AND NATIVE MATTERS AT THE THAMES.

5

A.—No. 19.

No. 4 The Hon. D. McLean to Mr. E. W. Pucket. Sir,— Auckland, 27th October, 1869. I have to request that you will be good enough to visit Ohinemuri at your earliest convenience. In the first place, you are desired, in all your communications with the Natives, to keep alive in their minds the interest the Government feel in the beneficial opening up of the district for goldmining purposes, and that it is their earnest wish that this should be done on the most favourable terms to the Native proprietors, as well as the benefit of the Europeans; that the Government is determined, as far as lies in its power, to prevent any aggressions on the part of the Europeans. You are, in the second place, to impress upon those Europeans who, if the Government is rightly informed, are keeping alive a feeling of irritation in the minds of those Natives who are opposed to the opening up of the Ohinemuri District by hanging about the forbidden ground, that they thus protract for an indefinite period the negotiations already initiated by the Government. You will also indicate, without using any threat, that they are liable to a penalty under the fifth clause of " The Gold Pields Act, 1868 ;" and that it would be much better for their interest, and the interest of the diggers and public at large, to move away altogether from that part of the district for a time, so as to alloAv the disturbed feelings of the Natives to settle down, and give the Government a fair opportunity of carrying out its negotiations with success. I rely on your coolness and judgment in carrying out this delicate mission. You will be particularly guarded to speak and act temperately to both Europeans and Natives, and not to pledge the Government to anything upon which you have any doubt on your mind. I have, &c, E. W. Puckey, Esq., Donald McLean. Native Agent, Thames District.

No. 5. Mr. E. W. Pucket to the Hon. D. McLean. (No. 18-2.) Civil Commissioner's Office, Sic, — Auckland, 4th November, 1869. I have the honor to inform you that, in accordance with instructions contained in your letter of the 27th ultimo, I proceeded to Ohinemuri, for the purpose of endeavouring to persuade the diggers up there to remove altogether for a time from that part of the country. The object of my visit was made known to Te Hira shortly after my arrival, who signified his approval, and next morning sent his sister, Mere Kuru, to ask me not only to send off the diggers encamped at the landing-place at Thorpe's, and up the Ohinemuri Steam at Paeroa (within a mile of Te ITira's house), but to spare no pains to drive off those who were prospecting for gold in the ranges. I told Mere Kuru that, as no one knew Avhere the diggers in the hills might be, it would be of no use my attempting to follow and find them out, but I would Avrite a letter, and, if I could find any one to take it, would send it to them. She left, observing that now Avas my time to deal with the diggers ;if they paid no attention, the Hauhaus would take the matter into their own hands. A short time after Mere Kuru left, I started for Te Paeroa, where there is a public house, kept by one Andrews. Near this place was pitched a digger's tent. Only one of the party being present, I decided on visiting the party again later in the day. I accordingly returned in the afternoon, when I met the diggers, and, after a good deal of talking, I got them to agree to remove, if those down the river at Thorpe's would leave also, adding, that if one party would not go, the other party would not go either. I omitted to say that, on my Avay to see the diggers the second time, I found two men waiting for me, Avho told me it Avas the wish of Te Hira to hear with his OAvn ears, from myself, the result of my interview Avith the diggers, as he himself had been out the day previously Avarning them to remove, and he felt they might possibly do him a serious bodily injury. I told them I would see Te Hira, and tell him. Later in the evening, therefore, I went to Te Hira's house, where I found him sitting with a considerable number of influential chiefs, amongst others of whom were Tukukino, Tarapipipi Te Kopara, Pineaha Wharekowhai, and Mataia. As I Avas coming, they welcomed me in the usual Maori manner. Te Hira rising, advanced before them all, and shook me Avarmly by the hand. I shook hands with them all round, and they placed a mat for me to sit down upon. I sat down, and, after the usual silence for a minute or two, was asked what I had to say. I told them that the object of my present visit Avas to see the diggers, and endeavour to persuade them to remove from the district: that I had seen the party at Te Paeroa, and that they were willing to remove, but as for those in the ranges, I was not able myself to go and find them. Tarapipipi Te Kopara rose and told me they intended holding a meeting on the following morning, and expressed a strong Avish that I should be present, adding, that it Avas also the Avish of Te Hira, who desired to have an opportunity of telling me his views as to the diggers who were stealing his gold. I told them I would stop and hear all they had to say, but that, as they Avere no doubt discussing some questions of importance, I would leave them for the present. The meeting was to take place next morning at 8 o'clock. At an early hour, therefore, on the following morning the Natives all assembled in the house known as "Te Pai o Hauraki," and, after Hauhau prayers, the business, for the discussion of which the meeting was specially convened, was introduced by Tarapipipi Te Kopara, who expressed himself as very much pleased at seeing me there to meet them in their runanga-house. There was a time, he said, Avhen they had decided upon the total exclusion of the Pakeha from their meetings, but since that time a totally different change of affairs had taken place, and they Avere glad to welcome the Pakeha. I was a stranger to them, and they were strangers to me. He had heard that I had come to take the diggers away; concluding his brief remarksby asking me to tell the meeting if such were the case. 2