ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

39

A.—No. 1

Mr. Harris says (23rd July)—" Our people are joining the Hau Haus as fast as possible. AYe are now in a sad minority." * * " You must support Morgan. If he is beaten, this district is lost." On the 21st August, Mr. McLean forwarded translation of a letter addressed by the friendly Natives of Poverty Bay to His Excellency and the General Assembly, praying for a visit of a man-of-war, as follows :■ — To His Excellency the Governor, —■ Turanga, sth August, 1865. To the General Assembly at this time assembled at Wellington,— Greeting you. This is to show you, and also that you may know tho state of our residence here in this portion of our island. AYe are driven out of breath by the overbearing works of the Hau Haus—through the greater number of the men of this place having joined the Hau Haus. At the present there are but lew of us who are sticking to the Government. The great talk of the Hau Haus now is, "that they are about to raise the island," that is, the Europeans will be put out of sight by them* They are constantly throwing out threats to us, the loyal Maoris, to compel us to join them. This is what they say, "Do you make haste and join us, because that when the day arrives that the head of my weapon shall be raised I will not look about' whether it be friends, or children, or fathers, or brothers—all shall be cut off." These are the reasons that cause them to boast at the present time —first, with respect to the fighting at Waiapu ; the long absence of the supports for Mokena and his friends. They also say that Te Ua fell in all the soldiersf to turnj to him, by which means an attack on this place|| would not be effectual. Another reason is the death of Mr. Volkner, minister, who was murdered at Opotiki, has not been revenged up to the present time. They say that it is given up, and no notice will be taken of it. AYe answer proverbially, " Leave it there, let it lie, it is a party of old folks crawling along, says Pararaki."§ Another thing is the remitting manner in which the fighting in this island has been carried on ; they say it is on account of tho excessive loss of the soldiers that engagements have not been repeated oftener in the past engagements. Nevertheless, friends, we still have knowledge that you yet hold goodwill toward us ; we therefore request that you will consent (direct) to the men-of-war which traverse these seas that they may turn in here and visit us, and afterwards proceed on their respective voyages. From Tamihana Euatapu, EtTTENE AntTNUKF, Hape Kiuiua, Wi Haronga. F. E. Hamlin, Interpreter. On the 6th September, Mr. McLean wrote—" The European settlers and friendly Natives at Poverty Bay have applied for assistance, and it is highly necessary that this should be afforded them as soon as possible. It would, in my opinion, be most impolitic to remove the settlers, or to abandon the friendly Natives of that place, who are in a minority, and who, if deserted, would receive no mercy at the hands of the Hau Haus." On the 12th December, Mr. McLean sent to the Government a copy of the following letter from Captain Biggs, of the Napier Volunteers, reporting the state of affairs at Poverty Bay: — Sir, — Turanganui, 6th November, 1865. I have the honor to report to you the information I was able to obtain at Turanganui from the most reliable sources. On Thursday evening and Friday last the Hau Haus commenced plundering the houses of the settlers at Makaraka, which they had been forced to abandon. Mr. Wylie's house was pulled down for the purpose of making bullets, it being zinc ; and the fence on the Government land was burnt. The Hau Hau declares that if the above will not induce the white men and friendly Natives to commence fighting, they shall murder the first European or Maori who may be on their side the river. Besides what I have mentioned, the Hau Hau have killed a considerable quantity of stock, and driven some fifteen hundred sheep inland. They threaten to destroy the Bishop's house, buildings, &c. The fanatics have built four strong pas, and are now engaged in throwing up an earthwork on the top of an isolated hill about a mile in rear of one of their pas, where, if they are beaten out of their other pas, they will make a stand. The number of fighting men on the enemy's side muster about six hundred, but they are indifferently armed. The friendly Natives number but few. Hirini has but eighty men, some of which are old men scarcely fit to bear arms. Paratene has about forty ; but, though he himself is perfectly loyal, his men are not to be trusted, as they keep up constant communication with the Hau Hau. Henare Potae has fifty men with him, who are, of course, thoroughly good men, and can be relied on. The whole aspect of affairs here looks as serious as it possibly can. The Hau Hau have destroyed houses, plundered others, killed stock, fought against us at Waiapu, attacked Henare Potae's pa, when it was supposed by them that there were only a few old men, women, and children remaining in it. Tareha, soon after his arrival here, proceeded to Orakaiapu for the purpose of seeing Eaharuhi; and, from the letter I enclose, you will see that the latter has agreed, as far as he himself is concerned, to take the oath of allegiance. This Chief has, I find, but little influence with his people, (Anaru Matiti being able to do what he * Annihilated, f Native. % Under his command. || Island. §An old forefather. 10