and having tried a bad line. Titokowaru's force is short of ammunition, dejected, and much reduced by desertion. They have been hunted from camp to camp, often obliged to break up twice in the day, and they will not stand anywhere;—you may therefore safely take some risk, and if your men carry like mine did four days' rations, there will be no difficulty in carrying out this operation, which must ensure cutting off the enemy if he tries to retreat again. As nothing can be of greater importance than this, I trust you will not allow any trifling obstacle to prevent its being carried into effect. I have, &c, The Officer Commanding, New Plymouth. G-. S. Wuitmoke, Colonel. P.S.—My fear is that, unless caught as I propose, Titokowaru may obtain an asylum and rest in your district, and hereafter, like ihe snake revived in the bosom, turn round and bite Taranaki. He will never again be so hard pressed, short of powder as he now is. ' Gr. S. W.

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST REBEL NATIVES.

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FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY

Enclosure 3 in No 1. Memorandum for the consideration of His Honor the Superintendent and Mr. Commissioner Pareis. In compliance with the letter of Colonel Whitmore, copy herewith, it is proposed to move the Bushrangers, now on their way thither, Armed Constabulary, Militia, Volunteers, and Dismounted Cavalry, to the track at the back of the mountain. This will give a force of about 250 officers and men, to which I recommend that 50 friendly Natives be added. To effect this it will be necessary to place on pay and duty—Dismounted Cavalry, say, 30 ; men to garrison redoubts and block-houses, 50 ; friendly Natives,"so—in all, 130. The object will be to cross the Patea River, and between that river and the Mangawhu (which runs from Te Ngaere into the Waingongoro), to get in rear of Te Ngaere, to intercept as far aa possible the inland communication from it, and to co-operate with Colonel Whitmore as far as practicable. Militia Office, New Plymouth, C. Brown, Major, 26th March, 1869. Commanding Militia and Volunteers. Approved—H. R. Richmond, Superintendent. R. Parris, Civil Commissioner.

No. 2. Copy of a Letter from Major Brown to Colonel Wititmore. Sir,— Militia Office, New Plymouth, 20th March, 1869. I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of the 24-th instant, and I now enclose, for your information, copy of a memorandum approved by His Honor the Superintendent and Mr. Commissioner Parris, without whose permission I have no authority to put an extra man on pay. Mr. Parris is as yet uncertain if he can obtain the friendly Natives I require. If ho cannot, the force will proceed without them. I hope to be in rear of Te Ngaere by Monday next, or Tuesday at furthest. I have travelled the mountain track oftener than any other European here, and anticipate no natural obstacles to effecting what I propose. I have, &c, C. Brown, Major, Colonel G. S. "Whitmore, Commanding Taranaki Militia and Volunteers. Commanding Local Force, Te Ngaere.

Enclosure in No. 2. Memorandum for Officer Commanding as to Movement of a Force along the Mountain Road. As the question as to whether a force should at this time be moved from New Plymouth to intercept the escape of Titokowaru along the mountain road is one of grave importance to this settlement, and possibly in its ultimate results to the Colony, I think it best to put in writing my chief reasons for advising that such a step should not be taken without previous communication with Colonel Whitmore:— 1. In consequence of a threatened attack from Ngatimaniapoto it has been thought necessary to add 150 men to the force previously in the settlement to guard against that danger. 2. From information received from Mahau, Iliaia, and Teira, there appears great reason to believe that the proposed movement of 250 men from New Plymouth will disturb the present neutral attitude of the Taranaki Natives to the South, and of a portion of the Ngatiawa Tribe inland of this settlement, and cause them to join with Ngatiinaniapoto in an attack on the settlement. 3. The Government of New Zealand not being in a position at the present time to enforce the full submission of all neutral and disaffected tribes throughout the Island, it is of necessity their policy to confine actual hostilites to limited districts, in which they may hope, with the force at their disposal, to gain a decided advantage over the enemy. I therefore fully believe that if Colonel AVhitmorc were aware of the risk which would be involved by the proposed movement of drawing in tribes now inclined for peace into actual hostilities, and of the small chance which there appears to be that Titokowaru will attempt to escape along the mountain road, he would not desire that his suggestion (which although strongly ui-ged is by no means peremptory) should be carried into eifect. For these reasons I recommend that no force should be moved along the mountain lino without another communication with Colonel Whitmore. AVhile strongly advising this as a measure of prudence, having regard to the great loss of property which must ensue from an inroad of the Taranaki, Ngatiawa, and Ngatimaniapoto Tribes, without better provision for meeting them, I am deeply sensible of the humiliating position in which a Government is placed which has to consult the humours of savage tribes as to the nature of their movements against a declared rebel. But it appears to me folly to ignore that such is our present position, and to act as if it were otherwise until we are better prepared. That such better preparation should be made with the least possible delay, it is the duty of every settler in this Province to urge upon the Government. H. R. Richmond, 27th March, 1869. (Superintendent.

