E.—No. 3 .

the rents until the dispute was settled. To the surprise of the settlers present, he at once consented to the rents being thus impounded, and also gave a half promise that they would all return to their several homes, with tho exception of a few to attend to their crops. Hoani Meihana, having in the course of his speech observed that he knew it was the intention of the Government sooner or later to disarm them, I seized the opportunity to explain your recent instructions to resident magistrates relative to king natives. A long discussion ensued, many questions being asked with the view of ascertaining how far they had in the eyes of the Government committed themselves, and to which of the three classes they properly belonged. Ngawaka (a brother of Noa te Eawhiri) gave a minute account of his trip to Taupo (appealing to Matini Te Whiwhi to testify to its truth) in order to prove that he had simply gone to look after some land belonging to his tribe, and had not taken any part in the war. The statement was so .plain and straightforward that (being confirmed by Matini) I accepted it, and relieved him from any anxiety that he had subjected himself to any of the pains and penalties specified in your instructions. Hoani Mehana began a similar explanation respecting the conduct of his brother-in-law (Grey), but had not proceeded far before, apparently recognising the impossibility of making out a case, he suddenly sat down. Upon the whole, the meeting seemed to regard the terms of submission as just and reasonable. The following day I had another interview with each party, when it was finally agreed that no rents should be paid until the dispute was settled, and that they should return home, each party leaving a few to look after their cultivations. I must say that the discussions at all these meetings were conducted by the natives with great calmness and moderation. Whether they will abide by the agreement remains to be seen. If they do, and no rents are paid for a few months, I feel satisfied they will come to some comjjromise. At all events there is now very little chance of their coming to blows. Of the two proposals, arbitration and sale, there can be no doubt that the latter presents the easiest solution and adjustment of their long pending dispute. Arbitrators would no sooner have decided upon the apportionment of the land between the two (at present) contending parties, the Ngatiapas on the one side, and the Ngatiraukawas and Rangitanes on tke other, than they would be called upon to apportion the land allotted to these two tribes between them, and ultimately to allot to each man his own particular piece. Such a process would be interminable, every step in it would create fresh disputes, and involve the Government in difficulties from which it would be impossible for it to extricate itself, except probably by a recourse to the sword. What I mean when I say that the sale of the block presents the easiest, perhaps the only possible solution of this quarrel, is simply this : Complicated as the dispute apparently is, it has been very much simplified by the transactions which have taken place between the disputants during the last few years ; Ist, by the offer of the Ngatiraukawhas made in 1863 to divide the land between the three tribes (according to them) into three equal portions, or (according to John Williams) into two, one for the Ngatiapas, the other for the other two tribes ; 2nd, by the proportion in which the rents have for some years been received by the parties ; 3rd, by Nepia Taratoa having just previous to his death handed over the rents then due to the Ngatiapas. These transactions not only show that each tribe has an interest in the block, but pretty clearly indicate what the amount of interest which each tribe possesses is. These three interests might easily be satisfied by a money payment but not by a subdivision of the land. And it would be well worth the while of the Province to buy up tlieir interests by paying the two litigating parties a sum which would at the ordinary rate of interest yield to each of them the same amount as they have been jointly receiving from the squatters as rent. On my way down the coast I had meetings with the natives both at Otaki and Waikauae, at which I explained the terms offered by the Government to the king and rebel natives. At Otaki Heremaia made a bouncible and defiant speech, boasted of what he had done in the way of the king movement, expressed his deteimination to adhere to the king, not to give up the king's flag, or to surrender his arms, or to disband his armed force, but at the same time manifesting great anxiety as to when he was to be arrested and punished ;he was extremely desirous to know his fate at once. He spoke under a feeling of irritation at the speeches made by Eauparaha and other loyal natives; but when I told him that he had spoken foolishly, that the terms offered by the Government would not be departed from, and that I therefore advised him to confer with Wi Tako and the other leaders of the king party before he decided upon rejecting them, the advice he .said was good, and he would act upon it. The tone of Wi Tako and his people was wholly different. Instead of glorying in what they had done in defiance of the Queen's authority, they pleaded that they had taken up the king movement in the belief that it would tend to elevate the Maori race, and that they had been induced to arm and drill by Pakehas constantly telling them that all our preparations were for the purpose of suddenly attacking them. Wi Tako again urged that during the whole period of the disturbances he had done his utmost to keep, and had succeeded in keeping the peace. Far from expressing dissatisfaction with the terms offered him, he seemed pleased to find that he was let off so easily, and fully to recognise the position in which he would be placed were he to reject them. The interview confirmed me in the belief I have long had, that Wi Tako is most anxious to separate from the kingites whenever he can do so with safety. Since his interview, Wi Parata (who has for some years been Wi Tako's private secretary) has asked, with Wi Tako's consent, to be allowed to take the oath of allegiance. This is simply a feeler put forth by Wi Tako to ascertain how his followers would act if he himself proved traitor to kingism. Having thus explained fully to all the natives between this and Waitotara the terms upon which the Government will be prepared to accept their submission, I have requested the Native Resident Magistrate to abstain for the present from making any formal demand upon them. I. E. Featherstoin*, Superintendent's Office, Wellington. 18th February, 1864.

39

THE NATIVE INSURRECTION.