E.—No. 3 .

No. 34. ' II ,\:j l copy or a DESPATCH fbom goveenob sic geobge gbet, k.c.b., to his geace the duke op NEWCASTLE, K.G. (No 50.) Government House, Auckland, April 5, 1864. Mt Lobd Duke, — In your Grace's Despatch No. 12, of the 26th of January, I am directed to state, in reference to certain murders which have been committed by natives of these islands, to what extent these crimes are referable to the savage lawlessness of individual persons or families, and how far they represent the feeling in which the natives generally are determined to carry on the war. 2. I referred this Despatch to my Eesponsible Advisers, and the Colonial Secretary states in regard to it that, in his opinion, the atrocities alluded to are exceptional, but that the exception includes a very considerable portion of the native race, and that had tho rebel forces been allowed to remain unchecked they would probably have become general. 3. I ought to state that, in my belief, the custom of the native race in their savage state has immemorially been as follows : If any families were in their belief wrongfully deprived of land by others stronger than themselves, whom they could not successfully resist in open war, they sought revenge in sudden murders before they totally abandoned the soil, as much as to say, at least our property shall cost you dear. This custom they have in great part followed to the present day, although the enclosed copy of a paper sent recently to the Government by the natives in Tauranga will show that a feeling much more in consonance with the teachings of Christianity is now springing up amongst many of the natives. I have, &c, His Grace tho Duke of Newcastle, K.G., G. Geet. &c. &c. &c. Enclosure in No. 34. Potiriwhi District of Tauranga, March 2S, 1864. To the Colonel, —■ Eeiesu, salutations to you. The end of that, friend, do you give heed to our laws for (regulating) the fight. Eule 1. If wounded or (captured) whole, and the butt of the musket or hilt of the sword be turned to me (he) will be saved. Eule 2. If any Pakeha, being a soldier by name, shall be travelling unarmed and meet me, he will be captured, and handed over to the directors of the law. Eule 3. The soldier who flees, being carried away by his fears, and goes to the house of the priest with his gun (even though carrying arms) will be saved ; I will not go there. Eule 4. The unarmed Pakehas, women, and children will be spared. The end. These are binding laws for Tauranga. By Teeea Puiitanuka. Wi Kotieo. Pine Anopu. Keeeti. Pateeiki. Or rather by all the Catholics at Tauranga. Enclosure in No. 34. Opotiki, February 15, 1864. O Fathee, 0 Goveenob, —■ Salutation. Whakatohea arc going to Waikato thirty (double r). This is to declare war with you now "Whakatohea are on the point of warring with you. This is the reason of my warring—the word of the elders on tho other side of the sea to make war with this island till it be completely destroyed, that there be no Queen's men left, no neutrals, no king's men. The second cause, love for our land, New Zealand. You said further that the disobedient child must be punished • but for all your saying he will listen to the punishment, he will not listen, because he is a wild child. This is a declaration that you may know war is near. By Timote Te Kaka. No. 35. LIEUT.-GENKEAL CAMEBON, C.8., TO HIS EXCELLENCY SIE GEOEGE GEEY, K.C.B. Head Quarters, Pukerimu, 24th March, 1864. Sic,— I have the honor to forward to your Excellency a copy of a letter from Colonel Warre, C.8., commanding the troops at New Plymouth, and its enclosures, relative to a reconnaissance made by Major Butler, commanding 57th Eegiment, of the rebel position at Kaitake. Major Butler executed the difficult task assigned to him with judgment and ability, and the small force under his command behaved with great steadiness and gallantry under very trying circumstances.

47

THE NATIVE INSURRECTION.