A.—No. 21

CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT

14

No. 35. Hamana Tiakiwai to the Hon. Mr. M'Lean. To Mr. M'Lean, Minister for the affairs of New Zealand, — Wairoa, Ist January, 1870. Salutations to you : you, whose work is that of devising means by which the people shall live. We have received your letter, giving an account of your visit to Waikato. I have seen that you have been to that country. Your address to the Waikato (King's party) is a good one, but theirs in reply, was not clear to us, or frank and candid. I gather from the manner of their speaking, that this peojile will return to their evil doings, since the reply they made to your address was not straightforward or to the point. I take this from the word spoken by Bewi to this effect—That, if Te Kooti made his appearance within his district in a quiet manner, he (Bewi) would not molest him. The interpretation I put on this is, that he will permit him to go abroad undisturbed, as a bold enemy against both Europeans and Natives. Another word of Bewi's was this : Allow us to remain as we are,—"Let the sun continue to shine, and the rain to fall upon us" (in the disposition that we now are). I interpreted this thus—That he was not willing to listen to or be guided by your advice. This finishes my reply to that portion, of your letter. This is another subject about which. lam now going to address you. It is with reference to those Natives who have been taken to Wellington for the purpose of being tided—l mean Tamararo and Hamiora. Should one of them be condemned, it will be right that he should suffer for his crime. On the other hand, if one is spared, let him be sent back direct to me. Let him not go into any other district ;it was I that sent him; let him return to me here, at tho Wairoa. Hamana Ti aki wa i .

No. 36. The Hon. Mr. M'Lean to Henare. Friend Henare, — Auckland, Bth January, 1870. I have duly received your letter of the 7th of December, and have read its contents, which appeal- to me to be clear and satisfactory. Now, my friend, these ideas and thoughts are not mine alone; they are the result of our joint aud united deliberations, and to you, the chiefs, is due the credit of supporting the laws, which protect alike the white man and the Maori. The thought is, on your part, a great and good one, which seeks to put down those who commit murder and bring trouble upon the country. When this is accomplished, then indeed will peace be fairly established. Hence it is that what I have said is true, viz., "That this is a joint act of ours," to the end that peace may be firmly established throughout the land. Your friend, To Henare. Donald M'Lean.

No. 37. Ngatai Buinca to the Hon. Mr. M'Lean. To Mr. M'Lean,— 10th January, 1870. Friend, salutations to you. My address to you is this—it is with reference to the acquisition of Ohinemuri: Let there be no delay. I pay but little regard to the opposition made by To Hira. The pieces of hind which are now held in your hands are mine in my own right. On the day that you reached Ohinemuri you saw that the majority of the Natives were on my side ; that is to say, on the side which is willing to give up the management of tho gold into yours and Mr. Clarke's hands. The reason for this proposal of mine arises from the fact that I am an orphan, a widower, and poor; hence it is that lam in search of a benefactor or friend. I therefore have reasoned thus—This is a new year ;so is this a neio arrangement for the land. Now, therefore, Mr. M'Lean, you become my friend, and I will become your follower. Friend, there is an example before us : Shortland is a gold field ; out of the opposition that there w-as, two chiefs took their own course, viz., Taipari and Hauauru, and why was.it? Because they had advisers, and their instructor was Mackay. Therefore have I said within myself, how shall I come out from darkness so as to benefit by the light? Ngatai Buinga.

No. 38. Manuwhiri to the Hon. Mr. M'Lean. Air. M'Lean, — Te Kuiti, 13th January, 1870. Salutations to you. I have received your letter with reference to the money (two hundred pounds) rent of my lands at Mangere and at Pukapuka. Now, Mr. M'Lean, hear you. Dr. Purchas was the person who induced me to rent these lands, and I, not understanding these sort of things, gave my consent. About one year and a.half had elapsed when I came away. Some of the rents I had up to this time received, and some I did not receive up to the time the war began; and I left to come here and share the fate of my people. Mr. George Graham was the first jierson with whom I talked over this matter. He said to me, " Your lands at Mangere and Te Pukapuka I will take care that the Government shall never, never take from you,"