E.—No. 4

No. 6. CIVIL COMMISSIONER, WAIMATE, TO THE HONBLE. THE NATIVE MINISTER. Civil Commissioner's Office, Waimate, May 24th, 1862. Sir,— I regret to have to inform you that there is a good deal of excitement, and has been for some months, on the Wairoa, the extreme Southern boundary of this district, between Te Tirarau and Matiu te Aranui, both Ngapuhi Chiefs, and nearly related. They have for some years been disputing about the boundaries of their lands on the Wairoa, which lands Te Tirarau informed Matiu and others he was about selling to the Government. I was apprehensive of disturbances amongst them as early as February last, and knowing that the whole of the Ngapuhi Chiefs would be deeply embarrassed in any hostile measures taken by either of these Chiefs, I instructed Mr. Williams, the Magistrate of this Hundred, with Mr. Hopkins Clarke and several influential Chiefs, Assessors, to visit Matiu, and to assure him that the Government would not purchase disputed land without the consent of both claimants; also to visit Te Tirarau, and try and persuade him to settle; their disputes by arbitration, or by some other peaceable way, instead of resorting to arms; but their efforts were not successful, as will be seen from my letter to the Government, February 20th, 1862, covering Mr. William's Report. The Ngapuhi Chiefs—many of them near relatives of Te Tirarau—when assembled at Waimate, in March last, of their own accord wrote a friendly letter to him, to offer their mediation in settling his disputed boundary. The reply from Tirarau was far from satisfactory ; he declined seeing his opponent Matiu, as well as their friendly interposition ; since which hostilities have commenced, and, according to report, three have been killed on each side, and several wounded. 1 have met some of the Ngapulii Chiefs, to consult with them as to the best steps to be taken to prevent further mischief, and at their request have written a letter to Tirarau, a copy of which I herewith enclose, to ask him whether he will now accept of their mediation. If his reply is favorable, they propose proceeding with Hongi Hika, in his small vessel, direct to Wangarei, and from thence to Te Tirarau's Pa. As the belligerents are so near to Wangarei, it is possible you may get earlier information from thence than I may be able to supply. The whole affair is a family squabble, and the settlers have nothing whatever to apprehend from it. George Clarke, Civil Commissioner. _ The Honble. the Native Minister.

Enclosure to No. 6. Te Waimate, May 22nd, 1862. Fbiend, Te Tirabait, — Salutations to you. Your relatives, Kingi Wiremu Tareha, Kingi Hori Kira, Hongi Hika, and other common friends of yourself and Matiu, of the Ngapuhi Tribe, have requested me to write to you, and ask you whether you are willing that they should go by way of Whangarei to visit you, to assist in settling the dispute of the land you are now fighting about. If you consent to this letter, and they receive your letter in answer, they will embark on board the vessel of Hare Hongi Hika. This letter will be conveyed to you by way of Te Kawakawa ; let your letter to me be brought back by the same road. Sir, great is the darkness of my heart, on account of your killing one another. The soul of one man is of greater value than all the land contained in New Zealand. From your loving friend, G. Clarke. Papers are being sent for you and your people to look at.

No. 7. THE HONORABLE THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL TO CIVIL COMMISSIONER, WAIMATE Attorney-General's Office, Auckland, 27th May, 1862. Sib,— His Excellency's Government have heard with great regret that the long-standing-feud between Tirarau and Matiu has broken out and that the Natives are now fighting at Whangarei. I understand that the Natives at the North take part in the quarrel, and that a large party have accompanied Matiu in his hostile attack upon Tirarau. Some of the Chiefs of this party hold

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