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A.—No. 3p.

No. 3. Copy of a Letter from Major Brown to His Honor 11. E. Eichmoxd. Sib,— Militia Office, New Plymouth, 26th March, 1869. I have the honor to acknowledge your memorandum of this date against the projected expedition on the mountain track. I assume your memorandum to be intended as a withdrawal of your approval given to my memorandum of this morning. If so 1 find myself in this position, that I have taken action, on the joint approval of yourself and Mr. Commissioner Parris of what I proposed to do, to carry out the wishes of Colonel Whitmore, to effect if possible a very important and desirable object, that may be lost by the delay that you propose. Under these circumstances I do not feel justified in delaying the expedition, unless the approval given by your Honor and Mr. Commissioner Parris jointly is jointly withdrawn. I have, &c., C. Brown, Major, His Honor the Superintendent, New Plymouth. Commanding T.M. and V.

No. 4. Copy of a Letter from His Honor H. E. Eichmond to Major Brown. Sib,— New Plymouth, 26th March, 18G9. I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of this date referring to my memorandum just forwarded to you, and beg to state that it was intended, as you suppose, as a withdrawal of my previous approval of your memorandum of this morning, in consequence of information of probable danger to the settlement, of which I was not then aware. I have forwarded your letter to Mr. Parris in order that he may take such action as he thinks proper in the matter. I have, &c, 11. E. Kiciimoxd, Superintendent. I concur with His Honor the Superintendent in the opinion conveyed in his memorandum to Major Brown, and beg to withdraw the approval referred to by Major Brown, for the reason explained in this note of His Honor the Superintendent. Major Brown, Commanding Militia and Volunteers, E. Parris, New Plymouth. Civil Commissioner.

