E—No. 1 Sec. 11.

others to be seen on the same subject, and that he was not to run away with the idea that the ■survey was to be at once proceeded with. He then gave me to understand that he would carry out every thing the Governor wished, to the best of his ability, but he was doubtful of support from his own people. Hapurona appears to me to stand almost alone, as the Huirangi and Mataetawa Natives have nearly all deserted him on account (as they say) of his abandoning the Waitara cause, the Maori King, and New Zealand. He is a wily Native, difficult to understand, and although he is now firm in his determination to adhere to the Government, a mere pretext might change him unless he is treated with care and confided in; a course which I shall pursue in my intercourse with him, as I consider he is the key to the amicable settlement of the Waitara question. Subsequently I arranged to call again and go inland of Pukerangiora to meet Whatitiri and his people, to ascertain their views regarding the subdivision of their claims. I called a meeting of the friendly Natives at Waitara in the evening, and explained the intention of the Government regarding the Waitara. Tamati Tiraurau, lhaia, Henare, Te Retiu, Hona, Rawiri, Paranihi, Pene, Tamati Raru, Te Honiana, Te Tina, aud others, spoke in the highest praise of the Governor for the manner in which His Excellency directed that the land should be dealt with, and unanimously agreed to give over their claims to be divided. Te Tiraurau dwelt at length on the fact, that according to Native custom from time immemorial, land conquered in the way Waitara had been never returned to its original owners: notwithstanding this, the Governor had consented to give it back again already subdivided, although as yet no reparation had been made by the Maori people for the vast destruction of property and loss of life sustained by the Europeans. Te Patukakariki and a few of his people were present at the meeting, but took no part whatever in it. On the following morning I sent a message through Te Teira to Patukakariki, to the effect that I should like to see him, as it was my i_tention to visit. Mataetawa, to see him and his people. He declined an interview, giving as a reason that Wi Kingi was absent at Waikato; and advised my not going to Mataetawa, as there was no one there who would reply to what I had to say to them in King's absence, and then I might think that they were angry with me. I then told Teira to say that as he appeared to have an objection to see me at Mataitawa, I would confine my visit to the Pukerangiora, and would inform the Governor accordingly. It would be premature in me to express an opinion as to whether it is practicable at the present time to carry out amicably the instructions which I had the honor to receive before leaving Auckland. I shall, however, be able to form a conclusion on the subject, after I have seen Whatitiri and his party, who have agreed to hold a meeting with me in the space of a few days: the result of which, together with my own views, I shall not fail to communicate to you. I beg to enclose copies of a document written by lhaia, which is intended as a report of a meeting which took place between Hapurona and the principal Natives of Waitara pah, which bears on the subject of this letter. It will be seen that Hapurona was throughout uncommunicative. I have, &c,

John Rogan.

Taranaki, 15th July, 1861.

Sir —

With reference to my letter of 28th ultimo, in which it is stated that an arrangement was made with Hapurona that I should meet the Huirangi and Pukerangiora Natives on the subject of the subdivision of their lands situated within the boundaries of the AVaitara land described in my warrant of instructions, I have the honor to forward the following statement of my proceedings with the Natives above referred to, for the information of His Excellency the Governor.

On Monday evening last I proceeded to Waitara, and on the following morning communicatee! with Hapurona; who said that the Natives were assembled at Te Arei for the purpose of hearing what I had to convey to them, and that a messenger should be sent to them to say that I should be at Te Arei on the following day. Accordingly I arrived at the place appointed, and found about twenty of the principal Natives, including Arapeta, whose names were signed to the terms of peace. After a short time I opened the meeting by describing the nature of the duties which were entrusted to me by the Government, to which they listened very attentively throughout; when Wereta, one of the Natives of the town pa who went over with Te Waka, said, "I shall reply. Listen to our views on the matter of Waitara. Hapurona has given over Onukukaitara to the Governor, which we all assented to, and beyond that place we will not allow any interference." Aperahama then said, " You have come to inform us of the Governor's word, regarding the Waitara. Hearken to mine. Onukukaitara has been given to the Governor for the wrong which has been done to the pakeha, and beyond that place the whole of the land you have described belongs to us. All the redoubts, excepting Puketakauere, together with entrenchments, are ours, and we have no intention of giving them up to the Governor in the way you propose, not at all. We are satisfied with our own title to our lands, which are inherited from our fathers, and we shall have no interference with our property by the Governor; aud remember, if you should come hereafter with your chain to measure, that is a path to death." Arapeta and several other Natives spoke to the same effect, and after talking with them for a considerable time, I found they were not in a temper to receive favourably what I had to say to them. I returned, saying at the same time that I should come back again to see them, as all days were not alike; this, for instance, was a storm, the next time I came it might be a calm—when Aperahama said it was useless my returning, as they had nothing else to say to me. Under the circumstances above stated, I am of opinion that it would be injudicious in me to proceed beyond the steps I have already taken in this matter; as I am assured on the best

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TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.