A.—No. 5

(No. 40.) Civil Commissioner's Office, Sic,— Auckland, 6th July, 18G9. I have the honor to forward herewith sundry documents respecting tho Native meeting lately held at Ngaruawahia, Waikato, to which His Excellency the Governor and the rebel chief (or so-called king) Tawhiao were invited by the friendly chief Wiremu te Wheoro. In order to properly understand the question, it will perhaps be as well to give in detail a report of such proceedings as camo under my own immediate notice. During the last twelve months there have been several meetings of Natives at Tokangamutu, and, in consequence of the unsettled state of the Native mind about the miners threatening to take possession of the Ohinemuri District, there has been a constant communication kept up between the Upper Thames and Tauranga Districts and the head-quarters of the King party at Tokangamutu. In April last, a meeting was held at Tokangamutu, to which Wiremu te Wheoro and all the friendly Natives located within the confiscated district of Waikato were invited. I believe this was the first attempt at regaining the confidence of the loyal and neutral Natives. The result of that meeting has never clearly transpired ; my own opinion is that the policy then laid down was, to attempt to draw over to the rebel side all the friendly Natives throughout the Island. Tawhiao issued a proclamation which was very ambiguous in its meaning, as is usually the case with all documents emanating from Tokangamutu. I, however, think it was a mere setting forth of the policy above mentioned. A very prevalent idea among the Hauhaus is, that they could annihilate us if it were not for the assistance we receive from the friendly Natives. They have a much more wholesome dread of our Native allies, when well armed, than they have of either Imperial or Colonial forces. For this and other reasons, and reviewing the whole proceedings of the King party at Tokangamutu since that meeting, I cannot come to any conclusion other than that above stated. Whether their idea, if they succeed in seducing a large portion of the Natives from their allegiance, is to make a general war against the Pakeha or not, is a point which hitherto I have failed in obtaining any information about. The chief Wiremu te Wheoro was present at the meeting at Tokangamutu, and it appears that he there had a conversation with Eewi and Tawhiao. Eewi first said the Governor had sent a letter inviting them to go and see the Queen's son (H.E.H. the Duke of Edinburgh), and that they did not approve of it (or assent). Subsequently Eewi asked Te Wheoro to bring the Prince through Waikato, and not to let him come there b} r way of Taupo —" Bring him through Waikato, so that you can assemble Waikato." Te Wheoro then said, " Let your word be true." Tawhiao said, " I will not consent, but I will consider it this night and for a week ;do not you invite him." Wheoro replied, " How shall I know about your consent?" Tawhiao answered, " I will send a letter." About this time the chiefs Tamihana to Eauparaha and Hohepa Tamaihengia of Ngatitoa arrived from Wellington, in consequence of their having represented to the Government there that the Southern tribes wished them to visit Tokangamutu and other rebel settlements, and endeavour to bring about a peace. Shortly after their arrival they proceeded to Waikato, and at Hangatiki they saw Eewi, who said he had already seen Te Wheoro, and spoken to him. Eewi told Wiremu Patene (W. Barton), who accompanied To Eauparaha and Tamaihengia, "to follow Te Wheoro to Auckland ; the word was for him (Wheoro) to give, and he (Eewi) would go to Ngaruawahia," (or, in fact, that he left it to Te Wheoro to issue the invitation, and he would go to Ngaruawahia). Te Eauparaha and party then returned to Auckland. In the meanwhile Te Wheoro arrived there, and reported the above to the Hon. Dr. Pollen and myself. His statement was confirmed by one made subsequently by Te Eauparaha. Tawhiao then sent fifty men to .Ngaruawahia and a letter to Te Wheoro, saying, "they were going to seethe Prince (H.E.H. Prince Alfred)." Te Wheoro heard this was Tawhiao's assent to come, previously alluded to. The fifty men only stopped about half an hour at Ngaruawahia; during that period they had Hauhau prayers and singing. There are two or three versions of the object of this visit. Another is, that Eewi ordered these men to proceed to Ngaruawahia to build houses to accommodate the Natives who were to attend the meeting at that place. That Manuhiri changed it into a fanatical procession. That if this fifty went to Ngaruawahia and returned unmolested, then another party of fifty or a hundred were to be sent, and on their safe return the whole of the tribes would then proceed there. Another, which is tho view I most incline to, is, that about eighteen months ago it was laid down by the Hauhau prophets, that " if Te Tekaumama could visit Waikato three times unmolested, then, by some means or other, the confiscated lands would be restored to them." The first visit was made. A woman, carrying a sacred spear, and accompanied by two or three other persons, walked through all our settlements at Waikato. Her duty was "to inspect the yard," or, in other words, spy out the nakedness of the land. The second was likewise carried out. I met this party at Whangamarino. Their duty was "to sweep out the yard," as reported in my letter of 2nd August, 18G8, No. 97. The visit of the third party was to be " the final sealing." I have conversed with many friendly Natives on the subject of the fifty men coming to Ngaruawahia, and none of them can satisfactorily account for it. The Hauhau Natives give either the second or the last version of it. It probably lays between the two. Eewi actually wished them to

FiV/e Enclosure A.

F.rfe Enclosureß.

Vide Enclosureß.

Enclosure C.

F.cfe Enclosure B.

Vide Enclosure L.

Vide my Beport of Aug. 2,1868.

J^eEnelosureD., au(iNotes.hereon.

REPORT BY MR. COMMISSIONER MACKAY, RELATIVE TO A MEETING AT NGARUAWAHIA.