A.—No. 8

DISTURBANCES AT PATEA.

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No. 29. Copy of a Letter from Captain Holt to the Offices Commanding Militia District, Patea. (No. 153-2.) Colonial Defence Office, Sic,— Wellington, 20th April, 1808. In reply to your letter of the 14th instant, No. 268-1, reporting that the Natives near Mokoia had refused to allow two men (Henderson and Luxford) to go on their land, and requesting instructions, I am directed by the Defence Minister to inform you that the number of men on pay is not to be increased at present. I have, &c, J. Holt, The Officer Commanding Militia District, Patea. Under Secretary.

No. 30. Copy of a Letter from Inspector Huntee to Captain Holt. (No. 271-1.) Sic,— Patea, 20th April, 1868. I have tho honor to enclose copy of a letter which I have this day received from Mr. Booth, Besident Magistrate, and beg to inform you that I intend to place a party of men, composed of the Volunteer Militia and Armed Constabulary, on the southern bank of the Hangahape stream. Mr. Booth and myself will accompany this party, which starts from Patea this day. I have, &c, Wm. Huntee, Inspector, A.C, The Under Secretary, Defence Office, Wellington. Commanding Patea District.

Enclosure in No. 30. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Booth to Inspector Huntee. (No. 38-2.) Besident Magistrate's Office, Sic,— Patea, 20th April, 1868. As the Natives in the neighbourhood of Mokoia and Whakamara are still determined to resist every attempt on the part of European settlers to occupy their land, and after consulting with Mr. Parris, Civil Commissioner, on the subject, I have tho honor to request that you will, as soon as convenient, send a small body of men across the Hangahape stream, inland from Mokoia, and so place them as to give protection to the settlers Henderson and Luxford, who have, as previously reported, been ejected from their land. The post to be occupied will be on Government or confiscated ground, and the men composing the force are to understand that they are simply to protect settlers from insult or violence at the hands of the Natives, and if a disturbance should arise in consequence of this moVement the Natives must take tho initiative. I have, &c, Inspector Hunter, A.C, James Booth, B.M. Commanding Patea District, Patea.

No. 31. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Haetweight to .the Offices Commanding Militia District, Patea. (No. 222-2.) Colonial Defence Office, Sic,— Wellington, 27th April, 1808. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter, No. 271-1, of the 20th instant, in which you report that, in compliance with the request of Mr. Booth, Besident Magistrate, you were sending a party, composed of Volunteer Militia and Armed Constabulary, to the northern bank of the Hangahape stream, in order to afford protection to the settlers Henderson and Luxford, and am directed to inform you in reply, that the Defence Minister has approved your action in this case. I have, &c, Heney Haetweight, The Officer Commanding Militia District, Patea. Eor the Under Secretary.

No. 32. Copy of a Letter from Inspector Huntee to Captain Holt. (No. 273.) Sic,— Patea, 24th April, 1868. With reference to my letter, No. 271-1, of the 20th instant, I have the honor to inform you that I marched a party of about thirty-five men to Hangahape, leaving Patea at 5 o'clock p.m on Monday. I arrived at Mokoia at 10.30 the same evening, and started across the Hangahape stream at 4 a.m. the following morning, and got to the top of the hill by daybreak. Finding that there were not any Natives on the spot where they were supposed to have been on the look out, I halted there. About 9 o'clock the same day the Native who had sent the settlers off made his appearance, and appeared very much astonished at seeing us where we were. The Besident Magistrate requested me to make him a prisoner, which I immediately did. The next day several of the Natives came into our camp, and stated to Mr. Booth that they wished to meet him and talk the matter over. This he agreed to, and on Thursday, the 23rd, about thirty-five men, accompanied by a number of women, came in and discussed the case, and finally agreed that the 6