E.—No. 3. SECTION I.

Having but few incidents to report since my letter to you on the 3rd instant, I beg to transmit copy of a letter (translation) received by Mr. Parris, from several Chiefs of the Whanganui district, by which it is satisfactory to learn that the cowardly murders committed lately by the Taranakis and Ngatiruanuis, and also those committed by some of the Natives of these tribes in the former war, are disapproved of by the more respectable and better class of Natives at Whanganui. The contents of the enclosed letter are corroborated by private letters I have received from Whanganui, by which I find, that although the Natives are very desirous of avenging the death of their Chief (Hori Patene, who appears to have been a high class of Native,) and others who fell on the 4th June, they are more inclined to revenge themselves on the Taranaki Natives, who, the Whanganui Natives say, deserted their Chief, and allowed their people to be killed on the day mentioned. I believe it is quite in accordance with Native custom, for one tribe to turn upon another in similar cases ; and it appears almost a pity that Mr. White, the Native Officer at Whanganui, should have used his influence to prevent the Natives taking the vengeance they desired. They, however, appear to be much better disposed towards Europeans in the neighbourhood of Wanganui than in this district; and I am assured that owing to the very open nature of the country, there is little danger to be apprehended from attack on the settlement, more especially as a large number of Natives, knowing their own interests, are anxious to preserve Whanganui, as a market from whence to draw their supplies, &c. It would appear very desirable to obtain the command of the river, by placing a small armed steamer or gun-boat upon it, by means of which the Natives could be kept under great control, and their canoes and pas be at our mercy. Captain Stewart, the senior Captain of the 57th stationed at Whanganui, has taken great interest in the Native Question, and the defence of the settlement ; and it is from him that I have derived much valuable information regarding the Natives —the nature of the country, &c. In this neighbourhood the Natives have scarcely shown any signs of life until yesterday, when happening to be at Oakura, I saw about thirty or forty Natives, men and women, apparently proceeding South, across the Tataraimaka Block. Owing to the Lieutenant-General's instructions, I have not made any reconnaisance South of Oakura. There appear to bo hardly any Natives at Kaitake; on some days not more than three or four are seen all day, and I believe they have left the position since the day they were shelled by the Armstrong guns, and have located themselves on the space further to the South, where a few new whares are visible. None are seen, nor are their traces now found within the limits of the European settlements, and I believe it is generally admitted that they are much afraid of encountering the Volunteers of the " Wild Pakehas," as they call these parties. There will be no difficulty in maintaining our position at Oakura and Poutoko ; and should a small steamer be placed on the line between this and Whanganui, as promised by the Colonial Government, there will be but little difficulty in re-occupying the position at Tataraimaka, even with the present force in this Province, whenever it may be deemed advisable to do so. Some settlers in the Bell Block district very foolishly trespassed upon Native Land in search of cattle, on the 10th or 11th instant; they fell in with a party of armed Natives, who behaved with great forbearance. Finding only one of the settlers armed with a revolver, the Natives allowed them to depart, telling the settlers not to come again on to Native land; and saying, that had the settlers been armed, they would have been killed, or taken prisoners. I have, for the third time, requested the Superintendent to restrain the settlers within their own limits ; but I much fear that nothing but a fearful example will oblige them to be more cautious. The Natives at Waitara are able to hold their own land, unless the Mataitawa Natives are reinforced by the Ngatimaniapotos, who have not yet come to their assistance. I have, &c., H. S. Wabbe, Colonel Commanding Troops at Taranaki. The Assistant Military Secretary, Auckland. Putikiwharanui, District of Whanganui, June 24th, 1863. Go this, my letter, to my loving friend, Mr. Parris. Friend, salutations to you, dwelling there at your place, at Ngamotu. We, who are living here at Whanganui, are grieved at the murderous work of the Taranaki tribe. In the two wars, the Taranakis have murdered Europeans. It was they who wrote to the men of Whanganui to go up and fight at Tataraimaka, and therefore Hone Patene was killed —or rather it was because they (Hori and others) were Kingites, that they went. Greeting to you, Mr. Parris (dwelling) amidst the evil (works) of the tribes of Taranaki, Ngatiruanui, and Ngarauru. These tribes are the worst tribes in the world. In the first war of Te Atiawa at Waitara, it was by the Taranakis that murder was committed, and in this war also the Taranakis have committed murder. Mr. Parris : great is our love to you and the Governor, and to your people, the Europeans. If you should see my letter, be quick and send us one (in reply). That is all. From your loving children, Mete Kingi Te Eangi Paetahi. Haimona Te Ao-o-te Eangi. Apebaniko Eangihikitia. And the writer, Poaei.

Enclosure 2 to No. 32. COLONEL WAEEE, C.B., TO THE ASSISTANT MILITAET SECBETABY. New Plymouth, New Zealand, July 21st, 1863. Sib,— The mail steamer, due on the 16th instant, not having arrived as expected, I have the honor, in continuation of my letter of that date, to state for the information of the Lieut.-General Commanding,

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DESPATCHES FROM GOVERNOR SIR G. GREY