PAPERS RELATIVE TO NATIVE AFFAIRS ON THE WEST COAST.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1869 Session I, A-13

A.—No. 13.

PAPERS RELATIVE TO NATIVE AFFAIRS ON THE WEST COAST.

(Return to an Order of the House of Representatives, of Tuesday, the Bth day of June, 1869.) " That there be laid on the Table of this House, Copies of all Correspondence between the Government and Mr. Commissioner Parris, during the year ending this day." (Mr. Fox.)

WELLINGTON.

1869.

A.—No. 1&.

No. 1. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Mr. G. S. Coopee. (No. 92.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 23rd April, 1869. I have the honor to forward herewith for your perusal a copy of a letter which has been received by the chief Porikapa, who lives in the Taranaki District, about ten miles north of Warea, in reference to the late murder of Rev. Mr. Whiteley, at Pukearuhe. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Hnder Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure in No. 1. This is a valedictory Letter to our old friend the Rev. Mr. Whiteley, who suffered by foul crime. 0 Mothee, Mes. Whitelet, — Waima Hokianga, 15th March, 1869. Salutations to you. This is a word expressive of our kindly feelings towards you. 0, Mother, salutations to you, the face of your husband, of that is to say, of our parent Mr. Whiteley, who has passed away from before our eyes. Here are we dwelling in grief at this place in consequence of the evil-shedding of the blood of the servant of God. Salutations to you all. This portion is addressed to the Maoris who have remained constant to the Q.ucen and the Church of God. Friends, Porikapa, and all of you who are dwelling there, in the region in which our parent Mr. Whiteley, salutations to you. This is our word to you : why is it that you allow that kumara plot to be overgrown by that baneful weed the totaea; why do you not dig up those evil weeds and cast them forth, in order that the kumaras may grow properly? This is a figurative expression* —" Paripari nunui, paripari hohoro, haere kite wi, haere kite wa, puhia to tai etc Parata ki uta." If you see these words write that we may know, and so that you and we may go together to root out the weeds from that plantation. This is a word of farewell to the person who is dead, and also to all tho others who were murdered. Farewell, Father, Mr. Whiteley, borne hence by the barbarous fato of this life. Although you were borne hence by an evil death, you have attained to eternal life with your Father in Heaven. Tour blood, cruelly shed, must be laid upon your murderers the Hauhaus. Mother (Mrs. Whiteley), salutations to you and your children. Here end the words of love to you. Moni Tawhai Matongahau. This lament for Mr. Whiteley is from the whole of the Ngapuhi. He pukapuka poroporoaki tenci mo to matou matua tawhito mo te Waitere, minita i mate nei i te hara kino. E. Whae c Mata Waiteee, — Waima, Hokianga, Maehe 15, 1869. Tena koe. He kupu mini atu teneina matou ke a koe. E Whae tena ra ko koe te kanohi orai tou hoa ara i to matou matua i a te Waitere kua pahure atu nei ia i o tatou aroaro. Tenei matou kei te noho pouri i tenei wahi, mo te whakahekenga kinotanga o nga toto o te pononga a te Atua. E Mata tena ko koe. E nga Minita katoa o nga Hahi ote Atua, tena koutou. Xi nga Maori tenei c piri nei ki ate Kuini kite Hahi hoki ote Atua. E hoa ma c Porikapa c koutou katoa c noho mai neii roto ite mate o to tatou matua o te Waitere. Tena ko koutou. Tenei ta matou kupu ki a koutou he aha ka waihotonu ai c koutou tena maara kumara kia ngaromia ana c tena taru kinc c te totaea, te ngakia atu ena taru kino ka akiri atu ai ki tahaki kia pai ai te tupu a te kumara ? He whakatauki tenei; Paripari nunui paripari hohoro, haere kite wi, haere kite wa, puhia to tai c te parata ki uta. Mehemea ka kite koutou i enei kupu tuhituhi iho kia matau ai matou kia haere tahi atu tatou ki te ngaki i nga taru o tena mara. He kupu poropoaki tenei kite tangata mate ara ki nga tangata katoa i haere i runga i te hara kohuru. Haere atu araePa c te Waitere i runga ite mate kino o tenei ao ahakoa i haere koe i runga i te mate kino kua tae atu koe kite oranga tonutanga i to Matua i te rangi, ko ou toto i whakahekea kinotia nei me hipoki ki runga i te hunga kohuru ara i te Hauhau. E tai c Mata tena koutou ko o tamariki. Heoi ano nga korero aroha atu ki a koe. Na Mom Tawhai Matongahau. Na Ngapuhi katoa tenei tangi mo te Waitere. * This is an incantation made use of by the Tohungas in olden time, when f lie favour of the Deity was required to be evoked in order that an unusually large war party might gather, and that so, whilst, the doomed people should be scattering to hide themselves in the wi and the wa, i.e. wherever they could, the war party might rush on after them like the great surges of the ocean, and destroy them.

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No. 2. Copy of a Letter from Mr. G. S. Coopee to Mr. R. Paeeis. (No. 83-2.) Sic,— Native Office, Wellington, 13th May, 1869. I have the honour to enclose the copy of a letter from Mr. Booth, R.M., reporting the detention of a Ngaire chief named Te Ika, by Lieut.-Colonel Lyon. Colonel Haultain has directed that Te Ika shall be detained in custody until something further has been ascertained as to his intentions, and I am to request that you will supply any information you may be in possession of regarding this man to the Government. The Chief Iraia, of Manutahi, was shot by the Ngatiporou, on a late expedition up the Patea River, with three others of the rebels. I am to request that you will caution Ngahina as to his conduct in reference to the men belonging to Te Ngaire. I have, &c., R. Parris, Esq., Civil Commissioner, G. S. Coopee, Taranaki. Under Secretary.

No. 3. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. J. C. Richmond to Mr. R. Paeeis. (No. 95-2.) Sic,— Wellington, 25th May, 1869. The Government have learned in a letter from Mr. Booth, that Tukino with a party of about 100 men, women, and children of the Tangahoe, lately with Titokowaru, are now at Pariaka with Te Whiti and the Taranaki Tribe. Peniamine Tuhaka and Hatiuria Houkamau, two chiefs of the Ngatiporou, now in Wellington, state that the Ngatiporou Constabulary recently pursued to tho Waingongoro River, and that in their opinion they mean to surrender. Under these circumstances, and as I gather from your letter of the 28th April, to the Hon. the Defence Minister, that others of the rebels from time to time wish to come in, it is proper that you should be clearly informed of the intentions of the Government in such cases. Two conditions must be insisted on —First, a number of serviceable guns proportioned to the number of men must be given up ; secondly, the surrenderors must settle in such places, and under such of tho chiefs, as may be appointed by the Government. The number of guns to be required I will not limit strictly. It will be your duty to find out what is possible in each case, but the spirit of the condition must in every case be substantially fulfilled. The mode of securing compliance with tho second condition will require careful consideration, and you will receive a further communication on the subject. The above conditions are not offered to any of those who were part of the men with Titokowaru in the first instance, who are therefore implicated in the atrocities perpetrated on the men murdered at Ketemarae and Waihi, or on the wounded who fell into the rebels' hands at Ngutu-o-te-Manu. With respect to Tukino's party I feel considerable confidence, remembering the circumstances under which they joined Titokowaru, that a surrender on their part, if made, will be sincere. They should be required for the present to live in the neighbourhood of Oeo, or of the seaward reserves for the Tangahoe within the Military Settlers' Block. They must be placed under Hone Pihama and Natanahira Ngaliina. A roll should be made of their names, and the chiefs should ascertain by a muster periodically that they are fulfilling the second condition. The Government calculate that Hone and Ngahina will exert themselves, should the party return to their allegiance, in confirming their good dispositions. It must be understood that in asking those chiefs to take a charge of their tribe, they will not be left destitute of food by reason of the large increase of numbers thus thrust upon the loyal party under them. The surrendered men will be supplied with sufficient food to keep them from being a burden on their relatives, in terms of work to be done upon the roads in their neighbourhood. The Government will be glad to receive any propositions from yourself or Mr. Booth as to the mode of dealing with these cases, and will attentively consider any addition to, or modification of, the terms proposed above. They will look to you to see that the grace offered is not extended, for the present, to individuals excluded by these instructions. Those who accept the terms must understand that their renewed rebellion has forfeited all claims to the lands formerly reserved for them, and that the re-acquisition of any part must be the result of some considerable term of steady continuance in orderly and peaceful behaviour. I have, &c, R. Parris, Esq., Civil Commissioner, Taranaki. J. C. Richmond.

No. 4. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to the Hon. the Native Ministee. (No. 177.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 15th June, 1868. His Excellency's Government will no doubt be in possession of the unhappy news from Patea before this leHer can reach Wellington, in reference to the murder of three Europeans at Ketemarae by a party of ten of the Ngutu-o-te-Manu Natives. As soon as it was known that these unfortunate men had been waylaid and murdered. Wirernu Hukanui, of Te Kauwae, sent off immediately to Hone Pihama at Oeo, and Hone Pihama sent word to Wiremu Kingi o Umuroa, requesting him to recommend any Europeans that might be coming along tho coast from New Plymouth on their

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way to Patea to return or remain at Opunake, until ho, Hone Pihama, had been to Waihi to ascertain further particulars in reference to the murders. On Thursday last Wiremu Kingi came along the coast and met three Europeans on their way to Patea, when he told them of the news he had received from Hone Pihama, and recommended them to return, which advice they adopted, and arrived in New Plymouth Friday evening with the news, without the particulars. On Saturday evening Hone Pihama arrived from Waihi direct, from whom we obtained full particulars, and also brought letters from Mr. Booth and others. Two gentlemen had got so far as Oeo when the news was received there (Mr. Richmond Hursthouse and a Mr. Ilaigh). Hone Pihama stopped them at his place until he had been himself to Waihi, and on returning therefrom he sent two men with them so far as Waingongoro. As Hone Pihama was coming along the Taranaki coast ho saw several parties of the different sections of tho Natives of that district, with whom he conversed about the murders, when all of them professed their astonishment and disapproval. Yesterday I sent Mahau inland of Mataitawa to see a party of returned rebels, who came there to settle last season. They had not heard of the murders, and pronounced it to bo an act of the Ngutu-o-te-Manu Natives, without any reference whatever to other tribes. They promised Mahau to keep him informed of any movements which would be likely to disturb the settlers about Mataitawa, Te Arei, and Manutahi, which they said was not likely to take place, as it was not a concerted plan of any other tribes for an "Aranga mo te patu" (a rising to slay). I have sent to Taranaki for Patara, from whom I hope to ascertain what effect it is likely to have upon the late disaffected tribes of the Taranaki district. More and party, from Tokangamutu, are still inland of Warea, and I have sent them a message through Patara, recommending them to como through the town when they return North, as More censured the Ngutu-o-te-Manu Natives for taking the horses of Europeans. Tahana, one of our Assessors, leaves to-day with Hone Pihama for Te Kauwae, for the purpose of obtaining information as to the complicity of Titokowaru in the murder of the three Europeans, and also any other information which might be useful as to their future intentions, because it is currently reported that the three unfortunate Europeans were murdered to revenge the treatment of some of their people when the restitution of the stolen horses was attempted, which report, if untrue, should be contradicted, in order to check a growing sympathy for the perpetrators of such diabolical murders. This unfortunate occurrence will tend to make our out-settlers feel very insecure and uncomfortable, but I will use all vigilance in obtaining information as to tho probability of its affecting the security of this district. I have, &c, The Hon. Minister for Native Affairs, R. Paeeis, Wellington. Civil Commissioner. P.S.—I have received letters from the Tangahoe Tribe and from Te Kauwae Natives, promising to protect the settlers, and Mr. Booth has informed me that the Pakakohis have promised to do the same. —R.P.

No. 5. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to the Hon. the Native Ministee. (No. 192.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 29th June, 1868. I have the honor to report, for the information of His Excellency's Government, that during the past week there has been considerable excitement in this district, caused by a report that the Mataitawa settlers had been ordered to leave the district by Natives living at Kairoa, close to a settler by namo Davis. On Wednesday last I went to Manutahi and Kairoa, accompanied by His Honor the Superintendent, Mahau, Tahana, Kipa, and a policeman, for the purpose of ascertaining what had given rise to the report, when we found that Mrs. Davis had been talking to the Natives about the murders at Ketemarae, and expressed some fear of their own safety in that district; in answer to which, the Native Tamati Teito told her that if she was greatly afraid, she could go with her fear. The husband, Mr. Davis, mentioned what had taken place to some settlers nearer Manutahi, when a report was got up which alarmed the district, to the effect that the settlers had been warned off by armed Natives ; and later, it was reported that some of Davis's family had been killed. Some of the Manutahi settlers recommended Mr. Davis to bring away his wife and family, and on Monday they commenced to pack up some things to leave, when the Natives finding that they meant it, stopped them, and recommended them to remain until they had heard from me. Tamati Teito wrote me a short letter in answer to one I had sent him, and sent it by Matiu of the Hua, who with others was on a visit to the Kairoa Natives at the time. He also sent me a message, that as the Pakehas were afraid, they were also afraid that we should be sending forces into the district, and make it unpleasant to live there. Mr. Davis and his wife, both of them, spoke in the highest terms of the behaviour of the Natives at Kairoa since they have been living there for the last year, but fancied their manner had been slightly different since tho affair of the murders at Ketemarae; an imaginary feeling quite excusable under the circumstances, but so far as I could discover, there was not the slightest ground for it. The Natives assured us that they were of opinion that the Ngaruahine Natives at Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu would not come into that district; that if they did, they would endeavour to give the settlers timely warning. The same day, as we were at Kairoa, the Pukerangiora Natives came in with Mr. Ivey to see me about a road that gentleman wants through their reserve. These Natives were very much surprised to hear the report current in the town about the settlers having been ordered away. The chief Nepe is also of opinion that the Southern Natives will not bring hostilities into the district of the Ngatiawas without their sanction, which, so far as ho knew at present, would not be given. I have engaged him to go inland and see Hapurona and his people, to find out what their feeling is in reference to the late murders and to hostilities being brought into this district. 2

