A.—No. 13,
0
PAPERS RELATIVE TO NATIVE
The Taranaki Natives have been holding a meeting during the past week, which was attended by the Ketemarae Natives, Ahitana's party —about twenty of them —and also More and his party from Tokangamutu. The young chief Te Whiti addressed the meeting, and said that there had been an understanding that hostilities should cease, that there should be no more killing of Europeans or Natives, and that Titokowaru and his people were parties to the agreement; that this agreement had been broken by the Ngutu-o-te-Manu Natives, who had murdered Europeans, which would be the cause of more trouble ; that if any of the Taranaki Natives had great love for the Ngutu-o-te-Manu Natives, and wished to join them, now was the time to speak. No one at the meeting having expressed a wish to go, Te Whiti told them that if any went they must not come back again, but remain away for the future. He then addressed himself to his own people, who were in the habit of going to the beach, telling them that complaints had been made of their interference with Europeans travelling along the coast. He warned them against a repetition of the offence, and told them that any one in future so offending should be given up. This is a sort of threat a chief would hold out to his young people, but too good to be realized I am afraid as yet. On Friday I accompanied His Honor the Superintendent to the Okato District, and from the information received respecting the meeting of the Taranaki Natives we were able to assure the settlers that they need not be under any apprehension of danger on account of what had happened in the Ngatiruanui District, so far as we had been able to ascertain, but that, should the question assume a more unfavourable appearance, we hoped to be able to give them timely warning. Permit me to assure you, Sir, that I will do my best to keep myself informed of any probable change likely to take place as regards the views of other tribes in reference to the unfortunate murders at Ketemarae, which I am convinced was purely a local affair, and not a concerted one for a general renewal of hostilities, but of course no one can foresee what will arise out of it. I have, &c., The Hon. Minister for Native Affairs, R. Paeeis, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.
No. 6. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to the Hon. the Native Ministee. (No. 197.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 4th July, 1868. Reverting to your confidential letter of 29th May, in reference to Patara's proposal to go to the East Coast, I have the honor to inform you that in consequence of what has occurred in the Ngatiruanui District, the Taranaki Natives have been rather excited and have been holding meetings which appear to have terminated favorably. This state of things has prevented me doing anything in the matter you referred to with Patara ; and in fact I should be sorry to send him out of the district until we see what the upshot of our new difficulties is to be. I have this day received a letter from Patara, a copy of which I beg to enclose herewith, in which he states that it is uncertain whether More aud party from Tokangamutu will return to the North by way of the town of New Plymouth, or the way they came by way of Ngatimaru. His letter also implies that any tribe which is guilty of an offence must take the responsibility of it upon themselves: that others will not support them. He states also that he has sent to Titokowaru to ask what was the cause of their being guilty of the late murders. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. R. Paeeis, Civil Commissioner.
Enclosure in No. 6. Xi A Paeete,— Whakairi, Hune 30th, 1868. Tena koe, korua ko te Retimona me nga hoa aroha. Kua tae mai to reta, kaore au ite mohio i haere atu ranei a More i waho na i tika ano ranei i uta E hoa waiho ki a Titoko tana mahi o kore au c haere ki tena mahi, kite mahi aTe Whiti, ki aia tana mahi, c kore au o rere ki taua mahi; kite kohuru au maku anake taku kino, kaore aTe Whiti c rere mai ki taku he. Kia tae mai taku tamaiti kua riro kia Titoko kite patai i te take o tenei kohuru, he aha rate take kia tae mai lea haere atu ahau. Na to hoa aroha, Na Pataea Raukatauei.
[TRANSLATION.] To Paeeis,— Whakairi. 30th June, 1868. Salutations to you and Mr. Eichmond, and to the loving friends. Tour letter has been received. Ido not know whether More will go by the coast or inland. O friend, leave to Titoko his own work ; I will not go to that work, to the work of "Whiti —leave his work to himself. I will rush into that work; if I commit murder, let me be responsible for my own evil doings. "Whiti will not rush to take part in my faults. When my young man who has gone to Titoko to ask him the cause of this murder returns, I will go to you. l'rom your loving friend, Pataea Eaukatauei.
No. 7. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Mr. G. S. Coopee. (No. 2.13.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 27th July, 1868. I have the honor to enclose herewith, for the information of the Hon. the Minister for Native