No. 5. Copy of a Letter from Colonel "Whitmobe to Major Browx. Sib,— Keteonetea, 26th March, 1869. I have the honor to acknowledge your letter, by Colonel Gorton, and to thank you for it. I am deeply grieved to say that after carrying out laborious and difficult operations, without rest since the 13th of the month, in the heart of the forest, we at length, as we believed, overtook Titokowaru at To Ngaere. We had many physical difficultities to overcome; but we bridged the swamp and landed on the island on the night of the 24th and morning of the 25th, about a mile from the settlement, without losing a man or betraying our presence. At daylight, or about an hour before it, we moved up to the village, which we knew to be full of people, who were apparently preparing a pa. "We succeeded in surprising the place and could easily have shot the people, when they, or rather some of them ran out, shouting " Haere mai," and answering for every one of the people 1 saw making off —as they pretended, from fear. It took some time for me to find out that ten of Titokowaru's "Te hau nia rua " had been among these people, and to form an opinion, almost amounting to a certainty, that many others had belonged to his band. I then attempted to overtake the fugitives with the Arawas, who were more likely to carry out this service than the Wanganuis, who evidently sympathised with Ahitana, some of whose people were said to be among those who fled. However, the Arawas, ignorant of the locality, lost the scent and gave up 1 lie chase, so that all these people escaped aflcr being in my power. Although I deeply regret having thus lost the party of the rebels evidently there, I am not sorry I did not violate the neutrality which has been allowed to Ahitana, as I feel sure that a single man lost to him would have served as a cause for the outbreak of all those tribes in your district which, like Ahitanas, have not broken the peace. At all events, we have shown that no stronghold can save them from us. and we have ascertained that if Titokowaru is retreating in your direction he is going by small parties to Ngatimaru. The fugitives were pursued to a point called Orapoera, on the lino of General Chute's march. They are said to be congregating at Te Ngutu-o-te-Marm, where Titokowaru gives out he means to die on his own land. But this may be untrue, and used to cover a visit to Waitara or Ngatimaru. I have returned to Keteonetea, finding nothing to pursue towards Te Ngaere, and I take this opportunity to acquaint you that you may countermand any expedition to co-operate with me in that direction, which my knowledge of the enterprise and pluck of your settlers makes me feel sure will have been set on foot after the receipt of my suggestion of two days ago. Please show this letter to Mr. Parris and take his advice. I fear that if even Titokowaru has retreated to Ngatimaru you would be thwarted, as I have been, and the country 1 learn is difficult; possibly the civil arm might more easily capture these men, if they be in small numbers in the district, than the military arm has proved here. I shall not move towards "Waitara under present circumstances, and shall certainly first explore Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu and its vicinity. These people ran away exceedingly fast. Half an hour's si art can never be regsired completely, and the women and children go as fast as the men. I"ew precautions, however, are now necessary, aud they may be safely rushed anywhere. Believe me, &c, Major Brown, Commanding Taranaki. Gr. S. Whitmobe, Colonel. 2

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FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY

No. C. Copy of a Letter from Major Bitowx to Colonel Wiiithore. Sic,— Militia Office, New Plymouth, 27th March, 1809. I have the honor to inform you that a lengthened discussion took place late yesterday evening, at a meeting convened by His Honor the Superintendent (and Agent of the General Government) to press upon me urgency of the reasons that he considered ought to delay me from proceeding to To Ngaere, until you had been further communicated with. While allowing to his reasons the weight that they were entitled to, I stated that I did not consider them sufficient to justify me in not carrying out your order; that any eventualities that might arise to the settlement from the Ngatiawa and Taranaki Natives by the force being moved could be met by the Militia that would be left (about 700), until Titokowaru was disposed of, and that settling him would so much tend to the peace of the Province that the contingency of any of the Native tribes here being offended by the movement ought to be encountered. Moreover, that I believed the settlers generally would gladly take up arms to see your efforts brought to an early and successful issue than remain in the present harassing state of doubt and uncertainty, iv which they aro making no progress, but are fast retrograding. I regret to inform you that, His Honor felt it necessary, about midnight, to send me a protest in the form of a memo, that was afterwards concurred in by Mr. Commissioner Parris, which precludes me from carrying out your instructions until you are further communicated with. I enclose copy of the memo., and Mr. Parris informed me that ho had taken steps to detain the messenger with my letter of yesterday's date, so that this will accompany it. I have, &c, C. Bnowx, Major, Colonel Whitmore, Commanding Taranaki Militia and Volunteers. Commanding Local Forces, Te Ngaere.

