Page image

E.—No. 4

Enclosure 2 to No. 30. Otawhao te Puna, May 28tli, 1862. * * * * I have just heard the words of Waikato concerning the probability of a Disturbance at Hauraki, the cause of which is a piece of land the Europeans wish to have, but it will not be given up by the Maoris. The Governor has offered Eight thousand pounds for this piece of land, but the Chiefs and Runangas of Waikato will not consent to sell Waiau. Europeans are there —two hundred soldiers are on this piece of land. The Maoris are there also, and from their close proximity to the Europeans, fighting is imminent. You will hear the news : it will reach you soon. This is all. This is another word. There is a disturbance at Tongariro, in consequence of a piece of land having been sold by Te Poihipi to the Governor. Te Heuheu will not consent to the sale of this land. At the present time that Tribe is at open variance. The Runangas have gone to put an end to the disturbance. If Poihipi persists in selling Tongariro, then that Tribe (Poihipi and his people) will be utterly destroyed by the Kunangas of Waikato. This is all the fighting news. I have heard that the Ngapuhi have arrived at JNgaruawahia to join the King. The Chief of the party is Rewa; but there are a number of other Chiefs that I do not know. From Wieemu Meihana.

No. 31. ASSISTANT NATIVE SECBETABY, TAHANAKI, TO THE HONOBABLE THE NATIVE MINISTER. New Plymouth, July 15th, 1862. Sib,— I have the honor to report, for the information of the Government, that, during the past week, a large meeting of Natives has been held at a place called Kopoaeae, in the Taranaki district, ■which meeting was attended by Natives from the various districts between New Plymouth and Whanganui. Hamarama, a Whanganui Chief, was at the meeting, and took an active part in the various questions brought forward, all of which were of a very unsatisfactory nature, and the general tone of the meeting most violent. A line of demarcation was named, beyond which, if ministers or other Europeans are caught, they are to be made prisoners and not liberated without payment of a ransom, the amount to depend on the rank of the individual. Mr. Tonet and Mr. Sutton —who have resumed the occupation of their farms, in the Omata district —are to be expelled therefrom, and their houses, which have been recently erected, are to be burnt; and any interference of the Government beyond the Waireka gully to be the cause of an attack upon the town. Such was the tenor of the speeches, which were all emphatically responded to by the meeting, accompanied by the performance of some of their worst Haka's, after which, a fancy pipe was brought forward by the Warea Chief (Aperahama te Heke), which said pipe is said to have been sent to the meeting by the Ngatikaungunu's, the reception of which pipe (according to Native custom) is a pledge to perform certain conditions enjoined. I trust the Government will not consider me an alarmist for reporting the particulars of the above meeting, for I am fully aware that considerable allowance should be made for the excitement which generally prevails at such meetings ; still it is my duty to report that our friendly Natives quite believe that they mean aggressive hostilities, and are repairing their Pas in consequence thereof. I enclose herewith copies of two letters which I have received from Ngarongomate, a Native Assessor, relative to the meeting. I have, &c, Robert Paeeis, Assistant Native Secretary. The Honorable the Native Minister.

Enclosure 1 to No. 31. Poutoko, July 12th, 1862. Friend Me. Paeeis, — Salutations ! The man 1 sent has not returned. The news I have heard is bad. One hundred men, with their guns (are at the meeting). A man stood up and said "There is no land for the Europeans." This applies to Tataraimaka, to Kaipopo, to Tapui, the Town, and Waiwakaiho. It will not be long before evil befals us, on account of the road at Waireka. When Wituri arrives, I will communicate with you and the Colonel. Let us be careful, lest we be taken unprepared. The speeches of Taranaki and Ngatiruanui are very bad. This is all. From your friend, RoPATA TE RaNOIKAPUOHO.

70

PAPERS RELATING TO