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PAPERS RELATIVE TO NATIVE

The Taranaki Natives have been holding a meeting during the past week, which was attended by the Ketemarae Natives, Ahitana's party —about twenty of them —and also More and his party from Tokangamutu. The young chief Te Whiti addressed the meeting, and said that there had been an understanding that hostilities should cease, that there should be no more killing of Europeans or Natives, and that Titokowaru and his people were parties to the agreement; that this agreement had been broken by the Ngutu-o-te-Manu Natives, who had murdered Europeans, which would be the cause of more trouble ; that if any of the Taranaki Natives had great love for the Ngutu-o-te-Manu Natives, and wished to join them, now was the time to speak. No one at the meeting having expressed a wish to go, Te Whiti told them that if any went they must not come back again, but remain away for the future. He then addressed himself to his own people, who were in the habit of going to the beach, telling them that complaints had been made of their interference with Europeans travelling along the coast. He warned them against a repetition of the offence, and told them that any one in future so offending should be given up. This is a sort of threat a chief would hold out to his young people, but too good to be realized I am afraid as yet. On Friday I accompanied His Honor the Superintendent to the Okato District, and from the information received respecting the meeting of the Taranaki Natives we were able to assure the settlers that they need not be under any apprehension of danger on account of what had happened in the Ngatiruanui District, so far as we had been able to ascertain, but that, should the question assume a more unfavourable appearance, we hoped to be able to give them timely warning. Permit me to assure you, Sir, that I will do my best to keep myself informed of any probable change likely to take place as regards the views of other tribes in reference to the unfortunate murders at Ketemarae, which I am convinced was purely a local affair, and not a concerted one for a general renewal of hostilities, but of course no one can foresee what will arise out of it. I have, &c., The Hon. Minister for Native Affairs, R. Paeeis, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 6. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to the Hon. the Native Ministee. (No. 197.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 4th July, 1868. Reverting to your confidential letter of 29th May, in reference to Patara's proposal to go to the East Coast, I have the honor to inform you that in consequence of what has occurred in the Ngatiruanui District, the Taranaki Natives have been rather excited and have been holding meetings which appear to have terminated favorably. This state of things has prevented me doing anything in the matter you referred to with Patara ; and in fact I should be sorry to send him out of the district until we see what the upshot of our new difficulties is to be. I have this day received a letter from Patara, a copy of which I beg to enclose herewith, in which he states that it is uncertain whether More aud party from Tokangamutu will return to the North by way of the town of New Plymouth, or the way they came by way of Ngatimaru. His letter also implies that any tribe which is guilty of an offence must take the responsibility of it upon themselves: that others will not support them. He states also that he has sent to Titokowaru to ask what was the cause of their being guilty of the late murders. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. R. Paeeis, Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure in No. 6. Xi A Paeete,— Whakairi, Hune 30th, 1868. Tena koe, korua ko te Retimona me nga hoa aroha. Kua tae mai to reta, kaore au ite mohio i haere atu ranei a More i waho na i tika ano ranei i uta E hoa waiho ki a Titoko tana mahi o kore au c haere ki tena mahi, kite mahi aTe Whiti, ki aia tana mahi, c kore au o rere ki taua mahi; kite kohuru au maku anake taku kino, kaore aTe Whiti c rere mai ki taku he. Kia tae mai taku tamaiti kua riro kia Titoko kite patai i te take o tenei kohuru, he aha rate take kia tae mai lea haere atu ahau. Na to hoa aroha, Na Pataea Raukatauei.

[TRANSLATION.] To Paeeis,— Whakairi. 30th June, 1868. Salutations to you and Mr. Eichmond, and to the loving friends. Tour letter has been received. Ido not know whether More will go by the coast or inland. O friend, leave to Titoko his own work ; I will not go to that work, to the work of "Whiti —leave his work to himself. I will rush into that work; if I commit murder, let me be responsible for my own evil doings. "Whiti will not rush to take part in my faults. When my young man who has gone to Titoko to ask him the cause of this murder returns, I will go to you. l'rom your loving friend, Pataea Eaukatauei.

No. 7. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Mr. G. S. Coopee. (No. 2.13.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 27th July, 1868. I have the honor to enclose herewith, for the information of the Hon. the Minister for Native

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Affairs, a copy of a letter I have received from His Honor the Superintendent, in reference to the best means of watching over the safety of the outsettlers of this district, during the present unsettled state of affairs in the Ngatiruanui country; and also a copy of my reply thereto. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure 1 in No. 7. Copy of a Letter from His Honor Mr. 11. R. Richmond to Mr. R. Paeeis. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 17th July, 1868. As the disturbances in the Patea District naturally render the out settlers here uneasy as to their own safety, especially those on the Okato Block, and as it most necessary that, if there should be any indications of a spreading of the disturbances, northwards, the earliest notice should be given to those settlers to enable them to place their families, &c, in safety, and to assemble in one spot for the purpose of defence, I have the honor to request that, if it lies in your power to do so, you will place a few trustworthy Natives living near the southern boundary of the settlement on pay, in order that they may be specially employed in watching the movements of those Natives in the neighbourhood who have been until lately opposed to the Government, and may keep you and the Provincial Government informed from day to day of all they may see or hear of the movements or intentions of those Natives. I have no doubt that this course will give far more real safety to the out settlers than would be afforded by a much larger number of our own men stationed in the district for the purpose of defence ; and at the same time I feel that, if we ask any of the Natives to devote their time wholly to obtaining information, so as to warn us of any impeding danger, it is only right that they should receive pay for their trouble. I have, &c., H. R. Richmond, R. Parris, Esq., Civil Commissioner, New Plymouth. Superintendent.

Enclosure 2 in No. 7. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to His Honor Mr. H. R. Richmond. (No. 211.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 24th July, 1868. With reference to your letter of the 17th instant, received on the 20th instant at my office, during my absence in the district south, visiting the Taihua Natives living near Warea, I have the honor to inform you that I am doing everything in my power to keep myself informed of the state of feeling of the late disaffected Natives in this district, in reference to the late outrages and disturbances in the Patea District. Permit me, Sir, to assure you that I thoroughly sympathize with the outsettlers in the present uncertain state of things, for it is impossible for any one to foresee what complications may arise out of the resumption of hostilities by a small section of the Natives of the Province. It is equally difficult to decide, under the circumstances, what would be the most judicious steps to take for the protection of the out-settlers. The Taranaki and Ngatiawa Tribes, up to the present time, declare they will take no part with the Ngutu-o-te-Manu Natives, whose atrocities they profess to condemn ; and, as these two tribes occupy the districts in front of the Okato, Mataitawa, and Tikorangi Military Settlers' settlements, I am of opinion that no danger need bo apprehended from a retirement of the Ngutu-o-te-Manu Natives into those districts, unless driven there by our forces, of which we should get timely warning. I am, however, of opinion that it would be well to decide upon some arrangement which could be brought into immediate action in case of anything happening which might render it necessary for the settlers to assume a defensive attitude in the districts referred to, for it would be a lamentable disaster for us to abandon any part of the district our settlers are now occupying. As regards the Pukearuhe Settlement near the White Cliffs, its future quietude is mainly dependent on the Ngatimaniapoto Tribe, which tribe, so far as I know, has not exhibited any signs of an intention to resume hostilities; but, should they do so, and turn their attention to that part, it is quite certain the few settlers that are there would have to abandon the place unless the blockhouse was occupied by not less than twenty-five men on pay. I am, however, afraid that if we commence to occupy the blockhouses with small detachments of Militiamen before there has been any overt act of hostility on the part of the Natives of this district, they will take it as a signal for them to do likewise, in the belief that we were preparing for a resumption of general hostilities. I have not put any Natives on pay, as suggested by your Honor, hoping to obtain information without it, as the Natives living on our borders have promised to let me know at once should they hear of any alteration in the state of the late disaffected tribes, in which case further precautionary measures would be necessary. I have, Ac., R. Paeeis, His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. Civil Commissioner.

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No. 8. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to the Hon. the Native Ministee. (No. 220.) ' Sic,— New Plymouth, 3rd August, 1868. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a circular letter dated Bth July, from the Native Secretary's Office, respecting information of a very unfavourable nature, which has been received by the Government in reference to the intentions of the Natives of the King party. I will do my utmost to obtain information in reference to the subject referred to, but up to the present time I am unable to get a clue to anything confirmatory of tho reports, but it is quite possible for any deep scheme for a sudden rising to be beyond my detection. More, the Native often mentioned in my reports as a travelling emissary from the head-quarters of the King party at Tokangamutu, has been stopping with the Taranaki Natives in the Warea District ever since his arrival from tho North, about two months ago. Wiremu Kingi te Rangitake, of Waitara, has also been stopping at the same place for the last year and a half and for some time past his own people, who arc living in tho Kirikinga District, by the Waitara River, towards Ngatimaru, have been very anxious for him to return to them ; and when More and his party last came from the North, about ten of the Ngatiawa Natives, Wiremu Kingi Rangitake's followers, accompanied More from Kirikiringa to Taranaki for the purpose of inducing him to return. Teira, of Waitara, whose wife is a Taranaki woman, has been for the last month stopping at Opunake, he and his wife, on a visit to their relatives. About a fortnight ago Wiremu Kingi Rangitake and his followers, in company with More and some others, left the Warea District to return North, and went by way of Opunake; but before arriving at the latter place, Wiremu Kingi Rangitake sent on a message to Teira, telling him that ho would rather not see hint the first time at that place, but in their own district. On arriving at Opunake they halted there and while food was being prepared for them, the Ngatiawa Natives expressed a wish to see Teira, and among them was W. Kingi's grandson, Eruera Kingi. W. Kingi raised no objection to his people seeing Teira, but declined to himself, and moved off some distance from them. More went to Teira, who was stopping in a house in the village, and explained to him that his relations wished to see him, but that his (Tuakau) brother, W. Kingi, would rather see him first in their own district. Teira went out of the house to meet them, when a long taugi (crying match) ensued, and the meeting was a very friendly one, after which More addressed Teira and the Opunake Natives respecting the proceedings of Titokowaru and tho late outrages in the Ngatiruanui District. More stated that when he last came from the North, whilst at To Ngutu-o-te-Manu, he had some unpleasantness with Titokowaru and his people, he having reproved them for the action they had taken in reference to tho settler's horses, mentioning that he had brought a proclamation from the King (More and party arrived there from the North at tho time the horses were being demanded by Mr. Booth, before the murders were committed). In reply to More's reproof and mention of the King's proclamation, the Ngutu-o-te-Manu Natives commenced the performance of a " haka " derisive of the Maori King, which More construed into a curse. Whilst the " haka " was being performed, More and his party commenced karakia (worship), both things going on at the same time for a great part of the day and through the night up to 3 o'clock a.m. (a perfect bedlam for the time, I have no doubt). After the trial of each party to weary the other, and when the uproar was discontinued, Titokowaru asked More to produce his proclamation, which he refused, telling him they had cursed the KinsMore told the Opunake Natives that if the Governor did not extend his operations beyond Titokowaru (beyond his district), that he, Titokowaru, would very soon have occasion to be ashamed of his evil works, for he will have no support. That is the interpretation of what More said, by the Natives who heard it. I will, however, put what he said in Maori, as it was related to me: —" Mehemea kahore ano te Kawana i te wakanui tana mahi ki a Titokowaru ka wakama ia mo tona hara, kahore he tuara Mona." From all I can learn up to the present time, it appears to be tho decision of other tribes not to support Titokowaru; but I am afraid that if he obtains a few more advantages, such as Turu-Turu-Mokai attack, and tho atttack on the convoy last Wednesday, that other tribes might feel themselves at liberty to alter their decision in the matter. A short time before the murders at Ketemarae a few of the Ngatimaru Natives had gono to Ngutu-o-te-Manu to be tatooed, a custom very much revived of late. On hearing from Hone Pihama that they were there, I communicated as early as possible with the chief Nepetarima, Hapurona's uncle, who lives inland of Pukerangiora. After consulting with him about the chances of the late outbreak spreading, which he was of opioion would not bo the case, unless the Government extended it itself, he agreed to go inland through the Ngatimaru District, to consult with Hapurona, and ascertain what tho feeling of the Natives of the district was. Last week he returned, with a most favourable account. The Ngatimaru Natives sent for their people who had gone to To Ngutu-o-te-Manu, and brought them away. They also stated that they would have nothing whatever to do with Titokowaru's proceedings. A small party from Ngatimaru arrived at Waitara a few days ago, on a visit to their relatives at that place. Hapurona requested Nepetarima to tell me, that if Titokowaru's followers came into the Ngatiawa District he should order them away. That for two years, whilst hostilities were being carried on in the Ngatiruanui and other districts, he (Hapurona) had refused to sanction any offensive operations by his people in the Ngatiawa District (this is perfectly true and I have often reported it), and that he should continue to do so now. The Taranaki Natives continue quiet, and are very civil to people travelling between New Plymouth and Opunake. A party of Natives, over twenty, arrived from Te Kauae (Manaia's people) last week, with fifty head of cattle for sale. They are chiefly young men, and most of them purpose remaining

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in this district, as they say they are afraid to stop at Te Kauae. They have relatives here with whom they will stop. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 9. Memorandum for Mr. Richmond. Dueing the excitement consequent upon the late atrocities committed by the Ngutu-o-te-Manu Natives, and until the Government have succeeded in inflicting a severe punishment on the offenders, I am of opinion that it would be injudicious to do anything towards surveying any of the confiscated lands, either in the Ngatiawa District north of Turanga, in the Taranaki District, south of Hungatahua, or in the Patea and Waitotara District, for if a dispute arose, which under the most favourable circumstances, is invariably the case in the apportionment of Native awards, it might be taken advantage of as a pretext for the committal of some crime or other. None of tho grantees are put to any, or but very little, inconvenience by the delay, which they must know is occasioned by the conduct of some of the Natives, and not by any neglect on the part of the Government. The survey of the awards to Natives in the Oakura Block could be furnished whenever funds are available for the expense of a surveyor. There is also a 700 acre block between tho Waitara township and Matarikoriko, which has to be subdivided into small allotments for the Waitara Natives; this could be done, in fact should be done, as these Natives want to know their respective portions, in order to cultivate it, having none other but town land on the south side of Waitara to cultivate. R. Paeeis, New Plymouth, 3rd August, 1868. Civil Commissioner.

No. 10. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to the Hon. the Native Ministee. (No. 223.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 3rd August, 1868. I have the honor to enclose herewith a copy of a letter I received by the last mail from Natanahira, of Matangarara, representing that they are living in fear in consequence of being accused by Europeans of hostilities towards them, and requesting me to go and see them. I have been repeatedly requested by the Natives to go to the district to see them, but I have declined to go unless instructed by the Government to do so. I certainly do feel for those Natives, who, I am convinced, wish to live in peace and quietness, but who by such treatment will, I am afraid, be worked up to a feeling of despondency and desperation, and be driven into rebellion, if they arc constantly being accused of such things as those represented in Natanahira's letter. I have, &c., R. Paeeis, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington, Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure in No. 10. Xi a Paeete, — Matangarara, Hurae 29th, 1868. E koro, tena koe. He kupu whakaatu ki a koe mo matou, kua pa te wehi ki a matou i runga i te mahi whakapae a nga Pakeha na matou i whakaeke a Turuturu. Maringa nui i Matangarara ano c moc ana a he wa i muri tata iho kua whakapae ano te Pakeha na maua ko Tito te huaki ki Patea, ko te take o tana huaki ki Patea he kahui hipi ka tahuri nga tetere ka pupuhi i te po no konei ka pa te pouri ki au ka mea au kia haere mai koe kia kite i a matou. Heoi tena. Na to Tamaiti aroha, Na Ngahina.

