A.—No. IS,

REPORTS RELATIVE TO NEGOTIATIONS

4

July 23rd, the day fixed for the surrender of the rebels, was very wet. On seeing Mr. Rice, I expressed my dissatisfaction at the manner in which the peace proposals or negotiations had been conducted. Some discussion ensued between Mr. Rice, Mr. Baker, and myself, about the proper course to be pursued in taking the surrender of rebels. Mr. Rice then requested mo to go with him to see Colonel Greer. I objected, as I had not been asked for my advice. Mr. Rice pressed me to do it. I then consented, thinking it advisable that Colonel Greer should be informed of the intelligence conveyed by Te Amohau and others. Feeling it to be an imperative duty to see that the Government were not in any way compromised, or the Natives deceived into a peace, and considering also that as many of the Natives belonged to my district, it was my duty to see that they distinctly understood the terms on which they surrendered, or I might hereafter be blamed for not having interfered in their behalf, I then accompanied Mr. Rice to the residence of Colonel Greer. After some unimportant conversation, Colonel Greer asked me whether I thought the present peace movement a good one ? I replied, "It might be good if it rested on a good foundation. The Natives did not all appear to understand that the lands of rebels were forfeited, and I thought it should be explained to them." Colonel Greer said he thought they understood it. I recommended that the Proclamation of the 2nd February, 18G4, No. 8, should be read to them and thoroughly explained before any surrender was accepted. Also, that each man should make a declaration of allegiance and receive a certificate. Colonel Greer objected to this course, and after a lengthened argument on both sides, and finding that Colonel Greer had plans of his own which he adhered to, and expressed himself about with great hauteur —also, that he treated my suggestions with contempt —I retired from the discussion not any better satisfied about the afi'air being conducted in a proper manner. Mr. Rice asked me to accompany him to Otumoetai, to explain the terms of surrender to the Natives there. I agreed to do so. Colonel Greer came to Mr. Rice's tent and asked me to permit; Mr. Rice to go alone. I consented. Next day, Sunday, 24th July, found that Mr. Rico had not been in his tent all night. For the first time heard that, on his return from Otumoetai, he had crossed over Tauranga Harbour to visit some Natives there. From Mr. Rice's statement, that all the Natives he had seen knew the terms, I did not imagine it necessary for him to go there, but supposed the principal object of his visit to Otumoetai was to see the Ngare and others of Te Amohau's people, whom he had not previously met. Being desirous of hearing something more about the object of the visit of Taraia's people at Tauranga, and also wishing to judge a little for myself what the Natives thought of the war, &c, I requested Mr. Baker and Rawiri te Ua to accompany me to the friendly Natives' pa at Matapihi, where two Queen's flags were hoisted on high fiag-staft's. "We first went to the house of a settler named Black, well acquainted with the Natives. He informed us that at the commencement of the war Hori Ngatai and Tupaea had taken seventy kegs of powder from Mayor and Flat Islands. The conversation having turned to the Thames Natives, Mr. Black informed me he knew the most of the men who had been with Taraia and Hira. I asked him if he would at his leisure oblige me by making a list of them, which he very kindly promised to do. Thence we went to the Matapihi Pa, where we found several Natives. No rebels were pointed out to me. I saw some twenty Natives, who it was said had previously surrendered. I did not however make very particular inquiry, as I was informed that the main body of rebels were at a pa named Hairini, about two miles above Mangatapu. One of the Natives asked Mr. Baker whether he had a narrow escape of being shot at Te Ranga ? Mr. Baker answered " Yes, a rifle bullet went close by my head." The Native observed, "I fired at you." Another Native also said he had fired at Mr. Baker, supposing him to be the Colonel, from the fact of his being mounted on the only white horse there. It was also stated that "If there had been more daylight at the Gate Pa the Maoris would have killed the whole of the Pakehas. Night favoured the Pakeha." I replied, "It is a great pity you ran away in the night, for if you had remained till next morning you would have had plenty of daylight to fight in." The Native rejoined, " Tes, but our earthworks had given way." I said, " Then of what use would the daylight have been to you ?" "We then left the house, and found that Major Colville, Adjutant Covey, and another officer (name unknown to me), were in the pa having a friendly chat with the Natives. Myself and party then left, and I proposed that we should go to Mangatapu, as I felt a little curiosity to ascertain whether the Natives there would launch out in the same strain as their fellows at Matapihi. We agreed not to go near the Hairini Pa, as we did not wish to interfere with the rebels. Oil arriving at Mangatapu we found Mr. Rice had just arrived, and was busily engaged in talking to some of Maihi Pohepohe's people, who had recently come in. A woman told Mr. Baker (who was sitting beside me on a canoe) that it was not at all certain that these Natives would go into the camp to surrender (kei te huri ite whakaaro). Here again we found three officers (names unknown to me) who were trying a canoe which they had proposed to purchase from the Natives. Either Mr. Rice or Wi Patene (I did not notice which, as my attention was directed another way at the time) read Colonel Grey's form of agreement. Shortly after I saw "Wi Patene with the document in his hand commencing to harangue the Natives to the following effect: — Listen—All Ngaitcrangi have signed this paper, and you all ought to do the same. They have given up the mana (sovereignty, not possession) of the land to the Governor, and have signed their names without any discussion about the land (kahore i hamumu te waha mo te whenua). Some desultory conversation ensued, and the Natives evidently did not seem to properly understand the question. I therefore stepped up to Mr. Rice and said, " Why, they do not understand it, and that fellow Patene is misleading them." Mr. Rice replied, "I do not know whether they will surrender or not; I have had no previous communication with these people." Seeing the affair was not properly explained, and desiring to set it in a proper light before them, I proceeded to say —They were not compelled to surrender unless they pleased. There were two roads open for them to select: if they desired peace, well; if they preferred war, the thought was for them. (Erua nga ara, ma Koutou c pai kite kohounga rongo, c pai ana. Xi te pai koutou kite whawhai kia koutou te whakaaro.) I then was interrupted by Wi Patene, who tried to pervert what I had said as follows: There are two roads: if you like peace, well; if not, go and fight. The rebel Natives seemed rather anxious