P.—No. 3a

16

FURTHER REPORTS EROM

though not permitted to return as soon as they wished, they were kindly treated, and Eewi shook hands with them all before they left. On the 22nd instant we left Te Kuiti; Eewi, Tawhiao, and all his family travelling with us to Orahiri, and this morning early they came down to Otorohanga, and saw us embark for this place. A large party of Hauhaus will commence immediately to plant at Te Kopua, in anticipation of the great meeting which it is understood will be held here or in this neighbourhood about March next. The Kupapas also are anxious to plant on a piece of land belonging to Hone Te One, and I would suggest that Government supply them with as much seed as they are prepared to put in the ground. A deputation of five men go with the invitations to Ngapuhi; they will in all probability be accompanied to Auckland by Te Wheoro. I think that it would be well to assist these men on their way to the North, and if the invitations are responded to by some of the best of the Ngapuhi chiefs, their visit to Te Kuiti may be turned to good account. I was rather surprised to find Hauhauism still holding its own ; it is very possible though that it was made the more prominent as a means of showing us their devotion to Tawhiao, for the service now consists, in addition to the old string of English words and phrases, of a number of short prayers that the " Atua would shield and prosper (whakamoemiti) Tawhiao." I estimated the numbers assembled at Te Kuiti at eleven or twelve hundred, but there were scarcely any from Aotea, Kawhia, or Mokau, and not more than forty of the Hauhau Ngatihau, from about Wharepapa and Maungatautare ; Ngatiraukawa were hardly represented at all, and there were no people from Taupo or Whanganui. The country appears to be thickly populated ; numbers of small villages being visible from every hill top, potatoes and pigs abundant, and the people as healthy looking and well clad as the average of friendly tribes. Of the Kupapa chiefs, Te Wheoro, or Te Morehu, as they call him, has by far the most influence with the King party. He is both respected and esteemed by them, and is, I think, entitled to great praise for the ability and judgment displayed by him in his dealings with the Hauhaus. Hone Te One, too, has some weight with them. In conclusion, I would remark that this visit to Te Kuiti has done more good than the most sanguine of our party ever anticipated. It is very evident that a change for the better is taking place, and I am confident that so favorable an opportunity as that now offered for coming to some satisfactory arrangement with these people has never presented itself hitherto. I have, &c, W. G. Maie, Official Correspondent.

No. 13. B. F. J. Edwabds, Interpreter, Constabulary Force, to Lieut.-Colonel Lyon. Sic,— ' Hamilton, 26th September, 1872. I have the honor to state for your information, the proceedings and result of the great meeting held at Tokangamutu on the 17th instant. The party of friendly Natives to which I was attached, numbered about 150, including men and women, led by the chiefs Wi Te Wheoro, Hone Te One, Wi Patene, Te Awaitaia, Eatina, Te Wetini, Hakiriwhi, Te Eaihi, Eihia, Hamiora, and Mohi, entered Tokangamutu on Sunday, 17th instant, and were greeted with a very hearty welcome by over 1,500 people, in the usual Native custom. A party of about 260 young men, armed with double-barrel guns, were in attendance, as a guard of honor to Tawhiao. After the crying, in which Tawhiao, Te Paea, Eewi, Manuwhiri, Ti Kaokao, Takerei, Eeihana, Wahanui, and other great chiefs of the Hauhau party took part, the usual formal speeches were made by Eewi, Eeihana, Ti Kaokao, and Manuwhiri—expressing their love for the Waikatos, and wish to be united again. I must particularly draw your attention to the very affecting oration delivered by the most influential and leading chief Manuwhiri. I will endeavor to give the translation, and the implications taken from it by some friendly chiefs. " Flow in, 0 tide, swell this river, Here I stand, with paddle in hand, Eeady to be wafted away by south wind. The anger of Kowhaki was short — It was but a momentary pulsation ; The flame within burns for thee Who enters our house below." The meanings given by the chiefs are these: —Our going up is the tide ; he is ready to return to his old residence ; the bitter feeling that existed for pakeha is extinguished ; and lastly, his love for the unity of the Waikato tribes under the law. After Manuwhiri's song, the Hauhau chiefs adjourned to Tawhiao's house ; in the meantime, the assemblage went through the various forms of the war dance, and presentation of food, which lasted till night. 18th—After going through the war dance and various hakas, Eewi came forward and said :— " This is a day of grievance ; I am going to express the bitter feeling I had towards the pakeha and Kupapa. If I say anything which may hurt your feelings I hope you will pardon me. This is a day of porangi. I must let out the venom I had against you. To-morrow will be the day of talk about the great object of this meeting." He then commenced by denouncing Te Wheoro, because he helped the pakeha to take Waikato. At this stage of his speech he got very excited, and said our entering Te Kuiti was a prelude to taking the country from them. Wahanui, Tikaokao, and Takerei followed in like manner. The remaining part of the day was devoted to various amusements, in which Eewi took a prominent part. Tawhiao occasionally came amongst us, and spoke freely to the friendly chiefs, an action which he was never known to have done on former occasions.