E.—No. 4,

instant. Although I attach but little importance to the arrival of such a party—being ostensibly a visit to the Ngatiteata Tribe, to a crying for the dead—yet as I have learned from my frequent interviews with Natives of all classes that there is but one feeling among them that Government will persist in making roads through the country, and the Waikato Tribes are as fully resolved to resist anything of the kind, I deem it my duty to acquaint the Government of this circumstance, though apparently trivial. Hoeta, Te Kopara, and Kopa, brother of Hoeta, are the principal Chiefs of this party. From several conversations with these Chiefs, and others of the party, they were unanimous in expressing their determination to join the Waikatos, in event of the Government sending troops by the Thames to Waikato. At the same time, they expressed a strong desire for a European Magistrate, and appeared pleased with an explanation on my part of the Government policy for the improvement of the Maoris. On telling them that there was a report that the Tribes of the Thames had made over their lands to the King, on his recent visit to them ; Te Kopara replied that it was true that the Waikatos came to the Hauraki, to Wharekawa, to cry for the dead, and the Waikatos, in their speeches, referred to the Maori policy, but that they (the Ngatipaoa) checked them, and tried to keep their speaking to the professed cause of their visit—the crying for the dead. But it was not so with the Tribes on the opposite bank of the Thames : for the Ngatimaru, with Taraia and Hira made over their lands to the King ; but they (the Ngatipaoa) would not give up theirs. I have, &c, James Speedy, Resident Magistrate. The Honble. the Native Minister, Auckland.

SECTION V.—LOWER WAIKATO AND RAGLAN. No. 1. RESIDENT MAGISTRATE, LOWER WAIKATO, TO ATTORNEY-GENERAL. Taupari, 19th April, 1862. Sir, — I have the honor to forward you herewith my Report of the investigation made by me respecting certain complaints of Mr. J. C. Johnstone, of Raglan, against Natives in my District in reference to a Flock of Sheep of his. I beg to call }'our special attention to the personal appeal I have felt it my duty to make to you respecting Mr. Johnstone's letter to me of the 5th instant. I have, (fee, James Armitage. The Hon. H. Sewell, Attorney-General, Auckland. Resident Magistrate's Office, Lower Waikato, 24th February, 1862. Sir, — I have been instructed by the Hon. the Attorney-General to investigate into and report to him respecting certain complaints made by you against Natives in my District in reference to a Flock of Sheep of yours lately driven from Whaingaroa to Auckland. I have the honor to request that you will furnish me with full particulars of such complaints, givingme the names and address of any Natives whom you may wish to be examined by me in this matter. As I am shortly about to visit Whaingaroa, and shall go by way of the Coast, it might facilitate the matter if you would address your communication to me, at Mr. Spargoe's, Waikato Heads; the Postman would probably leave your letter there. Such part of your complaint as refers to the detention of your Sheep at Waiuku, will, I am instructed, be investigated by the Resident Magistrate for that District. I have, &c, James Armitage. J. C. Johnstone, Esq., Raglan. Te Haroto, Waitetuna, March 10th, 1862. Sib,— . In reply to your letter dated the 24th February, I have the honor to state, that full particulars of the complaints I made against W. Nero and other Natives of Whaingaroa for running droves of Pigs on my land, destroying the feed and lambs to such an extent that I was obliged to send away the Sheep ;

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