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Hon. J. Sheehax, Wellington. Whanganui, 22nd September, 1878. People h<we are not alarmed; newspaper reports say it is a private murder, not connected surveys. S. Goodall, Sub-Inspector.

Major Brown, CO, Wellington. Patea, 22nd September, 1878. Constable Hynes, who knows Hiroki, telegraphed description to Commissioner, Wellington. Hit-oki is supposed to have gone in direction of Taupo or Waikato. I have communicated with Captaiu AVilson, Hawera, and Captain Kenny, New Plymouth. C. A. AVhay.

Hon. J. Sheehan, AVellington. Patea, 22nd September, 1878. The death of John McLean was supposed by surveyors to have resulted from his having accidentally slipped and impaled himself on a stake whilst drawing water out of Moumahaki Creek, and evidence of murder did not transpire till after post mortem examination yesterday, when bullet was extracted. Hence affair was not reported earlier. The murder was committed during absence of survey party from camp. Deceased being cook, and alone in charge, no evidence throwing light on perpetrator elicited from survey party at inquest beyond the fact that some weeks previously there had been a slight quarrel with Natives about pigs and a dog which a European of the party charged Hiroki with stealing; the evidence given against Hiroki was merely hearsay, and to the effect that he had been heard to say (not by the witness) some time previously that he would kill Murdoch McLean, a brother of the deceased, and further, that some Natives had stated to witness's mother that Hiroki had told them that he had gone to the survey camp on the 19th, and had quarrelled with the cook, who had fired at him, and that he (Hiroki) had returned the fire, and shot McLean dead. lam of opinion that the deed, if committed by the Native at all, is without any political significance, and was not done with the intention of obstructing the survey, but was probably the act of an individual, actuated by personal motives, and carried out without the approval or consent of the tribe. Nothing further has transpired, but lam in communication with the police, and will telegraph as soon as I receive report. Hiroki is known personally to Constable Hynes, who has warrant out for his apprehension, and who has telegraphed description of Hiroki to District Officer, New Plymouth, aud to Chief Office, AVellington. Hiroki is reported to have made his escape to King country. C. A. Wray.

Major Scannell, Taupo. Wellington, 22nd September, 1878. A man named McLean, cook of a survey party at Moumahaki, AVaitotara, has been murdered, supposed to be by a Native named Hiroki, who is stated to have fled in the direction of the King country. Please keep a sharp look-out, and let me know the moment you receive any information. John Sheehan.

R. W. Woon, Esq., P.M., Whanganui. AVellington, 23rd September, 1878. You are at liberty to do anything which you may think desirable in order to procure the arrest of the supposed murderer. John Sheehan.

Hon. J. Sheehan, Native Minister. AVaitotara, 24th September, 1878. Pihama anxiously awaiting reply. Natives much grieved about iate murder, and will render utmost assistance in apprehending Hiroki if you forward instructions that effect through Pihama John T. Blake.

Paiaka, Native Office, Wellington. Whanganui, 23rd September, 1878. A European has been murdered at Moumahaki. The police are after the murderer. It will be good if he be caught and hanged. E. AV. AVoon, E.M.

Richard Woon, Esq., R.M., Whanganui. AVellington, 23rd September, 1878. Tou are at liberty to do anything which you may think desirable in order to procure the arrest of the supposed murderer. John Sheehan.

[leanslations.] Ho^e Pxhama, Whangauui. Wellington, 22nd September, 1878. The Ngarauru will meot me to-day at my house. The object of their meeting is to repudiate any complicity on their part in the murder of the European who was killed at Moumahaki. With regard to Hiroki, they say that he ia not a Ngarauru, and that there was no question affecting the land to cause that murder. Now, I think that the Pakaraka people should meet, and that they ought to repudiate any cornplicitv in the murder. This will then put matters clear between the Europeans and the Natives. The telegraph offices are now open at Wellington, Whanganui, Waitotara, Patea, Waverley, Opunake. If you hear news, wire to me. John Sheehan.

Wellington, 22nd September, 1878. Te Hueitatj Hueutaea, Papatupu, Waitotara, Telegraph to me all that you know about the murder of the European —the cook of the surveyors at Papatupu. Johx Sheehan.

Aperahama Tamaipaeea, Waitotara. Wellington, 23rd September, 1878. Friend, we have had a meeting at Wellington about the European who is dead. We want the man apprehended. AVe have selected for that purpose Wirihana, Huritau, Moetapapa, Heremaia, and Ngawini. AVe hope that they will use their best endeavours to catch him. Do you tell them to