ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

69

A.—No.

whenua.) A common feeling united fanatical believers with cool politicians who believed nothing, but who kept up the fervor of their brethren by false reports of miracles wrought at Taranaki, and of great loss sustained by our troops. The new religion combined men of every sort, from the ferocity of Kereopa to perfect inoffensivcness —some of the best, as well as some of the worst, of the race. It was •accepted as the religion of all who were no longer willing to accept religion at tho hands of the Pakeha. As in all times of national ferment the fiercer and more determined natures got the load. In the beginning of the war the Kingites had prayed for their King after the form in our prayer book, and that sometimes with fasting and great earnestness. Now a new form of prayer was put together, and the new worship was accepted as the bond of union amongst all who still adhered to the cause of the Maori King. 9. No spot in tho Island was better prepared to receive this fanaticism than Opotiki, in the Bay of Plenty. The people of that place had sympathized in the AVaikato, and some of them had taken part in the war. A^arious circumstances had caused their minister (Mr. A Tolkner) to be suspected of being in secret correspondence with the Government on the subject of their disaffection. The feeling of the people became more bitter when their leading Chief Aperotanga, who had been wounded and taken prisoner by our allies, was murdered by a woman of that tribe (the widow of Pekania Tohi), in revenge for the death of her husband who had fallen in the war. Yet this provocation did not at once lead them to retaliate, on Mr. A rolkner. Even two men of the offending tribe who had come into the district ■of Opotiki from the eastward in ignorance of all that had passed were spared. The cry for blood which arose from the widows was rebuked by a woman, and the men were fed, conducted to the western boundary of the district, and sent on their way. Mr. Volkner, having again visited Auckland, was continually troubled by the thought of the miserable condition of his people. Their cultivations had been neglected, and a low fever, caused by lack of food, had carried off more than 150 persons. It appeared to be worth while to try the effect of an attempt to minister to them in their distress. He resolved, therefore, to revisit them, carrying with him wine and quinine, though, as ho said, " It was doubtful whether, in their then state of mind, any one would take such things from his hands." These were amongst the last words I heard from his mouth. In the meantime a party of the Hau Haus from Taranaki had crossed the country to Opotiki. They had determined early in the year (1865) to carry the war to the opposite extremity of the Island, and to divert part of our troops thither. So they marched across to Taupo Lake, and thence to the Bay of Plenty. On their way they passed near to the station of a missionary (Mr. Spencer), who has remained through all these troubles unharmed at his station on Tarawera Lake. They reached Opotiki seven days before the vessel which carried Mr. A'olkner thither. Every night the leaders of the party harangued the people on the conduct of the missionaries. One who heard them reports that the burthen of their discourses night after night was the same. " These men (said they) were always telling us: 'Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth ; ' and so while we were looking up to heaven our land was snatched away from beneath our feet." After two days the house of the missionary was plundered, and the goods sold to the bystanders. After five days more a small vessel was seen entering the river, and it wag discovered that Mr. A'olkner was on board. As the people cluster on the banks of the river the Hau Hau leaders pointed to tho vessel as a proof of the magical power of the new worship which had so brought their betrayer into their hands. 10. Even after this foul crime the superstition continued to spread. Patara, who was himself not present at the murder, proceeded with his party to Turanga. He kept Kereopa in the back ground, and spoke of the murder as a misfortune, a great blow to a good cause. Even then, men who had for years exhibited a sober, thoughtful character were induced to join, carried away by what the Maori calls " Aroha kite noi " (pity for the people), what we should call a strong sympathy with the nationa cause. The Maoris were strongly affected by the novel practices and the burthen of the worship, and especially by the bitter crying and wailing for their countrymen slain, and their land seized by the Pakeha. It is plain that this delusion has no real strength, and that Maoris, drawn by various motives and influences to support it, do not fight as well as others have done who believed their quarrel to be just. And we see that those who have recently submitted and taken the oath to the Queen, have, as a matter of course, dropped at the same time the Hau Hau worship. Moreover, this very crime has roused into action a body of Native allies in the same part of the Island —a resolute minority whose bravery and knowledge of the country have proved of essential service. A like effect was produced, as you are well aware, in Hawke's Bay and elsewhere. Perhaps the Government may not be aware that some Native magistrates from the Gulf of Hauraki and the Thames came up to Auckland to propose a combined expedition of " all the churches " (as they worded it), for the purpose of crushing tho guilty tribe. At that time there was no person in Auckland to represent the General Government. The resistance then, on the East Coast is less formidable thau that on the AVest; still that radical evil remains of which the acceptance of the Hau Hau creed was an indication and a measure. The practical fact with which we have to deal iB this : the old feeling of distrust and exasperation towards our Government has been strong enough to lead thoughtful men, incapable of being parties to such acts, to join the Hau Hau cause, even after the commission of the great crime at Opotiki. This is our real difficulty ; the same in kind as ever, but greater in degree. I believe that this feeling is now more deep and more widely spread than at any time. I believe there are now many who are convinced that we are determined, even by fraud and violence, to get possession of their land, and force our dominion upon men who have never consented to it. Many, therefore, on their part determine to hold their own as best they may, and are content to sacrifice their lives in the contest. The state of tbe case is this :we have put too great a pressure upon these people, more than they can bear, more than we can continue to exert; we have driven many of the Natives into a state of determined resistance, bordering on desperation; we have brought upon ourselves the necessity of bearing burthens beyond our strength. Need of Peace. 11. The practical business before us is first to terminate the present evil state of things, and then to take such measures as may introduce a better state, and render it permanent. The obstacles to be