A.—No. 13,

24

PAPEBS RELATIVE TO NATIVE

their boundary, which they must not cross, was at Waipingau, a deep gully about midway in the White Cliffs, a mile from the Pukearuhe Block-house. This declaration of a line of demarcation, involves the question of the rightful ownership to the Poutama District, which for many years has been held by Ngatimaniapoto by right of conquest, but did originally belong to the Ngatitamas. I have, &c, R. Paeeis, The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 42. Copy of a Letter from Mr. R. Paeeis to Mr. G. S. Coopee. (No. 8.) Sic, — New Plymouth, 4th January, 1869. I have the honor to report, for the information of His Excellency's Government, that when I was at Patea in November last, I arranged for the Natives living at Matangarara and Waohena (between Manawapou and Waingongoro), those of the Tangahoe Tribe who refused to join Titokowaru and stuck to Hone Pihama and Natanahira, to remove to Oeo, Hone Pihama's place, in order to avoid appearances of complicity and danger when the forces return to that district to carry on operations against Titokowaru. Those Natives, lam now informed, have all arrived at Oeo, to leave the district clear for aggressive operations. I herewith enclose a letter I have received from Martha, wife of Natanahira. I have also offered the Natives of Te Kanae, under Manaia (Wiremu Hukanui), to come there, and am informed that they intend doing so, but I have not as yet heard of their arrival. I have promised them to recommend the Government to give instructions to the forces not to destroy their crops at those places, as they will require them for their own maintenance. I have, &., R. Paeeis, The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 43. Copy of a Letter from Mr. J. Booth to the Hon. the Native Ministee. Sic, — Wanganui, 22nd December, 1868. I have the honor to forward herewith copy of a letter which I have deemed it my duty to send to Lieut.-Colonel Lyon, relative to Natanahira Ngahina. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. James Booth, R.M.

Enclosure in No. 43. Copy of a Letter from Mr. J. Booth to Lieut.-Colonel Lton. Sib, — Wanganui, 21st December, 1868. I have the honor to call your attention to an article in the Wanganui Evening Herald, of the 19th instant, in which the Editor, who is, I understand, a commissioned officer in the Wanganui Cavalry, holds out certain threats against a Native named Ngahina and against his people, who are now living on the other side of the Manawapou. I have the honor to state for your information that Ngahina is a friendly Native, and that he has been loyal to the Queen since the beginning of the year 1866 ; that for the last eighteen months he has been carrying the Queen's mail between Taranaki and Patea, which during a part of that time has been a disturbed district; that when he was taken prisoner by Titokowaru's people at Matangarara, he refused to join that cannibal and murderer, and succeeded in separating himself and about twenty of his people, including women and children, from the Hauhaus, and has since that time, over two months, been living on his own land at the fishing village of Waokena, with the knowledge and consent of the Government. The village in question is on the sea coast, and at least four miles in a direct line from the bush and from any road traversed by the Hauhaus. I may mention, in conclusion, that the chief Ngahina is a man of some importance, and if he is killed in the way threatened, the whole of the Taranaki Natives will at once rise. I need hardly add that threats of this nature are sure to come to the ears of the Natives, and the natural consequence is mistrust and suspicion against the Government. I have, &c, Lieut.-Colonel Lyon, Commanding Patea Field Force, James Booth, R.M. Wanganui.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 43. Inquibt.—" Captain" Booth is fossicking about, we are informed, trying to obtain evidence relating to the killing of the two Hauhaus on Tuesday. He will not have much trouble in eliciting the truth, if he does not get all he would desire. If he will only come to our office, he shall at once have a full and particular account of the incidents and circumstances of the affair. But, first of all, let us ask what business it is of Mr. Booth's? The cavalry have always professed that they would kill every male Maori they came across on the other side of the Kai Iwi, unless there was some proof that he was a