[teanslation.] To Paeeis, Sic,— Matangarara, July 29th, 1868. This is a word to let you know about ourselves. Fear has lighted down upon us in consequence of our having been accused by the Pakehas of attacking Turuturu. Fortunately we were sleeping at Matangarara. * * * Europeans have again said that the attack was made by Tito and myself upon Patea. The reason of the attack upon Patea was a flock of sheep; the sentries set to and fired during the night, and I felt alarmed and wished that you should come and see us. Your loving Son, NGAniNA.

No. 11. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to the Hon. the Native Ministee. (No. 235.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 12th August, 1868. In further reference to the subject of my letter of the 3rd instant, reporting the departure of Wiremu Kingi te Rangitaki and More from the Taranaki District, I have now the honor to report that I have received intelligence of their arrival at Waitara inland, in the Kirikiringa District, together 3

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with interesting particulars of their reception by Titokowaru at Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu, after they left Opunake, on their way to get to the Ngatimaru track inland of Mount Egmont. Whilst they were at Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu, Titokowaru cursed the Maori King with the following sentence: "Me kai te ra whanautanga o Matutaera, no te mea he Kingi na te tangata ehara te Kingi na te Atua." Translation : " Let the birthday of Matutaera be eaten, because his kingship was of man and not of God." So far as I can learn, tho present policy of the Tokangamutu King party is peace, but they continue to exercise great perseverance in their endeavours to secure the allegiance of wavering tribes to their cause. The messenger who brought me this information is of opinion that Wiremu Kingi te Rangitake will go with More to Tokangamutu. ********* I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 12. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to the Hon. the Native Ministee. (No. 236.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 13th August, 1868. I have the honor to forward herewith, for your information, three letters brought from the South, one from Wharematangi, and one from Patara addressed to me, and the other from Natives of Te Kauae, addressed to their people who brought cattle up here for sale, as reported in my letter No. 220, of the 3rd instant. It appears that Wiremu Kingi te Rangitake, More, Matena, and party, on their leaving Taranaki, as also reported in my letter before quoted, stopped a night at Te Kauae, and the following morning left to go to Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu. After they had gone, Manaia went to Waihi, to report their having stopped at his place, and other information which he had obtained from them. On Manaia's arriving at Waihi, he was made prisoner and put into the guard-room, and kept there for two nights. As Manaia did not return to Te Kauae his people sent a messenger to look for him, and on arriving at Waihi he (the messenger) was also made prisoner. This information and complaint was brought to me by Manaia's people, and Hore Pihama, and the cause assigned for the arrest is that stated in the letter from Te Kauae. The officer in command at Waihi might have had other reasons than those mentioned by the Natives for the arrest of Manaia, a chief who has been faithful to us ever since June, 1865, and from that time was always on the best of terms with the detachments of the Imperial forces stationed at Waingongoro, and always reported to them any information he obtained from time to time in reference to the movements of the disaffected Natives ; and on this particular occasion he appears to have lost no time in communicating to the authorities at the Waihi Camp the fact of More and party being in the district, and while performing that service was arrested and made prisoner. It is useless for me to make any comments upon the extraordinary system which appears to be in practice in the Patea District of arresting Natives, as His Excellency's Government must be fully aware of the probable result of such proceedings. I have, &c., R. Paeeis, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure 1 in No. 12. Te Hueakama Whare i Taranaki, To Paeeis,— Patea, Bth August, 1868. Friend, salutations to you. I have still the same regard to you as when we were one in heart and mind. My regard for you will not cease. Te Karira has come here, and brought your word asking why Taurua was arrested ? I ran back from Papawhero. Friend, Ido not know what his fault was ; who can fathom your motives ? Taurua went to Wellington and came back again, but Ido not know for what reason; yet I have urged upon my people to rest firmly ou that which is good, and to keep to that which was agreed to by us under the shining sun. lam sitting on McDonnell's chairs, and if lam killed for the fault of others, well: let it become a bye-word to after generations. I have also spoken to McDonnell. Should the steamer go again to New Plymouth, ask me to go thither. I am anxious to do so : it was only on account of Taurua's arrest that I for the time gave up the idea. Friend, what have you to say to me whilst all the time I am bearing with fortitude what you impose on me and my people ? May peace rest upon you. Your friend, Whaeematangi.

Enclosure 2 in No. 12. To Paeeis and Mr. Richmond, — Whakairi, sth August, 1868. Friends, salutations to you two and your runanga. We are now at peace with each other, and quietly disposed. Leave Titokowaru to do his work, and to fight single-handed against McDonnell. Friends, do not look with anxiety towards this part; there is no cause for anxiety here.

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Friends, although I have been so long in going to you, I have been long through my not having a saddle to put on my horse: that is why I have been so long. Friends, look me out a nice little saddle, and if it pleases you, give it Taihaere and Neha to bring it to me. As soon as I get it, I will go thither. Pataea Eaukataijei.

Enclosure 3 in No. 12. Sic,— Te Kauae Pa, 31st August (July ?), 1868. Salutations to you and your children; to Ngaruru, to Rawiri, to all of you. Give heed :on the 30th a fight took place at Te Mangamanga, or rather at Tau ote Rawhiti. One Pakeha only was killed. When Manaia got there the skirmish was over. He was immediately arrested by Major , who said to him, " I will arrest you in payment for my man, who has fallen and lies here." After saying that, he asked where Ngatai was. He (Manaia) replied, "In town." He then asked where Kato was, and was told in town. That was all. Now listen : the real cause for his arrest was because of More and Te Matenga having come here. They next morning left us, and went to Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu. They were there one night, and on the following day the fighting took place. That was the only reason why he was arrested. That is all I have to say to you. Te Poeimu, Manaia, Te Whaeehtna. To Ngataikahuihui. And all of us.

No. 13. Copy of a Letter from Mr. G. S. Coopee to Mr. R. Paeeis. (No. 318-2.) Native Secretary's Office, Sib— Wellington, 3rd September, 1868. In reference to your letter, No. 236, of the 13th instant, I am directed by the Hon. Mr. Richmond to inform you, that Wi Hukanui has seen Colonel Haultain since he wrote to New Plymouth, and appears to be free from alarm and anxiety now. Great caution will be exercised in dealing with friendly Natives, not to express groundless suspicions. So far the bulk of the Ngatiruanui have abstained from joining Titokowaru, and the Government hope that liberal treatment of those who keep quiet, and success against the violent party, will limit the evil to a narrow compass I have, &c, G. S. Coopee, The Civil Commissioner, Taranaki. Acting Under Secretary.

No. 14. Copy of a Letter from Mr. H. Halse to Mr. R. Paeeis. (No. 299-2.) Native Secretary's Office, Sic,— Wellington, 21st August, 1868. I have the honor, by direction of Mr. Richmond, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 235, of the 12th current, reporting the arrival of Wiremu Kingi Te Rangitake, and More at Waitara, with particulars of their reception by Titokowaru at Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu. I have, &c, H. Halse, The Civil Commissioner, Taranaki. Assistant Under Secretary.

No. 15. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to the Hon. the Native Ministee. (No. 241.) StE— New Plymouth, 19th August, 1868. In further reference to the subject of my letters of the 3rd and 12th instant, reporting the departure of More and Wiremu Kingi te Rangitake from the Taranaki District, and also their reception by Titokowaru at'Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu, &c., &c, I have now the honor to report, for the information of" His Excellency's Government, that on Sunday last, about 1 o'clock p.m., a special messenger arrived from Urenui to inform me of the arrival at that place of More and party from the interior, the Ngatimaru District. The messenger brought a request from More for me to go to them, as he wished particularly to see me, and would wait for me until Monday evening. On Sunday afternoon I left for Urenui, and on Monday morning most of the Natives of the district within two miles of Urenui, assembled to hear what More had to say. He stated that his reason for sending for me was on account of what had occurred with Titokowaru and his people, because when he last met me at Urenui as reported by letter, dated 14th October, 1867, No. 174, he and his people assured me that there was to be no more slaying. That was the word and advice of the King, which all agreed to, including Titokowaru and his people. That the King, since then, had laboured for peace, and finding that a great deal of agitation and excitement was being caused by prospecting for gold, by road making, by leasing of land, &c, &c, he had recommended its discontinuance. He related what had taken place, and the kind of reception he had met with from Titokowaru and his people on visiting them, both on the occasion of his arrival from the North, about ten weeks ago, and on his calling there on leaving the district to return North, which I have already reported to the Government, and all of which he fully confirmed as having taken place. That on the first occasion

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Titokowaru and his people had composed a song (haka) in mockery of the Maori King, which they sang ; and that on the second occasion they cursed the Maori King, and threatened to kill More and cook him. That ho (More) told them that they had boasted of having eaten the heart of the European, and threatened to do the same with the Maoris. That in the latter case they had better commence with him. More stated openly and unreservedly before all present, that Titokowaru must be killed, and would be, explaining' that in his view of the matter, it was not difficult to do it, as he had only sixty fighting men to support him, when he was there, and ten others from the Ngatimaru District went to join him after More and his party arrived at Waitara, against the wishes of a majority of the Ngatimaru Tribe; the ten Ngatimarus went with a man named Te Amu, who had a relative wounded in the attack upon Turu-Turu-Mokai, and afterwards died of his wound at Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu. This Native had gone to the latter place before the first murders at Ketemarae, with a very few others, men and women, to be tattooed, and became implicated in Titokowaru's proceedings. Previous to More's arrival at Urenui, I had received intelligence from Te Ngahere, Ahitana's place, and also from Hapurona's district, relative to More's arrival at those places, and of his having exhibited the King's flag there, stating that he was taking it to Tokangamutu; and as he, during his statement, did not mention anything about the flag, I asked him what his motive was for taking the flag (haki) to Tokangamutu —whether he was going for reinforcements for Titokowaru, or what it meant? More, in reply, asked me how I became aware, and who informed me, that he was taking away the flag (haki)? I declined to tell him how I got the information, when ho went on to say that as I had described so correctly what took place at Te Ngahere, that he was quite convinced that some one had been in to me, and that it proved to him that there were some among those whom he supposed to be with him, who would betray him if they could. That his work was for good, and he therefore was not afraid of anything they could do. That Jesus Christ when upon earth was betrayed by one of his followers. That if there were onlj- 1,000, 500, 50, or only 12, he should continue his labours for peace. Ho complained of the Ngatiruanui and Taranaki Natives having left them, and said that there were only two Natives in favour of the King from Hangatahua to Waitotara, and they were Te Whiti and Tohu of Warea. That on that account, together with Titokowaru's proceedings, he had brought the King's flag away from those districts, and not for the purpose of enlisting reinforcements for Titokowaru. An amusing incident occurred as More was relating his very peaceful narrative. There was a slight shock of earthquake, when it was suggested that God might have shaken the earth in token of his displeasure of what More was saying, and as a sign of the untruthfulness of his representations. This was done in good humour, aud More replied that God had shaken tho earth as a token of the sincerity of his statements. He further stated that he should return to the district about December next, when he should go along the coast road, in token of his friendship to all Natives and Europeans. An Onaero chief, named Epiha Poiha te Karu, who was with the rebels during the war, spoke to that part of More's statement in reference to the question of prospecting for gold, leasing of land, opening roads, &c, &c, which were said to be prohibited by the King. He told More that he and the Natives of that district had decided to prospect for gold, to lease land, and to make roads. That they had lost land enough already by going to war, and did not want to lose any more. He then put this question to More, " Will you and the King lift the sword against us for doing this ? " More replied, " No ; the sword has been put in its sheath and laid down, and will not be raised again unless the Governor does it." Epiha Poiha te Karu is a chief of good rank, of the Ngatimutunga Tribe, a section of the Ngatiawa Tribe, and was in favour of the King movement, and in rebellion until about eighteen months ago. This interview with More —which was quite public, and without the slightest reserve on his part — has, I am happy to say, allayed a great deal of the uneasy feeling prevalent in this district, consequent upon the late outrages in the Ngatiruanui District, and is, I consider, additional testimony in support of the opinion I have so often expressed in my reports to the Government, that the Tokangamutu Natives are peacefully disposed. I wish, however, in representing the disposition of the Tokangamutu party as peacefully inclined, to guard myself against leading His Excellency's Government to suppose that they have shown any disposition to tender their submission to the authority of the Government, or to relinquish tho Maori King movement, which pitiable delusion is daily becoming more and more circumscribed, and will, I have no doubt, with the exercise of patience and judicious management, in the natural course of things, have but a very short existence, should the Government be successful in disposing of the new complications which have arisen before a reunion of the late disaffected tribes is effected. I explained to More that so long as the Tokangamutu chiefs refused to hold any communication with the Government, nothing could ever be satisfactorily settled. That if they would only meet the Governor and talk matters over, that a satisfactory understanding might be arrived at, which would leave them in a much better position than their present course ever could, for they must see that they were being reduced in numbers and influence, and that no good could result from the course they were now pursuing. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. R. Paeeis, Civil Commissioner.

No. 16. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to the Hon. the Native Ministee. No. 260.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 14th September, 1868. I have the honor to report, for the information of His Excellency's Government, the particulars which I have received from overland of the casualties of the rebels at Te Ngutu-o-te-Mauu, on the lamentable occasion of an attack by the Colonial forces on Monday, the 7th instant, on that place.

