FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO

Crovett to write to him to use his influence with William King to that effect, informing him that the Governor was inclined to be very liberal to him and his people, and would make ample reserves for them. Archdeacon Hadfield replied, and Archdeacon Govett read the letter to me, in which he stated that "he would not advise Natives to sell their land, that he was not pleased with anything the Government had done for the Natives, and that the Governor would find that a large party of the Natives at Otaki would espouse William King's cause" (this I regarded as a threat to prevent further proceedings in the purchase). Had the reverend and venerable gentleman been actuated by that courtesy, which both Christian charity and the custom of the world prescribes, he would have afforded me the opportunity of replying to the charges of William King at the time they were made, instead of retaining them for upwards of twelve months, and then causing them to be placed before the General Assembly, where I had no opportunity of replying to them. (Signed) Robert Parris, District Commissioner. Enclosure 2 in No. 8. MR. JAMES N. WATT TO MR. COMMISSIONER PARRIS. New Plymouth, 11th August, 1860. Sir, — I have much pleasure in replying to your letter of the lflth instant, requesting me to state all that I know respecting the accusations of William King contained in three letters addressed by him to Archdeacon Hadfield, and published in the Neiv Zealande.r of the Bth instant. Before proceeding further, I may as well state (as I presume you require the information for others who may not be so well aware of the circumstance as yourself) that, although not a Maori scholar, I am well acquainted with the language, having resided here for nearly 17 years, during 15 of which I have been connected with the Natives ; have employed them as trading agents, as labourers, and as domestic servants, and have for several years past carried on an extensive trade with them at Waitara. On one occasion when I accompanied you to Waitara, I was present at a conversation you had with William King, in which you were urging him to consent to the return of Ihaia from Pukekohe, and he sulkily replied, " E hoa, he tangata kino koe, mehemea kahore koe i whakararuraru i a matou, kua oti i reira," (Friend, you are a bad man, had you not disturbed us, it would have been finished there) turning at the same time towards the Karaka pa (signifying that if it had not been for your interference they would have captured Ihaia there). To this, you replied, "He aha taku kino ; naku koe i ora ai hoki," (in what am I bad, for it was by me you were saved) which I understood to be in allusion to the time when you saved his (William King's) party from the ambush Ihaia had prepared lor them, and for which you were at the time so severely blamed by our local press. He only replied, "Ugh! He aha tera," (Ugh, what of that) being, to use a vulgar but expressive phrase, completely "shut up," and convincing me that he understood the reference as well as I did. I never heard anything about his being apprehended for holding the land, but am aware that about the time in question a summons was issued against him from the Resident Magistrate's Court, at the instance of Mr. Stockman, for damage sustained by the destruction of a thrashing machine, when the pa at Ikamoana was burnt ; I have had too much experience of William King's duplicity, to suppose for one moment that he misunderstood the matter, but it furnished him with a foundation on which to raise a grievance, and he used it accordingly. With respect to the accusation that you rejoiced in the death of Katatore, I have no hesitation in stating it to be a wilful falsehood ; as no one knows better than King that Katatore was your right hand man, and that it was the severest blow your purchasing operations could have sustained ; and further, I recollect your informing me at the time you were negotiating with Katatore for land, that King was privy to it, and had in your presence acceded to the proposition. I am not aware that I can throw any further light upon the subject, but shall be happy to reply to any questions you may desire to put to me. I have, &c, Robert Parris, Esq., (Signed) James Newton Watt. District Land Purchase Commissioner. Enclosure 3 to No. 8. WILLIAM KING TO TE IHAIA. Waitara, SO Akuwata, 1857. E hoa c Ihaia, — Kua tae mai tau reta kia matou. E hoa ko te kupu iki mai nei kia wakina atu te tangata nana te kupu nio te paki huka, c hara ia koutou na Parete ano tana kupu, na raua pea ko te Waitere, kaore taku kupu i aim atu ki kona, i ahu ke taku kupu ki nga Pakeha, no reira to kupu i ki mai nei kia au, c kore au c kaha kite purupuru i te wenua, kua kite iho ra koe, hei aha koe i ki raws mai ai kia au.

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