G.—4

8

With the exception of Hill and a few others of similar antecedents, the settlers express themselves well satisfied with the protection afforded them by Constable Ryan; and I may say the same of the Maoris, as several of them told me they hoped the policeman [meaning Ryan] would not be removed from the place, as he prevented the bad characters stealing their horses and cattle. The man Hill, a notoriously bad character, has been doing all in his power to create a bad feeling between the two races ; but as he is now kept under close surveillance by the police he cannot do much harm. I have, &c, Wm. S. Pardy, The Commissioner, Armed Constabulary, Wellington. Inspector.

Enclosure in No. 11. [Extract from Taranaki Herald of 30th ultimo.] Unprotected State of the West Coast.—The Natives and their Horses. (From our mvn Correspondent.) On Wednesday last a troop of Maoris deliberately drove a herd of horses into Mr. Robson's fence at Cape Egmont, breaking it down; they then took his six horses out of the paddock, refusing to deliver them up until young Mr. Robson left them to fetch the police constable ; they then replaced the horses, but rode out of the paddock on the opposite side, again breaking through the fence. Constable Ryan, accompanied by an Armed Constabulary messenger, shortly arrived, and a great discussion ensued as to the amount of damage done, the messenger asserting that only the posts were shaken and no wires broken, while Mr. Robson considered the injury considerable. It was actually left to Constable Ryan to say who was right, and he said he thought 7s. would cover the damage, which will have to be recovered from the Maoris by process of law, if the name of the Maori can be obtained, and the man does not go into hiding. The Maoris have now placed slip-rails across the fences on the Cape Road. No notice is yet taken of the fence on the Parihaka Road, and the demolishing of Frenchman's ditch and bank.

No. 12. Inspector Paedy, New Plymouth, to the Commissioner, Armed Constabulary, Wellington. Sir,— Police Office, New Plymouth, 7th June, 1885. I have the honour to forward herewith a report from Constable Ryan in reference to a trifling damage done to a bridge, on the main road, near Pungarehu, and to which the enclosed paragraph refers, taken from the Taranaki Herald. My object in referring to such a small matter is to show how the most trifling incident is seized on by the agitators to keep up the late excitement. As the injury done to the bridge was accidental, and not malicious, I forwarded the particulars to the Clerk of the Taranaki County Council, it being a county bridge, so as to enable the Council, if it thought proper, to sue Nehi for the amount of damage done. Both Maoris and Europeans are referring their complaints to the police, and I am fully assured that, with due tact and care on the part of the police, the peace will be preserved and property protected. I have, &c., William S. Pardy, The Commissioner, Armed Constabulary, Wellington. Inspector.

Enclosure 1 in No. 12. Armed Constabulary Station, Pungarehu, sth June, 1885. Constable W. H. Ryan (No. 280) respectfully reports that on the 23rd May, 1885, the Native named in the margin (Nehi, a resident at Parihaka) accidentally broke the handrail of the culvert bridge at Parapara through his bullock dray coming in contact with it. The constable begs to state that the Native was driving two pair of bullocks over the bridge, and immediately the first pair got over the bridge they turned sharp off towards a Native village close by, and the wheel caught the rail, carrying it away. The constable saw the track of the wheel close on the corner of the bridge, and fortunately the cart did not turn over into the stream. The constable does not think it would cost more than 10s. to effect repairs. W. H. Ryan, W. S. Pardy, Esq., Inspector of Police, New Plymouth. Constable, No. 280.

Enclosure 2 in No. 12. [Extract from Taranaki Herald.'] Warea. (From our mvn Correspondent) June 2. The railing attached to a culvert on the South Road, near Parapara, was smashed by a Maori bullock dray some time since. No word of action being taken to discover the perpetrator is heard, and the delightful theory of even and equal justice being meted out both to white and black travellers still remains a dead letter.