G.—4

2

Mr. Wallace states the blinds and stove-lid were in an open case lying amongst some building material; some other articles, such as empty coffee tins, pieces of old iron, &c, in the box were not stolen. The case was found in the scrub about fifty yards from the house, but nothing but the blinds and stove-lid stolen. Mr. Wallace states the blinds are only worth about 25., and the stove-lid is of no value to any one, and reported the matter, thinking, if the blinds could be found in Tautara's possession, it might lead to the recovery of the revolver and clothing that was stolen from him some time since. Mr. Wallace left home at 8 a.m. on the 13th instant, and when he returned at 5 p.m., he found the articles missing. Tautara was seen by Mr. William Harvey loitering about Mr. Wallace's place on that date. W. H. Eyan, W. S. Pardy, Esq., Inspector of Police, New Plymouth. Constable, No. 280.

No. 4. Mr. W. Bayly, New Plymouth, to the Hon. the Defence Minister. Sir,— New Plymouth, 6th May, 1885. I have just returned from Pungarehu and Rahotu, and am sorry to inform you that a great change has come over the Natives in that district. It puts me in mind of their manner during the ploughing matches and the Parihaka scare. In fact, they go so far as to say that they will take possession of all the cash land in that district, and receive the deposits from the deferred-payment lands themselves. A Native, with dogs, was crossing Mr. Mills's farm at Pungarehu. He desired the man to go around by the road; the Native declined to do so. Mr. Mills told him he would shoot his dogs if he persisted, being afraid they would worry his sheep. Mills went for his gun, and the Native wrenched it out of his hand. A Mr. Plummer, who has a deferred-payment section, left his house. In two days the Natives took out all the windows and doors, and carted them away to Parihaka. A Mr. Wallace, at the Cape, a labourer : while he was at work the Natives twice broke into his house and robbed it. The settlers were talking of calling a public meeting on Saturday, but I have persuaded them not to do so, as I think, in such matters, it only tends to make matters worse. If something is not done, I feel sure that we shall have a repetition of the Parihaka scare. I am not an alarmist, but would recommend that thirty or forty constabulary be sent to Pungarehu without delay. Yours, &c, Hon. J. Ballance, Defence Minister. Wi. Bayly.

No. 5. W. Rennell, Esq., Native Officer, New Plymouth, to the Under-Secretary, Native Department. Sir,— Opunake, 14th May, 1885. In obedience to instructions contained in your telegram of the 7th instant, I have the honour to inform you that I went through the district between New Plymouth and here to endeavour to find out the true state of matters as regards the reported threatening attitude of the Natives of the Parihaka district towards Europeans. I first made it my business to find out who were the Europeans said to have been threatened or annoyed. I found the following matters to be inquired into: (1) Robbery from Plummer's; (2) petty robbery near same place ; (3) threat held out to a Mr. Elwin; (4) threat and other annoyances to a Mr. Mills; (5) destruction of Mr. Mcßeynolds's house; (6) threats held out to a settler, whom I will not ranie, as he distinctly told me he had never had any threat whatever held out to him by the Natives; on the contrary, he got along very well with them; (7) Mr. Driller, of the Pungarehu Hotel. I will commence with No. 1. Mr. Plummer was a settler, who built a house and afterwards left it and went out of the district, leaving the house locked up with some furniture in it, such as table and forms. This house was robbed of some of the furniture and the windows. A complaint was laid, and Inspector Pardy sent out a constable, who inquired into the matter, and ascertained that Native tracks were all round the house, and a Native had been seen in it, but he could find nothing which would warrant him in saying the burglary was committed by a Native, although a Native named Rangi had some grievance, real or fancied, against Plummer, but there wa.s no proof against any one. One of the forms was afterwards found in a swamp, and had a Native carried off the property to Parihaka it was of such a character that all the Natives would have known of it. Even if the robbery turned out to be by a Native, it is merely an ordinary criminal matter and can have no political bearing. No. 2. Very trivial. Constable also investigated this. It was some articles of about 3s. estimated value, laying uncared-for outside a house. Constable suspected an old Native of bad character, who passed the spot short time before. No proof was found; and this also was a common petty larceny, even if committed by a Native. No. 3. I visited Mr. Elwin, who lives close to Waiweranui. He knew of no threats himself, but his son-in-law did. I asked the latter, who told me a Native had told him that a king was coming from Waikato to head the Natives, who were to recover all the land back from the Europeans, including their houses. This is another version of the old story told by Natives to any