G.—4

6

window sashes, painted dark red, six panes in each sash (identifiable); small form, recovered (value about £2). Names of persons offending or suspected, and, if the latter, grounds of suspicion: A Native named Rangi suspected; he was seen about the house on the 21st instant, and complained that Plummer went away without paying him for a horse, and it is suspected that Rangi took the property as payment for the horse. Description, and if identifiable : A Maori, about twentyfive years of age, sft. Sin. high, stout build, small dark whiskers and moustache, speaks good English; identifiable. Direction supposed to be taken by offender : Supposed to be residing at Parapara or Parihaka. If a warrant issued, particulars, &c. :No warrant issued. Steps taken, and information sent to : Inquiries by New Plymouth Police, information to district offices, Wanganui and Opunake, and copy filed. General remarks : Mr. Plummer went to Feilding about a fortnight ago, and left the house in charge of Mr. May. Mr. May saw the house securely locked up on the 21st instant, and on the 22nd instant found the house open and the articles mentioned stolen, the iron hinges of the door were cut off with a sharp instrument like a chisel or tomahawk, and the window sashes were taken out of the frame, Maori tracks were seen about the place ; and the small form was found in the swamp behind the house by Constable Ryan. W. H. Ryan, 26th April, 1885. Constable No. 280.

No. 9. Captain Anderson to the Hon. the Defence Ministee. Sir,— Wellington, 26th May, 1885. As directed by you, I interviewed Mr. Elwin, Warea correspondent, with the object of ascertaining what foundation he had for writing the letters which were published in his name in the Taranaki papers re the Natives in the vicinity of Parihaka being troublesome to the settlers, and he said the only foundation he had for doing so was the reports he heard from others in the district. Another reason he gave me was that at the beginning of June he was going to teach a school and reside at Opunake, and, as he intended leaving a portion of his family on his farm at Warea, he would feel more at ease if there was a detachment of constabulary stationed at Pungarehu. He also told me he had lost two cows, and he presumed the Natives had taken them; but he admits they were running with a Mr. Hunt's cows for three weeks after they left his farm, but as they had not calved he did not trouble to bring them home. However, after that they suddenly disappeared, and in a few days the Natives sold two calves to Mr. Hunt, which he says exactly corresponded with his calves, although his cows had not calved when he lost them, and therefore he had never seen his calves. They may have been his, but he has only himself to blame for losing them and the cows, as, according to his own admission, he could have brought the cows away from Mr. Hunt's any time during the three weeks they were there, but he neglected to do so, and they would naturally go into the bush to calve ; and, as the Natives have plenty of cattle in the bush, it is not \o be expected they would know Mr. Elwin's from their own. The Hon. John Ballance, Defence Minister, Wellington. S. C. Anderson.

No. 10. Inspector Pardy, New Plymouth, to Inspector James, Wanganui. Sib,— Police Office, New Plymouth, 28th May, 1885. I have the honour to enclose herewith a report from Constable Ryan in reference to cattle alleged to have been lost by a settler named Elwin, residing between Warea and Stony River, and which he accuses the Maoris of stealing, with a request that you will be pleased to forward the same to the Commissioner, Armed Constabulary, as the loss of these cattle have been a prominent subject of grievance in' connection with the late scare at Parihaka. This Mr. Elwin, who is the leading agitator and correspondent to the Taranaki Herald, has been trying to make great capital out of his alleged loss through the Press and otherwise, by representing himself as a great sufferer through the Maoris stealing his cattle. In consequence of Mr. Elwin's statements, I instructed Constable Ryan to call on him and get the number and description of the missing cattle, when it turned out that Mr. Elwin had only lost two head, and, further, that he had little or no grounds for accusing the Maoris of stealing them. The constable has since made inquiry without obtaining any evidence to fix the guilt on the Maoris, as will be shown by the constable's report. The place where these cattle were running is a large Maori reserve, covered with bush and extending far back into the ranges. This bush is full of cattle which have strayed.away from various persons, and it is quite possible that Mr. Elwin's cattle are straying there also. The Punihu Natives have always been friendly towards the settlers and allowed them to run their cattle on the Maori lands without let or hindrance; I do not think, therefore, that these Maoris would intentionally interfere with their (the settlers') cattle in any way, or annoy them. I have, &c, Wm. S. Paedy, W. H. James, Esq., Inspector, Armed Constabulary, Wanganui. Inspector.