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Killed. Eeweti (chief of Ahitahi hapu). Paramena Rangihekeihu (chief of Mawhitiwhiti). Heremaia Pakiki. Child (son of Pumipi, of Mawhitiwhiti). Child (son of Katene, late Native guide). Wounded. Hone Wiremu (went over to the rebels with Katene). On the occasion of the attack on the same place on the 21st August, there was one Native killed, an elderly person, father of the notorious character Tohe, who headed the ambuscade on the occasion of the murders at Ketemarae, on the 9th June last. The above information was sent to me by the chief Wiremu Manaia, of Te Kauwae. Up to the present time I have heard of no alteration of the previously declared intention of other tribes not to join the Ngutu-o-te-Manu Natives, but it is impossible to say how they will be affected by the repeated successes of the Natives against our forces. It would be to tho interest of the Province if all agitation on local matters was discontinued for a time, pending the issue of the present struggle to punish a very small section of Natives [now in rebellion against the Government, contrary to the wishes of other tribes to whom we should be careful not to give the slightest pretext for joining them, by agitating such questions as the occupation of the confiscated lands, and prospecting for gold beyond the limits of the present military settlers' lines. I am, however, glad to be able to report that two prospecting parties have very recently returned from the district between Urenui and Ngatimaru without molestation from the Natives in that part, followers of Wiremu Kingi te Rangitake, who at first raised objections to it. I have, &c., R. Paeeis, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 17. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to the Hon. the Native Ministee. (No. 265.) Sic, New Plymouth, 18th September, 1868. I have the honor to report, for the information of His Excellency's Government, that yesterday, during my absence on a visit to the Natives north of Waitara, the chief Wiremu Manaia Kukanui, of Te Kauwae arrived in town, bring further particulars of the melancholy disaster to the Colonial forces on the 7th instant, his account of which is something perfectly horrible. From his statement it would appear that after the officers fell, the Europeans attempted a very irregular retreat, in detached parties, some taking one track, and some another, in attempting which they were intercepted by the enemy, and became scattered in the bush, tho consequence of which was the Natives were hunting them down until the third day; the last of them they fell in with were three in number, all of whom were killed. He also states that he was informed at the Waihi camp, that one man came in on the fifth day with scarcely any clothing upon him, and that many others were then supposed to be yet alive in the bush. The enemy is said to have taken thirty-seven rifles, besides revolvers and swords, and their loss is what I reported on the 4th instant. They have abandoned the Ngutu-o-te-Manu District, and are said to be gone South, further particulars of which I hope to obtain by the overland mail, due to-morrow. Wiremu Manaia proposed that the Kauwae people should come North, offering to settle any place I would mention, during the continuance of hostilities, stating as a reason for wishing to do so, that they were afraid of both parties, the enemy and the Colonial forces. But as the Ngutu-o-te-Manu Natives have ail gone South, I have prevailed upon him to remain at Te Kauwae. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 18. Copy of a Letter from Mr. H. Halse to Mr. Paeeis. (No. 350-2.) Native Secretary's Office, Sic,— Wellington, Ist October, 1868. I am directed by Mr. Richmond to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 265, of the 18th ultimo, reporting further particulars of the recent repulse of the Colonial forces near Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu. I have, &c, H. Halse, The Civil Commissioner, Taranaki. Assistant Under Secretary. No. 19. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to the Hon. the Native Ministee. (No. 266.) Sic,— New Plymouth, September 19th, 1868. In further reference to my letter of yesterday, I have now the honour to report that the 4

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overland mail arrived last evening, and was brought in by Patohe, Hone Pihama's brother, and Karira, bringing with them at the same time three horses belonging to Messrs. Hurst and Haig, two settlers who had taken up land at Hawcra, but on account of the renewal of hostilities have returned to this place. Patohe reports that Titokowaru and all his followers have abandoned Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu, and have taken up a position at Whareroa (Taiporohenui), near to Matangarara. That on leaving Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu, they all of them, men, women, and children, in one body went along the old line of road (mail track formerly), through Ketemarae, Keteonetea, and on arriving at Turu-Turu-Mokai about sunset, they burnt a house belonging to a settler very near that post. That on the Matangarara Natives seeing a fire they sent off a young man to find out what it was. That as he was advancing towards the fire, two ambuscades jumped up in his rear and took him. They questioned him as to whether there were any Europeans at Whareroa or Matangarara, which was answered in the negative. The young man then said that he wished to return to Matangarara, but they refused to allow him to, and took his horse from him. The whole body then advanced towards Whareroa, which place they surrounded, and called upon the people to surrender. Titokowaru then ordered twenty-five men to go to Matangarara and bring the people therefrom. On the party arriving at Matangarara, they called upon the Natives at that place to join them at once and proceed to Whareroa. Natanahira Ngaheria and Patohe at first professed a willingness to do so, by saying they could not leave until the morning, upon which the others returned to Whareroa, in the expectation, no doubt, that in the morning they would join them. During the night they got in their bullocks and horses, and loaded their carts and horses with as much as they could, and at break of day they started for Waukina, their reserve and fishing station, by the beach, Natanahira, Patohe, and eleven others, besides women and children. Tukino and all the others went to Whareroa. On Natanahira, Patohe, and party getting on to the plain seaward of Hawera, they saw Titokowaru's people coming out from Matangarara. They followed them as far as Mr. Sweeney's house, which they set fire to. Patohe tells me that he is of opinion that they are fortifying themselves at Whareroa, in Pokaikai, as they appear to be burning off the fern, &c, in that part. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 20. Copy of a Letter from Mr. H. Halse to Mr. R. Paeeis. (No. 351-2.) Sic, — Native Secretary's Office, Wellington, 2nd October, 1868. In acknowledging the receipt of your letter No. 266, of September 19th, reporting the movements of Titokowaru and his following, I am directed by Mr. Richmond to request you to convey the special thanks of the Government to Patohe and Karira, for bringing up the horses. I am to add that if you see any possibility of detaching Matangarara or Whareroa men again, you are requested to leave no means untried to do so, as the Government do not confound them with Titokowaru. I have, &C, H. Halse, The Civil Commissioner, Taranaki. Assistant .Under Secretary.

No. 21. Copy of a Letter from Mr. G. S. Coopee to Mr. R. Paeeis. (No. 347-2.) Sib — Native Office, 29th September, 1868. I have the honor to acquaint you that the sum of £500 has been remitted to the Paymaster at Taranaki, for the purpose of paying to Te Teira the balance due on the block of land sold by him to the Government. Will you have the goodness to cause the above sum to be paid over to the Natives interested without delay? I have, &c, G. S. Coopee, The Civil Commissioner, Taranaki. Acting Under Secretary.

No. 22. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to the Hon. the Native Ministee. (No. 278.) Sib— New Plymouth, 3rd October, 1868. For the information of His Excellency's Government, I have the honor to forward a short report of the state of feeling of the Natives in this part of the Province, from the White Cliffs to Opunake. So far as relates to the action of Titokowaru and followers, I cannot learn that there is any alteration yet in their decision not to join that party. The Taranaki and Ngatiawa Tribes continue quiet, and I have reason to believe would be glad to hear of Titokowaru's downfall, without which they no doubt feel that he would get himself a name, and look contemptibly upon them hereafter, and if he continues to be successful in his operations against us, will without doubt coerce other tribes to join him, as he appears to be now doing in the Ngatiruanui District; and where his ambition would stop, of course it would be difficult to say.

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Inland of Mataitawa, there is a small party under a Native named Tamati Teito, who came in from the rebel district about nine months ago, and settled down at a place called Te Kaporoa, close to a military settler's house. They have been very quiet and friendly with the settlers, but lately Tamati Teito has been recommending that the Europeans should leave the confiscated land, and go across the line of the Tarurutangi purchased block, which has been the cause of some excitement and exaggerated reports. On Wednesday last, I and several of our Natives received a written invitation from him (copy herewith enclosed) to meet them at their place on the Ist October. The next day being the Ist, I started early in the morning accompanied by Mahau, Tahana, and six others, and went to Te Kaporoa, but on arriving there were only two men and a boy at their place, Tamati Teito and the others having gone to the bush, pig hunting, to provide some pork for our entertainment for Friday, which by an error in their reckoning they thought was the Ist October. I returned without ascertaining the purport of his invitation, but Mahau and five of his men remained for the purpose of seeing him on his return. Mahau had not come back this morning, but when he does I shall get particulars. Mahau was inclined to be severe with him if ho said anything about the Europeans leaving, but at present we cannot afford to take very high ground until we have succeeded in gaining some advantage in the Patea District. Tamati Te Ito returned from the Melbourne gold diggings in 1853, and a few years after commenced imposing upon the credulity of the weak-minded Natives of the district, by setting himself up as a prophet, and professing to know how to destroy the power of the spirits in possession of their ancestral tapus (sacred grounds of their forefathers). A party of young men, varying from twenty to thirty, was made up for him from the different tribes, and maintained for a very long time doing nothing but digging over their tapued grounds, gathering stones and old trophies, such as he chose to pronounce to be sacred. These stones, &c., were burnt in a large fire to destroy the spirit, during which process there was a religious ceremony performed, which was generally a cause of great attraction and excitement, on account of the large number who assembled to witness the ceremony. At that time he had no doubt considerable influence over the Natives of this district, but during the rebellion very little has been heard of him. He was always with tho rebels but never took a leading part, being, from what I know of him, constitutionally a coward. He is a superstitious impostor, and goes out at night performing incantations and invoking the spirits from whom he professes to receive inspiration. Nothing whatever has been seen of any of the Ngatimaniopoto since More and party went North in August last. Wiremu Kingi te Rangitake is with his people inland of Urenui, and Pirikawau has been there with them for about a month. They behaved very well when the prospecting party went up that way a few weeks ago by not interfering with them; but after they returned I got a message from him asking me not to allow them to go again, as he was not sure whether they were after gold or after himself. 1 am sorry there is so much agitation in matters which I am convinced is to the interest of the place to be quiet upon during the present very critical state of things ; but when I speak against it, it is at once set down as the Native Office opposition. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 23. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to the Hon. the Native Ministee. (No. 285.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 10th October, 1868. I have the honor to forward herewith, for the information of the Hon. the Minister for Native Affairs, copy of a letter I have received from His Honor the Superintendent, relative to a settler's complaint that he had been ordered off his land in the Mataitawa District by a Native named Horopapera; and my reply thereto. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure 1 in No. 23. Copy of a Letter from His Honor H. R. Richmond to Mr. R. Paeeis. Superintendent's Office, Sib— New Plymouth, sth October, 1868. Having been informed, by a settler named W. Old, that he has been repeatedly warned by Natives not to occupy his bush land in the Mataitawa District, and that on one occasion a Native named Horopapera, who appears to wish to occupy that land himself, has threatened to shoot him if he returns to it, I have the honor to request that you will inform me, after making such inquiries as may be necessary, whether there is reason to think that Old will be molested if he goes to live on his land, and whether the particular threat referred to was actually held out. I have, &c, H. R. Richmond, R. Parris, Esq., Civil Commissioner, Taranaki. Superintendent.

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Enclosure 2 in No. 23. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to His Honor H. R. Richmond. (No. 284.) Sib,— New Plymouth, Bth October, 1868, With reference to your letter of the sth instant, relative to a complaint of W. Old's to the effect that he has been repeatedly warned by Natives not to occupy his bush land in the Mataitawa District, and that on one occasion a Native named Horopapera had threatened to shoot him if he returned to it, I have the honor to inform you that, on the 15th September, Mr. Old came to my office and reported that Horopapera had set fire to a clearing of his on Allotment No. 21, in the Mataitawa District, and threatened to take possession of the land. On the 16th September, I sent a policeman inland of Mataitawa to Horopapera, to tell him of the complaint of W. Old, and request him to come in and see me on the subject. He sent me word by the policeman that he would come in on the Saturday. On Friday, the 18th September, I requested W. Old to meet Horopapera at my office the following day, which ho promised to do. Saturday, the 19th, Horopapera came, according to promise, and was at my office for two hours, but W. Old never came to meet him. Horopapera stated that, on several occasions during the last twelve months, W. Old had invited him and others to put in crops upon the land, with the understanding that, after two or three years, they were to give it up to him again. That a short time ago he went to clear off a spot on which to put in some maize, and on W. Old's son seeing his fire, he came to him and ordered him oft. This led to a conversation about how the Government had acquired the land, during which ho admitted that he had said to W. Old, " You had better leave this land, which the Government stole, and go upon land which it bought properly." After Horopapera left my office I saw W. Old in town, and asked him why he did not come to my office to meet Horopapera. He replied that " His wife had been recently confined, and that he could not leave her." I heard nothing more of the matter until Monday last, when W. Old came again to my office with you, Sir, and stated that Horopapera had threatened to shoot him if he returned to the land. I arranged to go to Horopapera's place, inland of Mataitawa, on Wednesday (yesterday), and W. Old promised to meet me there, to be present when I inquired into the charge which he had preferred against Horopapera, of having " threatened to shoot him." Yesterday, the appointed time, I went to where Horopapera is living, inland of Mataitawa, accompanied by your Honor, the Provincial Secretary, Major Stapp, three Native Assessors, and other Natives. I also took tho Interpreter, Mr. ■ Stockman, with me, to enable W. Old to put any questions he might wish to Horopapera through him. There were several of the settlers present at the meeting, but W. Old failed to attend, as on the former occasion when Horopapera came to my office. I put the question to the Natives in as public and open a manner as it was possible to do it, as to who among them had been guilty of threatening to shoot a European settler. They all emphatically denied having been guilty of doing so. I then told Horopapera that W. Old had preferred such a charge against him, which he denied having been guilty of. So far as I can judge at present, I do not think there is any danger of any violent molestation being offered to Win. Old's occupying the land any more than any other Military Settlers who are living in the district, all of whom state they have never been interfered with by the Natives. With regard to the burial-ground, which I am informed W. Old speaks of as being on his land, Horopapera has never alluded to it to me, neither do I believe that that has anything to do with the question. The present is, without doubt, a very critical time for this Province, which requires the exercise of caution and forbearance on the part of the settlers, until we have obtained a decided victory over the Natives in rebellion in the Patea District. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. Civil Commissioner.

No. 24. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to the Hon. the Native Ministee. (No. 287.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 10th October, 1868. Wiremu Manaia, of Te Kauwae, came in on Tuesday last, and brought in two letters they had received from Titokowaru, which I send herewith. Also a letter from his own brother Reihana te Wharehuia, who lives with him at Te Kauwae. Wiremu Manaia was four days with the Taranaki Natives at Witiora, on his way up, of whom he reports favourably. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure 1 in No. 24. Copy of a Letter from Titokowaeu to Manaia and Others. Turangarere, Heptema 25, 1868. Xi a Manaia, me Te Whaeehuia, me Ngatai Kahuihui, — Tena koutou katoa. No te 21 o nga ra ka whakaekea ahau ki Whareroa, kahore i tata mai, mehemea i tata kua tangi ano ia tangi rawa. Katahi ka whaia etc tekaumarua ka whiua kite Titi a Kamerona, heoti, ka huri mai ka noho ki Turangarere. Kati tena. He kupu ke tenei mo koutou

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katoa. Me haere mai koutou ito tacnga atu o tenei kupu kia noho tatou ki konei. Kahore au c ngaki kai i tenei tau, waiho kia kimi au ite pito ote ngaki kai. Xi te kore koutou c haere mai kati te haere i nga rori, me mutu koutou ki nga rori. Kati. Na Titoko.

