E.—No. 4.

No. 15. THE HONORABLE THE NATIVE MINISTER TO MK. BULLER. Native Secretary's Office, Auckland, March 12th, 1862. Sib,— I have the honor, by direction of Mr. Sewell, in the absence of Mr. Fox, to request that you will have the goodness to communicate with Te Tirarau of Whangarei, residing at Mareikura, for the purpose of acquainting him with the wish of the Government that the Arawa Natives, temporarily located in the neighbourhood of Whangarei, should immediately return to their own district. You will explain to Te Tirarau that His Excellency the Governor is anxious that the Natives referred to, should return to their respective settlements in the Bay of Plenty, in order that they may take part in working the new system of Government lately introduced among their tribes ; and you will request Te Tirarau, in the name of the Governor, to use his influence to give effect to His Excellency's wish in this respect. There are other reasons which make it desirable that these Natives should leave Whangarei without further delay. At a meeting held by Mr. Halse, at Whangarei, on the 8th August, 1861, the Native Assessor, Paora Te Amohau, agreed to return with all his people to Kotorua, at the latter end of December last. It would be well, if you can communicate with Paora and the other Ngatiwhakane Chiefs, for the purpose of enquiring why this promise has not been kept. Should the want of means of transit be urged as a reason for further delay, you will have the goodness to suggest an application to the Government, who will be prepared to assist to a reasonable extent in providing such means of transit as may be absolutely necessary. You will have the goodness to give your earliest attention to this matter, and report for the information of the Government the result of your communication. I have, etc., H. Halse, Assistant Native Secretary. W. Buller, Esq.,

No. 16. ME. BULLER TO THE HONORABLE THE NATIVE MINISTER. Whangarei, April 5th, 1862. Sir, — Upon receipt of your letter of the 12th ultimo, intimating the wishes of the Government in reference to the Arawa people temporarily located here, I proceeded to Mareikura on the Wairoa river (Kaipara), and put myself into personal communication with Te Tirarau as directed: owing to detention by heavy rains, this journey occupied five days. Te Tirarau expressed entire concurrence in the views of the Government, and stated that he had himself, several months ago, urged the return of the Arawa people, but was over-ruled by the Parawhau Chiefs of Whangarei, who insisted upon their remaining here. He promised to use his influence to the utmost towards giving effect to His Excellency's wish, and at my desire, he wrote a letter to his relative, Te Puku, of Mangakahia, (where a party of the Ngatipikiao is located), requesting him to do likewise. On my return from Mareikura, I visited the section of the Arawa, residing at Otaika, and ascertained from them the general feeling in respect to an immediate return to their district. Paora Te Amohau having already left, I had not an opportunity of seeing him, but, as will presently appear, he is not personally to blame for the non-fulfilment of the promise made to Mr. Halse in August last, that all his people should leave Whangarei in December last. As far as I can ascertain, the number of Arawa people at present located in this district (including women and children) is about 200. These belong to the Ngatiwhakane, Ngatipikiao, and Ngatiparua tribes, being chiefly engaged in digging kauri gum; they are widely dispersed over the district in small working parties, Mangapai forming their head quarters. There is evidently a very general desire among them to get back to their homes, especially now that the new system of Native government is being introduced among their tribes ; but they plead inability to get away unless the Government will assist them with a loan to meet their pecuniary liabilities. The Ngatipikiao section have purchased the " Mavis" schooner from the Nova Scotians at Waipu, for £800, and have paid instalments amounting to £400, a condition of the sale being that the vessel will not be deliverable until the final instalment is paid ; the Natives have no alternative but to continue their gum digging until the required amount is raised, or, by leaving immediately, to sacrifice the whole of the deposit. I cannot help expressing my conviction that in this bargain the Natives have been very unfairly over-reached, the purchase money being excessive and terms of sale unusual. The Ngatiwhakane people have purchased two small vessels —the " Amiria" and the " Maruiwi," for £300 each; on the former there is still a balance of £100 owing, and on the other a balance of £150. Both these vessels are in

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NATIVE AFFAIRS.