ZEALAND TO THE SECEETAEY OF STATE

35

A.—No. 1

traversed the East Coast, carrying on poles the head of soldiers whom they had killed, and openly announced that a similar fate awaited other missionaries, including the Bishop of AVaiapu. Mr. Fulloon, who was a half-caste related to some of the Natives in that district, requested permission to visit it, believing that his influence might check the spread of the fanaticism; but himself fell a victim to it, being murdered while lying in his bed on board the vessel in which he was, which was boarded for that purpose; three other persons on board being murdered at the same time, the goods taken out of the vessel, and the vessel then burnt. To oppose these fanatics there were at the time, to the north of the East Cape, only the Arawa tribe who were friendly to the Government, but who were outnumbered, and often driven bark to the shelter of their pa. On the south of the East Cape, the Chief Mokcna, near Waiapu, with a small following, could alone be found to profess friendship to tho Government, and opposition to the Hau Haus who surrounded him. In this extremity he appealed to the Government, who sent him arms and a small party of Military Settlers and Volunteers, who relieved him, and with his co-operation routed tho fanatics in his neighbourhood. Further south the Hau Haus invaded Poverty Bay. Bishop AVilliams threatened with the fate of Mr. A rolkner was obliged to leave. So urgent was the demand for assistance, and so small the power of affording it, that thirty-five men were all that could at first be furnished to that district. One of the first acts of the present Ministry, after they took office, was to take measures, iii concert with Mr. McLean, Superintendent of Hawke's Bay, for the relief of Poverty Bay, by collecting from other places a mixed force of Europeans and Natives in the pay of the Colony; nor did this relief arrive in Poverty Bay a day too soon. They found on their arrival the Hau Haus in possession of the Bishop's premises, that they had destroyed his books, furniture, garden, and fences, and were about to burn his house, near which they were erecting a strong pa ; that they were driving in and destroying the cattle and sheep of the settlers, and wrecking their homesteads, and that they were daily being reinforced by numbers of other Natives from other places ; while so doubtful was the loyalty of even those Natives of the district who had hitherto professed to be friend^ that we now know that they nightly debated whether they should not join with the Hau Haus in an attack on the thirty-five Europeans who had gone to help them. Had the Colonial Force sent into the district not encountered the Hau Haus with the same success as has attended its operations at Opotiki and other places, there is no doubt that the settlers of the Province of Hawke's Bay, and subsequently those in the AVairarapa, would have been the next objects of their outrages. No previous period in the history of the Colony has been more critical as to the prestige of the Government, and its power to suppress crime and prevent a general outbreak, than the period from the murder of Mr. Volkner till within a few weeks of the present time; and certainly the last opinion which might have been expected to have been expressed with respect to the jjosition of affairs at that •time, was that " there would appear to be no necessity for our interference." Extracts from papers referring to the state of affairs on the East Coast since the murder of Mr. Volkner, arc enclosed for the information of the Imperial Government. E. W. Stafford. Wellington, Bth January, 1866.

Enclosure to Memorandum. Extract from a letter from frigidly Chiefs at the Whaiti to Dr. Nesbitt and Mr. Civil Commissioner Smith, dated 17th February, 1865. ###** ***** " Natives of Taranaki, AVaikato, and Eaukawa, have come here to preach (the religion of) their God, and leading also Pakeiia captives; there are two living men and one head of a murdered man. When they came here they urged us to turn to their God, but we did not consent. They replied, 'It is well; the bearer of onr sword is closed behind to destroy you and all the Arawa.' " * * <• * * *" * * * * Extract from a letter from Miss Wallace, dated 21st February, 1865, of Whakatane. • *•'•* ***** " On Saturday last a large party of ' Pai Marires arrived at Ko Peopeo from Taranaki and Taupo, bringing with them a British soldier a prisoner, and the head of Captain Lloyd, which they exhibit with a cap of the 70th on ; they pretend to make it speak. " They have put a cut* on this port, and have laid down the law here, that no vessels are to be •allowed to come here usder pain of being taken, and all on board 2'ut to death. Our informant, an European, who has been watching and listening to all that has been going on, Bays I::' is afraid the Ngatipukeko will not dare to resist them, as they are in great terror of them. They left for Opotiki •on Monday morning, leaving behind a party to watch that the cut is not broken. " At Opotiki they will do the same, and were heard to say that they would give the Eev. Mr. A^olkner orders to leave, and if ho refused he would be killed. If the AVhakatohca refused to do it, they would. " AYe have promised our informant to try and girt notice sent to Mr. A^olkner not to come to Opotiki at present, but to wait in Auckland till he hears how the Opotiki will act. " Please to let him know as soon as possible, in case he should come by next trip in the ' Eclipse.' " The intention of the ' Pai Marire' is to do all they can to raise the people on this coast as far as Turanga, and then return in great force on Maketu and Tauranga." ##*******# * "Sxti"—to shut. 9