E—No. 7

James Preece, Esq.

No. 6. COROMANDEL. KEPORT FROM /AMES PUEECE, ESQ., DISTRICT SUB-COMMISSIONER. SIX, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated the 7th inst., which I only received on the 16th. I now forward the report called for. In the report I have endeavoured to give the required information, which I have accompanied with notes and suggestions on Native affairs. These I had prepared prior to my receiving your letter. They are grounded on observati«ns made by me during my residence of thirty-two years. From my acquaintance with Native affairs in general, I am convinced that a thorough change must take place before peace can be established on a solid basis. I have, &c, James Preece. The Native Secretary. On the present stale of the Natives, with notes and suggestions on Native affairs. The whole of the Thames Natives occupy a large territory on the East side, from the Aroha to Cape Colvilic, and from thence to Katikati; on the West, from the head of the Piako river to the Wairoa river. The Natives of these districts are and have been for some time past in a very unsettled and unsatisfactory state. A few only appear to remain loyal, the majority are quite undecided as to what steps they ought to take at this momentous crisis. Those who appear the most disaffected are part of Ngatimaru, under their chiefs Riwai te Kiore and Tamati Waka Tawera, —part of Ngatiwhanaunga, under Hoterene Taipari and Ngakapa,—part of Ngatitamatera, under Taraia and Te Moananui. These tribes reside on the coast from Haurakito Mercury Bay. There is also apart of Ngatipaoa, under Pita Tamahere, ard Rota te Whetuiti, who reside at Piako and Tawpo; these are also disaffected. Those who appear loyal, or at least favourable, are Te Taniwha of Ngatiwhanaunga, but very few, if any, of his people are to be trusted ; Pita Tattkaka of the Patukirikiri and his tribe; Karaitiana and his tribe ; Temativvaru, Paora te Putu's tribe ; Te Hira Wharewhenua of Ngatitamatera ; Houra Tipa and some of his people, Ngatipaoa. Wiremu Patene Puata and his tribe are not I fear to be trusted. Their near connection with Waikato, and their distrust of the Government, have, I fear, led them to sympathize with both Taranaki and Waikato; yet they wish to be thought good and loyal subjects. In fact, lam convinced that the whole of the Native population South of Auckland may be stated to be in such an excited condition at this critical period, that, should hostiliiies be renewed, there is but little hope that any will remain faithful. Yet there appears to be a better feeling manifesting itself since the change of Ministry, and the news that Sir George Grey is appointed Governor. The cultivation of the soil, which for many months had been entirely abandoned, has been resumed; they are now earnestly engaged in planting wheat, and preparing for their spring crop, which is a good feature. With reference to their sentiments towards the Government, the Natives generally do not entertain anyvery favourable feelings at the present time. But to be able to have a clear view, and thoroughly to comprehend the reasons why the Government has lost the confidence of the Natives, it will be needful to hear their own statement on that subject; which I will endeavour to give in a condensed form, in the hope that it may give some light on the subject. They say that at the time when the sovereignty of these islands was ceded to the British Crown several white men, and amongst them some Americans, who gave all the opposition they could to the treaty being signed, endeavoured to poison the minds of the Natives against the Government, in which they were but too successful. They told them that the English Government would constantly oppress and ill-treat them, and in the end make slaves of them and take their land; and that as long as the British flag remained in these islands their mana was gone. Whenever anything took place in which the Natives thought themselves to be aggrieved, these men would point to the flag and say " There, that is the cause of all your trouble," and said that America would give them assistance to drive the English out of the land. This advice helped to bring on the Bay war. These same reports continue up to the present period to be circulated through the length and breadth of the land, and are firmly believed by the Natives. This has tended more than anything else to foster a feeling of dislike in the Native mind against the Government, and make them construe every real or imaginary neglect into a desire on the part of the Government to enslave them, and then to take their land from them. They complain that, whenever they applied to the Government to adjust any disputed matter, their requests have either been altogether neglected or delayed for years; also that when they have requested to have magistrates appointed lo reside where there is a mixed population, and where frequent disputes happen, their requests have either been refused or persons sent who had not sufficient acquaintance of the Native language, neither were they those in whom they could confide. They also complain that no courts have been established with authority to decide on Native cases, presided over by persons critically acquainted with their language, and in whom they might place confidence. Early in the year 1854, a document in the Native language was printed in Auckland, and sent to nearly every influential chief in the land. Its object was to persuade the Natives not to sell any more land. Its intentions were generally hostile to every movement of Government. This produced the land league. The same party shortly afterwards made another move, and started a new idja

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ON THE ARRIVAL OF SIR GEORGE GREY.