A.—No. 8.

[tbaxslatiox.] "Ewpsso Me. Pabbis,— To Kauae, 17th February, ISGG. Salutation. Great is my love for you in the midst of life and death. Friend, lam holding fast to your word when you were at To Kauae. 1 shall not forget it although great troubles prevail, it will not be lost by me. Friend, Colonel Butler and Captain is a father (true friend) to me remaining here. Their flag of the Queen has arrived Here at Te Kauae. That is all of that. Friend, the people of To Kauae have separated (part have gone over to the rebels) on account of the work of the General on this side of Waingongoro; if it had been only on the other side there would have been no separating. Those who remain, all told, men, women, and children, are S3. That is all. "WiEEirr Hukanvi. Xo. 4. Copy of a Letter from Mr. E. Pabrts to the Hon. A. 11. ErssELL. (GO) Sir, — New Plymouth, 27th February, 18GG. Adverting to my letter of the 22nd instant, 1 was hoping to have been in possession of reliable information respecting the defection of the chief "Wiremu Kingi Matakatea to have enabled me to report fully to the Government by this mail, but as Bopata Ngarongomate has not returned from Opunake, 1 must defer it until he arrives. I received a letter from him a few days ago stating that he had not succeeded in obtaining an interview with "Wiremu Kingi Matakatea, and that it was dangerous to move about in the district, as the rebels were planting ambuscades in all quarters. He intends to come from Opunake with the detachment of the 43rd L. 1., who arc to be relieved by the 50th Regiment, on arrival from "Wanganui. A Native who was sent in last Thursday night by Captain lloran with letters, was fired upon at Tipoka, he, however, escaped and got into Warea. I have, &c., The lion the Native Minister, 'Wellington. E. Paeets, Civil Commissioner. No. 5. Copy of a Letter from Mr. E. Paijris to the Hon. A. H. Ettssell. Sin— New Plymouth, 27th February, ISGG. The unpleasant duty devolves upon me of having to bring under the notice of His Excellency's Government the fearful amount of unpleasantness and confusion which is created by the indiscriminate system of looting, which has been revived again in this district within the last month. I forwarded in my letter of the 17th instant, copies of correspondence with Mr. Sharland, auctioneer, relating to a lot of horses looted by Mr. Captain Mace and some of his men, and I now enclose herewith a copy of another letter which I sent to Mr. Sharland, to which I have as yet obtained no reply. On Saturday last another sale of thirty lost horses took place, among which lot there were five claimed by friendly Natives. Those claimed lam informed were not sold, but refused to the Native claimants on demanding them, as in the case of the other sale. The scene which took place at the saleyard on Saturday last was something perfectly disgraceful. Nearly the whole of Captain Corbett's Company, who have been serving under him as Bushrangers for the last two months, were present, more or less under the influence of liquor, fighting and quarreling about the ownership of particular horses, and abusing Captain Corbett and Lieutenant Messeiiger for having taken away and appropriated the best of the horses to themselves, instead of sharing the proceeds of the whole among the Company as agreed upon. The Natives for claiming their horses were blackguarded and threatened with violence by the mob, on hearing of which I sent word for the horses claimed to be pointed out to the auctioneer, but not to provoke violence. The auctioneer very properly declined offering them for sale. They are, however, removed, I suppose, to the bush farms, where I am credibly informed, a great number which were taken in this way, and some clandestinely, are stowed away. It is very unpleasant for me to have to complain to the Government of the conduct of particular individuals, but when they obstinately persist in a course utterly opposite to the wishes of the Government—a course calculated to give no end of trouble —I should but ill perform the duties assigned to me if I did not inform the Government thereof. Captain Corbett and Captain Mace and their men have been seizing the property of individuals, which they refuse to give up, and have, I am informed, written to the Major-General for authority to retain it. It is not for me to raise the question witli the Government as to how far the Major-General's authority applies to the property of private individuals living under the protection of the Government. It is my duty to inform the Government that the friendly Natives are beginning to bo very much alarmed at the state of things, but I do hope something will be done to put a stop to the very unfair interference with their rights. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, "Wellington. E. Pabbis, Civil Commissioner. Enclosure to No. 5. Copy of a Letter from Mr. E. Paxbn to Mr. J. C. Siiabland. Sib,— New Plymouth, 21st February, ISGG. Tour letter of the 17th instant, in reply to mine of the 16th instant, does not supply the information which I asked for. The Mounted Corps is an ambiguous term as applied to the question

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO

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