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G.—9

Mr. J. Haeding to the Hon. the Native Ministee. Sib,— Mount Vernon, 21st July, 1880. I beg to inform you that one of my tenants came to me to-day and informed me that the Natives living on my land at Waipawa came to him this morning and made him leave off ploughing. (He was ploughing in a paddock about half a mile from the pa.) He says that the said Natives also told him that they should now claim all the land east of the railroad. I wish to know what is to be done in the matter : things cannot go on like this much longer ; in fact, the ploughman told me that he will go on with his work in the morning, and if any Native offers to molest him or stop him from ploughing he will knock the Native down. He is a large, heavy, strong man, and I have no doubt will keep his word ; and, as I want this matter settled somehow, I hope he will do so, as the farce of the Sheriff coming and reading the writ and then going away again, leaving the Natives in quiet possession, has made them worse than before. I wish to know whether you will allow Captain Preece to furnish me with a copy of your report in this case, and your offer to the Natives; Mr. Preeco thinks he cannot do so without your authority. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister. John Habding.

The Undee-Seceetabt, Native Department, to Captain G. A. Peeece, E.M., Napier. Sib, Native Office, Wellington, 26th July, 1880. I have the honor to inform you that Mr. Harding, of Mount Vernon, has applied to this office for permission for you to supply him with a copy of the Hon. the Native Minister's memorandum to you in connection with the Native difficulty at Waipawa, and, by direction of Mr. Bryce, to request you will bo good enough to furnish Mr. Harding with a copy of the memorandum in question. I have, &c, T. W. Lewis, Captain G. A. Preece, E.M., Native Agent, Napier. Under-Secretary.

The Undee-Seceetaey, Native Department, to Mr. J. Habding, Waipukurau. Sib,— Native Office, Wellington, 26th July, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st instant, and, in reply, am directed by the Hon. the Native Minister to inform you that, in compliance with your request, instructions have been given to Captain Preece to furnish you with a copy of the memorandum in his possession in connection with the Native difficulty at Waipawa. I have. &c, T. W. Lewis, John Harding, Esq., Mount Vernon, Waipukurau, Hawke's Bay. Under-Secretary.

The Undeb-Seceetaey, Justice Department, to Mr. J. Haeding, Waipawa. Sib, — 14th August. I have the honor, by direction of Mr. Eolleston, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st ultimo relative to the occupation of your land by Natives, aud inquiring whether the sum of £5 paid by you to the Sheriff before the attempt to execute the writ of ejectment can be refunded to you, and, in reply, to inform you that the Government is not responsible for the action taken by the Sheriff in demanding prepayment of the above-named sum. I have, <fee, E. G. Fountain, Mr. J. Harding, Waipawa. Under-Secretary.

Mr. G-. A. Pbeece, E.M., Napier, to the TTndee-Secbetaey, Native Office, "Wellington. (Telegram.) 24th July, 1880. In reply to your's of yesterday, I have been absent at "Wairoa on judicial duty since Tuesday. I telegraphed to Mr. Hamlin on Wednesday to inquire how matters were going on. He replied that the bailiffs were withdrawn, on account of Mr. Harding not authorizing them costs; and as there was nothing being done by the Natives, there was nothing to report. I only just returned from Wairoa, and had no knowledge of the last matter reported in papers. I will proceed to Waipawa by 4.30 train if you think necessary that I should do so. Geobge A. Pbeece, E.M.

Mr. J. Haeding, Waipukurau, to the Hon. the Native Ministee, Wellington. (Telegram.) 24th July, 18S0. Natives have just taken away all the goods of my tenant, McNutt, and a cart of mine, and are now removing McNutt's house ; they threaten to eject another tenant on Monday. Unless you do something immediately, I must arm a force of men for protection of self and tenants. John Haeding.

Mr. G. A. Peeece, Waipawa, to the Undee-Secbetaey, Native Department, Wellington. (Telegram.) 27th July, 1880. I find that the piece of land which McNutt leases from Mr. Harding is a portion of the disputed land, although above the place where Natives stopped Mr. Harding fencing. Natives looked upon the ploughing immediately after withdrawal of bailiff as an attempt to open up old dispute. They say that they merely wish to put a stop to the ploughing ;that they asked him to stop first. lam afraid that the fact of bailiffs being withdrawn has had a bad effect, as they now say Supreme Court officers acknowledge their right. I think they will stop any attempt to plough the land in dispute, but will not interfere with any one occupying that portion of land in dispute which is within Mr. Harding's fence. George A. Pbeece, B.M,