A.—No. 17,

42

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE

The Government concur in your proposals, and rely upon you to carry them out; and with regard to that portion of your report relative to the employment of the Constabulary, I am to inform you that Mr. M'Lean has .approved your suggestion, and will authorize the payment of one shilling a day to such men of the Constabulary as are employed in the construction of the roads. I have, (fee, His Honor J. D. Ormond, St. John Branioan, General Government Agent, Napier. Acting Under Secretary.

No. 99. Copy of a Letter from His Honor J. D. Obsiond to the Hon. W. Gisborne. Sir,— Napier, 27th September, 1869. I have the honor to inform you that, on being advised by the Hon. the Defence; Minister that Mr. Locke's services had been secured by the Government and were available, I sent that gentleman to visit the Natives of the Taupo district, and accredited him to them as the officer who for the future would visit their district regularly and acquaint them with the views and wishes of the Government. I requested Mr. Locke to visit the different settlements, and acquaint himself with the feelings of the Natives, particularly at Tapuaehamru, from which place some complaints had reached me. The general object of Mr. Locke's visit was to assure the friendly natives of Taupo that the Government would countenance and support them by every means in its power, and to encourage them to hold their own against Te Kooti or other enemies. Mr. Locke returned here last Friday, having seen nearly all the Taupo natives, from the leading men of whom he brought letters expressing their great satisfaction at his being the officer selected to communicate with them. The general tone of the Taupo natives is very satisfactory, and I gather from Mr. Locke that should the operations now in progress against Te Kooti prove', as I trust they will, successful, or should he even be only driven out of the district, the natives on the west side of Taupo Lake, who are now holding aloof, will be only too glad to come over to our side and avail themselves of any employment on road works which we may have to give them. I have already authority from the Honorable the Defence Minister to expend some money on. the Taupo Road, and I shall take advantage of the present favorable state of the natives to engage them upon it directly a cessation of the present active hostilities will permit of it. From a, letter from the Chief Poihipi, of Tapuaeharuru, I learn that the road-making idea, if I may so call it, is likely to spread through the Taupo District, and not only is the call 1 made for men to work on the road from here to Taupo responded to, but Poihipi desires to be allowed to open the road between Tapuaeharuru and Tauranga, and says he can obtain the services of a portion of the Ngaiterangi natives, who are at present far from reliable, but who could be kept out of mischief by employment upon useful works. The line of road Poihipi refers to is out of the district assigned to my agency ; but I feel so strongly that the, true policy of the Government is to employ the native people wherever possible in the formation of main roads that will open up the country, that I have not hesitated to bring the subject to your notice. I have replied to Poihipi's letter that the Government will communicate with him at an early date upon the subject he has opened. "Very good results have attended Mr. Locke's first official visit to Taupo, and the Government may rely I will do all in my power to promote and extend the present satisfactory relations that exist with the Taupo natives. I have &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, J. D. Ormond. Wellington.

No. 100. Copy of a Letter from His Honor J. D. Ormond to the Hon. Mr. Gisborne. Sir,— Napier, Ist October, 1869. I have the honor to enclose a copy of Mr. Locke's report of his late visit to Taupo, the results of which I have communicated to you in former letters. I also enclose translation of a letter from the Chief Poihipi Tukairangi which shows the favourable feeling of the natives of the interior of the country to have the same opened by roads, and their desire to assist in making them. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, J. D. Ormond. Wellington.

Enclosure 1 in No. 100. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Locke, R.M., to His Honor J. D. Ormond. q IR) Napier, 27th September, 1869. In accordance with instructions received from the Hon. the Defence Minister by telegram dated 9th September, and subsequently from you by letter dated 14th Sejitember, I proceeded to Taupo for the purpose of communicating with the native chiefs of that district and to assure them of the desire of the Government to afford them such countenance and support as is in its power, and to confer with them on the state of their district, and their wishes and requirements ; also to endeavour to arrange with the native proprietors of the Kaimanawa Ranges, so as to open up that country for mining and gold digging ojierations. I started from Napier on the 15th instant, and proceeded by way of Runanga to Tapuaeharum (Poihipi's Pa at outlet of Taupo Lake); from thence I went by the east shore of the lake to Tokano, and on to Rotoaira. The friendly natives of the district having all collected for the present at one or other