CORRESPONDENCE RELATING

A.—No. 16

12

arrangements were that that portion of the confiscated block not taken by the Government, should be returned with Government certificate to those loyal chiefs who fought for us at the Wairoa. That arrangement has not yet been carried out. It is very desirable that a matter which has now been pending over throe years should be settled without further delay. At Mohaka I found the Natives hard at work endeavouring to repair, as far as possible, the fearful damages done by the Hauhaus. As the enemy destroyed all their crops, they have nothing to eat, and are obliged to borrow seeds from other tribes for this year's planting. I told them I should ask the Government to send them a few potatoes for seed, which I trust will be allowed. Prom the lengthened period over which the war has been going on, and from the fearful tragedies that have taken place on the East Coast, both the European and the Maori generally in the disturbed districts have become thoroughly unsettled, and have abandoned, excepting sufficient for bare subsistence, the cultivation of their land and the improvement of their property; and until a feeling of security from the attacks of the Urewera and other inland tribes is felt, I see little hopes of much progress being made. But if these mountain tribes were brought under such rule that outsettlers could feel safe from their raids, the country could be opened up by roads, and a good overland communication established between Turanga, Opotiki, Wairoa, and other places ; on which and on other public works, Native labour could be employed to great advantage ; and by so doing stimulate them to the arts of peace, and attract their thoughts from warlike pursuits. In conclusion I beg to state that on the whole I found the state of the native mind satisfactory ; but owing to the heavy losses sustained by them and the Europeans all along the coast, some time must necessarily elapse before they settle down again quietly to their agricultural pursuits, and the resources of the districts be fully developed. I have, &c, The Agent of the General Government, S. Locke. East Coast.

Sub-Enclosure 1 in No. 9. Oketopa 12, 1869. E hoa c Te Makahini, — Tena Koe. He kupu tenei naku ki a koe mo toku piihi i Waerengahika i roto i te piihi i tukua kite Kawanatanga, Te take i tono ai ahau ki a koe, he marama no taua piihi; i tono hoki a Te Akitini ki au kia hoatu taua piihi ki a ia, kihai au i whakaae tae noa kite ra i tukua atu ai c matou a Wahanui, ate Muhunga ki ate Akitini, na ko taua piihi kihai au i whakaae. Te kupu o te runanga nana i hoatu te piihi ki a ia c rima mano kite nuku ake ka hoki mai etahi eka, ki te iti iho ka hoatu ano kia rite ano kite rima mano. Na ko tenei kua nuku ake nga eka c rima mano c toru rave iwa tekau. Na, ka haere au ki a te Akitini kia homai ki au te toru rau te iwa tekau eka, kihai ia i whakaae mai. Mua tata atu, ko tana kupu tenei ki au, kaore c pa tona ringa ki taua piihi ki au tonu taua piihi, kei aia te whakaaro, no reira ka whakaae au kia tukua kite Kooti. Na ko tenei mau c whakahoki mai ki au te toru rau te iwa tekau eka no te mea hoki ko koe to matou matua inaianei. E hoa he tokomaha nga tangata c mohio ana ki ena korero. Ko Waere tetahi Kate (pirihi), ko te Kereama ko nga tangata hoki tenei nana i whakarite taua piihi i tukua nei ki a te Akitini. E hoa kia tere to whakahoki mai i taku reta. Xi a Te Makarini. Na Wi Pere.

[translation.] Eriend Mr, McLean— October 12th, 1869. Salutations to you. This is my word to you respecting my piece of land at Waerengahika within the piece ceded to the Government. The reason I ask it of you is that that piece is so clear, and Mr. Atkinson asked me to give up that piece to him. I did not agree up to the day we gave up Wahanui and Te Muhunga to Mr. A-tkinson. But that piece I did not agree to. The word of the runanga who gave up the piece of land (was) five thousand acres ; should it be over, the balance was to be handed back, so as to make the even five thousand acres ; should it be less it was to be made up to the five thousand acres. Now, it has exceeded the five thousand acres by three hundred and ninety. I then went to Mr. Atkinson to give to me the three hundred and ninety acres, and he did not consent: shortly before his word was to me "he would not put hands on that piece." I left it to his decision, and therefore I consented to let it pass the Court. Now (I look) to you to return me the three hundred and ninety acres, in that you are our parent at the present time. Eriend, there were several who were aware of the circumstance —Mr. Wyllie is one, Scott (policeman), and Mr. Graham. These are also the people who were concerned in the settling of that piece which was ceded to Mr. Atkinson. Eriend, make haste and answer this my letter. Erom Wi Pere. To Mr. McLean.

Sub-Enclosure 2 in No. 9. Wairoa, Oketopa 15, 1869. Xi nga Rangatira o Ngatikurupakiaka. E hoa ma, ko tenei kua oma tetahi tangata i roto ite whare-herehere i te Wairoa ki to koutou kainga, ko tona ingoa ko Waata. Ko tenei ma koutou c whakahoki mai taua tangata, akuanei ma koutou ma nga Rangatira c manaaki ana i te Ture kei raruraru tenei kainga. Na to koutou hoa, Na Raka.