E.—No. 3. SECTION I.

MINUTE BY THE NATIVE MINISTER ON THE SIEMOBIAL. " On the occasion of the wreck of the ' Lord Worsley' the Natives pillaged the vessel." The vessel was given to the Natives by Captain Vine Hall, Agent of the Inter-Colonial Steam Company to which she belonged. In the reports made of the transaction by Mr. E. Graham and Captain Butler, Members of the House of Kepresentatives, and officially transmitted to the Government by the Superintendent of Taranaki, the following accounts are given: In Captain Butler's statement:—■ " At 9 a.m. on the 2nd of September, Captain Vine Hall, Mr. Graham, M.H.E., Captain Bowden, " Wiremu Kingi, Matai, Arama Karaka, and myself proceeded on board the wreck. When we arrived on board we went into the saloon, and, with closed doors, the following terms were agreed to : — " 1. That AViremu Kingi and Arama Karaka should do their best to forward the passengers, " crew, and luggage to town, either by land or water, and that the Captain should take " what things he required out of the wreck, especially the compasses, and the remainder " should be left for Wi England Arama Karaka.' Again:— " Erueti then asked if it was correct what he had said, especially about giving Wi Kingi the wreck, " and being answered in the affirmative, he said, Let us be off; and at once the ladies' carts started, " closely followed by the luggage." In Mr. Graham's statement: — " Captain Hall, therefore, requested us to explain to the Natives that in the event of their using " their best endeavours in assisting us to get to New Plymouth with our luggage, the vessel would be " left for them after the Captain removed some of the most valuable articles, which was explained would " not be much." Again:— " Erueti addressed the crowd : he made a long speech, and finished that the ship and all on board " was for Wi Kingi; that all luggage on shore was for the Europeans ; and asked what I had to say. " I stated that there was still luggage on board belonging to the passengers, let that be for the passen- " gers ; the sacred box (gold) let it remain so until the Captain comes with his key. You have treated " us well so far; continue to keep a good name. The Governor shall hear of your kindness to us, every- " thing will bo published in the newspapers. Do not let it be said that in our absence you break your •' word; do not let any one say of you that you take anything that is not your own. We leave the " wreck for you ; we will not return to take it away. The timber will be yours, the coals will bo yours, " and many things on board of great value. They were satisfied; we packed the mail in the cart, and " all the Europeans left, except Captain Hall and myself." In a Minute on these Papers, the Colonial Secretary said : — " It appears from this, " 1. That Messrs. Butler and Graham had the authority of Captain Vine Hall to make the best " arrangements they could to get the passengers and crew to New Plymouth. " 2. That they gave up the wreck and cargo to Wi Kingi and Arama Earaka, on condition " that they should do their best to forward passengers, crew, and luggage to New Ply- " mouth, the Captain taking out, besides, what he wanted. " 3. That Wi Kingi and Arama Karaka performed their part of the bargain to the best of their " ability, and that the King Natives assented to the arrangement, taking only their ' tolls ' " at the gate." " Mr. Graham's report confirms these points, especially as to Captain Hall's authorising the giving " away of the wreck and ' many things on board of great value.' Wi Kingi seems to have been tempted " to break his agreement by the chance of getting the box of gold, but gave it up. Erueti seems through- " out to have behaved in an honorable manner." A. D. On the 25th September, the Superintendent of Taranaki reported that, " in fulfilment of their " promise to W. Kingi and Arama Karaka (that they should have the wreck and cargo if the mails, " luggage, compasses, &c, were secured for the owners), Captain Butler and Mr. Graham asked Captain " Stapp to bid for them at Lloyd's sale, and purchased the wreck and cargo for about £280. In the ' afternoon the news received made it evident that the Natives would not strictly carry out their part of " the agreement. I therefore took the purchase out of their hands with the funds of the General Go- " vernment at my disposal." F. D. Bell. May 15th, 1863

No. 21. copy of DESPATCH feom govebnob sie geobge gbey, k.c.b., to his geace the duke of NEWCASTLE, E.G. Government House, Auckland, June 8th, 1863. My Lord Duke, — I have the honor to enclose a short statement of a sharp encounter with the natives near Taranaki on the 4th instant.

No. 60.

45

TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.