.-'A.—No,' 5.

part of Captain Fremantle, the Bishop of New Zealand, and Mr. Eice (a magistrate from Tauranga,) they were finally brought off next morning. It is duo to the Natives of Opotiki to say that fromthc time of our being tied in Hooper's hous,e, on the evening of the 2nd, I did not receive the smallest indignity from any of them. They were respectful, some were kind, and now and then a few were cool. No. 37. His Excellency the Governor to the Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the CotOKIEB. Sib, — Government House, Auckland. 27th April. 1865. Adverting to my Despatch to you, No. 26, of the 7th February last, in which I transmitted a petition numerously signed by the Inhabitants of the Province of Auckland, praying Her Majesty to temporarily constitute the Northern portion of this Island into a separate Colony, I have the honor now to transmit the additional signatures which have been received from the out-settlements since that Despatch was written. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, M.P. G. Grey. No. 38. Hia Excellency the Governor to the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Sin, — Government House, Auckland, 2nd May, 1865. I have the honor to transmit for your information the copy of a report, dated the 18th ultimo from Mr. Clarke, the Civil Commissioner at Tauranga. 2. This report contains some important information regarding the Pai Marire fanatics, and regarding the probability that Hori Tupaea and the party of fanatics who accompanied him, and who were arrested by Colonel Greer's orders, were acting on a pre-arranged plan with the other parties of fanatics, which quite accords with the information the Government had previously received. 3. When Mr. Clarke wrote his report, a copy of which is enclosed, he was not aware of the great change of feelings amongst the Natives, which had taken place on the East Coast of this Island, and he therefore viewed matters under a very gloomy aspect. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, M.P. G. Grey. Enclosure to No. 38. The Civil Commissioner, Tauranga, to the Hon. the Native Minister. Sir, — Civil Commissioner's Office, Tauranga, 18th April, ISCS. In compliance with the instructions conveyed in your letter of March 18th, No. 91, I have the honor to report, for the information of the Government, on the state of the Natives, in so far as I have had the means of obtaining intelligence. From information derived from many different sources, it is evident that a hostile movement is in contemplation by the Waikato and their confederates against the Arawa, which if carried out will inevitably involve many of the Ngaiterangi hapus. Many of the friendly Natives are so impressed with the certainty of this, and of their being obliged to defend themselves, that they have applied to the Colonel commanding this district and myself for firearms. I enclose a translation of their letter. Since the receipt of the letter, they have called upon me, and expressed great anxiety on the subject. They fear falling victims to the Pai Marire fanatics, on account of their steady attachment to the Pakeha. They explain that they do not want the arms, &c, now, and they will be quite satisfied if they are placed under the charge of the officer commanding the district, to be given out only when danger is at hand. I would recommend this to the notice of the Government. The Arawa arc making every preparation to resist any force that the Waikato may be able to bring against them. They are anxious as to the result of a simultaneous attack on both their parties. Should Kereopa and Patara succeed in persuading a large body of East Coast Natives to come up with them and attack the Arawa country on the East, and the AVaikato under "William Thompson on the West, I fear that the Arawas will be hard pressed, and will require all the assistance that can possibly be rendered by the Government. This is supposed to be the plan of the enemy, as may be gathered from a letter addressed by William Mann to Colonel Grecr and myself, a translation of which I beg to enclose. The success of Kereopa and Patara on the East Coast on the one hand and the apparent inaction of the Government on the other, is producing a most baneful effect upon the Natives in this neighbourhood. The Pai Marire party arc exulting, and say to our friends, " There! It has happened just as we have told you. The Hau Hau God has par&lized the efforts of the Pakeha ; they cannot avenge the death of Mr. Volkner ; they are fleeing before him." Although many have ostensibly given up the Pai Marire worship, it has only been from fear of the consequences to themselves on account of the close proximity of the troops. I will venture to predict that should the troops be removed from Tauranga while the present feeling exists, it would be untenable twenty-four hours after the ships left the harbour for any European. This may appear a bold assertion, but I make it advisedly, and I appeal to those Europeans resident in this district who from long acquaintance with the Native character are most likely to form a correct opinion. Many of the Natives of this district, especially those closely connected with the Patetere and AVilliam Thompson's people, have again left for their inland " kaingas," so that (it is reported) they can practise their Pai Marire worship unmolested. Under these circumstances, I have thought it advisable to caution the surveyors against carrying on surveys in that neighbourhood. In every respect we are in a most unsatisfactory state. The acts of the Pai Marire Natives on the East Coast, and the evident satisfaction evinced by the Pai Marire professors everywhere at the fearful

NNo. 57.

No.-58. Mr. Clarke to Natiye Minister; Tiuiranga, 18th April, 1865.

31

ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.