AFFAIRS ON THE WEST COAST.

7

A.« No. 13.

Affairs, a copy of a letter I have received from His Honor the Superintendent, in reference to the best means of watching over the safety of the outsettlers of this district, during the present unsettled state of affairs in the Ngatiruanui country; and also a copy of my reply thereto. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure 1 in No. 7. Copy of a Letter from His Honor Mr. 11. R. Richmond to Mr. R. Paeeis. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 17th July, 1868. As the disturbances in the Patea District naturally render the out settlers here uneasy as to their own safety, especially those on the Okato Block, and as it most necessary that, if there should be any indications of a spreading of the disturbances, northwards, the earliest notice should be given to those settlers to enable them to place their families, &c, in safety, and to assemble in one spot for the purpose of defence, I have the honor to request that, if it lies in your power to do so, you will place a few trustworthy Natives living near the southern boundary of the settlement on pay, in order that they may be specially employed in watching the movements of those Natives in the neighbourhood who have been until lately opposed to the Government, and may keep you and the Provincial Government informed from day to day of all they may see or hear of the movements or intentions of those Natives. I have no doubt that this course will give far more real safety to the out settlers than would be afforded by a much larger number of our own men stationed in the district for the purpose of defence ; and at the same time I feel that, if we ask any of the Natives to devote their time wholly to obtaining information, so as to warn us of any impeding danger, it is only right that they should receive pay for their trouble. I have, &c., H. R. Richmond, R. Parris, Esq., Civil Commissioner, New Plymouth. Superintendent.

Enclosure 2 in No. 7. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to His Honor Mr. H. R. Richmond. (No. 211.) Sic,— New Plymouth, 24th July, 1868. With reference to your letter of the 17th instant, received on the 20th instant at my office, during my absence in the district south, visiting the Taihua Natives living near Warea, I have the honor to inform you that I am doing everything in my power to keep myself informed of the state of feeling of the late disaffected Natives in this district, in reference to the late outrages and disturbances in the Patea District. Permit me, Sir, to assure you that I thoroughly sympathize with the outsettlers in the present uncertain state of things, for it is impossible for any one to foresee what complications may arise out of the resumption of hostilities by a small section of the Natives of the Province. It is equally difficult to decide, under the circumstances, what would be the most judicious steps to take for the protection of the out-settlers. The Taranaki and Ngatiawa Tribes, up to the present time, declare they will take no part with the Ngutu-o-te-Manu Natives, whose atrocities they profess to condemn ; and, as these two tribes occupy the districts in front of the Okato, Mataitawa, and Tikorangi Military Settlers' settlements, I am of opinion that no danger need bo apprehended from a retirement of the Ngutu-o-te-Manu Natives into those districts, unless driven there by our forces, of which we should get timely warning. I am, however, of opinion that it would be well to decide upon some arrangement which could be brought into immediate action in case of anything happening which might render it necessary for the settlers to assume a defensive attitude in the districts referred to, for it would be a lamentable disaster for us to abandon any part of the district our settlers are now occupying. As regards the Pukearuhe Settlement near the White Cliffs, its future quietude is mainly dependent on the Ngatimaniapoto Tribe, which tribe, so far as I know, has not exhibited any signs of an intention to resume hostilities; but, should they do so, and turn their attention to that part, it is quite certain the few settlers that are there would have to abandon the place unless the blockhouse was occupied by not less than twenty-five men on pay. I am, however, afraid that if we commence to occupy the blockhouses with small detachments of Militiamen before there has been any overt act of hostility on the part of the Natives of this district, they will take it as a signal for them to do likewise, in the belief that we were preparing for a resumption of general hostilities. I have not put any Natives on pay, as suggested by your Honor, hoping to obtain information without it, as the Natives living on our borders have promised to let me know at once should they hear of any alteration in the state of the late disaffected tribes, in which case further precautionary measures would be necessary. I have, Ac., R. Paeeis, His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. Civil Commissioner.