ISSUED TO ERIENDLY NATIVES.

11

D.—No. 21.

the returns from inland were prepared. The state of the Arawa may be shown approximately thus: — Having serviceable Arms of their own ... ... ... ... 120 ■Supplied with Government Arms ... ... ... ... ... 200 Without Arms ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 190 Total ... ... ... 510 (This Return does not include Taupo.) Thos. H. Smith, Civil Commissioner.

A.—No. 7. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Halsk to the Civil Commissioner, Bay of Plenty. (No. 203.) Native Secretary's Department, Sir,— Wellington, 25th April, 1865. I am directed by Mr. Mantell to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 22nd March, covering a letter from the Resident Magistrate at Rotorua, relative to the supply of arms to the Arawa Natives. In reply, I am to inform you that instructions will be sent to Auckland by the mail to-day for the arms and ammunition named in the margin,* to be forwarded to you at once for issue as occasion may require. I am further to inform you that if the Arawa can capture any more ringleaders of tho Pai Mariri conspirators, by all means let them do so, but they must not be led to expect additional military assistance. Mr. Mantell is aware that local, knowledge will be necessary to meet circumstances as they arise in your district, and he relies with confidence upon your discretion and zeal to act as occasion offers to check tho spread of seditious conspiracies. The question of organizing the Natives to whom arms may bo issued, or of arranging for their inspection, will be referred to the Hon. the Minister for Colonial Defence without delay. In conclusion, I am directed to request you to be good enough to report, with as little delay as possible, the best mode of rewarding the Arawa for their former services. I have, &c, If. Halse, The Civil Commissioner, Bay of Plenty. Acting Native Secretary.

B.—No. 8. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Smith to Mr. Rolleston. Civil Commissioner's Office, Sir,— Maketu, 25th July, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of tho 7th instant, No. 390, requesting me to hand over to Colonel Harington, Ist Waikato Regiment, thirteen Naval rifles in my possession. I have to report, for the information of the Hon. the Native Secretary, that these rifles had been distributed among the Arawa Natives some weeks before my receipt of your letter, and before I had seen Colonel Greer's letter referred to by you, which letter was sent to Maketu while I was in Auckland. The whole of the arms sent to me by the s.s. " Queen," on the 23rd May, were issued during my absence in Auckland, in accordance with instructions left by me for the Resident Magistrate of Rotorua. I enclose copy of a memorandum by Mr. R.M. Mair, with reference to tho arms in question. I have, &c, W. Rolleston, Esq., Under Secretary, Thos. H. Smith, Native Department, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

B.—Enclosure in No. 8. Memorandum. The Naval rifles supplied by the Government and served out to the loyal Natives here are an old pattsrn. Ido not think that any harm is likely to result from their issue to the Arawa, for owing to the great weight of both gun and ammunition, and to their not understanding the arrangement of the sights, they are by no means a popular arm, and I believe they would readily exchange them for the ordinary percussion musket. Maketu, 24th July, 1865. W. G. Mair, E.M.

C—No. 9. Copy of a Letter from Lieut.-Colonel Lton to Captain Holt. Head-quarters, Expeditionary Force, Sib, — Opotiki, 11th January, 1806. In reply to your letter, number and date as per margin, I have the honor to inform * 142 percussion muskets, 500 flints, 5,000 small percussion caps.

No. 902, Dec. 23, 1805.