E.—No. 1.

"White ; this is not my doing, tins is the work of the Waikato people. I was one of the last to come away : before coming away I went up on the hill where Hohua is buried and called to Mr. White and Dr. Sam, and said good-bye, remain here, good-bye you and the Governor, lam going. It is correct that we came away through fear, and what Tapihana and others have said is true. This was the time we had seen such proceedings at the Kawau —viz.: a man-of-war coming down and going about firing, and after what the Europeans had told us we became alarmed, and f It that what had been told us was true. When you met mo on the road I was going back to Te Ngaere, and the Governor to speak to him. It is because you have punished me for two years. Why did you not punish the Tauranga natives the same way as us ? We gave up ourselves, our land, our arms, you punished us until we gnashed our teeth under it, and wished to return to our people and our lands. I requested the Government, when in Auckland, to allow me to visit my people at Waiuku, promising to return, but you refused my request. We have given up our men, given up the King, given up the Land, given up the mana, given up all, and yet you keep us in bondage. Now that lam free, I will not go back. It now being dark, we had tea, and afterwards went about to the different Chiefs, and had private conversations with them till it was past midnight. In reasoning the matter over with Tapihana, 1 told him that I felt convinced that it was not the excuses he had stated which had led them to adopt this rash step, but a plan which he had formed prior to leaving Auckland: if fear was the only cause of their leaving, they could have no objection whatever to returning in accordance with the wishes of His Excellency ; and now that I had taken the trouble to travel so far to explain matters to them— that there was nothing concerning their liberty or safety, that the man of war had come down to the Kawau —and more especially, as they one and all were convinced of the troth of my statement, 1 thought that the only proof of their fidelity and regret, would be their immediate return to the island which they so recklessly had deserted. I further told him that they were kindly treated by the Government and by me, who, when even ill and weary, had taken the pains of seeing to everything in connection with their welfare and comfort, and that if they now refused to return, they would be for ever branded with ingratitude, deceit, and unbelief; and that in future, should aught transpire relative to mutual agreements, bonds, &c, that not only the Government, but all the people in New Zealand, both Pakeha and Maori, would discard and disbelieve any statement which they might offer or assert, and that their present behaviour would lead the Government to cast a doubt upon all their future political transactions. - Tapihana replied: "If you can get five or six chiefs to agree with Wi Karamoa, then we will all return with you in the morning," and in addition said that, " what you have asserted is true. It is all my fault: I first formed the idea of running away when I visited Te Kawau with the Governor and yourself. I kept it to myself and matured my plan while in Auckland. I then made my plans known to the others just before we left the island." Tapihana's brother, Te Eemi, also urged mo to reason with the other chiefs and get them to consent to their return. I next went to the Ngatimahuta Tribe, and after some conversation with them, was told by Te Wata Taki that if any of the Maoris who had come away attempted to return he would stop them by foree —if one returned, all must return ; and if one stayed, all must stay; and lam determined to carry it out. I next spoke to Wi Kumete, who said that he was decided in staying where he was, and if we allowed them to remain unmolested, that they would not injure the Patella's persons or property. He went on to say that they were accused of eating seed potatoes, but they had satisfied Mr. J. E. White that no such thing had taken place, and the seed was sown as ordered. " Don't send soldiers after us: we intend to return quietly to Waikato." I afterwards spoke to Maihi Ivatepa, who told me that if any of the others would return, that the Ngtitata Tribe would also return. lie also said that they were amongst the last who left the stone buildings, and that they did not wish to get away. I now retired to rest, rose at daylight, and had conversations with many of the leading men. About 7 a.m. Matini Euta got up and said, " I wish all the Waikato to come round here and listen to what I have to say. I have thought over what Mr. White has said : wo had a very great argument on the matter. I have made up my mind to return. I the Ngatimahutu, numbers 5 and 7, will return. I wish now to know what you all say. Do you consent that we should all of us return?" All replied, " Yes !We will return with Mr. White." The men then requested me to give them orders to the settlers for food. This I declined doing, stating as my reason that I had no authority for so doing ; but told them that if they would send men with me to bring provisions up, that they should have some from the hulk ; and I "requested that as a proof of thcii' sincerity they would at once move down towards Te Xgaere, and I promised to meet them with the provisions. They said they could not come down, giving as a reason that they were weak, and had had but little to eat, and could not carry the sick : and also that their feet were sore. I argued with them, that as they had not food, and were getting weaker the best plan would be to return at once. Ihaia and six others offered to come for food ; several other chiefs assented, (after they had secretly conferred together, which I noticed), that if I sent them provisions raid allowed them to remain for three or four days, the men wouid be stronger and better able to endure the fatigue of walking, and would all return to Te l\;i\vau in a body. I spoke to Tioriori of the subject, when he addressed them and said : " This is all deceit; if you mean to return why all this talk among yourselves ; you could easily have selected men to go with us, and wo might have been on our road back before this." One of the Chiefs now jumped up and said: " You have done it, Tioriori; had it not been for what you have said we would have gone back with Mr White, but now we won't go back ; it is your fault, and not Mr White's." I cautioned them about their present rash actions, and that I could see that trouble was near at hand. I told them that, if owing to hunger they took provisions away from the Europeans (they had already done so by killing two head of cattle), it would cause quarrelling, and probably loss of life. Tioriori at once left them, and I told them that I had done all I could do, and that whatever might be the result, they could not blame the Governor or the Government, that they had ever met with kindness and attention. I then left them. On my way back, after we had travelled for about an hour and a half, we observed about GO natives sitting in the paddock adjoining Mr. Meicklejohn's house, and some some few going to and fro. Feeling anxious, I decided iipon going down to see the party. I found 50 or GO with To

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MEMORANDA AND REPORTS