No. 7. Copy of a Letter from Colonel Wiiitmoke to Major Beown. My deab Sic,— Keteonetea, 20th March, 1869. It was my fault not to have advised your consul) ing with Messrs. Parrisand liichmond before you undertook the enterprise I suggested ; for with my imperfect knowledge of the country and the probable political effect of any movements in that direction, I imposed an unfair responsibilit}' on you in appealing to your military spirit for co-operation. Nevertheless, and apart from such reasons, the proposal was a right one, and under the circumstances, had I not been thwarted by the friendly or neutral Native nuisance, must have brought my fugitive opponent to bay. As it happens I had written to ask you to relinquish the expedition, though of course had I learned that you had started I should have pushed on in spite of all the neutral Natives in the country. I shall ever believe that Titokowaru escaped entirely through the reluctance I felt to fire on neutral people, and especially as I had been led to believe that to disregard or violate Ahitana's neutrality would have resulted in raisins; the Taranaki Tribes. I never directed a more complicated operation, never overcame its chief difficulties more successfully; and I cannot describe to you with how much disappointment, almost grief, I was obliged to let my enemy pass unmolested after this long toilsome and difficult pursuit. Every person of experience cautioned mo to be careful, and I had nevertheless met with no loss, and had effected the passage of the swamp and approach to the kainga undiscovered. We had scarcely a sound garment to any twenty men, and had worked through several nights and fourteen consecutive days of all weathers. I had become confident in the men whoso military bush education had been intrusted to me, and they were, I know, eager to engage and bitterly vexed at being restrained. I only hope I have done this much good: that I have proved how faithful we are to our ideas of fair-plny, that even under temptation we shall never depart from them. There is the Ngutu still to examine, but I feel so little confidenco in Taharangi's information that I expect to find no enemy there. I shall shortly visit your district, which you are perhaps aware is now placed under my command ; and I think a few minutes' conversation with you and Mr. Parris will enable us to form better plans than a ton of correspondence. I go to-morrow, perhaps, for one day, to Wellington to consult with the Ministry on the subject of the further prosecution of this campaign. A steamer will also call to bring you more arms. I have, &c, Gr. S. WniTMOIUO, Major Brown, New Plymouth. Colonel.

No. 8. Copy of a Letter from His Honor 11. E. Richmond and Mr. R. Paekts to Colonel Whitmoee. Sin, — New Plymouth, 27th March, 1869. We hare the honor to inform you that yesterday morning a memorandum was submitted to us by Major Brown as to a proposed movement of 250 men from this place, along the mountain line, to intercept Titokowaru, and at the same time Major Brown allowed us to see your letter in which you strongly urge that this step should be taken. Although aware that a certain amount of risk would be involved by this movement of implicating in the present struggle some of the tribes on the borders of this settlement who have hitherto preserved a neutral attitude, we did not at first consider the risk so great as to justify us in offering any opposition to the proposed movement. But from the very strong opinion expressed by Ihaia, Teira of Waitara, and by Mahau, that 'by so doing

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OPERATIONS AGAINST REBEL NATIVES.

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we should involve not only the Ngatiawas living near the mountain line, which was to be expected, and who are few in number, but also tho Taranaki Native 3 on our southern frontier, we have with the greatest reluctanca felt it oar duty to adviso that you should be again communicated with before such a step is taken. As we understand that a copy of a memorandum on the subject giving the chief grounds of our advice has been forwarded to you by Major Brown, it will be unnecessary to repeat what is there said, and need only add, that if even you should not be satisfied that these grounds were sufficient, we trust you will acquit u-s from any real indifference to the duty of assisting you in your operations against Titokowaru, and will believe that only a souso that greater evil was likely to result from the proposed movement than you could bo aware of when proposing it, would have induced us to give advice in many ways most repugnant to our feelings. We have, &c, H. E. EicmioND, Superintendent. The Hon. Colonel Whitmore, E. Paetcts, Commanding Colonial Forces, Patea. Civil Commissioner.