[teanslation] Turangarere, September 25th, 1868. To Manaia, to Te Whabehuia, to Ngatai Kahuihui, — Salutations to you all. On the 21st, I was attacked at Whareroa, but they did not come; if they had, they (the Europeans) would have been again defeated, altogether defeated. Then the twelve followed them, and an attack was made at Te Titi a Kamerona; that is all, they returned to Turangarere. Sufficient on that point. This is another word for you all. Do you come hither when this word reaches you, in order that we may be all here. I will not cultivate this year; leave it to me to search out some arrangement for cultivations. If you do not come hither, stop going along the roads, cease on the roads. Sufficient. Titoko.

Enclosure 2 in No. 24. Copy of a Letter from Reihana Te Whabehuia and Himiona Ngatai to Mr. Paeeis. Xi a Te Paeete, — Te Kauwae Pa, Hepetema 26, 1868. E hoa tena koe. Kua tae mai tau reta aroha ki a matou, kapai. Na kia rongo mai koe kua whati nga Pakeha o Mangamanga o Turuturu, otira o nga pariki katoa, kua hui ki Patea. Heoi tena. Kua tae mai te reta a Titokowaru ki a matou he tiki mai i a matou. Kahore matou i pai ki tana tikanga. Kia rongo mai koe, ko Te Kauwae nei ano matou ko nga kaumatua nei noho ai, me nga wahine nei, me nga tamariki nei. Heoi ano. Na o hoa aroha, Na Reihana Te Whaeehula, Na Himiona Ngatai.

[teanslation.] To Me. Paeeis,— Te Kauwae Pa, September 26th, 1868. Friend, salutations. Your affectionate letter to us has been received ;it is good. Do you hearken. The Pakehas have left Mangamanga; and Turuturu, in fact all the redoubts, and have concentrated themselves at Patea. Sufficient on that point. We have received a letter from Titokowaru asking us to go to him. We did not consent to his proposal. Do you hearken: we intend to remain here at Te Kauwae with the old men, the women, and children. Enough. From your affectionate friends, Reihana Te Whaeehula. Himiona Ngatai.

Enclosure 3 in No. 24. Copy of a Letter from Titokowaeu to Manaia and Others. Xi a Manaia me Whabehuia me Ngatai,—■ Ngatupehau, Oketopa 4, 1868. Tena koutou. Ka tukua atu ano tena kupu ki a koutou me hoki ki uta inaianei, whai mai i muri iau kia mau ahau i a koutou kite ara. No te tahi o nga ra ka tutakina te rori i whiu tonu atu, ka mate ano te mate, ka ora ano te ora kahore tetehi i whakapakia ; mehemea kahore te rua o nga ara kua hinga, na te ara rua haere mai ana to raro, haere mai ana to runga tutataki ki Kaikura, whiua tetahi whati atu, whiua tetahi whati atu, whaia to runga tae atu ki Oroua, ka horo to raro ki Manawapou, ka mate ano te mate, ka ora ano te ora. Itepo ka horo a Manawapou ite ata ka tomokia tae rawa atu kua horo kua turia a roto c te tamariki. Kua rongo ahau ko Whanganui kei Perekama he ope erua rau (200). He aha ki ahau tenei korero? Tetehi kua mau ta koutou mera. Kati rawa te mera. Kati. Na Titoko.

[teanslation.] To Manaia, Whaeehula and Ngatai,— Ngatupehau, 4th October, 186 S. Salutations to you. I again send this word to you: Return to the shore now, follow after me in order that you may come up with me on the road. On the Ist the road was shut and an attack made ; some were killed and some escaped none were wounded ; if it had not been for the two roads (more) would have been killed ; one party came one way, and one another ; they met atKaikura ; an attack was made on one party, they ran off; an attack was made on another party, they ran off; one party was followed to Oroua, the other retired to Manawapou; some were killed and some escaped. During the night Manawapou was evacuated ; in the morning, when we entered it, we found that it had been evacuated, and that the children were inside. I have heard that a war party of Whanganui, 200 in number, are at Perekama ; what is that to me ? Another word, your mail has been stopped. Cease the mail altogether. Sufficient. Titoko.

No. 25. Copy of a Letter from Mr. H. Halse to Me. R. Paeeis. (No. 373-2.) Native Secretary's Office, Sic,— Wellington, 19th October, 1868. I have the honor, by direction of Mr. Richmond, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter 5

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No. 287, of the 10th current, transmitting two letters from Titokowaru, and one from his brother Reihana Te Wharehuia. I have, &c, H. Halse, The Civil Commissioner, Taranaki. Assistant Under Secretary.

No. 20. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Mr. G. S. Coopee. (No. 294.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 27th October, IS6B. I have the honor to report, for the information of His Excellency's Government, that to-day I received a letter from Hone Pihama, copy herewith enclosed, a sort of passport for five Waikato Natives, who are anxious to return to their own district, having had a disagreement about a woman with the Taranaki Natives, with whom they have been living for some time past. They applied to Hone Pihama for advice as to what road they had better take, and he sent his man Karira from Oeo to Warea to tell them to come this way. As Ropata Ngarongomate was returning yesterday from Opunake, he fell in with them near Warea, and brought them in with him to-da} r. They were at my office for about two hours, and I gave them some food, and sent for Te Whakainu, a Waikato woman, the wife of Pirika Mahutu, who was at the hospital. To Whakainu is a woman of tho Potatau family, consequently related to all the leading men of the King party. She knew the five Natives, who are also related to the leading chiefs of the Ngatiporou tribe. I gave them a pass to go along tho coast to the White Cliffs, on their way to Mokau and Tokangamutu. Their names are :—Males, Titoko Puhirawau, Kipa te Kanawa, a boy ; females, Topaea, Mata. The fact of these Natives of rank coming through our district at this particular time, is, I think, of itself proof that there is no concerted plan for a general rising this month, or even at any time. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure in No. 26. , Copy of a Letter from Hone Pihama te Rei Hanataua to Mr. Paeeis. Xi a Paeete,— Oeo, 26th Oketopa, 1868. He whakaatu tenei ki a koe, mo nga tangata o Waikato kei te haere atu ma te Taonc. Na kei rapurapu koe, c hold ana ki to ratou kainga, ko te take he pouri ki ta ratou wahine i puremutia c nga tangata o Taranaki. Katahi ka tukua mai te tangata ki au kite kimi ritenga mo to ratou ara, ka mea atu me tika koutou i te Taonc ma to koutou matua ma Parete koutou c tuku atu kia hold ki to koutou kainga. Heoi ano. Na to tamaiti aroha, Na Hone Pihama te Rei Hanataua.

[Teanslation.] Me. Paeeis,— Oeo, 26th October, IS6B. This is an introduction to you of some Waikato people who are passing through tho town. Do not be uneasy, they are going to their own homes ; the reason is, they are angry about one of their womei), with whom the Taranaki people committed adultery. So they sent a man to ask my advice as to which road they should take, and I said go through the town, and your father Parris will pass you on to your own place. That is all. From your loving child, Hone Pihama te Rei Hanataua.

No. 27. Copy of a Letter from Mr. G. S. Coopee to Mr. E. Paeeis. (No. 391-2.) Sic,— Native Office, Wellington, sth November, 1868. I have tho honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 294, 27th October, 1868, enclosing the copy of a letter from Hone Pihama, respecting a party of Waikato people returning home from Taranaki. Mr. Richmond remarks that your letter and tho proceedings it details are satisfactory, and directs me to inform you of a promise which he made to Hone Pihama to the effect that after peace is restored his land shall be restored to him as far as possible. I have, &c, G. S. Coopee, The Civil Commissioner, Taranaki. Under Secretary.

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No. 28. Copy of a Letter from Mr. G. S. Coopee to Mr. R. Paeeis. (No. 390-2.) Sic,— Native Office, Wellington, 2nd November, 1868. I have the honor, by direction of Colonel Haultain, in tho absence of Mr. Richmond, to forward, for your information and guidance, copy a letter from this office addressed to the Resident Magistrate, Patea, dated 22nd October, 1868. I have, &c, G. S. Coopee, The Civil Commissioner, Taranaki. Under Secretary.

No. 29. Copy of a Letter from Mr. H. Halse to Mr. E. Parris. (No. 407-2.) Sir, — Native Office, Wellington, 1st December, 1868. I am directed by Mr. Richmond to enclose a copy of a letter, dated the 17th ultimo, from the Hon. H. Scotland, and to request you to be good enough to state whether the assertion made therein is correct, that the settlers drive their cattle on Native lands on the south bank of Stoney River, in opposition to the wishes of the owners of those lands. I have, &c, H. Halse, The Civil Commissioner, Taranaki. Assistant Under Secretary.

Enclosure in No. 29. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. H. Scotland to the Hon. E. W. Stafford. Sie,— Te Henui, New Plymouth, 17th November, 1868. Hearing that two resolutions agreed to by the Justices of the Peace belonging to this Province on the 7th instant, have been forwarded to the General Government for their approval, I have the honor to state that I was present at the meeting above referred to, and voted against the same. I now beg to protest against these resolutions for the reasons subjoined : — 1st. Because the feeling of insecurity said to exist at present among the settlers to the South, and to allay which the presence of an armed force is suggested, has been entirely caused by the misconduct of certain of the settlers themselves, in persistently driving their horses upon the better pasture of the Natives living on the south bank of the Stoney River. 2nd. Because, from the peculiar nature of the force proposed to be raised, it would be necessary, in order to its complete efficiency, to keep it continually on the move and well practised in bush evolutions ; and such a mode of training, it is submitted, would become an object of suspicion to the Natives, by suggesting to them that we distrusted them, and wero making preparations to meet an outbreak. 3rd. Because if the settlers cannot now refrain from committing depredations upon the Natives upon the one side of the Stoney River, they will be still less likely to do so when backed by the presence of an armed force. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Henry Scotland.

No. 30. Copy of a Letter from His Honor H. R. Richmond to the Hon. E. W. Stafford. Superintendent's Office, Sir,— New Plymouth, 21st December, 1868. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th November, enclosing a copy of a letter from the Hon. H. Scotland. In reply, I beg to inform you that the assertion made in that letter, to the effect that the settlers drive their cattle on Native lands on the south bank of the Stoney River in opposition to the wishes of the owners of those lands, is altogether untrue, as no such practice exists either with or without the consent of the Natives. It is possible that Mr. Scotland may have heard of one or two disputes that have occurred between Natives and Europeans as to the ownership of horses which had been captured during the war time, and have strayed back to the south of Stoney River ; or of one case of a more serious nature, where three or four youths, headed by a very reckless settler, attempted to carry on the practice of looting horses long after fighting had ceased in this neighbourhood. Steps have been taken by Mr. Parris to provide for the peaceable settlement of questions of ownership of horses for the future, and the persons guilty of the rash act just referred to were severely fined by the Bench of Magistrates. I may here suggest, however, that it would perhaps be well to provide by legislation some special means of preventing settlers from going without permission into disturbed Native districts. The sense of insecurity felt by the settlers in the out-districts is, I need hardly say, due to the serious disturbances going on in other parts of the North Island, and the hitherto very doubtful attitude of some of the Natives in the immediate neighbourhood of this settlement.

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It has been felt to be quite possible that an order from a Maori chief in Waikato, or any trivial dispute with a European, might bring on hostilities at anytime ; but it would be childish to allege that the possibility of such a dispute occurring was the cause of the feeling of insecurity. I cannot suppose that the Hon. Mr. Scotland has wilfully mis-stated facts, but I am at a loss to account for his having brought so serious a charge against his fellow-settlers without taking the trouble to ascertain whether it was well founded. Moreover, supposing such a practice as he describes had existed, it would surely have been his first duty to represent the matter to the proper authorities here, in order that, if not at once checked, the responsibility for such neglect might lie on the right shoulders. I will only add that the statements in Mr. Scotland's letter, if, as I suppose, not wilfully untrue, imply an almost incredible amount of ignorance of the real peril to which the weaker settlements of the North Island have been latterly exposed. I have, &c, 11. R. Richmond, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 31. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Mr. G. S. Coopee. (No. 335.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 15th December, 1868. I have. the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the Assistant Under Secretary's letter (No. 407-2), of Ist December, enclosing a copy of a letter from the Hon. H. Scotland to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, with instructions to report thereon. With reference to Mr. Scotland's assertion, in paragraph 1 of his letter, that " tho feeling of insecurity said to exist at present among the settlers to the south, and to allay which the presence of an armed force is suggested, has been entirely caused by the misconduct of certain of the settlers themselves, in persistently driving their horses upon the better pasture of the Natives on the south bank of the Stoney River," I beg to state that no complaint has ever been made to mo by the Natives that Europeans were in the habit of driving their horses on to their pasture south of the Stoney River ; and, moreover, had such been the practice of the settlers, contrary to the wishes of the Natives, I am certain I should have been informed of it. As to Mr. Scotland's assertion that that has been the cause of the fooling of insecurity said to exist among the settlers to the south, I can only say that I am sorry he should have expressed himself so very uncharitably towards the out-settlers, whose isolated condition entitles them to the warmest sympathy of their fellow-settlers in the present very trying and critical condition of the country. The disasters in the Patea District and the atrocities on the East Coast aro, I submit, sufficient to cause a feeling of insecurity to out-settlers in any part of the country, where there are disaffected tribes living near them, as is tho case in this district; but as regards the best mode of averting similar calamities, that is a question different people are very likely to entertain different opinions upon, and I in some measure agree with Mr. Scotland on that point. The questions which have led to disputes between the Europeans and the Natives more than any other, are looted cattle and horses. One of these cases occurred while I was at the South last month. Two Europeans went to Taihua, near Warea, to look for a horse which had got away, and found it at that place. The Natives claimed the horse, aud stated that they had bred it, and refused to give it up; upon which a dispute arose, and one of the Europeans was guilty of very offensive language, when a Native threatened to strike him with a spade. The Europeans returned to town, and reported that they had had a very narrow escape of their lives, which caused some excitement in the town. On the occasion of the meeting at the Taihua, when His Honor the Superintendent accompanied me, as reported in my letter No. 319, of the Ist instant, we inquired of the Natives what had occasioned their violence towards the two Europeans, when they stated that the horse was theirs, and that they refused to give it up. That thereupon one of the Europeans called the Native who refused to give the horse, up, a "b b ," when the Native caught up a spade and threatened to strike the European with it, upon which they (tho Europeans) went away. The Natives stated on the occasion that if Europeans wished to come on to their runs to look for horses they were willing for them to do so, provided they brought a letter from me to that effect, when they would go with them to look for their horses, and to see that they did not take horses belonging to them (the Natives) away, which they said the Europeans were in the habit of doing, by driving them away from their runs. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 32. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to the Hon. the Native Ministee. (No. 314.)" Sib,— New Plymouth, 28th November, 1868. I have the honor to report, for the information of His Excellency's Government, that in consequence of the late disasters on tho East Coast, the settlers of this district have again been thrown into a state of excitement, and it is almost more than I can do to satisfy them that there is no immediate danger, or any necessity for dreading anything like a surprise as that at Turanganui, on the East Coast.

