E—No. 2.

PAPERS CONNECTED WITH THE TARANAKI LAND QUESTION From 1839 to 1851.

No. 1. EXTRACTS erKOM FIRST DESPATCHES OP COLONEL WAKEFIELD TO THE NEW ZEALAND COMPANY, AFTER HIS ARRIVAL IN NEW ZEALAND. Port Nicholson, Tuesday, October 1, 1839.—Warepori's sudden regard for me has also opened the way to acquiring a large district of fine flat land at Taranaki and Moturoa on the Western Coast, in the neighbourhood of Mount Egmont. Should Ibe able to obtain possession of this tract, which is extensive and perfectly level, through the means I have obtained here, I shall be less anxious about purchases in the North. The district in question is between Kawhia and Mount abreast of the Sugar Loaf Islands, and runs for 30 miles inland. The Chiefs here, who were all born on these plains, look back with great regret to the time when they were obliged to abandon . them, and are very desirous that they should be again opened to them by means of European settlers. They have selected E Whare, the son of Te Puni, and Tuarau, the grandson of the principal Chief of the whole Ngatiawa tribes, to accompany me to Taranaki, where it is hoped they will be able to open a negotiation with the present possessors of the land, to whom they are both related. * * Cloudy Bay, October 4.—A1l my arrangements being completed on shore, we weighed anchor this morning ; and taking with me E Whare and Tuarau, we sailed for Cloudy Bay, in the mouth of which harbour we anchored this evening. * * Sunday, 27th October, 1839, Kapiti.—The weather, for the first time during ten days, allowed a boat to cross over to the main. I went to Waikanae, taking with me E Patu, the son of Toroa, the two principal chiefs of that place and of Queen Charlotte's Sound. On landing, we were greeted by the acclamations of the numbers assembled at the place in expectation of a second attack from the Ngatiraukawas. As soon as it was known that I had come to talk about the land, a rush was made for the usual place of meeting on public occasions ; and in a few minutes a large arena was entirely covered with people, seated in their peculiar posture in perfect silence, anxious to hear the speeches of the elders. A place was made for me on the side of a canoe; and during the discussion all eyes were fixed on me, as if to read in my countenance the effect of the eloquence of the orators. E Patu introduced me as a good man, who liked the natives, and who would bring a great many white people to live amongst his tribe, and an English missionary to teach them. A low murmur of approbation ran through the assembly at the conclusion of his speech. Some of the elder chiefs then addressed hs, and coincided in granting me all their lands, upon condition of receiving arms and ammunition to enable them to defend themselves and people from iheir enemies. They declined blankets, clothing, and tobacco ; nothing was wanted but implements of war. * * After visiting their village, which is the largest we have seen, and tolerably fortified, and seen their wounded, I persuaded three of the chiefs to accompany me on board to see Rauparaha, with a view of putting an end to their quarrel with the Ngatiraukawas. On approaching the ship they evinced the greatest fear, declaring that Rauparaha would take their heads. Soon after being on board I sent for Rauparaha and his fighting general Rangiaiata, who had arrived from Mana. When these came on deck, and saw the three Ngatiawa chiefs sitting down with their faces half hidden in their mats, they betrayed great surprise, and made their customary warlike grimaces. Then, from, I conclude, remembering that the ship was no place to show any hostile demonstration, they advanced to them, and rubbed noses with them in succession. • • • • Monday, 28th October.—The three chiefs of the Ngatiawas, whom I had brought from Waikanai, declined proceeding with me to Queen Charlotte's Sound, where I wished them to combine with the heads of the tribe resident there in conveying their rights to me. They pleaded, with justice, the danger to their families during their absence, from their neighbouring enemies, but deputed one of their sons to accompany me, who is empowered to act for them. In the meantime, they have promised me that they will part with no land until my return. If time had permitted, I could have concluded the bargain for their lands, although I should have had some difficulty in satisfying them in respect to arms, with which I am ill provided. • • • • Thursday, 31st October, East Bay, Queen Charlotte's Sound. —The weather having changed, and our repairs effected, we crossed the Strait this morning, and anchored in this bay, instead of Ship Cove, for the convenience of being nearer to the grove at the head of the Sound, whither it was necessary to send to procure a spar for a fore-yard. I was also desirous to be near the principal settlement in the Sound, in order to conclude my treaty with the Ngatiawas, for the sale of their rights in the neighbourhood of the Strait. As soon as we entered the bay, many natives came off who had heard of the object of our visit. I landed in Grass Cove, where Captain Furneaux's boat's crew was murdered, and walked over the island of Arapaoa to Okakuri, from whence I got a canoe to Teawaiti. On coming in sight of Okakuri, the chief who accompanied us requested us to fire off our guns, the report from which brought in answer a continued discharge of muskets, until we reached the village. Here we found assembled about 200 men in a state of great excitement, and preparing to start in their canoes for Waikanae, to carry on the war against the Ngatiraukawas ; my companion and myself, with the Waikanae chief, had to go through the ceremony of shaking hands with everyone in the settlement, ranged round the place of public meeting. After this operation, a tangi

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