E—No. 9 Sec. III.

bayonets a couple of yards before us. Patene came forth in front and made an oration. He dwelt on the wrong committed by the Governor in sending up a Magistrate, when they had passed a resolution that none should be allowed to come ; it was no use my saying that I had never, judged any Maori, he had seen in the newspapers that the Governor had sent me up to be ;i Magistrate. I said I was on my own "piece," and he had no right to meddle with me. He said he would not let me stay unless I would consent to become a trader, and sell blankets and tobacco, and give up being a Magistrate. I said that I would pay no attention to the words of one man, we must hear what Matutaera and all Waikato said to this. He replied that he himself was King Matutaera, and that all the Runangas had agreed that we should be driven away ; we were worms, baits that Sir George Grey was fishing with, and if we were suffered to remain some of the tribes in Waikato would inevitably be caught. He repeatedly ordered me to go. I positively refused. He then said that this time he had told us quietly to go, but if we persisted in remaining he should soon come back and send us away ; he should take Mr. Clarke and me with our goods (he would not hurt either us or our goods) and put us into a canoe and send us away. Mr. Clarke siid we should have to be carried down to the river, and we should not help to paddle. He said that was just. Mr. Morgan says without hesitation, from his own knowledge of the man's character, that unless other Natives interfere he will carry out his threat. A. Maori in a striped red flannel shirt, said to be Ibaia, an influential Rangiawhia Chief, with a merry good-humoured face, also addressed us and pointed out our errors, but he used no threats of removal and seemed only half in earnest. Our great and uol<ioked-for obstinacy terminated the proceedings. The soldiers were manoeuvred into the road again, and marched away; there was a general rush of the public into the road to see the army march through a puddle that extended across the road, but the red ofHcer deployed into single file in a masterly manner, and the men orept by the hedge side, so the hopes of the public were disappointed. In the afternoon Taati paid mo a visit, to say that his Runanga would not agree to appoint him an Assessor. He said they were afraid lest they should lose their marta, and that it was owing to fear that no one ventured to accept the Governor's plans. All the Runangas had agreed that no Magistrate and no additional schoolmasters should be admitted into the district, but he said the violent proceedings of the Ngatimaniapoto were not sanctioned by the rest. I pointed out to him that they had come with arms and threats upon the Queen's land, which on their own principles was wrong. Three or four Waikatos from Kihikihi were also down ia the afternoon; they expressed disapproval of Patene's conduct. This morning I sent Mr. Clarke with a letter to Matutaera at Ngaruawahia, to ask whether he had sanctioned or approved of his men being employed to drive me off his own piece, and to point out that such an act was a violation of peace and a personal insult to Sir George Grey who had placed me there. The Ngatimaniapotos have put themselves so palpably in the wrong even upon Maori principles, that I have some hopes that the Waikatos may be either driven or emboldened to express open disapprobation, and that the hands of those moderate Kingites who desire to accommodate matters with the Governmeut may be thereby strengthened. have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. J. E. Gorst. P. S.—rSince writing the above, Mr. Clarke bas returned. He got as far as the Rapa, and there met with Tumuhuia and Hoera, who are two leading men from Ngaruawahia. They told him there was no use in his going any further, for Matutaera had gone to the Waipa and all his business was transacted by two councillors—a bystander whispered, by the speakers. Mr. Clarke then produced my letter and gave them an account of what had happened. They said that Matutaera had not sent Patene, and that his conduct was wrong; Mr. Gorst ought to go and tell Thompson about it. Mr. Clarke said that in Ngapuhi such behaviour would be called a kohuru, and that we should hold Matutaera responsible for the acts of his soldiers; he also fully explained what we had come up for, and how we should proceed. They said they would themselves come up and enquire into the circumstances, and that my letter (which they read) should be answered by the next mail. After Mr. Clarke had had some food, they called him back and aiked him to take a letter for Patene and Rewi, which Tumuhuia wrote, ordering them not to molest us any further.

No. 2. REPORT FROM J. E. GORST ESQ., OF A COMPLAINT BY TAMEHANA TE HANGITUPU. Otawhao, April 3rd, 18G2. Sir, — A Native named Tamehana Te Rangitupit came to me yesterday and made a complaint against "Or. Harsant, R.M., and the Native Assessor of Whaingaroa. His story is known in this district, and the credit of our administration of justice is at stake. If the story be true, it is most desirable that those who committed the crime of which he complains should be punished ; if false, it is no less important that its falsehood should be at once made public. Will you please send me immediate instructions as to what steps can be taken to bring on prompt investigation of the case. ' ' I have, &c, Hon. Attorney-General. J. E. Gorst.

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REPORTS OF OFFICERS: