AGAINST MR. C. W. RICHMOND.

F— No 3

39

APPENDIX.

The whole of Mr. Parris' private correspondence was laid before the Committee in full, and placed at their disposal. Such portions as were clearly irrelevant have been epitomized by order of the Committee. F. A. Weld, Chairman. No. 1. Letter No. I.—Mr. Parris to C.W.Richmond, Esq., dated 21st June, 1859. Describes circumstances of Ihaia's attempt to give himself up to Wm. Kingi and his people. States that Kingi has been trying to stop the work at the tunnel through the White Cliffs near Mokau, and concludes as follows : " Teira is getting very anxious about his offer, which is regarded as the turning point of the Land " question in this Province. If bought, the Natives say all will go, and, vice versa, if not, none will." Letter No. 2.—Mr. Parris to C. W. Richmond, Esq., dated 6th July, 1859. Submits questions respecting the administration of the Native Reserves at New Plymouth, and the right of certain Natives to be put in possession of lands over which they had a right of pre emption reserved to them by the deed of Cession. Does not notice the Waitara question. Letter No. 3.—Mr. Parris to C. W. Richmond, Esq., dated 6th August, 1859. Reports his exploration of proposed line of road from New Plymouth, via Motukaramu and Waipa, to Auckland. Recommends a loan to the sons of Ta Kerei of Awakino. This letter is written from Otawhao, and bears a Minute by the Governor respecting the Loan. Letter No. 4 —Mr. Parris to C. W. Richmond, Esq., dated 20th August, 1859. Reports his return from journey of exploration. Narrates circumstances connected with the prosecution of Wi Te Ahoaho and Bishop for obstructing the road leading to the Waiwakaiho bridge. Requests to be informed if there is any probability of an alteration of the Mail route from Auckland to New Plymouth to the inland line (via Motukaramu) and presses for an answer to his inquiries contained in his letter of 6th July, 1859.

No. 2. MB. PAKEIS TO ME. 0. W. EICHMOND. New Plymouth, September, 2lst, 1859. Dear Sir, —Since I wrote to you, the 9th inst., I have been investigating Teira's question, in order to give an opinion as to the opposition likely to be offered to it, and am sorry to say that I find Wm. King full of his dogged obstinacy, assuming the right to dictate authority over land offered by the rightful owners to the Government. He takes this ground, not being able to refute the claim* of Teira and his supporters, who, from all I can gather from disinterested Natives, are the rightful owners. Wm. King's son told me a few days since, that if they consented for Teira to sell his land, others would do the same —(quite true). They were therefore determined not to allow any one to sell, admitting at the same time that they believed the Governor would not buy, so long as there was an opposition. Teira is emboldened by the justice of his claims. I therefore find it necessary to restrain him in many of his propositions, lest anger should arise and violence ensue. He offers to cut the line, but at present I decline to give my consent, knowing the opposition he is sure to meet with. About a fortnight since, some Natives erected some fencing on hia land, whilst he was in town to see me on my return from Waikato. On his return to Waitara he cut down the fencing, upon which they threatened to burn a canoe of his j he told them he should not attempt to prevent the burning of his canoe, but if they did it, he would at once proceed with a fire stick, and fire the three pahs (at the mouth of the river) which they knew were on his land. Teira's father (Tamati Raru) told Wm. King for the first time last week that it was only stubbornness on his part to oppose Teira in the sale of the land on the south bank of the river : that his (Wm. King's) land was on the north side, in answer to which Wm. King threatened violent opposition. The prevailing opinion among the Natives is, that Teira's offer will settle the question of the lale of land for a long time ; if purchased, more will immediately follow ; if not purchased, those who want to sell will be afraid to move in the matter. The most favourable prospect of the whole is, Teira has induced a party of the Ngatiruanuis to take a favourable view of the land question. He came to me on the 14th inst. with a Native of the Pakakohe, who informed me that he had come with a message from his brother and one hundred supporters, to inform me that they were going to propose the sale of a large block of land, of from 15 to 20 miles beach frontage, from a place called Ohangai to the Patea river. The acquisition of such a block of land would be the making of the Province. The land is exceedingly good, with good sheep runs, and the Patea river much superior to the Waitara. I was hoping that Mr. McLean would have returned by this time, for the state of Teira's