A.—No. 20.

46

PAPERS RELATIVE TO

No. 50. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Claeke to the Hon. J. C. Richmond. (D. 311.) Civil Commissioner's Office, 'Sib,— Tauranga, 10th February, 1867. I have further to report for your information, in continuation of my letter of the 28th ultimo, D. 308, that in consequence of the information brought in by Ranapia (reported in my last), and with a view to support the Arawa in the advance upon Oropi, it was thought advisable to move the Militia under Colonel Harrington from Omanawa Redoubt to Pye's Pa (Otupuraho). This movement would also enable the Colonial Troops to attack Akeake and Taumata, said to be Hakaraia's head quarters, should a favourable opportunity offer. A great number of Hauhau flags had been seen flying at Taumata. The Militia took up a position at Pye's pa early on the morning of the 31st. Prom this position a good view was had of Kahakaharoa, said to be then in occupation of the enemy, but no signs of life at that time appeared. Later in the day as the Honourable the Minister for Colonial Defence and myself were returning to To Papa we discovered, as nearly as we could make out, fifty armed Natives file out of that strong position, where they had evidently been concealed, and descend to the valley behind the earthworks. On the evening of the 30th I received a note from Mr. Mair, Resident Magistrate, to report that the greater part of the Arawa force he had collected had refused to advance upon To Puke unless they had higher pay. They were quite willing to attack Te Puke from the Tauranga direction, consequently Mr. Mair marched upon Te Puke with a force of forty men only. The place was found to be evacuated ; the houses were destroyed as ordered. Hero a large portion of the surveyor's tools and instruments, taken at Oropi, from Mr. Graham, were found. The other portion of the Arawa, numbering one hundred and fifty-four men, marched along the beach to Tauranga for the purpose of explaining to Colonel Haultain their reasons for not going direct to Te Puke with Mr. Mair, and to offer their services to the Government. On the morning of the Ist February, the Arawa chiefs had a conference with the Colonial Defence Minister, who engaged their services at three shillings per diem, to be supplied with rations till they got into the enemy's country, when they were to forage for themselves. It was arranged that the Arawas were to make a demonstration before Kahakaharoa on the following morning. The Arawa force arrived before the earthworks early in the morning, and no signs of life appearing, six men volunteered to go out as scouts and ascertain whether it was occupied. In a very short time they made signals that the works had been abandoned; the whole force then marched in and took possession. On Sunday, the 3rd instant, a large body of the enemy were seen at Maenene, a place nearly midway between Pye's pa and Akeake. Some of them came to within a mile of our position, and fired several volleys as a challenge to our force. It was arranged that on the morning of the 4th a combined attack should be made upon Akeake and Te Taumata, the Militia under Colonel Harrington, with Mair's Arawas, by Maenene, and the other Arawas under Captain Walker, supported by a detachment of the 12th Regiment, by Kahakaharoa. The arrangements were well carried out. It appears that the llauhaus had sent scouts out as far as Maenene. Maihi Pohepohe was recognized by some of Mr. Mair's men, to whom he is well-known. He was armed with a double-barrelled gun, and took deliberate aim at some of them, but his gun missed fire. The Hauhaus then collected in some force in the gorge, when they opened a hot fire from behind the trees, but they were unable to stand the advance of the Militia. In the course of half-an-hour the erfemy was driven from this strong position. The Militia and Arawas under Captain Walker entered Akeake at nearly the same moment. The retreating Hauhaus were followed up, and the Arawas succeeded in taking four women and a Loy fourteen years of age, prisoners. Very little reliable information could be obtained from the prisoners. They stated that Hakaraia was there with a force of only fifty-nine men ; that the reinforcements had not then arrived. They could give no account of the losses of the Hauhaus as they, the women, were sent away before the firing commenced. The Taumata village was then destroyed, and three days were employed in destroying the cultivations, which are most extensive. While the Militia were engaged in destroying the cultivations, the Arawas scoured the forest. One body advanced upon Oropi, which they completely destroyed. It was unoccupied. A great quantity of loot and a considerable supply of gunpowder fell into the hands of the Arawa. Hakaraia's great flag, said to have been a gift from the King, was also discovered, together with a large number of Hauhau flags. All these things were found concealed in the woods. On the following days the Arawas extended their expeditions to Paengaroa, where they were met by a body of Hauhaus, but after a few heavy volleys they as usual retired. They had, as at the other places, removed all their goods to the woods. The village was destroyed. The Pirirakau on the west side of the Wairoa it is reported by the Katives have been greatly reinforced, and are using every device to draw our forces out. In the event of a movement in that direction, great caution will be necessary to prevent being taken at a disadvantage. I enclose a sketch to give you some idea of the position of places referred to in this report. I also enclose a letter sent by Hakaraia to the jNTgatikereru and Arawas generally, requesting them not to take part against them. You will also observe that no mention is made of any lands ; that the object of present hostilities is to revenge the deaths of those who fell at Te Eanga. Pena Taka has given out that his is a similar motive; being a near relative of Rawiri (who fell at Te Ranga), his object is to obtain satisfaction. have, &c., The Hon. the Native Minister, H. T. Claeke, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.