A.—No. 14a

No. 1. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Williams to the Hon. J. C. Eichmojtd. Sir,— Eesident Magistrate's Office, Waimate, 6th June, 1867. I regret having to report the existence of a quarrel between two of the Ngapuhi tribes (the Ngarehauata and the Uritaniwha), in consequence of the former having, without reference to the latter, offered on lease to a settler in AVaimato a portion of laud, part of which is disputed, receiving a sum of money in advance of rent. The land in question is tho Ahuahu "Block, a ring survey of which was made during Euhi's lifetime. It contains about 3,000 acres, and is owned by several tribes, amongst them the Ngarehauata, but has never been subdivided, until the present attempt made by the Ngarehauata to strike their own division line without consulting others interested in the block —hence the quarrel. When first I heard of the dispute I wrote to the parties requesting them to submit the question, to arbitration, or some other friendly mode of settlement; but in consequence of the Ngarehauata proceeding to erect a house upon the disputed ground, which on the following day was pulled down by tho Uritaniwha, a collision took place between them, when several shots were exchanged, but no casualties occurred. This took place on the 29th of May, during my absence at Waima, where, on the same day, I received the information, and on the 30th I visited the Uritaniwha, proceeding on the following day to the Ngarehauata tribe, and since then have been fully occupied visiting daily the two contending parties, my first object being to prevent bloodshed, which, up to the present date, I have succeeded in doing. Much warlike demonstration has been made, but no one hurt. Negotiations are being made for settling tho dispute by arbitratiou, and I trust in. a few days to be enabled to report the case as having been amicably adjusted. I have, &c, E. M. Williams, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Eesident Magistrate.

No. 2. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Williams to the Hon. J. C. Biciimond. (No. 38.) Eesident Magistrate's Office, Sir,— Waimate, 17th June, 18G7. I have the honor to inform you that the quarrel between the Uritanivvha and the Ngarehauata tribes, reported in my letter No. 36, 6th June, 1867, as then existing, has at length terminated without bloodshed. From the 30th of May up to tho evening of the 14th instant I had continued in close attendance upon these Natives, reasoning and remonstrating with but little apparent success beyond restraining them from actual warfare; for although promises had been made by both parties not to renew hostilities, and arrangements were being entered into for settling the dispute by arbitration, I was by no means satisfied with their general demeanour, and felt apprehensive as to tho ultimate result of these negotiations. I noticed also that both parties were steadily augmenting their forces, numbering at this time more than one hundred men in each pa. On the morning of the 15th instant proof was given that my fears were not groundless, for on arriving at the Uritaniwha Pa shortly after sunrise, I was informed that the whole force had gone out to give battle to their opponents, who, during the night, had established themselves on the disputed, ground. Riding on in haste I saw the two parties already arranged according to Maori tactics, some thirty or forty men from each advancing in skirmishing order, being, at the time I arrived on the ground, within twelve yards from each other, gesticulating and daring one another as Maoris well know how to do. Seeing there was no time for parley, and still hoping that at the last moment I might succeed in checking their madness, I rode in between them, calling upon them at once to retire. For a few seconds they hesitated, then a slight advance was attempted, but continuing to reiterate my calls, I had the satisfaction of seeing both parties fall back without discharging a shot. I then advanced towards the main body of the Ngarehauata, wrho were in good position, having during the night erected a bastion constructed of facines covered with green flax, in front of which they had thrown up a semicircular breastwork. From thence I went to the Uritaniwha, and after a short interview with both parties, it was finally agreed that the case should be left in my hands to be settled by arbitration, no further attempt at hostilities to be made. The war dance having been given in turn by each party, the whole force, at my request, quietly withdrew to their respective pas, and to-day I have witnessed the departure of the Ngarehauata to their own settlement, leaving their pa standing empty; also tho return of the Uritaniwha to their several homes in the neighbourhood. I regard with much satisfaction the favourable termination of this untoward affair, under the conviction that had any casualties occurred other tribes would have been involved, and the peace of our

PAPERS CONCERNING THE LATE NATIVE DISTURBANCE AT WAIMATE.