E.—No. 3. SECTION I.

ambuscading men to go home. Patara went up last night and complained of the ' ritenga kohuru' being adopted. I enclose you a letter I have just got from Eopata. I have, &c, F. D. Bell. Te Poutoko, April 27th, 1863. O Pbiend Mr. Bell, — Greetings to you. On my arrival here, Te Penaha, the younger brother of Haimona, had come in. On his arrival he was questioned as to the cause of the report which had been heard in the morning; on this he explained his opinion to us ; —the reason of it was that ambushes had been planted to capture the Governor, the General, and Mr. Parris, even to seize the chief men. The ambuscades were thus planted,—at the Kahakaha was one, on the far side of the Oakura was another, at Wairau was another, and at Tataraimaka another; but they did not mean to catch nameless pakehas, but to capture you, the chief men, so that they might gain renown. These are the words. This is all, from your friend, Eopata Ngabongomate.

Enclosure 2 to No. 14. FOE THE NATIVE MINISTEB. Patara came into town to-day from Kaitake, and reports that early yesterday morning, Monday, the 27th instant, three ambuscades were planted between Te Poutoko and Tataraimaka by the Warea and Upper Taranaki Natives, for thepurpose of murdering any Europeans they might see passing. The first ambuscade was planted at Te Kahakaha, fifteen men; the second at Wairau, twenty men; the third at Oao, twenty men. The plot was proposed by Totaia, a Native Teacher of Waitino, and responded to by Aperahama Te Beke, the Warea chief. There were only two Ngatiruanui Natives with the party who composed the ambuscades; all the others were Taranaki Natives of the following hapus : —Patukai, TJpokomutu, Ngatituhekerangi, Titai. Tamati Hone was not aware of the plot until after the ambuscades were planted, on hearing of which, he sent immediately and ordered them to retire to the ranges, which they did. Eobeet Pabeis, Assistant Native Secretary New Plymouth, April 28th, 1863.

Enclosure 3 to No. 14. Fort St. George, Tataraimaka, Tuesday, 21st April, 1863. Deae Paeeis, — Two Natives called upon me late this evening, (the one I believe to be Hairana, a relative ol Porikapa); both were much excited, and desired me to inform you that if anything further was done to the road at the crossing at Tapuae river, a number of Natives (400) would assemble there at once and obstruct the road. They said also that when matters are finally settled with His Excellency, there would be no longer any objection to road making. Yours, &c, Thomas Good. E. Parris, Esq.

No. 44.

No. 15. COPY OF A DESPATCH FROM GOVERNOR SIR GEORGE GREY, K.C.B., TO HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE, K.G. Taranaki, May 9, 1863. My Lord Duke, — From other despatches which I have sent home by this mail, Your Grace will learn that a very serious state of things has arisen in the Northern Island of New Zealand, and that there is great reason to apprehend that a general rising of the native population may shortly take place, for the purpose of making a simultaneous attack upon the several centres of European population with a view to the total expulsion of the white race from this Island. 2. I am quite satisfied that such a plot has been formed by a large number of influential natives, as also that they are now busily engaged in trying to carry it into effect. I still hope that they will fail in conducting it on such a large scale as they propose, but I believe the danger to be of a very serious and alarming kind, which may lead to a vast destruction of life and property. 3. To meet this danger the promptest measures must be taken, and my Responsible Advisers

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DESPATCHES FROM GOVERNOR SIR G. GREY