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tary settlers, and 25 of tlie Colonial Defence Force, of whom five are detached as the crew of the cutter Iris. Besides these, the Militia and Volunteers do not exceed 800 armed men. In Mr. McLean's temporary absence there is no authority in the Province for calling them out for active service. We ;u-e thus completely at the mercy of any body of Natives who choose to march into the district to make a diversion in favor of the Wanganui people, and to obtain supplies to replenish their Commissariat. I have, &c, G-. S. Coopeb, The Hon. the Minister for Native Affairs. Acting Civil Commissioner. P.S. —I enclose a letter from Te ITapuku, which lias just been handed to me, and which appears to me to be a very lame escuse for his conduct. I look upon it as corroborative of all the charges that are made against him. G-. S. Coopeb. Enclosure 1 to No. 29. Patangata, Pepuere, 23, 1865. Kia te Kvpa,— E hoa, tenei to reta ka tae mai ki au, E Hoa tena koe, me to patai mai ki au mo te Karakia horo o "Waikato ka tae mai rei kite kaiuga oTe Hapuku. Na te kupu atu tenei ki a koe ko nga korero katoa c rongo mama koe, he pono katoa ena korero, kaore he mea i psrftu o ena korero kua rongo na koe I te tekau ma waru o ngo ra o tenei maraina ka tae atu aha kite pa o Te Hapuku, i te rua o nga haora o te awatea ka tae mai tana ope o Waikato me tona karakia hou, kt reira karakia ai kite haki; kotahi haora c karakia ana me te harole ka mutu. Ka rongo ahau i reira c korerotia ana c tana ope he kawc mai i tana atua kia karakia i nga tangata o konei. Ko te kara o " Potatau" te take mai o toni paere mai, ko maui kei Petani ka rua ai ona take hei paerenga mai ki " Heretanuga " nei. Kei niuri i a ratou c waru tekau poropiti c rima rau tangata hei arahei mai i o ratou poropiti me te pu ano kei o ratou migaringa. Ma te Maori tonu c poka kite rira ki a ia c pai aua, ma te Pakeha rnnei c rcre kite whawhai ki a ia, c pai ana ; hei kona ia ia motio ai kite riri kite kore c rere atu to Maori me te Pakeha ki a ia kaore aua pokanoa kite riri, ko tenei ope he homai noil i tona karakai kia karakiatia c nga tangata o konei; ko nga tangata ote awa, ate atua, ote Whcturaririki, ote Pakipaki, ote Hapuku kua whakaae ki tana karakia, ara, kua karakia tonu, kua whaknacia a Potatau kia tv ki runga i te Paraire ;na te Hapuku ano i whakaae otira na " Paora Toki "te ritenga. He pono katoa ena korero. Ka mutu te korero ki a koe. E Hoa ka nui te raruraru o tenei mahi a Waikato, te honiai whakararuraru tenei ki to tatou kainga. Naku na to hoa aroha, Na Hoei Niaxia. [tbansiatiox.] Patangata, February 23, 1865. To Mb. Coopee,— Sik, —Salutations to you ! I have received your letter, enquiring about the new religion of Waikato, which has lately arrived at Te Hapuku's residence. Now this is to tell you that all the reports which you have heard are true, none of the reports which you have heard are false. On the 18th day of this month, I arrived at Te Hapuku's pa. At two o'clock in the afternoon, the party (ope) from Waikato arrived and its religion, and there worshipped the flag (haki) for one hour and a half—then ceased. I there heard that party (ope) saying that they had come to bring their God to be worshipped by the Maories of this place. Thejflag Potatau is the plea of their coming here, and Maui at Petane, which makes two excuses for their coming here to this Heretaunga. After them are coming 80 prophets, and 500 men to escort the prophets, with guns in their hands. Should the Maories attempt to quarrel with them, it would be good, and if the Pakehas should fly to arms against them, it would be good. They should then learn what it was to fight in earnest. But if neither Maori nor Pakeha were to go against them, they would not make any invasion. The intention of this party (ope) is to bring their (karakia) religion to this place, in order to prevent as many proselytes from this place as possible. The Maories residing at Tc Awa a Te Atua, Te Whetuaririki, Te Pakipaki and also Te Ha puku's tribe have taken up this religion ; that is, they have already worshipped and consented to the flag Potatau to be hoisted on Friday. Hapuku himself consented to this, but it was by Paora Toki's instigation. All that is here stated is true. This is all I have to say to you. Friend, great is the confusion of this work of Waikato's, they are bringing confusion into our dwelling-place. From your affe. friend, Hoei Nianta.

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