A.—No. 3f.

OPERATIONS AGAINST REBEL NATIVES.

7

we should involve not only the Ngatiawas living near the mountain line, which was to be expected, and who are few in number, but also tho Taranaki Native 3 on our southern frontier, we have with the greatest reluctanca felt it oar duty to adviso that you should be again communicated with before such a step is taken. As we understand that a copy of a memorandum on the subject giving the chief grounds of our advice has been forwarded to you by Major Brown, it will be unnecessary to repeat what is there said, and need only add, that if even you should not be satisfied that these grounds were sufficient, we trust you will acquit u-s from any real indifference to the duty of assisting you in your operations against Titokowaru, and will believe that only a souso that greater evil was likely to result from the proposed movement than you could bo aware of when proposing it, would have induced us to give advice in many ways most repugnant to our feelings. We have, &c, H. E. EicmioND, Superintendent. The Hon. Colonel Whitmore, E. Paetcts, Commanding Colonial Forces, Patea. Civil Commissioner.

No. 9. Copy of a Letter from His Honor 11. R. EicnMos"D to Mr. C. E. Haucihton. Superintendent's Office, Sir,— ■ New Plymouth, 2nd April, 1869. I have the honor to forward herewith copies of correspondence, as per schedule, relative to a proposal to move part of the forces of this district to the aid of Colonel Whitmore, who was at To Ngacrc, with the Colonial forces in the Patca District. It will be seen by Major Brown's memorandum of the 26th March, that Mr. Parris and myself both assented to the proposal of Colonel Whitmore, to march a force from this district by wav of the mountain road to Te Ngaere ; and as Major Brown asked Mr. Parris to assist him to get fifty Natives for the expedition, he sent for lhaia, Teira, and Mahau, for the purpose of arranging for that number of Natives. On arriving in town, Mr. Parris explained to them the proposed expedition, when they all three of them most earnestly and emphatically warned us that if we sent the forces through the neutral district of the Ngatiawas, without being led there by the enemy, after the understanding which had been arrived at with the Ngatiawa and Taranaki Tribes, we should upset everything that has been done with them to secure the neutrality of their respective districts as against Titokowaru and Ngatimaniapoto, and drive them again into hostilities. This declaration, made by three chiefs who have stood by the Government through many years of difficulties, was considered sufficient reason for reconsidering tho approval given by Mr. Parris aud myself to Major Brown's memorandum submitted to us, and which, after a consultation with Major Brown and four other gentlemen called in for the purpose (Major Stapp, Provincial Secretary, Mr. Thomas King, and Mr. Chilman), led to the withdrawal of the previously given approval, and to tho subsequent correspondence with Major Brown and Colonel Whitmore. It is, of course, quite possible that the expedition might have proceeded without any evil resulting; but it seemed inexpedient at this critical juncture to risk making enemies of tribes who, for some time past, have shown an increasing tendency to keep quiet, and who, from their position, might inflict grievous losses on our settlement, but are not likely ever to take up arms against us if success should attend our operations henceforward against more formidable enemies, such as the Ngatimaniapoto and Ngaliruanui. On the day after our advice was given against the intended movement letters arrived from Colonel Whitmore countermanding it, on the ground that it was probable Titokowaru had left the Ngaere. There is, however, much reason to believe that he is still there, and that Ilapuroua's influence has prevented him from obtaining a refuge in the Ngatimaru District. I enclose a copy of a minute, taken by Major Brown, of lhaia's statements on this subject. I have further tho honor to inform you that three Natives, who went up to Mokau about a week ago to accompany More, the Waikato " peace-maker," on his way northwards, arrived at Urenui on Friday, bringing intelligence that a considerable war party was at Mokau, and further stating that the murders at White Cliff's were approved by Tawhiao. I have not myself had an, opportunity of seeing any of these men, but they have been examined by lhaia, of Waitara, and the enclosed minute, taken also by Major Brown, gives the substance of what they report. News of this was immediately forwarded to Colonel Whitmore and Mr. Parris, who went to Opunake on Friday afternoon; and letters from Colonel Whitmore were received back yesterday morning, stating that, under the circumstances, operations against Titokowaru would probably be suspended, and that he should come to "Waitara by the mountain road with his main body, and send up camp equipage and a detachment of men by the " Sturt." I also enclose for your information a minute of evidence as to tho war party at Mokau, taken before the Hon. J. C. Eichmond. No further news has been received to this date ; and as the " Airedale" brought no report as to the King having sanctioned the murders, it is probable that it is untrue. I have, &c, H. K. EICHMOND, The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. (Superintendent.