IN NATIVE DISTRICTS.

A.—No. 10.

15

you said, that you would make Waioeka sacred. You will come to trouble through that speech of yours, because it is not for you to control the sword of the Pakeha. Enough of that. 0 son, Te Kooti has gone to Maungapowhatu ; he went on the twentieth day. That is all. From your loving friend, Hiea. To AVepiha,— Whakarae, 2Gth February, 18G9. Friend, salutations : Listen to me. Friend, Ohiwa will bo broken (invaded) by Te Kooti, it cannot be prevented. Friend, this placo has become troubled at this time ;we have been trying to prevent it but cannot stop it. If you can discover any idea, however small, bad or good, send Te AVhanoke to bring it to me this very day. Friend, this is the day on which the start will be made. Friend, salutations : it ends. From your humble friend, Eakttraku.

Enclosure 2 in No. 15. Copy of a Letter from Major Mate to Mr. J. A. Wilso>*. (No. 10.) Sie,— Opotiki, 3rd March, 1869. I have the honor to inform you that I went to Ohiwa yesterday for the purpose of obtaining information, and, at the same time, ascertaining how far my instructions relative to the removal of Eakuraku's people, alluded to in my letter of the Ist instant, had been acted upon. Marsh and Hoani inform me that they wrote to Eakuraku at once upon receiving my letter, and he came with some of his people to their pa, where a korero was held; and it was decided that the women and children should all leave Whakarae, but the men, strengthened by a small party of Arawa, should remain to protect the crops for this reason, that when Eakuraku's people were removed by Mr. Clarke's orders last summer, their food was destroyed by the various expeditions which marched to and from the AVaimana, as well as by marauding parties of Hauhaus. Eakuraku then promised to meet me at Ohiwa on the 2nd, and yesterday I went to the Arawa pa accordingly, but nothing further had been heard from Eakuraku. Iliriui, Hemi, Koka, and others of the Upokorehe were there, and I urged them to unite with the Arawa in completing the fortification of their position, telling them that they might have the use of the absentee Arawas' guns so long as they remained ; they expressed themselves satisfied with this arrangement, which emanated in the first instance from Marsh and Hoani. Whether Eakuraku intended to carry out the plan to which he agreed or not remains to be proved. I think it very necessary that he should bo removed, but I cannot compel him unless I place the Arawa on pay, and use force. The s.s. " St. Kilda " anchored off hero this morning, bringing letters from Mr. Atkinson, E.M. of Turanga, Mr. Campbell, E.M., AVaiapu, and from Ngatiporou chiefs, warning me that Te Kooti intended to attack this place as soon as he can get enough men. The " St. Kilda " returns to Turanga to-night, calling at Torero for AVi Pere and others. In accordance with instructions received from the Hon. Dr. Pollen, the force on pay has been reduced to fifty men, and both block-houses abandoned. That at AVaioeka has, however, been occupied by AVepiha and a few of his people, and will be of service as a post of observation, if not of defence. I have, &c, J. A. Wilson, Esq., Tauranga. AV. Gr. Mair, Eesident Magistrate.

Enclosure 3 in No. 15. Copy of a Letter from Major Mair to Mr. J. A. Wilsox. Sin,— Opotiki, sth March, 18G9. I have the honor to inform you that on the night of the 3rd instant it was reported that Mr. Eobert Pitcairn, surveyor, had been lulled by the Hauhaus at Oliiwa. Trusting to the Arawa to furnish me with fuller news, and not liking to weaken the small force here by sending a party, I waited till this morning, and then sent Captain Mair with a party of fifty men, who were placed on pay for the purpose, to Ohiwa. Upon arriving at the Arawa pa, Captain Mair learned that Mr. Pitcairn had been murdered on the evening of the 2nd, at Te Uretara, by a detachment of Te Kooti's band led by Hemi Kakitu and Eangiaho, and that all Eakuraku's people with the Upokorehe, had been made prisoners by Te Kooti. AVepiha, who went to Whakatane yesterday, returned to-day, and gives the following particulars : — On the 2nd instant, Miria Te Mautaranui, wife of Apanui of Ohope, with another woman called AVeriwcri, went to AVhakarae; early in the evening the place was invested by Hauhaus, and all the people made prisoners without any show of resistance ; indeed, on the contrary, the affair bore the appearance of having been all arranged by Eakuraku, care being taken not to make fires or permit any demonstration that might attract the attention of the Arawa, their position being in full view though several miles distant. During the next day the Hauhaus and the people of the place fraternized, and in the evening a party of Chatham Islanders paraded like soldiers, and Te Kooti, carrying four revolvers, a sword, and a telescope, inspected them, and gave them their orders. Hemi Kakitu and Eangiaho joined them, and they started for the purpose of killing Mr. Pitcairn. At Te Punawai, they took a canoe and soon reached the island, where they found a Native woman, an old man, and a boy. Mr. Pitcairn was away shooting, and on his return, as his canoe neared the beach, the woman having been ordered to ■do so, stepped into the water and asked him for his gun. He declined to give it up, aud rising from his