A.—No. 8,

PAPERS RELATIVE TO NATIVE

6

No. 6. Copy of a Letter from Mr. J. Booth to the Hon. J. C. Richmond. (No. 37-2.) Resident Magistrate's Office, Sic,— Carlyle, 14th April, 1868. Referring to my letter of the 11th instant, reporting that two men, Henderson and Luxford, had been sent off their land, I have the honor further to state that the same men went yesterday by my direction to cut fern, &c, and prepare their land for cultivation. They worked unmolested until between three and four o'clock p.m. when eight Natives (seven men and one woman) went to them and obliged them to return to Mokoia. The woman tried to wrest a fern scythe out of Henderson's hand which he refused to give up. A man named Tokorangi then rushed forward, and used most abusive and threatening language in broken English, at the same time flourishing a tomahawk in the men's faces. They (the Natives) became at length so violent that the two white men were glad to get away, and they say that nothing will tempt them to go to their land again, as they are afraid that the Natives when excited will injure them. Baraone (Brown), of Manutahi, was one of tho Natives who sent the Europeans back. They say he was very firm in ordering them back, but that he did not attempt to use violence. To-day I saw Tokorangi, at Mokoia, and had a long conversation with him. He says he has from the first protested against the land being surveyed, and that he has several times spoken his mind on the subject before yourself and Mr. Barris, and that now the Pakakohi Natives are quite determined that no white man shall occupy land near the bush. Beyond the occupation of the redoubt at Mokoia, which I have already reported, I have refrained from taking any steps whatever in this matter until I have instructions from you. The Natives, with the exception of Tokorangi, aro perfectly civil to me, but at the same time they are very firm in their opposition to the occupation of the land in question. In conclusion I may mention that the two men, Henderson and Luxford, are the first Europeans who have attempted to occupy the country inland of Mokoia. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, James Booth, . Wellington. Besident Magistrate.

No. 7. Copy of Letter from Mr. J. Boom to the Hon. J. C. Bichmond. (No. 39-2.) Besident Magistrate's Office, Sic,— Carlyle, 25th April, 1868. I have the honor to report that on Monday evening last (20th), I left Patea in company with Mr. Inspector Hunter, Capt. Page (Volunteer Militia), and about thirty men, for the purpose of giving protection to the two men, Henderson and Luxford, who had been turned off their land by the Pakakohi Natives. I had previously written a letter to Mr. Inspector Hunter, copy of which 1 have the honor to forward. We arrived at Mokoia at about 10.30 p.m.; the men had a few hours sleep, and at 4 a.m. we were again on the march, Henderson acting as guide. We passed the Native village of Mokoia in silence, crossed the Hingahape Stream, which was about knee deep, and just at break of day we took up a position on the land in question, at a place called Matakara. We found a shed which had been put up by the Whakamara Natives when they determined to prevent the settlers passing to their work. At daylight the reveille was sounded and camp fires were lit, when the Natives in the village (Mokoia) below first became aware of our movements. About an hour afterwards a man named Tokorangi, who had assaulted Henderson, as already reported by me,* arrived in our camp from Whakamara,; ho was taken quite by surprise, not expecting to find anyone there. I made him a prisoner on the charge above mentioned. Several other Natives came and went during the day from Whakamara, Mokoia, and other places. In the afternoon, Paraone, from Manutahi, arrived in camp ; I also made him prisoner on the same charge as that against Tokorangi. Wharematangi and several others, arrived in the evening from Putahi. In reply to a question as to why I had come there with an armed party, I stated that I had come solely for the purpose of giving protection to the settlers who had been repeatedly sent off their land by tho Pakakohi Natives ; that I did not intend to make any attack on the villages or property of Natives, but that I intended to stay where I then was, with the Militia, until I had a promise from them (the Pakakohi) that they would not further molest the settlers in the peaceful occupation of their land. Thursday, the 23rd, was the day appointed on which all the hapu would meet at the camp Matakara, to talk over this matter. Paraone and Tokorangi were liberated, at Wharematangi's request, and on their promising solemnly that for the future they would make no further opposition. On Wednesday we had visits from several Natives, who were very friendly, and supplied us with vegetables. On Thursday afternoon, about thirty men, besides some women and children, came into the camp at Matakara, and after a long talk they by degrees gave way, first stating that they were willing that European settlers should go where they pleased in the country, but they should not cultivate. Second, they would allow settlers to cultivate their land, but that it should be called Native land ; and at last they withdrew all opposition and accepted my terms, namely, that settlers should be allowed to work, each one on his own land, without molestation from Natives. On my part, I promised to withdraw the Militia from Matakara and from Mokoia, which was done on the following morning. The settlers are now quietly at their work, and the Natives will not, I think, give any further trouble in this neighbourhood. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, James Booth, Wellington. Besident Magistrate.

* No. 37-2, April 14, 1868.