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There is a small section of the Taranaki Natives who have commenced talking about the confiscated land at Okato, the same as Tamati Teito did a short time ago at Mataitawa, but there have been no threats held out as yet. I have arranged to meet them at Te Taihua, near Warea, on Monday next. I shall have to be there a night or two, but I hope to get back in time to report by the mail on the 4th instant the result of the meeting. Considerable pressure is being brought upon His Honor the Superintendent, to induce him to send an armed party to the Okato District, but I have recommended him not to do so, until I have had an interview with the Taranaki Natives. The Taranaki Herald, which, I believe, is forwarded regularly to your office, contains a fair representation of the state of the district, which I have not time by this mail to write more fully upon. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Civil Commissioner. P.S. —The chief Nepetarima, Hapurona's uncle, has just come in from the Ngatimaru District, and I am happy to say reports favourably of Wiremu Kingi te Rangitake and the people of that district, a full report of which I will try to send by next mail. —R. P.

No. 33. Copy of a Letter from Mr. G. S. Coopee to Mr. R. Paeeis. (No. 409-2.) Sic,— Native Office, Wellington, sth December, 1868. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 28th ultimo, No. 314, reporting the excitement which has been caused in Taranaki by the news of the recent murders at Poverty Bay. In reply, I am directed by Colonel Haultain to inform you that in the event of any emergency, the Officer Commanding the District has been instructed to put the Militia on duty, if requested to do so by the Superintendent and yourself. I have, &c, G. S. Coopee, The Civil Commissioner, Taranaki. Under Secretary. No. 34. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Mr. G. S. Coopee. (No. 321.) Sic, — New Plymouth, 4th December, 1868. In further reference to my report of yesterday of the Native meeting at Taihua, I have the honor to report that Patara came in yesterday afternoon from the Taihua for the purpose of putting a stop to the confusion caused, as he says, by the lying reports of Natives and Europeans with reference to their intentions towards the Okato settlers. It appears that they had heard that some of the settlers had left from fear, which I admitted to him, but explained that the fearful atrocities committed on the East Coast was the principal cause of it, followed up by their commencing to talk about the land. Patara said nothing about the land at the meeting on Tuesday, for which he informs me that Hairini complained of his not supporting him after we left; upon which he tells me he told him that he should give the matter up and support the settlers in occupation, and advised the rest to do the same. He has consented to come in and live either at Hauranga or Oakura, and use his influence on behalf of the Government to put down opposition. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 35. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Mr. G. S. Coopee. (No. 331.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 14th December, 1868. I have the honor to report, for tho information of the Government, that from Hone Pihama and Natanahira, who were here last week, I obtained information of the casualties of the rebels in the engagement at Okotuku. The intelligence was obtained through the Keteonetea Natives, under Ahitana, who have up to last week refused to join Titokowaru. They only admit having lost one killed and five wounded, but it is satisfactory to know that the one who was killed was the murderer of poor Mr. Broughton. His name was Ruka te Waka. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, Tho Under Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 36. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Mr. G. S. Coopee. (No. 332.) Sib,— New Plymouth, 14th December, 1868. I have the honor to forward herewith a copy of a telegram received by His Honor the Superintendent from the Hon. Dr. Pollen last week, and to report that, up to the present time, nothing 6

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has been heard of any probable movement of the Ngatimaniapotos towards the White Cliffs. I have two Natives stationed at Pukearuhe, to watch our frontier, and to guard against anything like a sudden surprise. On Thursday last I went to Urenui, accompanied by Major Stapp, who ordered some repairs necessary to be done to the redoubt at that place, which Captain Good undertook to superintend, and also the supervision of the district. Whilst at Urenui I engaged a Native to go to Mokau, to ascertain, if possible, if the Ngatimaniapotos were contemplating a move this way. There is a meeting now going on at a place called Parihaka, in the Taranaki District, inland of Warea, which William Kingi te Rangitake is attending, having arrived there last week from the Waitara District. More, from Tokangamutu, is also there. Patara, who has been in this district for a week past, left on Saturday to go to tho meeting. He has promised to send or bring me word what takes place at the meeting, without delay. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure in No. 36. Copy of a Telegram from Mr. Seabajtcke to the Hon. Dr. Pollen. New Zealand Government Electric Telegraph Station, Alexandra, 1st December, 1868. I ah informed that the Ngatimaniapotos, failing in views on Waikato, will very likely proceed to White Cliffs, Taranaki. To the Hon. Dr. Pollen, Auckland. "William N. Seabaucke.

No. 37. Copy of a Letter from Mr. H. Halse to Mr. E. Pabeis. (No. 421-2.) Sie, — Native Office, "Wellington, 21st December, 1868. I am directed by Colonel Haultain to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 332, of the 14th current, giving cover to a copy of a telegram received by His Honor the Superintendent from the Hon. Dr. Pollen, on tho subject of intended movements of Ngatimaniapoto. I have, &c, H. Halse, The Civil Commissioner, Taranaki. Assistant Under Secretary.

No. 38. Copy of a Letter from Mr. E. Paeeis to Mr. G-. S. Cooper. (No. 310.) Sir,— New Plymouth, 18th December, 18G8. "With reference to my letter of the 14th instant, No. 881, reporting Native casualties on the enemy's side in the engagement at Okotuku, when poor Mr. Charles Broughton's murderer was killed, I have the honor to inform you that his name was Makatc "Waka, and not Euka, as stated in my letter. I have, &c, E. Paeeis, The Under Native Secretary, "Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 39. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Mr. G. S. Coopee. (No. 342.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 21st December, 1868. I have the honor to report, for the information of His Excellency's Government, that during the past week a letter has been sent in from the Taranaki District, addressed to all our friendly Natives, inviting them to go to Pariaka, the place where the Warea Natives under the young chief Te Whiti all reside. On receipt of the letter I wrote to our friendly chiefs requesting them to respond to the letter by accepting the invitation. I sent the interpreter through the district with both letters (copies of both herewith enclosed). The absence of my own name in the letter never struck me as worthy of special notice, but our chiefs, all of them, were inclined to think it was specially omitted, and therefore refused to a man to go without me ; and their view of the matter soon reached Taranaki, where the letter was written, when a strong discussion took place, each blaming the other for the omission of my name, upon which a young chief, named Ropoama, said, " You have been guilty of a gross blunder in omitting Parris's name; I will now be the letter for him —that is, I will take my body to him, to prove that we wish him to come." Ropoama arrived in town on Friday, and on Saturday he met a number of our chiefs at my office, and explained away the omission of my name in their letter, when they all agreed to go, and are nowassembled at my office preparatory to leaving this day, numbering altogether about one hundred. This will be the first meeting we have had with those Natives since the commencement of the first war in 1860; what the result will be it is of course impossible to say until it is over, when I will send a report.

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Te Whiti and his people are strong Kingites ; More, from Tokangamutu, is there, and also Win. Kingi te Rangitake, who returned from the Waitara District about a fortnight ago to attend the present meeting. His Honor the Superintendent will accompany me to attend the meeting. The district at present is perfectly quiet, in spite of the rumours of alarmists and political agitators. The Native whom I sent from the Mimi District to Mokau has not yet returned. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, Tho Under Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner. P.S. —Since writing the above I have received intelligence of tho arrival of the messenger from Mokau at Mimi with very favourable news. Ngatimaniapotos have no intention of moving this way, or any other way for hostilities. Two Natives have come on from Mokau with our messenger. On my return from Taranaki I will sec them and report further. —R. P.

Enclosure 1 in No. 39. Te Taihua, 17th December, 1868. ,To Moturoa, to Poharama, to all of you; Huioterangiora, to Tahana, to all of you ; to the Tupoki, to Matiu, to all of you ; to the Uruomahiaroa, to Karipa, to all of you ; to the Puata, to Mahau, to all of you; to AVaitara, to Ihaia, to all of you; Titirangi, to Niko Paewaka, to all of you; 1 o Waihi, to Pirika, to all of you ; to Onaero, to Epiha, to all of you; to Maruwehi, to Wiremu Tamihana, to Kctu, to all of you, — To the people whom I have liked during the years of peace, —Come hero on the 20th day, that we may all go to Pariaka; make haste, do not seek (for the motive of this invitation); come, my people, make haste. From Motu Tuhawe.

Enclosure 2 in No. 39. New Plymouth, 17th December, 1868. To all tho Chiefs of all the Villages commencing at Moturoa and terminating at Maruwehi, — Friends, you must all look at Motu's letter; consent and give it effect; come up all of you at the invitation of Te Motu. The people north of Waitara, come all of you on Sunday to the Puata ; this is Mahau's word, early on Monday morning we must all go. Do not fail to attend to my word ; come all of you. From Paeeta, Hiwa Komihiana. (Civil Commissioner.)

No. 40. Copy of a Letter from Mr. G. S. Coopee to Mr. R. Paeeis. (No. 427-2.) Sic,— Native Office, Wellington, 29th December, 1868. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 342, of the 21st December, reporting that a letter has been sent in from the Taranaki District addressed to all our friendly Natives, inviting them to go to a meeting at Pariaka. Ministers will await with interest your promised report of tho forthcoming interview. I have, &c, G. S. Coopee, Tho Civil Commissioner, Taranaki, Under Secretary.

No. 41. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Mr. G. S. Coopee. (No. 5.) Sic, — New Plymouth, 2nd January, 1869. I have the honor to report for the information of His Excellency's Government, that in consequence of the information received from Mr. Searancke of Waikato in reference to the probability of the Ngatimaniapotos invading our northern frontier, I sent a Native on secret service to Mokau, to ascertain, if possible, whether the Ngatimaniapotos were contemplating moving this way. The Native engaged for the service was Wiremu Kingi Nera, who returned from Chatham Islands last year. He was absent ten days, and during his stay with the Natives on the Mokau River, a messenger was despatched to report his arrival to tho people living further towards Tokangamutu. He reports that so far as ho could ascertain, there was no intention on the part of Ngatimaniapoto to resume hostilities. On returning from Mokau, two Natives came with him to Maruwehi close to Urenui, where the returned Natives from the Chatham Islands are settled. They brought an invitation from the Kingites for them all to go to Mokau, to live under the " mana " of the King. The reply was, " That it was the canoe of the the Governor which brought them safely from Wharekauri to the land of their ancestors, which canoe they were not going to abandon, but should live under the ' mana' of the Governor." The messengers then stated that as they refused to put themselves under the King,

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their boundary, which they must not cross, was at Waipingau, a deep gully about midway in the White Cliffs, a mile from the Pukearuhe Block-house. This declaration of a line of demarcation, involves the question of the rightful ownership to the Poutama District, which for many years has been held by Ngatimaniapoto by right of conquest, but did originally belong to the Ngatitamas. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 42. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Mr. G. S. Coopee. (No. 8.) Sic, — New Plymouth, 4th January, 1869. I have the honor to report, for the information of His Excellency's Government, that when I was at Patea in November last, I arranged for the Natives living at Matangarara and Waohena (between Manawapou and Waingongoro), those of the Tangahoe Tribe who refused to join Titokowaru and stuck to Hone Pihama and Natanahira, to remove to Oeo, Hone Pihama's place, in order to avoid appearances of complicity and danger when the forces return to that district to carry on operations against Titokowaru. Those Natives, lam now informed, have all arrived at Oeo, to leave the district clear for aggressive operations. I herewith enclose a letter I have received from Martha, wife of Natanahira. I have also offered the Natives of Te Kanae, under Manaia (Wiremu Hukanui), to come there, and am informed that they intend doing so, but I have not as yet heard of their arrival. I have promised them to recommend the Government to give instructions to the forces not to destroy their crops at those places, as they will require them for their own maintenance. I have, &., R. Paeeis, The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 43. Copy of a Letter from Mr. J. Booth to the Hon. the Native Ministee. Sic, — Wanganui, 22nd December, 1868. I have the honor to forward herewith copy of a letter which I have deemed it my duty to send to Lieut.-Colonel Lyon, relative to Natanahira Ngahina. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. James Booth, R.M.

Enclosure in No. 43. Copy of a Letter from Mr. J. Booth to Lieut.-Colonel Lton. Sib, — Wanganui, 21st December, 1868. I have the honor to call your attention to an article in the Wanganui Evening Herald, of the 19th instant, in which the Editor, who is, I understand, a commissioned officer in the Wanganui Cavalry, holds out certain threats against a Native named Ngahina and against his people, who are now living on the other side of the Manawapou. I have the honor to state for your information that Ngahina is a friendly Native, and that he has been loyal to the Queen since the beginning of the year 1866 ; that for the last eighteen months he has been carrying the Queen's mail between Taranaki and Patea, which during a part of that time has been a disturbed district; that when he was taken prisoner by Titokowaru's people at Matangarara, he refused to join that cannibal and murderer, and succeeded in separating himself and about twenty of his people, including women and children, from the Hauhaus, and has since that time, over two months, been living on his own land at the fishing village of Waokena, with the knowledge and consent of the Government. The village in question is on the sea coast, and at least four miles in a direct line from the bush and from any road traversed by the Hauhaus. I may mention, in conclusion, that the chief Ngahina is a man of some importance, and if he is killed in the way threatened, the whole of the Taranaki Natives will at once rise. I need hardly add that threats of this nature are sure to come to the ears of the Natives, and the natural consequence is mistrust and suspicion against the Government. I have, &c, Lieut.-Colonel Lyon, Commanding Patea Field Force, James Booth, R.M. Wanganui.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 43. Inquibt.—" Captain" Booth is fossicking about, we are informed, trying to obtain evidence relating to the killing of the two Hauhaus on Tuesday. He will not have much trouble in eliciting the truth, if he does not get all he would desire. If he will only come to our office, he shall at once have a full and particular account of the incidents and circumstances of the affair. But, first of all, let us ask what business it is of Mr. Booth's? The cavalry have always professed that they would kill every male Maori they came across on the other side of the Kai Iwi, unless there was some proof that he was a

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A— fro. 23.

kupapa, and it is impossible at times, as it was the other day, to distinguish between the men and women. Let Mr. Booth get up an inquiry—who cares ? The thing will be treated, as far as the cavalry are concerned, with absolute contempt. War is not made with rose-water, and the cavalry do not live by war, and have no interest in seeing it prolonged. Indeed, it is every man's direct interest to put an end to the war as soon as possible. "We question whether it is so with many officers and men in the "regular" constabulary service. It appears that some are jealous of the cavalry, or disappointed that it has rendered services to the Colony. "We will tell Mr. Booth how he can render a great service: There is a spy and traitor called Ngahina, who was instrumental in getting up the Pokaikai Commission, and who is now carrying the mails between Patea and Taranaki. He has a fishing village, with about seventeen people in it, on the other side of the Manawapou. These people are said to be friendly, but the Whanganui Cavalry have peculiar notions about friendly Natives. If it is desirable that these Natives should be perfectly secure —let Mr. Booth have them removed beyond the "Waingongoro River within a week. It is necessary that the cavalry should have a large area of country to operate in, and warriors are not apt to draw very nice distinctions. The remembrance of the Poverty Bay murders has not yet died out, and Mr. Booth knows that civilized nations permit the practice of reprisals. For every prisoner shot by the Federals, there were two shot by the Confederates during the American war. A Maori in the enemy's country is, prima facie, one of the enemy, and that is sufficient evidence until the Missionaries prove the contrary. We are told that certain charges have been made, to the effect that barbarities were committed on the bodies after death—such as taking them back into the whare and then setting fire to it. The charges are utterly groundless, and we know there is not the shadow of truth in them, and if it be the object of the inquiry to investigate them, let it be held by all means. The Patea settlers, we hear, originated the story. For several reasons, these persons are not trustworthy. They claimed horses which the cavalry refused to give up; but the public may rest satisfied that the cavalry has in no way cast a slur on the escutcheon of the corps.

