A.—No. 3,

To His Excellency Sir George Eerguson Eowen, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of New Zealand, and ViceAdmiral of the same. We, the undersigned Commissioners, appointed by virtue of a Commission dated 27tli day of February, 1868, to inquire into alleged acts of cruelty and wanton outrage stated to have been committed by Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas McDonnell, commanding the Militia in the Patea District, by causing an attack to be made in the month of August, 1866, on the Native village of Pokaikai, and to report our opinion whether there is any, and if any, what truth in such allegations, and as to all the circumstances connected with such attack on the said Native village, do respectfully report that we have arrived at the following conclusions. Previously, however, to proceeding to express those conclusions, the Commissioners beg to premise that the inquiry was conducted during the latter end of the month of March last, at Wanganui, Patea, and Alatangarara, in the presence of Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell; that two witnesses named by that officer, Arapata and Uangiamohia, were absent at Taupo, and their attendance could not he obtained ; that those witnesses reached Wellington on the night of the 11th instant; that they were examined on the 12th instant, in the absence of LieutenantColonel McDonnell; and that no statement or defence on the part of that officer, who is now engaged in active service in the field, will be found with the proceedings. The conclusions at which the Commissioners have arrived are as follows : 1. That Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell was ordered by the Defence Minister, in a letter dated Wellington, 28th June, 1866, to collect the whole of the Colonial Forces in the District, at Patea or Waingongoro, and thence make such arrangements as he thought necessary for scouring the country, and for establishing two posts, one at Ketemarae, and the other further South, in the direction of Manutahi, where redoubts were directed to be thrown up. 2. That in consequence of these orders Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell did, up to the Ist August, 1866, exert himself to induce the different hapus of the Ngatiruanui tribe to come in and surrender. 3. That Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell went to Kauae, and there had an interview with Natanahira Ngahina, chief of the Tangahoe hapu of the Natiruanui tribe. 4. That Natanahira did promise to proceed the next morning to Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell's camp at Waingongoro, distant only five miles from Kauae, and there having made his submission, to proceed to Wellington to sec the Governor. 5. That Natanahira, instead of keeping his promise, induced thereto by some Natives then present at Kauae, proceeded to Taranaki, a distance of sixty-five miles, to visit Mr. Parris.

REPORT or THE POKAIKAI COMMISSION.