A.—No. 19.

introduced) is not only a virtual admission of the accuracy of their statements, but is absolutely identical with them. The charge brought was that Dr. Featherston had threatened that 500 armed men would be sent to protect those persons who would be employed to cut a boundary. Dr. Featherston, you tell me, has " absolutely denied " the truth of this. Mr. Buller indeed says that it is " untrue," but then adds, in reply to a question from " Noa Te Eauhihi, Dr. Featherston stated (through me) that Kawana Hunia had offered to go with 500 men to cut the inland boundary of the ceded block, but that he had refused to sanction any step of this kind at present, being extremely anxious to get the question of reserves and dissentients' claims disposed of iirst. Noa then asked whether the party would go armed, His Honor replied, that Kawana Hunia had distinctly stated his intention of going armed. His Honor repeated that 'he would not send them at present.' " The only matter at issue has now been conceded by Mr. Buller. No question was raised as to the origin of the suggestion that 500 armed men should be sent to protect the survey, whether it came in the first place from Kawana Hunia (who was not present at the meeting of 29th June), or from Dr. Featherston, but only as to the threat having been made by the latter, and now Mr. Buller fully admits this. It cannot be necessary that I should make any further comment on Mr. Buller's Memorandum. It must be perfectly clear to Mr. Richmond that I have nothing either to substantiate or retract. There is really no difference between the statement made by Ilenere Te Herekau, and the facts as admitted by Mr. Buller himself. It now only remains for him to reconcile these with Dr. Featherston'n alleged denial. I have already forwarded a statement from Pumipi Te Kaka corroborating what was said by Honere Te Herekau. I had similar statements from five or six other Natives who were present at the meeting, but I accidentally left them at Manawatu : they shall be forwarded to you. I may as well add that Ihakara has on several occasions detailed all that was said by Dr. Featherston, and ridicules the attempt made to deny it. Mr. Richmond will have learnt from my letter of the 28th instant that the subject has attracted considerable notice. I have, &c, W. Eolleston, Esq., Native Secretary's Office. Octavius lladfield.

No. 18. Copy of a Letter from Archdeacon lladfield to Mr. Bolleston. Sic,— Otaki, sth September, 1867. I have the honor to enclose a statement from Patoropa comprising the charges referred'to in my letter of 29th August. You will observe that he mentions four hundred, but I am told that both numbers were mentioned during the discussion that was carried on at the meeting of 29th June. 1 have, &c, W. Eolleston, Esq., Native Secretary's Office. Octatius Hadfield.

Enclosure in No. 18. Ko Hune te marama i hui ai maua ki Tawhirihoo ite 29, 1867. Xi aTe Petatone raua ko Te Pura— ko maua c toru tekau ka puta i reira te kupu a te lluperetene, c wha rau tangata c wha rau hoki o nga pu hei whakatakoto mo te tini ki Waitapu, ko aku kupu enei i rongo atu ai ki tona waha, cngari ekore c taea te huna, ko Te Pura ano te kai-whakamaori. Na Patoeopa.

[teanslation.] It was during the month of June that we met at Tawhirihoe, on the 29th June, 1867, to see Dr. Peatherston and Mr. Buller. There were thirty of us. It was then that tho Superintendent gave utterance to his word—that there should be four hundred men with four hundred guns to lay down the chain at To AVaitapu. These are tho words which I heard from his own mouth, but it cannot bo kept back. Mr. Buller was tho interpreter. Patoropa.

No. 19. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Eollestox to Archdeacon lladfield. (No. 486-1.) Native Secretary's Office, Venerable Sic, — Wellington,, 9th September, 1867. I have the honor, by direction of Mr. [Richmond, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th ultimo, enclosing extracts from letters received by Matene To Whiwhi, relating to threats alleged to have been made by Dr. Feathorston at Tawhirihoo on 29th of June, also of your letter of the 29th August having reference to Mr. Buller'a Memorandum, and of your letter of the sth instant, enclosing a statement by Patoropa on the same subject. In reply, Mr. Richmond directs mo to state that there can be no doubt that the statement made to Noa Te Bauhihi, as reported by *Mr. Buller, was an equivocal one, and much to be regretted. The Government is now taking means to bring the claims of the Manawatu dissentients before the Lands Court; and under these circumstances it is considered that it would answer no useful end to prolong the discussion of this particular question. I have, &c., W. Eollestox, The Venerable Archdeacon lladfield, Otaki. Under Secretary.

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