No. 44. Copy of a Letter from Mr. G. S. Coopee to Mr. R. Paeeis. (No. 6-2.) Sic, — Native Office, Wellington, 12th January, 1869. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 8, of the 4th instant, reporting that the Natives living at Matangarara and Waokena have removed to Oeo, and to inform you that Colonel Lyon has been written to, requesting him to take every precaution, when making expeditions into that part of the country, to prevent any harm being done to the villages and crops of Ngahina, at Matangarara and Waokena. The Government are pledged to protect them, and the Officer Commanding is held responsible that these places are not interfered with. I have, &c, G. S. Coopee, The Civil Commissioner, Taranaki. Under Secretary.

No. 45. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Mr. G. S. Coopee. (No. 12.) Sic,— New Plymouth, Bth January, 1869. I have the honor to report, for tho information of His Excellency's Government, that the chief Manaia, from Te Kanae, near Waingongoro, came in on the 6th instant from that place. He informed me that a party of Natives, upwards of a hundred, had recently visited Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu District, under the pretext of having come there for some tobacco (raurau, grown by the Natives). Manaia is, however, of opinion that they are thinking of building a pa somewhere in that district, to retire upon when they leave their present camp at Taurangaika, near Nukumaru. Manaia and his followers, the Natives of To Kanae, are all going to remove to the north side of the Kaopukunui River, to an old village site, called Pukekoe. I forward herewith a letter which I have received from the Pakakoe chief Paraone, of Manutahi, who went over with Taurua to the rebel camp. Since the meeting at Pariaka, Wiremu Kingi Rangitake's followers, about thirty of them, including his son and daughter, and Wiremu Tamihana, formerly of Kaipakopako, have come down from Ngatimaru to Mimi, to see the Natives of the district, lhaia and Teira of Waitara were present last Monday at the meeting, which they report as a very friendly one. I have this day received a letter from Hone Pihama, copy herewith enclosed, informing me that the Taranaki Natives are assembling at his place, the whole tribe, to have a friendly meeting. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure in No. 45. Go then my letter to Mr. Pabris, — Manutahi, 14th December, 18G8. Friend, salutations. Hearken. It was the Europeans who sent Taurua and myself inland. Do not suppose that we went on our own account; we did not. The Europeans told us to go, as otherwise we should come to grief; that is all; we went inland. From your slave, Pabaone. 7

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No. 46. Copy of a Letter from Mr. G. S. Coopee to Mr. R. Paeeis. (No. 12-2.) Sib,— Native Office, Wellington, 19th January, 1869. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 18th instant, No. 12, reporting that a party of the rebels had recently visited Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu, and giving other information as to the movements of Natives in the southern part of your district. A copy of the first portion of your letter has been forwarded to Colonel Whitmore for his information, and I am directed by the Hon. Colonel Haultain to instruct you to warn Paraono and Taurua, and any other friendly chiefs who may be in the neighbourhood of the rebels, to remove at once, lest trouble come upon them in the operations about to be undertaken against the rebels. I have, &c, G. S. Coopee, The Civil Commissioner, Taranaki. Under Secretary.

No. 47. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Mr. G. S. Coopee. (No. 17.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 13th January, 1869. I have the honor to report, for the information of His Excellency's Government, that I have received information of late advices from Tokangamutu having been received by the tribes favourable to the Maori King movement of a proposal for a very large meeting to be held at a place called Moerangi, near Rotoaira, in March next. The object of the meeting has not yet transpired, but it is believed it is to get all the tribes which attend it to arrive at a general understanding for their future line of policy, which, it is suggested, will aim at repudiation of the authority of the Government in certain districts which are to be subject to the administration of the King. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 48. Copy of a letter from Mr. G. S. Coopee to Mr. R. Paeeis. (No. 39-2.) Sic,— Native Office, Wellington, 13th March, 1869. I have the honor to inform you that the arms belonging to the Ngatitama have not been sent from the Chatham Islands by Captain Thomas, but the ammunition will be shipped by next opportunity hence. Arms should, if necessar3 r, be given to these people on the understanding that they are to be returned when their own guns arrive. I have, &c, G. S. Coopee, The Civil Commissioner, Taranaki. Under Secretary. P.S.—This is in reply to your letter of the 4th instant, No. 44. —G. S. C.

No. 49. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Mr. G. S. Coopee. (No. 62.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 19th March, 1859. On the Pukearuhe Military Settlers' block, north of the Mimi River, there are some crops of potatoes and maize, which the owners were indifferent about getting away, and on consulting with His Honor the Superintendent and Major Brown, it was decided to offer them three pounds per acre for the potatoes, and thirty shillings an acre for the maize, and to give the crops to the returned Natives from the Chatham Islands, in order to prevent their being used by the enemy in case they came on to the district. The quantity is said to be about twelve acres of potatoes, and fifteen acres of maize. I hope this arrangement will meet the approval of the Government. I enclose herewith a copy of my letter to Captain Good on the subject. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure to No. 49. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Captain Good. Sic,— New Plymouth, 11th March, 1869. With the view to prevent the crops of the Europeans on the Pukearuhe Block being used by the enemy, a jjroposal has been made to the owners thereof to pay them at the rate £3 an acre for the potatoes, and £1 10s. an acre for the maize. A list of those who agree to the proposal will be sent you, and you are authorized to give the crops of those only who consent to the proposal to the Maruwehi and Pihanga Natives, on condition that they get the said crops away immediately.

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AFFAIRS ON THE WEST COAST.

As the assistance of those Natives who are on pay will, I presume, be necessary, Major Brown bas agreed to send you instructions to allow them to accompany the other Natives, for the purpose of securing the crops for their own use. They should be instructed to have armed sentries posted in proper places, and any arms taken by the working party to be kept close at hand in case of a surprise. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, Captain Good, Commanding at Urenui. Civil Commissioner. P.S. —It is desirable, if it can possibly be done, that the quantity of each person's crops should be ascertained. —R. P.

No. 50. Copy of a Letter from Mr. G. S. Coopee to Mr. R. Paeeis. (No. 59-2.) ■ Sic,— Native Office, Wellington, 31st March, 1869. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 62, of the 19th instant, reporting the purchase from the Pukearuhe Military Settlers of their crops for the use of the Natives returned from the Chatham Islands; and in reference thereto I am directed by Mr. Richmond to beg that you will use every endeavour to employ these people on some useful work, such, for instance, as cutting bush lines behind Waitara and Urenui, in consideration of the expenditure thus incurred for their benefit. I have, &c, G. S. Coopee, The Civil Commissioner, Taranaki. Under Secretary.

No. 51. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Mr. G. S. Coopee. (No. 64.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 20th March, 1869. I have the honor to forward herewith for your office copies of correspondence as per Schedule, and to report that up to the present time nothing has been seen or heard of the Ngatimaniapotos. Fires are frequently seen along the coast from Tongaporutu to Mokau. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

Schedule. Enclosure 1. Civil Commissioner to Colonel Whitmore, No. 42, 4th March, 1869. „ 2. Civil Commissioner to Colonel Whitmore, No. 47, 11th March, 1869. „ 3. Civil Commissioner to Colonel Whitmore, No. 49, 11th March, 1869. „ 4. Civil Commissioner to Hon. Defence Minister, No. 55, 13th March, 1869. „ 5. Hon. Colonel Whitmore to Civil Commissioner, No. 46, 14th March, 1869.

Enclosure 1 in No. 51. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Colonel Whitmoee. (No. 42.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 4th March, 1869. I have the honor to report for your information, that by the arrival on the 2nd instant in the Warea District of about twenty Ngatiruanui Natives from a place called Te Ngahere, I have obtained additional information to that which I gave Colonel Haultain just as he was leaving, and which he told me he would send to you from Whanganui to the effect that there was defection in Titokowaru's camp. Yesterday information was brought to me that the above party of Natives have stated, since their arrival at Pariaka, inland of Warea, that Titokowaru's followers were leaving him in consequence of his intriguing with their women, and that he himself is expected very shortly to return to Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu. The young chief Hone Pihama is keeping a good watch for his retirement, west of Patea, which, when he knows to bo true, he will immediately report to me, when I shall send off a special messenger overland with a letter for you, as requested by the Hon. the Defence Minister. Nothing whatever has been seen or heard of the Ngatimaniapotos this side of the White Cliffs since the massacre on the 13th ultimo, and whilst some of our Natives arc of opinion that they are not likely to come away from Mokau, but wait expecting to be attacked there, others say that they believe that after waiting for some time, and finding we are not likely to go to Mokau, they will then, if in sufficient force, advance upon this district and commence offensive operations. In this they will be opposed by Hapurona, who intends to advise them to return to Mokau and confine their fighting to that quarter. The constabulary which you so promptly sent to our assistance under Sub-Inspector Gudgeon, went out yesterday to Tikorangi, and to-day part of them move on to Urenui. There are about 160 Militia on pay occupying the block-houses in the out-districts, to protect the settlers, whilst securing their crops, against a sudden surprise. I have, &c, Tho Hon. Colonel Whitmore, R. Paeeis, Commanding Colonial Forces, Patea, Whanganui. Civil Commissioner.

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Enclosure 2 in No. 51. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Colonel Whitmoee. (No. 47.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 11th March, 1869. In further reference to the subject of my letter of the 4th instant I have the honor to inform you that Hone Pihama, who arrived here yesterday, tells me that the young chief Tito Hanataua, with part of his followers, have left Titokowaru's camp, on account of a disagreement about women, and aro now at Te Ngahere, Ahitana's place. That Titokowaru is not expected to return to Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu, but that he is more likely to keep about the ranges inland of the Patea and Waitotara Districts; and the reason assigned for it is that they are getting very short of ammunition, and therefore consider it necessary to keep about in such places as have the greatest facilities for escaping when attacked, which the district eastward of Waihi is favourable for, having numerous tracks leading away into the interior, in the direction of the Upper Whanganui and Ngatimaru Districts, whereas the back tracks from Ngutu-o-te-Manu are easily intercepted, having Mount Egmont behind. This last information respecting scarcity of ammunition, &c, was supplied to me with a strict injunction not to tell any one but yourself and the Government, from whom I obtained it, as Hone Pihama considers it would endanger his life if the rebels discovered that he had made it known to us. Whether or not they are likely to get a supply of ammunition from other tribes it is impossible to say, and I wish to guard myself against leading you to suppose that the usual precautions when attacking them would be unnecessary. I have, &c, The Hon. Colonel Whitmore, R. Paeeis, Commanding Colonial Forces, Patea, Whanganui. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure 3 in No. 51. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Hon. Colonel Whitmoee. (No. 49.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 11th March, 1869. I have the honor to inform you that up to the present time nothing whatever has been seen of the Ngatimaniapotos this side of the White Cliffs since the late massacre at Pukearuhe. The Ngatiawa and Taranaki Tribes continue quiet so far, and speak in reprehensible terms of tho conduct of Ngatimaniapoto ; but it is very difficult to form an opinion as to what will arise out of these new complications. In addition to the one hundred Constabulary which you sent us, forty men arrived last week from the Thames, who were sent down by Major Cooper for the Government. The men are put on as Bushrangers, to increase the number which was enrolled for service in December last, about forty. I have, &c., The Hon. Colonel Whitmore, R. Paeeis, Commanding Colonial Forces, Patea, Wanganui. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure 4 in No. 51. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to the Hon. the Defence Ministee. (No. 55.) Sib,— New Plymouth, 13th March, 1569. I have the honor to forward herewith, for your information, copies of letters of dates and numbers as per margin, which I have sent to the Hon. Colonel Whitmore. From the latest information which I have received, it would appear that Titokowaru's party is breaking up from various causes, such as disagreements among themselves, a scarcity of food, and, tho most important of all —very short of ammunition. The general opinion of the friendly Natives of the Ngatiruanui tribes is, that Titokowaru will remain with the Ngaraurus in the Waitotara ranges known as Taringamutu. That most of his own tribe will make Te Ngahere, Ahitana's place, their head-quarters, moving about therefrom in search of food, and watching the movements of our forces. There is to be a large meeting of Natives at Pariaka, inland of Warea, the ensuing week, and about twenty of the Ngahere Natives are already there. 1 have been invited to attend, but have declined in consequence of the uncertainty of the movements of the Ngatimaniapotos on our northern frontier; lam sending some of our Assessors to attend the meeting. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Hon. the Defence Minister, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure 5 in No 51. Copy of a Letter from Colonel Whitmoee to Mr. R. Paeeis. (No. 46—A.D.C.) Sib,— Patea, 14th March, 1869. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, No. 47, and that of the same date, No. 49. I have to thank you for the information they contained, which is confirmed by prisoners I have taken. Yesterday morning I surprised Titokowaru's camp near Otautu on the Patea River, above Otoia,

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and but for a fog, which was so dense as to prevent our knowing whether we were firing on friend or foe, and whether the position was or w ras not fortified, we must have utterly destroyed the party. As it was we only shot seven or eight, the rest escaping, but we took his camp, tents, some arms, a little powder, stores of food, and plunder of every description, even his tools, axes, tomahawks, blankets; the everyday pipes in great numbers were got by the men. We pursued as well as our ignorance of the country permitted. To-morrow a more organized pursuit will be set on foot. I wish you to know that the prisoners say that Titokowaru means ultimately to retire on Waitara, whence he means to go to Waikato to get powder from the King. This you should know to be prepared. I trust he may be unable to carry out his intention. The women say he has suffered great desertions. The whole Waitotara hapu has left him, and the Ngatimaru and others. They say he had 400 men when I attacked him, but that 200 had left him before. I have, &c., G. 8. Whitmoee, Colonel. Tho force marches to-morrow to Manutahi, and the Natives under Kemp go up the Patea in pursuit. R. Parris, Esq., Civil Commissioner, Taranaki.

