E.—No. 3a

Enclosure to No. 5. THE SUPEBINTENDEKT, WELLINGTON, TO THE HONOEABLE THE COLONIAL SECEETAEY. Superintendent's Office, Wellington, loth August, 1863. I have the honor to enclose you a copy of the " Spectator," containing an account of my meeting with the Natives at Waikanae and at Otaki. I purpose having the account translated and circulated amongst the Natives in this Province. I have, <fec, I. E. Featheeston, __ _ ,, Superintendent. The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

EXTRACT FROM "THE WELLINGTON SPECTATOR." '' Considerable excitement having been created amongst the Natives on the West Coast by the recent intelligence that war had commenced in the Waikato, and an intimation having been conveyed to His Honor the Superintendent that the Natives would be glad to see him, the Superintendent left Wellington on Thursday, the 30th ultimo, and reached Waikanae the following morning, when he found a deputation from the Otaki Natives to request him to visit them also. Wi Tako and his people received the Superintendent in the King's Runanga House, and gave him a most cordial welcome. After the Superintendent had addressed the meetin.g (his address being almost the same as that which he delivered the following day at Otaki, a full report of which we give below), — Wi Tako rose and said : I have nothing encouraging to say; I had confidence in myself, I have none now ; I could answer for my people, can I do so now ? I will not attempt to answer your questions as they are too many for me, but will say keep the Militia in Wellington, prevent them from coming on the Coast; leave the road to its original purpose, to drive sheep, cattle, horses and carts, and the mail. I tell you that if the Militia and .Soldiers are sent on the Coast, the peace will be broken. Have you not heard that we have received a letter from the King to prepare for war 1 We did not interfere with the Waitara or Tataraimaka war, although waged against our very relations • no we are a peaceable people. Do keep away your Militia, keep them in Wellington if you think proper. We thank you for your visit just at this time to explain to us the reason for what you are doinc, as there are many reports as to what the Militia are intended for, and which we are glad to know are false! Perhaps you are right as to the intentions of the Government, but we have reason to doubt the Europeans. We intend to have soldiers the same as you. I speak for myself. I cannot answer for others ; the Whanganui, for instance, I have no influence with them. I will now end by telling you, as the head of the Province, to keep the Militia away from the coast. Heremia : We acknowledge the truth of what you say and are much pleased, but, keep away the Militia from Porirua along the coast to Whangaehu ; if they are moved on the coast, there will be war. I tell you we have received a letter from the King to commence war at once on the Europeans ; the Waikato are to send men to different points; at that time war is to commence. Your questions require thought. I will answer them at our meeting at Otaki. I will give my European neighbours notice when they must leave ; you need not fear murder ; it cannot be done without our knowledge. No war party can come from Waikato without our knowledge. We have too many friends there. I am a bad man ; attend to what I have said. Keep away the Militia. Wieemu Tamihani Te Heke said to Heremia : Explain what you mean by when the Waikato show themselves at Upper Whanganui and Otairi, you will then warn the Europeans to leave 1 Heremia replied : I mean, when they make their appearance at those places war is at hand ; and I will warn the Europeans to be off. The Superintendent : You have told me that you have received a letter from the King was that letter written and signed by Matutaera 1 Wi Tako and Heeemia : Yes. Superintendent : Did Matutaera in that letter call upon you to rise i Wi Tako and Hekemia : Yes. Wi Tako : But I have not shown that letter to our people. Superintendent : Why ? Wi Tako : Because it was inflammatory. Superintendent : Matutaera distinctly urged you to rise against the Europeans ? Wi Tako and Hkremia : Yes. With reference to Heremia's remark, " that the Waikato were to send men to different points " the Superintendent simply observed, that the Waikato would be too fully occupied at home to afford assistance to intending rebels here ; that all the measures the Government were taking were for the purpose of protecting the Maori and Pakeha against small bands of marauders. In answer to Wi Tako and Heremia's remonstrances against either the Militia or Armed Police Force being sent up the West Coast, the Superintendent said,—Though I meet you in your King's

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DESPATCHES FROM GOVERNOR SIR G. GREY