E.—No. 1

Tupaea on the ISfcti of February, ISGS, promised to observe all these conditions—■ 1. He will take the Oath of allegiance 2. He will truly and faithfully assist the Governor in putting an end to the present distur bance. 3. He will reside in such part of New Zealand as the Governor may from time to time point out, until the country is again in a tranquil state, and lie receives the Governor's permission to return to his own country. 4. He will faithfully observe the terms given by the Governor to the Tauranga Natives. G. Gbet. No. 20. THE CITIL COMMISSIONER, NAPIER, TO THE HON. THE MINISTER FOR NATIVE AFFAIRS. Civil Commissioner's Office, Napier, February 25th, 1865. Sir, — It is my duty to report to you that a deputation of Natives from Waikato, numbering about 120 men —many of them anned —are now in this Province with the openly avowed object of making proselytes to the new Pai Marire religious superstition; and I am sorry to add, that they have come upon the invitation of Te Ilapuku. They first arrived at Petane, where they only stayed a couple of days, but that time waa quite sufficient to enable them to convert the inhabitants of that village, which has always been notorious as the hot-bed of sedition. They left Petane in the night, accompanied by Paora Told of that place, and were at Renata's village next morning before the Natives there, were aware of their approach. Sonata refused to hold any communication with them, or to allow them to repeat their " karakiaa " at his village but did not attempt to hinder their progress. They then went on to Te Hapuku's pa, their proceedings in which place are described in the two letters enclosed herewith. I beg to draw your particular attention to these letters, as they disclose a very unsatisfactory state of affairs in this Province. Even making every allowance for the usual exaggeration of Maories' stories, there still remains the fact that a body of armed ruffians have suddenly made their appearance right in the centre of the Province before anybody knew they were coming..; that they have converted a number of people to the most ridiculously degraded superstition^ that Te ITapuku —hitherto supposed to be the friend of the Pakeha—has invited them here, gubseribed to their faith, and hoisted the rebel flag, with many abrurd ceremonies ; and, above all, that they are to be followed by further armed parties of propagandists, with the distinct object of defying the English and the peaceably-disposed Natives in the hopes of bringing on a disturbance. As soon as I had reliable information of the arrival of these fanatics, I went to see Eenata Kawepo, whom I reminded of the promises made by himself and other chiefs at several meetings at the Pa Whakario, that they would take care that no Waikato Natives should ever come into this Province ; and I asked him what they now intended to do. He acknowledged the promises, but said, " "What could Ido when they were invited by Hapuku ?" I replied, " That made the matter worse —it only rendered the duty of ordering them back all the more incumbent on him." He told me that they had decided on having a meeting at the Pa Waikairo, on the 15th March, to take the whole matter into consideration, invitations for which had the same morning (22nd instant) been sent out. Renata and his people speak of the new superstition with the most supreme contempt. I also sent a messenger inland with letters to two Natives upon whose information I could rely, and with orders to call at Hapuku's pa and take notice of whatever he saw there. Unfortunately he could not deliver one of my letters, but the other has produced the two I have enclosed. The Orderly informs me that, on calling at the pa, he was civily treated. It was full of Natives, and he saw them going through some of their mummeries. A blue flag was flying with an inscription on it, but as it was wet and they were in the act of hauling it down, he was unable to make out the letters. The next morning a white flag was flying with a red cross in the upper corner. As soon as the Orclerty returned with the above information, I sent a second one off' to Te Hapuku with the letter (a copy of which is enclosed), in which I have called upon him to explain himself. I enclose a letter from Mureua, an Assessor, who proposes to take vigorous measures. My reply to this must be, that the forthcoming meeting will settle what is to be done. I have written to Karaitiana and Tareha to the same effect as what I said verbally to Reuata. I enclose a copy of this letter also. In the present state of the Province, it is evident that if large bodies of armed fanatics are permitted to be constantly travelling about, a state of peace cannot long exist; and if the Natives cannot, or will not, prevent them from coining, we ccrlainly cannot. The regular forces in the Province consist of about 250 men of the 14th Eegiment in barracks at Napier, 50 mili-

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lIAU H 4U SUPERSTITION AMONG THE MAORIES.