No. 9. Copy of a Letter from His Honor 11. R. EicnMos"D to Mr. C. E. Haucihton. Superintendent's Office, Sir,— ■ New Plymouth, 2nd April, 1869. I have the honor to forward herewith copies of correspondence, as per schedule, relative to a proposal to move part of the forces of this district to the aid of Colonel Whitmore, who was at To Ngacrc, with the Colonial forces in the Patca District. It will be seen by Major Brown's memorandum of the 26th March, that Mr. Parris and myself both assented to the proposal of Colonel Whitmore, to march a force from this district by wav of the mountain road to Te Ngaere ; and as Major Brown asked Mr. Parris to assist him to get fifty Natives for the expedition, he sent for lhaia, Teira, and Mahau, for the purpose of arranging for that number of Natives. On arriving in town, Mr. Parris explained to them the proposed expedition, when they all three of them most earnestly and emphatically warned us that if we sent the forces through the neutral district of the Ngatiawas, without being led there by the enemy, after the understanding which had been arrived at with the Ngatiawa and Taranaki Tribes, we should upset everything that has been done with them to secure the neutrality of their respective districts as against Titokowaru and Ngatimaniapoto, and drive them again into hostilities. This declaration, made by three chiefs who have stood by the Government through many years of difficulties, was considered sufficient reason for reconsidering tho approval given by Mr. Parris aud myself to Major Brown's memorandum submitted to us, and which, after a consultation with Major Brown and four other gentlemen called in for the purpose (Major Stapp, Provincial Secretary, Mr. Thomas King, and Mr. Chilman), led to the withdrawal of the previously given approval, and to tho subsequent correspondence with Major Brown and Colonel Whitmore. It is, of course, quite possible that the expedition might have proceeded without any evil resulting; but it seemed inexpedient at this critical juncture to risk making enemies of tribes who, for some time past, have shown an increasing tendency to keep quiet, and who, from their position, might inflict grievous losses on our settlement, but are not likely ever to take up arms against us if success should attend our operations henceforward against more formidable enemies, such as the Ngatimaniapoto and Ngaliruanui. On the day after our advice was given against the intended movement letters arrived from Colonel Whitmore countermanding it, on the ground that it was probable Titokowaru had left the Ngaere. There is, however, much reason to believe that he is still there, and that Ilapuroua's influence has prevented him from obtaining a refuge in the Ngatimaru District. I enclose a copy of a minute, taken by Major Brown, of lhaia's statements on this subject. I have further tho honor to inform you that three Natives, who went up to Mokau about a week ago to accompany More, the Waikato " peace-maker," on his way northwards, arrived at Urenui on Friday, bringing intelligence that a considerable war party was at Mokau, and further stating that the murders at White Cliff's were approved by Tawhiao. I have not myself had an, opportunity of seeing any of these men, but they have been examined by lhaia, of Waitara, and the enclosed minute, taken also by Major Brown, gives the substance of what they report. News of this was immediately forwarded to Colonel Whitmore and Mr. Parris, who went to Opunake on Friday afternoon; and letters from Colonel Whitmore were received back yesterday morning, stating that, under the circumstances, operations against Titokowaru would probably be suspended, and that he should come to "Waitara by the mountain road with his main body, and send up camp equipage and a detachment of men by the " Sturt." I also enclose for your information a minute of evidence as to tho war party at Mokau, taken before the Hon. J. C. Eichmond. No further news has been received to this date ; and as the " Airedale" brought no report as to the King having sanctioned the murders, it is probable that it is untrue. I have, &c, H. K. EICHMOND, The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. (Superintendent.

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MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST REBEL NATIVES

