E—No. lc

TO NATIVE AFFAIRS.

and led by old Maori chiefs principally; and finally Hopa said that he found he could not keep his people right any longer, unless he was supported by the influence and instructed by the knowledge of the European magistrate. After a long interview, I told them 1 xvould make no decision to-night, t await the result of the meeting to-morrow. Takerei strongly supported Hopa, and his opinion and advice weighs much with me, but I am anxious to avoid undertaking more than can be performed. lam now amongst the hills, three day's journey from TaranakL Had a splendid view of Ruapahu. The Taranaki war formed the subject of conversation during the evening. It seems that Katatore's party lay some of the blame of the late murders upon Pukewhau Te Wharepu and Arama Karaka Te ngara, because Te Fatata obtained from them some powder xvith xvhich the guns xvere loaded. These chiefs seem determined to go to Taranaki and see about this. If they do, the probability is that they will be drawn into the quarrel. Katatore, Ihaia, Rawiri, &c, wore all slaves in Waikato. Two of them xvere prisoners to Ngatihine, the tribe of Te Ngarangara, and it is not likely that the language of the Waikato chief's xvill be moderate. Probably they xvould then be insulted, and the result would be hostility. I have directed the native magistrates to oppose the idea on these grounds. Pukewhau, however, seems determined. Their information about Taranaki is very accurate; messengers and letters are constantly passing and re-passing. It seems that now Ihaia arid his party are entirely surrounded by 300 people, and sentinels regularly set, xxho are relieved at the sound of the bugle "like soldiers," the Maories say; and a letter from the investing party to the chiefs of Ngatimaniapoto expresses a determination to starve them into a surrender and then exterminate the whole " xvhakangaiomia," as they say. I heard some people saying to-day that the king party xvere organizing policemen and soldiers to repress disorder, but the conversation dropped xvhen they saw I xvas listening, and I asked no questions. I think the objects of the agitators is little understood in Auckland. It xvas simply an effort «J a people who pray to be governed, to govern themselves in the absence of anything better. But, like all popular movements, it has noxv, to a certain extent, embraced other ideas. If the new sj'stem had been two years earlier in the field, the agitation xvould never have existed. I begin now to find great difficulties about the census. They tell me I shall get no information higher up, amongst the central district of Ngatimaniapoto, and that my piesence on such an errand xvould create gieat uneasiness. Takerei says native agents xvould succeed no better. If, upon reflection, this appears to me to be so, I shall content myself xvith the best information I can get here. Waipa has fallen two feet. March',), Tuesday—Went to Te Awatoctoe overland. There was a great feast of eels and pork &c, prepared for us. Held a meeting of the tribe Ngatimatakore. The 6] eeches xvere of the usual sort, though moI"e mention xvas made of king than usual. I consented to their building a Court-house, but did not promise that at present any one xvould visit them regularly. Found it xvas useless to make local enquiries amongst Ngatimaniapoto as to the census—indeed it xvill create uneasiness. I must therefore pick up such knoxvledge as I can. Attended a meeting in the evening respecting the disputed eel-pa. We, the magistrates, declined to act, xvhen called upon, on the ground that the dispute concerned land. Ngatimaniapoto have taken possession of the pa xvith an armed party. The orators, tracing up their pedigree from the first immigration from Haxvaiki, mentioned twenty-one generations. In one case twenty-two xvere mentioned. March 10, Wednesday—Te Tuahu. Marked out the dimensions of the Court-house, and left Hopa in charge of further proceedings. Pulled down the stream to Te Kopua, collecting the census payers. Ngatingawaero had refused to alloxv one to be taken, but I had obtained the information elsewhere. Many of these returns cannot be relied on as perfectly accurate, especially as to the children, but they are sufficient for all practical purposes, and as good as can be obtained xvithout great labour. The reasons why Ngatingawaero refused were two—l. That the Governor xvanted to know how many men there xvere, as the Pakehas and Ngapuhi were coming down to fight them. 2. That the census xvas to shew the number of king and Queen people. Had along conversation witii the Rev. Mr. Reid ; his (pinions quite'agree xvith mine. Ho says it is quite time that the principle should be recognised that laxv and religion must help each other. The houses, clothing, and everything belonging to the Maoris up here aie most wretched, much xvorse than when I xvas here five years ago. They seem in the loxvest stage of poverty. Have nothing inside their houses and little outside. They expect to have lo eat fern-root during the xvinter. 'Ihe mill has not turned a wheel for five months. The Ngatingawaero have some cattle xvhich are tame, as the beautiful plain around Mr. Reid's house produces seme grass, Lut it is native crass and xvould not do for sheep as it is full of utiwai. The river here becomes a large stream fr< ni the union of three considerable rivers, but lower doxvn the navigation is impeded by rapids. Had long consultation as to whether xve should cross over from here to Rangiaohia, lut decided that as they bad as yet made no application for law, although I told them during my last visit, that if they wanted law they must xvrite a letter to me, it would be against the principle to attempt its introduction unsolicited. They knoxv well the difference between a formal application for the establishment of laxv amongst them as a reality, and the vague assurances of attachment to the Queen, and the " ture," and the" whakapono," which are often nothing but a Polynesian politeness. Wrote letters repeating what I said to them before. Pulled down the river numbering the scattered popula'\m as we went. Asked Mr, C to assist me in the Rangiaohia census, as all the natives assures me tnclj it xvas useless for me to attempt anything there openly, as to numbering the people. He declined on the ground that the Maoris xvould be so angry with him, if discovered, that his trade would be ruined. Pulled doxvn and slept at the settlement of the Patupo. March 11, Thursday- —Pulled down the river. Walked inland to Konewhanewha to get the census through a sadly overgrown and wearisome road. Arrived at Whatawhata. Obtained a European well acquainted xvith the Maories tp take the Rangiohia census. Told the magistrates here not to listen to applications on any days but Mondays, and to make a mle of sitting- in-the Courthouse

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