E—No. 4.

OF THE NATIVE INSURRECTION.

meetings and interviews with the Waitara natives, for the purpose of discussing and investigating the title to the block of land sold by Teira and party to the Government. 2. The first meeting was convened by Teira, to declare publicly his intention in the matter, on the 28th N ivember, I8f)7, at the Kuhikubi pa, Waitara, which meeting I attended. On that occasion RawirißaupODga appeared undecided, although both he and Patukakariki had intimated to me, th< ir desire to sell the land on the South batik of the Waitara. Patukakariki has some substantial claims in the piece excluded from the block sold by Teira and part-/ ; William King has also two vi ry small allotments there : for this reason, I refused to allow that part to be included in the bl.tck, although the party selling are tlie largest claimants ther?. Previously to this, Ilorima Kumukumu had been t<> inform me, that bis father had decided to sell the land in question on account of disputes they had had with some of William King's people about the occupation of it, and very shortly after this he died ; had he survived, I have no doubt but that his father and he would have supported the sale, and that iliev would have sold also the piece of land to which they have substantial claims, but which is now excluded from the purchase. 3. At the beforementioned meeting, Teira, Retimana, and Hemi Pataka spoke and declared their intention to sell their land. They warned Eauponga and Patukakariki not to betiay them, intimating that they had encouraged them privately to be strong in the matter but now were afraid to speak out. William King was tlie only man who spoke for the opposition, he said nothing about claims to the land, but threatened war if any land was sold, as he did also in his letter to Ihaia aad Nikorimt respecting the sale of the Taiuiutangi block. 4. Shortly alter this Katatore was murdered, and land purchase operations were su°pendcd for nine months in consequence of the disturbances among the Maories. The negotiation for the Tarurutangi Llock was resumed at the request of the natives themselves, and reopened Teira's offer as a, collateral question. Teira, on every favorable opportunity, agitated the sale, and states that his title was never disputed. At. several meetings he promised his opponents that if they would withdraw their opposition ( considered to be very wrong.) he would show his love for the tribe by declining to sell any more land, bin as his word had gone to the Governor offering this piece of land, he could not, and would not give the matter up, and if the Governor refused, he should urge the next to buy the land (nothing but the justice of his case could have supported him in this conduct.) 5. In the i.i t week in 1859, I sent William King word that I was going to Waitara to meet him and his tribe respecting Teira's offer, and requested that they would all meet me. On my arrival 1 found most of them present but not William King. I opened the question by aHvi-ing them to sell their individual claims to the land, so that the dispute respecting occupation which ha i arisen subsequent to their arrival from Waikanae might be ended During the discussion Ihakara became violent and threatened the life of Teira should he s< II the land. Some of them said the land belonged to them all. I requested them to show me their different parcels, but they refused. Patukakariki did not on this or on any other occasion oppose the sale, but always remained silent. During the twelve months which the purchase was pending, I visited William King and his people very frequently, and was on the most friendly terms with them, until the attempted survey of the block. This was so'apparent to Teira and his party, who were staying in town, that they became displeased with me, and enquired if I was waiting for the assent of William King and his people to the sale of land which did not belong to them, stating that they would not consent, that they should receive payment for that which .lid not belong to them. C. Failing to get an explanation of any claims from the opposition, T had recourse to others for information. Hnpurona told me the land belonged to the selling p;irty and that he should have nothing to do with the opposition if Teira confined the block to its present boundaries. William Tamihana, a particular friend of Wiremu Kingi's, came to me with an impression, that the inland boundary at the Devon line went straight to the Waitara river, and included a place called Kakaika. O;: explaining to him that the proposed boundary excluded that place and others, he at once admitted that the land belonged to the party who were anxious to sell it, and by letter (which I ded to i ou), declared he would have nothing to do with the question to whatever extent William King might curry it. 7. On the loth of February last, I met William King and all his people the last, time ; I entreated them in the kindest possible manner to meet His Kxcellency the Governor in a proper spirit in the matti i him that he was most liberally disposed towards them if they would only assist him in putting an end to the dreadful state of things which was disgracing them as a tiibe. A young man called Hemi Te Horo (son of the chief Tamati Ngorewa,) addressed the meeting in favorable terms, which, bo noon as William King discovered, he rose and said, "I will not consent for the land to be separate.!, because it was my ftuher's dying instructions." 8. Nopera Kaorua not only consented to the cale Jbut urged me to proceed with the purchase, requesting me at the snn-e time not to use his name until the matter was to be settled, as he was afraid of the people, but subsequently when I summoned V\ illiam King and his peoj le to witness the payment of the first instalment, he (Nopera,) stood up to oppose the sale, upon which he was lectured by Teira for his deceitfulness, and w:;s told by Raniera Ngaere (a disinterested man,) that he ought to be fined for his bad conduct, and to neither of them was he able to reply. I bave, &c, Eobriit Parris, District Commissioner. The Chief Commissioner Auckland.

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