A.—No. 10,

12

REPORTS FROM OFFICERS

Natives, men, women, and children, not less than 3,500 in all, I could not but admire; the general tone not only of the public speeches but also of private conversations essentially peaceful, and the desire expressed only to be left alone—in fact to preserve and maintain their present state of isolation from Europeans. All the leading Natives see clearly that to keep up the King movement, and thereby hold a certain amount of authority over the rising generation, the system of isolation from Europeans must be strictly maintained. I have, etc., The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. William N. Searancke, K.M.

No. 12. Copy of a Letter from Mr. W. X. Seaeancke to the Hon. Dr. Pollen. Sie,— Alexandra, 27th February, 18C9. I have the honor to inform you that I have succeeded in obtaining the following information respecting the murders at the White Cliffs: —A short time ago Mr. Parris, of Taranaki, sent to the Natives residing at Mokau Heads to bring some pigs and cattle for sale, which they at once prepared to do, notwithstanding the aulcati there. When Tikaokao (Tawhana) and Wetere, chiefs of the Ngatimaniapoto tribe, heard of this they were very angry, and, mustering a party of about eighteen men, started in pursuit from their settlement inland, and coming up with the Natives driving the cattle, about fifteen miles from Mokau Heads, sent them back at once. They then went on to Pukcaruhe (the White Cliffs), and there killed a woman and three children ; and while there the four Natives who had driven the pigs to Taranaki arrived on their way back, and informed Tikaokao that the Eev. Mr. Whiteley was close behind them. Tikaokao and some of his men went forward and met him, and told him to go back to Taranaki. I am informed that Mr. Whitcley refused to do so, and made some unpleasant remarks, and insisted on going on to the redoubt. On his arrival, before he could get off his horse, he was shot by Tahana, a brother-in-law of lieihana's, and subsequently the horse was shot. Two or three Europeans then came up and were at once killed. Tikaokao and party originally purposed going on to Urenui and killing any other Europeans there, but feeling satisfied with having shot Mr. Whiteley, they immediately returned to Mokau, and on to their settlements inland, and two days after, the murderers were at Hangatiki. Tawhiao has expressed great sorrow and also anger at these murders, they being committed in direct defiance of his wishes and authority, and has again expressed his intention of retiring with the Waikatos either to Kawhia or to Taupo, and thereby leave the country open for the Ngatimaniapoto to do as they plea&e in the Waikato District. From what I can gather from the Natives I have met here, I believe they intend these murders to be a challenge to the Europeans, and I very much fear will be followed up by others in this district. The subject of an attack on settlers in this district has lately, I am told, been spoken of more than once, and Eeihana and an armed party came to Hangatiki a few days ago, but were met by Tawhiao and 200 Natives from Kawhia and. sent back. Te Tapihana and his party have also, notwithstanding the order of Tawhiao to remain at Kawhia, been at Te Kopua this week, and 1 believe him now to be not very far off. At present there is a meeting of the Natives at Tokangamutu, but what the object is I have not been able to ascertain, or in fact to obtain any material information. Several of the Kopua Natives are very much frightened, coming in to Alexandra to sleep, and almost afraid to go to their settlements in day time. They speak confidently that an immediate attack is to be made on Alexandra, Kihikihi, Orakau, and Te Awamutu, by the Ngatimaniapotos, and in that opinion, I regret to say that, looking at the notice given by Tapihana in his letter to the Governor and the settlers residing in the Waikato, 1 coincide, and I also very much fear that the attack will not be long deferred. I have, &c., Hon. D. Pollen, Resident Minister, Auckland. AVji. N. Seaeancke, R.M.

No. 13. Copy of a Letter from Mr. W. N. Seaeancke to the Hon. Dr. Pollex. (No. 45.) Sir,— Hamilton, 4th March, 1869. I have this morning returned from Alexandra, and having succeeded in reopening my communications, and also seen Mr. Hettit, who had only the day previous come from Tokangamutu, 1 am now able to give correct information not only respecting the murders at Pukearuhc, but also of the intended but happily frustrated raid on Waikato. About the middle of February Tawhiao invited the whole of the Waikatos residing inland, also the Ngatimaniapoto tribe, to a feast at Kawhia. This invitation was, however, declined by Eeihana and his parly, who reside at Pukearuhc, a settlement near the head of the Mokau River; also by the Mokau Natives. On the 15th ultimo Tamati ]N Tgapora Manuwhiri, Rewi, and a large number of Waikatos and Ngatimaniapotos, started for the feast at Kawhia, and had arrived, on the following day, within a mile or two of it, when they were overtaken by a messenger, who informed Tamati that immediately after they had left Tokangamutu, lieihana and his friends had had a meeting, and had decided to make an attack on the Europeans, one party, headed by Wetere and subsequently joined by Tikaokao, to attack the Europeans at the White Cliffs, and the other party, headed by lieihana himself, to attack Alexandra. On hearing this, Tamati, Eewi, and party hurried on to the feast. What took place there I camiot say: the food was given them at once, but instead of remaining there a week or two they only stopped about forty-eight hours, and returning, divided into three parties of about 200 men in each party, by different routes, to intercept Eeihana, and, if possible, stop Wetere and the party going to the White Cliffs. Unfortunately they were too late to do so. The party under Eewi found Reihana and thirty armed men at Te Uira, on their way to Alexandra. Te Uira is a large settlement situated between Tokangamutu and Hangatiki, and about twenty-live miles from Alexandra, and the