Enclosure 1 in No. 9. Ihaia and Mahau came to the Militia Office at 2 p.m. this day. Ihaia states that three Natives, Te Wetu, Neretini, and Nuku arrived at about half-past, 11 lastnight at Waitara, having left Mokau the night before, whither they had gone with More and his party. They report that there are 400 Ngatimaniapoto there, principally young men, under Tikaokao, Te Hiatari Wakahoekoe, Wetere, Karauti Te Kuri Taunui, Wata Taonui, and others ; they stated that it was their intention to come from time to time to Pukearuhe to see if the Pakeha was attempting to occupy it, and if so, to drive him from it. Te "Wakahoekoe speke, and said the sword was now drawn ; that when the settlers at White Cliff's were killed the King was informed of it, that the Captain was killed, his wife was killed, and the children were killed, others were killed, and the Eev. Mr. Whitelcy and his horse ; the wedding ring taken from Mrs. Gascoigne's body was shown to the King, the watch taken from Mr. Whitely was shown to the King, and also the saddle taken from the horse was shown to him. The King then rubbed himself all over witli kokowai, and went out and spoke: —" Gold has been found at Tongariro, and a road is being made to Tongariro ; let three hundred men go to Tongariro, let three hundred men go to Kawhia, let three hundred men go to Hangitiki, let two hundred men go to Kitukihi, let two hundred men go to Mokau." " Na te kingi a no te Waka aetanga kia mate nga Pakeha ki Pukearuhe, na te kingi ano te wakaro kia whawhaia ireira, kua puto te ruri ki Tongariro." 3rd April, 18G9. C. Bkowk, Major. P.S.—lhaia recommends that ambushes bo laid between Mimi and Pukearuhe to catch Ngatimaniapoto. Te Huatare then rose up and said, " What shall be done with Searancke?" and the King answered, "He comes and he goes ; he can be disposed of." Ihaia states that Ilapurona has compelled some twenty Ngatimaru Natives, who left Titokowaru to return to him at Te Ngaere (where Titokowaru has three pas), and refuses them refuge in Ngatimaru; and a Native named Wati (of the Kawau, Ngatituparekino) is wounded in the head (jaw) at Te Jvgaere ; also a Ngatimaru Native of influence ; that Titokowaru has three pas in Te Ngaere. 3rd April, 18G9. C. Browx, Major. P.S.- —Ihaia explains Hapurona's influence being strong enough to keep Titokowaru and his people out of Ngatimaru; that all the Ngatiawa and a section of the .Ngatimaru are agreed on this point, and that the others are not strong enough to break the compact, or fear to attempt it.

Enclosure 2 in No. 9. MnfOBANSTJU of Evidence taken before the Hon. J. C. Eiciimojtd. sth April, 18G9. Neretini (Nelson), brother of Rcvpata Ngarongomatc, who accompanied More to Mokau, reports that there were four chiefs at Mokau ; he said three, the other was inland. The names of these chiefs were :— (1.) Tikaokao, alias Tawhana. (2.) Eeiliana, alias Te Wakahoehoe, alias To Huatare. (3.) Karauti, alias Te Atua, alias Te Kuri Taunui. (4.) Wetere. "When More met them, "Wetere said, " The killing at Pukcaruhe is not mine ; it is Tawhiao's." More contradicted him, and they continued arguing about it till evening, when they went into a where. Eeiliana then snid: Listen, More: After you went away I went to Tokangamutu. I heard what Tawhiao said in his house. lie said, "I am caught, lam caught, by Mackay and Louis (Hettit), by their evil conduct in opening a store at Tokangamutu, and making a bridge at Taupo; they arc the worst men in the world." 1 (Kcihana) answered, "In the morning I will kill Mackay and Louis." Tawhiao said, " Suppose you do, there are plenty more to be caught." I said, " Yes, there arc more at Pukearuhe." Eeiliana went on to say, that after the massacre at White Cliffs a letter was sent to Tawhiao informing him of it. After receiving it he rubbed himself with "kokowai," put on a " koko," and took up a "taiaha," and coming outside his house called on Ngatimaniapoto, Wnikato. Ngatiruanui, Wanganui, Urewera, &c. He said Waikato and Ngatimaniapolo were to be ready for blood; Taupo, Urewera, and Wanganui to wash themselves clean. lie flourished his "taiaha." and made a blow with it; then, laying it on the ground, he ordered the other four tribes (Waikato, Wanganui, Ngatiruanui, and Urewera) to rest. To Ngatimanaipoto he said, "This is not my work; Ngatimauiapoto have brought it to me. Let 300 go to Mokau, and 300 stay at Tokangamutu." This was all the talk in the house at Mokau. More said he should go on to see Tawhiao. He sent back no message to Mr. Parris, and did not say anything to me before we parted about what Eeihana had said.