No. 52. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to the Hon. the Native Ministee. (No. 67.) Sib,— New Plymouth, 22nd March, 1869. I have the honor to forward herewith, for your information, copy of a letter I am sending to Colonel Whitmore by the overland mail, which leaves this evening, and also copy of a letter from Mr. Hurst to Mr. Smith, brought by Father Rolland, who arrived overland on Saturday from Patea. Father Rolland saw nothing of the rebels, but reports that the friendly Natives along the coast from Kaupokonui to New Plymouth were very civil and kind to them. Fires are constantly seen along the coast from Tongaporutu to Mokau, but nothing whatever has been seen of the Natives this side of the White Cliffs. Major Brown and I are going to the Urenui District to-morrow, to make arrangements about Natives on pay. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure 1 in No. 52. Copy of a Letter from Mr. J. Huest to Mr. J. S. Smith. Deae Sic,— Patea, 18th March, 1869. Father Rolland is just leaving for New Plymouth overland. I have little news to send you since my last. I have reason to believe, however, that the enemy was discovered last night at a place called Wakamara, a position of about say four miles inland of Mokoia, about twenty miles from here by the road, and about fourteen or fifteen in a crow line. Orders were sent in here last midnight for trenching tools, &c, and it is currently reported that the retreat of the enemy is cut off. One thing is certain, viz., our esteemed friend Titokowaru is very short of lead, and not very flush of either powder or provisions, and I think we are quite justified in being very hopeful. You may see Whitmore and a great portion of his forces in New Plymouth in a fortnight or threeweeks overland. No further news at present. I have, &c, Mr. J. S. Smith. James Huest.

Enclosure 2 in No. 52. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Colonel WniTMOEE. (No. 65.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 22nd March, 1869. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, and am delighted to hear of your success, which I hope will be continuous to the end of the campaign against Titokowaru and his cannibal band. Father Rolland arrived overland from Patea on the 20th, and brought information that you were close to the rebels, who had fallen back upon Whakamara. A party of five Natives who were recently among Titokowaru's followers arrived last week at Hapurona's place, on the Waitara, inland. Four of them were Ngatimaru Natives, and one a Tangahoe Native, and I have no doubt they were some of those who retired to Te Ngahere with Tito Hanatana. So far as I have been able to ascertain nothing was said about Titokowaru's intention to retire upon Waitara; but as tho Ngatimaru Tribe is committed, having joined him, he would in all probability make for their district if driven beyond Te Ngahere. The Ngatimaru District is in the direction of Taupo from Patea. From Ngatimaru there is an old war track over the Taumatamahoe Ranges, eading to the Mokau District; lbut if there is any intention on the part of Ngatimaniapoto to co-operate with Titokowaru, the line of communication will in all probability be attempted by way of the White Cliffs, through the Ngatiawa District, inland of Te Arei and Mataitawa, unless the arch-cannibal falls into your hands in the meantime, which I need not tell you is most sincerely desired. 8

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At Te Ngahere there is an immense swamp, which should you ever reach in pursuit of the enemy I strongly advise you to be cautious of, in the disposition of your force at that place. It affords immense shelter for the enemy, who know every feature thereof, being residents of the district, which is no small advantage over an attacking force that has never perhaps seen it before. There has been a large meeting of all the Taranaki Tribes assembled at Pareaka, inland of Warea, the past fortnight, which was attended by a party from Te Ngahere. The young chief Hone Pihama and Natanahira and their followers all attended the meeting, and a goodly number of the Ngatiawa Natives. The meeting terminated favourably, and the opinion of our Assessors, who were present, is that the Taranaki Tribes really intend to remain quiet. I have, &c, The Hon. Colonel Whitmore, R. Paeeis, Commanding Colonial Forces, Patea. Civil Commissioner.

No. 53. Copy of a Letter from Mr. H. Halse to Mr. R. Paeeis. (No. 55-2.) Sic,— Native Office, Wellington, 23rd March, 1869. Major Brown having applied to the Government for permission to select two half acres fronting on the beach at Opunake, I have the honor, by direction of Mr. Richmond, to state that he is not aware of any objection to granting Major Brown's application, and that, if you and His Honor Mr. H. Richmond see no objection, the two half town acres may be selected contiguous to one another. I am to request you to be good enough to report the selection, aud forward plan of the two allotments to this office. I have, &c, H. Halse, The Civil Commissioner, Taranaki. Assistant Under Secretary.

No. 54. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Mr. G. S. Coopee. (No. 79.) Sic,— New Plymouth, Ist April, ] 869. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th instant, enclosing the copy of a letter from Mr. Booth to the Hon. the Native Minister. With regard to the statement of the female prisoner that Paraone went to Titokowaru's camp with a message from Wiremu Kingi te Rangitake and Mahau, offering to supply him with ammunition, I am of opinion that the statement should be received with reservation. So far as Mahau is concerned, I have no hesitation in saying that I am of opinion the report is utterly without foundation. Without doubt, Mahau is a Maori of the old stamp, but for the last ten years he has been thoroughly opposed to the movements of the disaffected tribes, and on several occasions rendered no mean service against them with the Government forces. In 1860, he was in the engagement at Mahoetahi, and was among the first who entered the pa, where he closed with a Waikato Native, and tomahawked him after a struggle. At the taking of Manutahi and Mataitawa, he was with the Volunteers when they entered the former place, where he tomahawked one of Wm. King's Natives, and would have served a second (Wm. King's nephew) the same but for the interposition of a European. These acts stamped him as an enemy of the Natives in rebellion, a position he has never retracted from so far as I know ; but on the contrary, declares to this day his determination to defend his own territory against them in support of the authority of the Government. As regards Wm. King, in his case I am not so clear ; but knowing, as I do, his alliance with Te Whiti, of Warea, for the last three years, and their views in reference to Titokowaru's proceedings, which they have publicly condemned, I think there is fair reason to doubt whether he ever offered such assistance to Titokowaru within the last ten months. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 55. Copy of a Letter from Mr. J. Booth to the Hon. the Native Ministee. (No. 15-2.) Sie — Patca, 16th March, 1869. I have the honor to report that, in a conversation I had to-day with one of the female prisoners, I gathered from her the following information : — 1. That Titokowaru is very short of ammunition, and that he and his hapu intend to make their way to Waitara, and from thence to Waikato, for the purpose of procuring a fresh supply. 2. That whilst they were retreating from Taurangaika, and in the neighbourhood of Okotuku, " Paraone," formerly of Manutahi, went to Titokowaru's camp with a message from "Wiremu Kingi Te Eangitake, of Waitara, and from Mahau, to say that they were prepared to give him a supply of ammunition, but that he must send to Waitara for it.

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3. None of the Natives (excepting) those only of the Ngaruahini hapu (Titokowaru's,) have been guilty of the crime of cannibalism. The Tangahoe, Pakakohi, and the Ngarauru, have kept themselves strictly aloof from all acts of cannibalism; and it has been remarked by all the Natives in the Hauhau camp that the men, women, and children of Titokowaru's hapu have suffered severely from a peculiar disease which entirely deprives them of strength, and that a great number have died from it, whilst the other hapus have not suffered at all. 4. That Taurua is constantly regretting that he did not come into Patea when I pressed him to do so. He thought he would be able to continue to live at Hukatere where all his property was. That twice Titokowaru sent messengers to tell him to join him, which he refused to do, and that the third time he was taken prisoner and made to join against his will, and although he has been since that time in Titokowaru's camp, ho has never actually fought against us. Taurua's father, brother, and others of the tribe, are up the Patea Eiver, and have never seen Titokowaru. Paraone did not join Titokowaru when the latter came to this part of the country ; and the only time he has been seen was when he went with the message before mentioned. Titokowaru has not himself ever fought; the men now with Titokowaru number 400 men: their ammunition is all hut spent. Yesterday, Kemp, with a party of Natives, Whanganui and Arawa, followed the track of the Hauhaus for some miles into the bush. Kemp returned last evening to Tauraha, near Manutahi, and he has gone again to-night in command of 300 men, composed of Whanganuis, Arawas, and sixty European volunteers. They have taken three days' provisions, and intend to intercept the enemy if possible at Whakamara. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. James Booth, E.M.

No. 56. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Mr. G. S. Coopee. (No. 80.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 2nd April, 1869. I have the honor to report, for the information of His Excellency's Government, that on the 24th ultimo the Tokangamutu delegate, More, who has been in the Taranaki District for the last five months, waiting for the final edict of the Warea chief Te Whiti, came into town therefrom with twelve Waikato Natives, of the Ngatimahuta Tribe, on their way to the North. They stopped at my office for about three hours discussing the action of Ngatimaniapoto in reference to the Pukearuhe murders, which More said was in opposition to the advice of the Tokangamutu councils, und compared it to the action of Titokowaru, both of which he likened to a body from which its spirit was departing, leaving the body to decay. This was the figurative language he used to express his opinion, which he said he should tell them himself as soon as he saw them, whether at Mokau or elsewhere. The party left Urenui on Monday last, 29th ultimo, and were accompanied by a few of our Natives as far as Pukearuhe, where on their arrival at that place they found the enemy had recently been, and had cut down the flagstaff, shot a cow, killed some pigs, and appeared to have taken away a horse, the footprints being visible on the beach. They halted at the redoubt, and sent on two of their young men to ascertain if the Ngatimaniapotos were near; they went on as far as Tongaporutu, but saw no Natives. More and party went on towards Mokau, and our Natives returned and reported what had occurred. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 57. Copy of a Letter from Mr. G. S. Coopee to Mr. R. Paeeis. (No. 81-2.) Sic,— Native Office, Wellington, 10th May, 1869. Major Charles Brown, of the Taranaki Militia, having been ordered by a Resolution of the House of Representatives to receive a grant of 400 acres of land, as a Field Officer of Military Settlers, has applied to be allowed to select such grant adjoining the area that may be reserved for the Town site at Opunake. I am instructed by the Hon. Colonel Haultain to request that you will, after consulting with His Honor Mr. Henry Richmond, report to the Government whether in your joint opinion it is expedient at present to define Major Brown's allotment, and whether it is advisable that he be allowed to select it in the spot indicated. I have, &c, G. S. Coopee, The Civil Commissioner, Taranaki. Under Secretary.

No. 58. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Mr. G. S. Coopee. (No. 116.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 11th May, 1869. I have the honor to forward herewith, for your information, copy of a letter I have received from Mr. Booth, reporting the detention of the chief Te Ika, as a prisoner at Patea, on suspicion of being a spy, and a copy of my reply. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

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Enclosure 1 in No. 58. Copy of a Letter from Mr. J. Booth to Mr. R. Paeeis. (No. 20.) Sic, — Resident Magistrate's Office, Carlyle, 6th May, 1869. I have the honor to report, for your information, that Te Ika, a chief of the Ngatitupaea Hapu, is detained as a prisoner at this post by order of Lieut.-Colonel Lyon, on suspicion of being a spy. He was made prisoner by the officer commanding at Manawapou, as he appeared alone at that post on Saturday last (Ist), and stated that he had come from Pariaka and intended to visit Patea and Waitotara, possibly Wanganui; that he was going to Waitotara for the purpose of seeing Aperahama Tamaiparea. On being re-examined by Lieut.-Colonel Lyon and myself, he refused to give any motive for having disobeyed Colonel Whitmore's orders, and come back across the Waingongoro River, merely stating that himself and several others of his hapu had come down with Ngahina, that the rest had gone to Keteonetea and Te Ngaere to fetch away some spades, axes, &c, and that he had come in here. On the evening of the 2nd, Ngahina arrived with the mail, and reported that he had brought down twelve men for the purpose above mentioned. He was told that both Hone Pihama and himself were much to blame for not having first of all written to either Colonel Lyon or myself, to ask whether these men might come, as they were well aware that the Ngatiporou had orders to shoot every man found by them on this side Waingongoro; moreover, it had been in contemplation to send out the Carlyle Rifles and Ngatiporou in that very direction, and had all or any of these men been killed on such an expedition, they would have had only themselves to blame for it. I may suggest to you that it would be advisable to send either Patohe or Hone with the mail to Patea, as these men are well liked and thoroughly trusted, whereas Ngahina is, to say the least of it, very indiscreet; then, again, he gets drunk, and gets mixed up in pothouse brawls with the settlers, who are only too eager to quarrel with him. We have (Thursday evening) just returned from an expedition up the Patea River. Four Hauhaus were killed by the Ngatiporou, one of whom was Iraia, the chief of Manutahi; two other Manutahi men were killed, and one woman. We destroyed Taurua's place called Omaruika, which is about twenty miles up the river. I have, &c, R. Parris, Esq., Civil Commissioner, James Booth, New Plymouth. Resident Magistrate.

Enclosure 2 in No. 58. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Mr. J. Booth. (No. 115.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 10th May, 1869. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th instant, reporting the detention of the chief Te Ika as a prisoner, on suspicion of being a spy, and also that others had gone to Keteonetea and Te Ngaere. In reply I beg to inform you that I have on several occasions explained to them that no one but mail-carriers would be safe south of Waingongoro. That in case of wishing to go either to Matangarara or Waokena for food, they must first obtain leave from the officer commanding the district, but on no account to go without it; that if they disobeyed orders they must take the consequence of whatever happened. They were removed from the district to avoid real or imaginary complicity with the avowed rebels, subject to the above restrictions, which I am of opinion should not be relaxed during the unsettled state of the district. If you have reported to the Government the detention of Te Ika as a prisoner, you must, of course, wait for instructions; but should you not have done so, I recommend that he should be liberated, with orders to return north of Waingongoro, and warned not to be guilty a second time of disobeying Colonel Whitmore's orders. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, J. Booth, Esq., R.M., Civil Commissioner.