D.—No. 21

10

RETURN OE ARMS AND AMMUNITION

these men, in or out of the district. The Arawa chiefs appear anxious to place their services at the disposal of the Government, but very properly hesitate to take any steps which may result in bloodshed and war, except with the sanction and under the direction of the Government, and upon the understanding that they will be efficiently supported in meeting consequences. I enclose herewith a letter, with translation, received from the Maketu chiefs the day I left. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, Thos. H. Smith, Wellington. Civil Commissioner, Bay of Plenty.

A.—Enclosure 1 in No. 6. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Nesbitt to Mr. Parris. Sir,— Maketu, 15th March, 1865. In consequence of the repeated applications for arms by the Natives inland, I have endeavoured to ascertain what quantity of arms and ammunition they have in their possession, and herewith have the honor of enclosing lists of those who have arms and those without. I find that, exclusive of the Ngatipikiao, whose list I have not yet received, there are 83 Government guns, 67 serviceable Maori guns, and there are 158 men without any arms. There is a scarcity of powder, flints, and small percussion caps. Under present circumstances, I respectfully suggest that immediate application be made to the Government or military authorities to issue, for the use of the Arawa Natives, 160 stand of arms, 500 flints, and some small percussion caps. The Natives inland have built and fortified six pas, and if supplied with arms, would be able to protect themselves against any hostile attack, unless made by overwhelming numbers. They are kept in a constant state of alarm by reports of the Waikato and other tribes coming to punish them for arresting Hori Tupaea and his party. The present state of Puhirua is an additional reason why the friendly Natives should be supplied with arms. This place, situated within this district, is exclusively occupied by votaries of the new religion. On Sunday week, the Rev. Mr. Spencer, on endeavouring to pass through this place on his professional duties, was ordered to return, on pain of being arrested if he proceeded. There are letters and messages of mutual recrimination constantly passing between them and the friendly Natives. This place is also becoming a sort of asylum for those who have made themselves amenable to the law, and, from all these circumstances, it is impossible to say when a collision may take place. I would therefore recommend that application be made to the Government or Colonel Greer to issue the quantity of arms and ammunition mentioned above to the friendly Natives. I have &c, The Civil Commissioner, Maketu, W. K. Nesbitt, R.M., Rotorua.

A. —Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 1 in No. 6. SUMMARY of RETURNS showing the state of the Arawa with respect to supply of Arms.

A.—Major Hay's returns show about 170 as the number of arms supplied by Government to the Arawa Natives. To this must be added 25 stand recently supplied to the Tuhomangi at Tarawera. B. —This number should be reduced by 25, the number of arms supplied to the Tuhomangi since

Having Arms of their own, serviceable. Supplied with Government Arms. Without Arms. iaketu. —Ngatipikiao Tutanekai... Ngatikereru No return —(say 10) Ditto (say 5) Ditto (say 5) No return.— (say 20) Ditto (say 10) Ditto (say 10) 11 5 16 lotorua. —Waiohevva... Ohincmutu Ditto (say 10) 14 Ditto (say 20) 28 11 48 totoiti.—Kahuwera ... Mourea Ditto (say 5) 10 Ditto (say 10) 18 14 7 (kataiera Ditto (say 5) IG 16 'arawera.—Motutawa Kariri Te Tapahero Motiti, &c, &c. ... 12 22 14 No return 2 8 17 (say 10) 26 36 27 No return Approximate Total ... 112 a 169 b217