E.—No. 3. SECTION I.

seen him. I returned to the beach where the men were lying, with a party commanded by Capt. Short, consisting of about forty or fifty men. We arrived at the place where the bodies lay at about twelve o'clock. There was no living person there. When we got to the turn we found eight bodies. One man was stripped to his shirt, another had only drawers and shirt on ; the two sergeants had their usual dress on; their tunics were open. The bodies were all lying on the beach about five yards from the bush or scrub. They were above high water mark. The bodies were lying dry. One was lying in a little stream ; it was Dr. Hope. There were no arms with the bodies. There was a part of a waist-belt cut in two, with blood on it. When we went back we found one dray and six bullocks and the load. I saw the bodies put into the cart. I accompanied the cart to Oakura. Private Salter and corporal Lannigan took charge of the cart. Thomas Steen. Josiah Flight, Coroner. Stephen Hartigan, on his Oath, saith as follows: —I am a private in the Commissariat Transport Corps. I was one of the drivers on Monday last, of two drays, conveying provisions from Poutoko to Tataraimaka. There were two Corporals and four men in our party; one Corporal had a pass ; after leaving Poutoko, I crossed two rivers. After crossing two rivers, I got into the strand. We saw an escort coming towards us, after we had passed the second river, about two hundred yards. When we were within nine hundred yards of each other, I heard a volley. In about half a second, a second volley. I saw the men falling. I saw smoke coming out of the bush. The smoke was from the bush, and not from any pieces from the beach. After we had turned the bullocks, one man fired on us. It was about four or five minutes after the first volley was fired that we were fired on, and I saw the bullet fly into the water. The smoke came near to my cart. I re-crossed the Oakura river, and laid by in the flax bushes. I also crept down on the sand. Whilst there, I saw about forty or fifty Natives in the bush, and about near it. I saw a Native drive away the bullocks and one dray. I saw Natives creeping about in the bush, armed with firearms. They were naked to the waist, in the bush, by the Oakura. The Natives were scattered about—one here, and one there. I could not see two together. I met Captain Short's party, and went back with them to where the bodies lay. There were eight—some stripped, some dressed, some with even their socks and boots taken off". I saw three clasps, but the medals torn away. The bodies were lying on the strand, about eight or nine yards from the scrub. I helped to put them in the cart. I came back with the cart to St. Patrick's Redoubt. There was a skirmishing party of Natives above, to protect the Native who drove away the bullocks and dray. his Stephen x Habtigan, mark. Josiah Flight, Coroner. Timothy Donovan, on his Oath, saith:—I am a Private in the Commissariat Transport Corps. I was with Stephen Hartigan on Monday last. I was front man, driving the front team. I saw an escort coining towards us. I heard a volley fired; then went to the right, when I could see some of the men who had been coming towards us fall. I saw one on a grey horse fall off, and then stagger four or five paces ; and I then saw twenty or thirty Natives come down and attack him. They were naked, with the exception of something tied round the middle. There appeared to be about a hundred men in all. I can swear that they were Maoris. I believe there were from two hundred to three hundred men. I saw them, striking as with long handled tomahawks. his Timothy x Donovan, mark. Josiah Flight, Coroner. John Byrne, on his Oath, saith, as follows : —I am a Private in the 57th regiment. I formed one of an escort to go from Poutoko to Tataraimaka, in charge of two carts and provisions. We crossed two rivers. After crossing the second river (Oakura), we sighted an escort coming towards us. I believe they were from six to seven hundred yards. We advanced towards each other. As we went on, we heard a volley of musketry fired from the rising ground on our left. In front, I saw two men fall. I saw a man fall from a horse. The horse came galloping down. I caught the horse. It was Dr. Hope's horse. I gave the horse to Private Brown, and told him to go in and report the circumstance at Poutoko, to Captain Short. Myself, and one bullock driver, and Private Louet, re-crossed the river, and remained concealed in the flax bushes until Captain Short came up. Whilst concealed in the flax bushes, we saw a party of Natives come down to where the bodies were lying, and we supposed they were stripping them. Ihey then came down to the bullocks and drays. I saw four of them take a case of brandy, and carried it about four yards, and then came back and put it on the cart again. The Natives then drove one team of bullocks and the cart away. The Natives fired one shot on us. I did not see the person who fired it. It could not have been more than fifty yards from where the shot was fired at us. When the first volley was fired, I saw the splash of the bullets in the water, as the tide was quite up. The first volley must have come from the hill. After that, there were a few shots exchanged. The men coming towards us seemed taken by surprise. There was a stagger after that. There was shot and shot, as though our men sometimes fired. The shots were straggling. I am certain the men I saw were natives. The carts were Government carts. John Byrne. Josiah Flight, Coroner. Ropata Ngarongomate, on his Oath, saith as follows (William Smith Atkinson interpreting): —I am a native of Poutoko. On the morning of Monday last I wished to come to town —Monday, the 4th of May. I got on my horse. The young man named. Neretino came. He said the carts belonging to the Europeans had been stopped. I asked him where had they been stopped. He replied Wairau. I asked, " Did you actually see it ? " " It was the soldiers who turned me back ; I met them at the Ka-ka." I asked him, " What did you go for ? " He said, " To get the horse ; I did not get the horse because the soldiers stopped me, aud I came back to bring the news to you." I then came on to the camp on this side ot the Poutoko. I did not see the Commanding Officer, I saw an officer of inferior

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DESPATCHES FROM GOVERNOR SIR G. GREY