A.—No. 15b.

4

PAPERS RELATIVE TO PRISONERS AND

No. 2. Copy of a Letter from His Honor D. McLean" to the Hon. E. W. Staffokd. Sin, — Superintendent's Office, Napier, 6th March, 1866. In pursuance of the instructions conveyed by the Hon. the Minister for Native Affairs in his letter of the 24th ultimo, respecting the sending of Native prisoners to the Chatham Islands, I have the honor to acquaint you that I visited Poverty Bay on the 3rd instant, and embarked forty-two male prisoners and forty-eight women and children, ninety in all, on board the " St. Kilda." Those prisoners are at present kept under a guard at the Provincial Immigration Barracks and will be readj to embark for their destination in a day or two. His Excellency the Governor was pleased to cause H.M.S. " Eclipse " to remain at Poverty Bay until the prisoners were embarked. I considered it advisable to have a mixed guard composed of thirteen of the Military Settlers and Defence Eorce, and twelve Natives of the Ngatiporou Tribe. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Donald McLean.

No. 3. Copy of a Letter from Mr. J. H. Campbell to the Hon. the Native Mintstee. Sib,— Napier, 6th March, 1866. I have the honor to report that, in accordance with your instructions, I left this place in the s.s. " St. Kilda " on Thursday, the Ist March, for Turanga, to receive and convey to Napier a certain number of the Hauhau prisoners at that place. His Honor the Superintendent started at the same time with His Excellency the Governor to Wairoa and Turanga, for the purpose of meeting the chiefs of that part of the coast. The following morning His Excellency landed at Wairoa, accompanied by Mr. McLean, where upwards of 400 Natives were assembled to welcome His Excellency. Several speeches expressive of loyalty and good feeling were made by the leading chiefs, to which His Excellency replied. At 2 o'clock p.m. the " St. Kilda " proceeded to Turanga, His Excellency following in the " Eclipse "at a later hour. On the following morning, immediately after the arrival of the two steamers at Turanga, His Excellency and Mr. McLean again landed, and were received with warm expressions of loyalty and welcome. His Excellency replied praising the brave conduct of those chiefs who have taken so active a part in the late operations on the coast. The presence of the Hauhau prophet Te Ua as a prisoner seemed to produce a powerful effect upon the Natives. The embarkation of the prisoners, to the number of 100, was commenced at 4 o'clock p.m., and completed at 8 o'clock, when the " St. Kilda " at once returned to Napier, where she arrived at 2 p.m. on Sunday, the 4th instant. Yesterday morning they were landed and placed under guard at the Immigration Barracks, where they are to remain till the " St. Kilda " has taken in her necessary stores, which Captain Kennedy informs me will be completed by Thursday, the Bth. Straggling bands of Hauhaus still continue to infest the country about Turanga, as you will see by referring to the Sawiee's Bay Herald of this date. They are also fortifying their position beyond the Waikari Moana Lake, which is likely to prove very difficult of access. I shall report further on my return from the Chatham Islands. I have, &c., The Hon. the Native Minister. James 11. Campbell, E.M.

No. 4 Copy of a Letter from Captain Thomas to the Hon. the Native Minister. (No. 21.) Chatham Islands, Sib,— 19th March, 1866. I have the honor to report, for the information of the Government, that I arrived here on Wednesday last, the 14th instant, per " St. Kilda," from Napier, in company with Mr. Campbell, having on board sixty-eight Native prisoners, as per margin,* with Lieutenant Tuke and twenty-six men, as per margin,f in charge. I am happy to be able to report that the reception of the prisoners by the Natives here was satisfactory. They expressed a wish that the prisoners should at once come and live amongst them, but I did not feel myself justified in permitting their wish to be acceded to without first reporting to the Government. On this point I must beg leave to suggest that such a step at present would not be advisable. The prisoners and guard are located on ground close to Waitangi, belonging to W. Toenga to Poki, and under good temporary shelter. The stores are also under good shelter. The " St. Kilda " is now on the eve of returning to Napier, and I have duly reported to Mr. McLean our arrival. I have also mentioned to him in my report the fact of its not being desirable at present to send a greater number of prisoners than would exceed the number I have now in charge, which would make 136 altogether, in the event of the " St. Kilda " returning with another quota. I think this quota of sixty-eight might be safely sent. "With regard to the rates of pay of the guard, I have the honor to request that I may be informed whether I am to pay them all, with the exception of the officers, at the rate of 3s. 6d. per diem, according to the tenor of the instructions conveyed by you to Mr. McLean, or according to the rates as shown in the estimate enclosed. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister. W. E. Thomas, E.M. * Prisoners. —39 male adults, 4 males over seven years, 10 women, 15 children of both sexes; total, 68. t Guard. —Consisting of 1 officer, 6 Colonial Defence Force, 1 Military Settlers, 1 officer's servant (Napier Volunteers), 12 Natiye Contingent; total, 27.