A.—No. 8,

46

PAPERS RELATIVE TO NATIVE

No. 88. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Coopee to Mr. Pabris. (No. 262-2.) Native Secretary's Office, Sic,— Wellington, 24th July, 1868. In reply to your letter No. 204, of the 16th. instant, enclosing correspondence with Major Stapp relative to the detachment of No. 3 Division, Armed Constabulary, which was ordered to Patea. I am directed by the Hon. Mr. Bichmond to inform you that your account of the part taken by you in the discussions respecting the march of the Armed Constabulary is satisfactory. Mr. Bichmond remarks that you are bound to give advice under such circumstances. I have, Ac, G. S. Cooper, The Civil Commissioner, Taranaki. Acting Under Secretary.

No. 89. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Paeeis to the Hon. J. C Bichmond. (No. 206.) Sib,— New Plymouth, 17th July, 1868. The very unpleasant duty devolves upon me of having to report to you a statement of tho Chief Hone Pihama te Bei Hanataiia, on his arrival, on Monday last, with the news of tho disaster at Turo Turo Mokai. Hone Pihama was in Mr. Charles Brown's office relating the particulars of what had occurred at the above place. There were several gentlemen present listening to the sad news which, he had brought; and after he had finished his statement of the attack, casualties, &c, he said, "I have now something else I wish to say to you rangatiras who are present. Whilst my man Karira (mailman) was at Turo Turo Makai, immediately after the engagement, tho Europeans turned upon him and accused my people at Matangarara of being the Natives who had attacked them that morning. Karira told them that Mr. Henry Northcroft, who had stopped at Matangarara with him that night, could prove that it was not the Natives of that place, and that he (Karira) knew the three Natives who were lying dead close to the redoubt to be from Te Ngutu-o-te-Mailu, and gave their names —Pita, Papia, and Enoka. What I wish you to understand now is, that I am afraid that those of my tribe who have surrendered to the Government will be liable to another Pokaikai attack, as accusations of this sort had commenced. That if it ever occurs lam determined to leave you and go to the bush, and you will see that every friendly Native in the district will follow me. I would rather die fighting with my race than subject any more of my people to such treatment as that was." 1 would much rather it had fallen to some other person's lot than mine to report this matter to the Government, in fact I was thinking of taking no action in the matter hut after duo consideration, I felt I should not be justified in remaining a mere passive hearer of such a statement, and not report it to the Government—a responsibility which no subordinate officer of the Government has any right to assume. Mr. Charles Brown, -who thoroughly understands the Maori language, heard the statement, and as that gentleman is a'Member of the House of Representatives, he might, for all I know, make it known to the House ; in fact, it is already being publicly talked of here. Hone Pihama very fairly stated that if ever there is any suspicion of the conduct of any of his people, that the matter should be investigated, and if found guilty let them be punished by the law. I have, &c. The Hon. the Minister for Native Affairs, B. Paeeis, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 90. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Cooi'er to Mr. Parris. (No. 264-2.) Native Secretary's Office, Si v. Wellington, 24th July, 1868. In reference to your letter of the 17th instant upon the subject of Hone Pihama, and also to that part of your letter of the 16th in which you raise the point as regards his pay, I am directed by the Hon. Mr. Bichmond to acquaint you that Hone Pihama has been written to by him, and will be written to again, on the subject of injurious reports and remarks made about and to him ; and also, that notices will be printed and circulated calling on our men to abstain from any acts or words tending to drive well-disposed men into the arms of tho enemy. Hone Pihama's salary will be fifty pounds a year, to commence from Ist June, 1868. I have, &c., The Civil Commissioner, G. S. Cooper, Taranaki. Acting Under Secretary.

No. 91. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Paeeis to the Hon. J. C Bichmond. (No. 205.) Sic,— New Plymouth, July, 1868. 1 have the honor to forward herewith copy of a letter which arrived from Waihi, Wednesday evening, the 15th instant, by special messenger. The writer is a half-caste son of Mr. Blake, surveyor, formerly of Kaipara. The liberation of Katene twice from prison is to me perfectly inexplicable, and I fear the consequences: after his first liberation, he endeavoured to prevail upon the Mawhitiwhiti Natives to join him and go over to the rebels. The Mawhitiwhiti Natives informed Major Hunter of his treachery,