A.—No. 4.

ascertainment and assessment of the proportionate interest of the contending tribes, is still unaccomplished, or at least has not beeu communicated to the Natives, or received their assent. As 1 still desire to take no step in respect of this vexed question without the knowledge of the Government, I shall do myself the honour of forwarding to you a copy of my answer to Eauparaha. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, &c. W. B. D. Maxtell. Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure No. 2. Copy of a Letter from Tajiihaxa te Batjpabaha to Mr. Maxtell. Ngawhakangutu Vahi o Otaki, E hoa E Mat.vka,— Aperira 23, it i 6, Tena koe, i tae au kite hui i Manawatu a Ngatiraukawa, a tera ki Manawatu —huihui katoa mai a Ngatiraukawa ki te K.upapa, me c tahi o Ngatiraukawa kite Kingi, ki te Hauhau; rupeke katoa atu hoki matou a Ngatitoa, me etahi o Ngatiawa, a Muaupoko, a Bangitane, a Ngatiapa, me etahi o Whanganui. No te 3 o Aperira, 18G6, ka rupeke katoa kite kainga i noho ai te hui, kite Takapu wahi o Manawatu, no te 5 o Aperira ka timata te korero mo Bangitikei kia hokona atu kei Avaiho hei take raruraru mo tenei Mokoa ki Eangitikei ki Poneke. a he nui nga korero, ko etahi c ki ana me rnri me whakawa, ko etahi c ki ana me pupuri tonu hei mana mo nga tangata Maori, ka riro tc hoko tana Kainga ka ngaro te iwi Maori, he nui noa atu nga korero, kaore c ata marama. No te 14 o Aperira, IS6O, ka whakaotia nga korero ki runga ki te tuku whenua, me te whakaae mai hoki o Takuta Petatone ki runga i nga kupu a matou a nga kai tuku atu i Bangitikei kia Takuta Petatonc, ko te nuinga hoki o nga tangata me nga iwi o nga hapu i tenei taha kite tuku whenua, ko tetahi taiia o Ngatiraukawa ko enci i whakaae nei kite Kingi ki te Hauhau,ko era nga mea itc pupuri i Eangitikei kia man kei ngaro to ratou mana i te taha Pakeha Kuini hoki. Na wliakaritea ana nga utu, ko etahi i ki, kia rua hereni mo te onepu, kia rima hereni mo nga repo, kia kotahi pauna mo te wahi pai. Kaore i paingia ite nui rawao enei utu, karangatia ano c etahi atu, kia £50,000 karangatia c etahi kia 60,000 kihai i whakaetia c Takuta. Ka karair. i 640,000, kaore i pad, ka karangatia ano kia 81,000, katahi ka ngawari, otira ka tohea ano c nga tangata kite £60,000. Katahi ka whakaaetia c Takuta Petatone ki nga mano pauna £25,000,ka whakaae katoa atu matou katoa, ara nga iwi pai kite tuku atu i Bangitikei kia hokona atu. Te take i hokona atu ai ki era utu, he whenua raruraru, me kaua te raruraru o tana whenua ekore c hokona atu, ki te kite koe i etahi pukapuka. (a) etahi o Ngatiraukawa c tuhi atu ana ki te Eawanatanga mo taua whenua, kaua c wliakaaroa mai, c rua nga arero o ana tangata, he haraau i tuhituhi ai kia koe, kua korero taua ki taua Kainga. Ko nga moni anake tenei kei lc whakaarohia c au kia tuhi atu au kia Takuta kia marama te whakahaere ki nga hvi o Ngatiraukawa, kia nui ano nga iici o Ngatiraukawa, ka koa au me ka tuhi mahi koe ki au. E pai ana te nronga o Eangitikei ki taku whakaaro, hei whakanui i te Pakeha ki roto o Manawatu, hei whakarangatira mo nga tangata Maori, kia tupu ake ai te pai ki nga iwi erua, kite Pakeha kite tangata Maori hoki. Naku na to hoa aroha, Kia Matara, kei Poneke. Na TaMXHANA Te Eavpakaiia. [teaxslatiox.] Fbiexd Mh. Maktell, — Ngawhakungutu "Wahi, Otaki, 25th April, 1566. Tena koe. 1 attended the meeting at Manawatu of Ngatiraukawa Those living at Manawatu, all Ngatirakawa, gathered together the friendly Natives who supported the King and the Han Hans. All Ngatitoa assembled, some of Ngatiawa, of Muaupoko, of Bangitane, of Ngatiapa, and some of Whanganui. On the 3rd of April, 18G6, we all assembled at the village! where the meeting was held at tin Takapu, a place at Manawatu, On the sth of April the talk about Bangitikei commenced. (It was proposed) to sell it, lest it should remain a source of trouble for this district, at Bangitikei, and at Port Nicholson. There was a great deal of talking. Some said, " Let it be surveyed and investigated ;" others said, "Let it be held as before for the purpose of maintaining the power (authority or influence) of the Natives ; if that settlement is sold, the Maori tribes will be lost." There was a great deal of talking which was not quite clear. On the 14th of April, 1866, the discussion was brought to a close by agreeing to let the land go, and by Dr. Featherston agreeing to the word of the sellers at Eangitikei. The majority of the people and the tribes and the sections on this side were for selling the land. Some of Ngatiraukawa, those who support Kingism and Han Hauism, are the things (mea) in favour of retaining Eangitikei, to hold it fast lest their power should be lost by the Pakeha side ami the Queen's side. The payment was then talked over. Some said, " Let it be two shillings for the sand, five shillings for the swamps, and one pound for the good places. Tiiis was mil liked on account of the very high rate. Some other person called out, "Let it be £50,000;" another called out "£60,000." Dr. Peatherston did not agree. £10,000 was then asked, but it was not approved ; £21,000 was then asked, then for the first time it was easy, but some of the people urged for £60,000. At last Dr. Peatherston agreed to give £25,000, and we all agreed, viz., the people in favour of selling Eangitikei. The reason why it was sold for that money is because it is disputed territory ; if it were not disputed, it would not be sold. If you should see some letters written by Ngatiraukawa to the Government about that land, do not give" them any attention. Those people have two tongues. I did not write to you because we have talked together about that'place. I am now only thinking of the money, and of writing to Dr. Eeatherston to be clear in settling with the Ngai iraukawa tribe. Let them have a large portion of the money. I shall be glad if you will write to me. The sale of Bangitikei was satisfactory to my mind.

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