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E.—No. 4

No. 10. RESIDENT MAGISTRATE, EAST CAPE, TO THE HONORABLE THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL. Resident Magistrates^ Office, Rangitukia, May 21st, 1862. Sir, — I have the honor to inform you that, during iny recent visit to Whareponga, I learnt that some spirits had been given by a European belonging to, or a passenger on board of, the schooner " Albatross," of Auckland, to some Natives at W^siro, where the vessel was lying wind-bound, about the 3rd instant. Immediately upon hearing of this (there being no Karere, or Warden, at hand), a young man named Peneamine went on board, and endeavoured to learn the name of the master and vessel; but finding that evasive replies were given, he handed a copy of the English and Maori Proclamation, against the carriage coastwise of spirits, to the master ; and then, dropping over the schooner's stern, copied on an oar blade the characters traced thereon. Oddly enough, her name was in ornamental letters, which he managed to transfer first to his oars, and then to a piece of paper, on reaching the shore, with sufficient accuracy to assure me that he was right. Finding what he was about, the master immediately got his vessel under weigh, and proceeded Southwards. I have, &c, "William B. Baker. The Honorable the Attorney-General.

No. 11. RESIDENT MAGISTRATE, EAST CAPE, TO THE HONORABLE THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL. Resident Magistrate's Office, Rangitukia, 3rd June, 1862. Sib,— I have the honor to report that on Saturday, the 3rd ultimo, I returned from Tokomaru after an absence of eight days, having gone thither to attend a Native liakari (Native feast) given by Henare Potae, the Chief of Te Whanau-a-Ruataupare on the occasion of making a collection towards the support of a native minister. The rule in the diocese of Waiapu is, that as soon as any tribe or hapu shall have collected the sum of Two hundred pounds, it is invested by the Bishop for the maintenance of a Native Clergyman, the interest, calculated at Twenty pounds per annum, being deemed sufficient for this purpose. It is in this manner that the Rev. Rota Waitoa, of Kawakawa, the Rev. Raniera Kawhia, of Whareponga, and Rev. Tamihana Huatau, of Te Wairoa, are supported. They complain, however, and with reason, that their salaries are insufficient to meet their expenses, it being the established custom that all visitors of distinction, and as such the most expensive to entertain, shall be received by the Minister. He has also to keep up a respectable style of dress and habitation upon an annual income considerably less than that received by a Warden under the new system. About two thousand persons were present at the hakari, consisting of about thirty of Whanau Apanui from Omaia to Oreke ; a large number of Whanau-a-maru, from the Hundred of Kawakawa ; and the majority of the active population of the Hundred of Waiapu and Whareponga (Ngatiporou). Their entertainers consisted of the Urungawera and Whanau-a-Ruataupare (Henare's immediate followers); Titangahauiti (Hundred of Uawa) ; and about forty Rongowhataata, from Turanga. There were thus representatives from all the tribes residing within a seaboard extending over about ten days' journey. The amount collected was :—Tangatawhenua (entertainers) over £86 ; Manuwhiri (guests) £73 ; making a total of £160 in cash. In addition to this the Manuwhiri gave nine horses, valued at £4: per head. The Kongowhakaata have also promised from XI0 to .£20 in cash ; so that Henare was fully satisfied with the result of the meeting, the required sum having been made up. Besides my own private contribution, and with the full concurrence of the Assessors, I gave on behalf of the Waiapu district, a horse which had been received a few days previously on accoimt of a fine. This animal was classed with the rest at £i per head—quite his full market value. I was pleased to find that this contribution from the " Taha Kawana" (Government side) to the Whanau-a-rua, whose motto is "Neither King nor Queen, but God alone." was received in a very proper manner, and tended to promote a degree of good feeling that had not previously been manifested. Among the visitors was a party of some ten or twelve, principally Ngatiporou, who have been making a demonstration on behalf of the Waikato King party. These were headed by a young man named Hoera, of Pukemaire, in the Hundred of Waiapu, who, without the authority of his tribe, went to Waikato last year, and recently returned, bringing with him a king flag, which is said to be twenty-four feet long and proportionately wide.

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