A.—No. 20.

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PAPEES RELATIVE TO

had been made use of. Upon this circumstance the whole of their alarm is founded. Te Ninihi and Hamiora Tapaea about a week ago went down to Otahu and informed the Natives that the soldiers and the Arawa were close on their heels, and that the Arawa were going to clear the whole coast from Katikati to the Thames. The chief stated that they as a hapu intended to hold to the peace-making of the Governor at Tauranga ; that the letter which they supposed had displeased the Government was written to warn their friends that the Ngatiporou were about commening hostilities, and advising them to go to some safe place. I gave this man the same assurance as I gave to the Tairua Natives, that we did not wish to molest any of them, and that they should always be protected so long as they remained friendly to the Government. Upon hearing this he became very communicative, and gave mo various pieces of information respecting the movements of the Ngatiporou, with whom they appeared to have been in constant communication. He informed me that a short time ago Te Hira Kake of the Thames sent a letter to the Ngatiporou residing at Mataora, and requested all who took part in the late Tauranga war and had lost friends at Te Eanga, to assemble at Ohinimuri (for what purpose was not stated) ; that upon receiving this invitation sixty had gone over to the Thames; that the people who were now at Mataora were only Eopata's people, who have always remained peaceable. We returned to Tauranga hist evening. I have. &c., H. T. Claeke, The Hon. the Minister for Colonial Defence. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure 2 in No. 52. To the Chief Men of this War,— Ohinemutu, 22nd February, 1867. Loving friends greeting! This is the word of the Committee of the Arawa to you. There has been fighting at Eotorua on the 21st February. The ground of this fight is the apprehension of Peter Grant.* The opinion of the Committee of Ngatiwhakane is that lene concealed his intention of apprehending (Peter Grant) and the Arawa did not hear of it, so that Ngatiwhano might be made aware that they were (likely) to bo the payment for the apprehension of that Pakeha. The persons of the people were saved by making great exertions, but all the crops, the property, the horses, the pigs, the wheat, the potatoes, the wheat stacks, the axes, the spades, indeed all the property has at once been sacrificed ; all these things have been lost through your plans. With you is the consideration respecting all this food and this property. Eotorua has become filled with the refugees driven before the edge of the sword. Now do you break through Mangorewa (the road from Tauranga to Puhirua) ; hasten hither. The Arawa have assembled at Te Pukeroa (Ohinemutu). They assembled on the 22nd February. Let there be neither night nor day (let no time be lost). I have taken hold of the sword. The eartouch box clings to my waist ; I am waiting for the word of command. Petera Pukuatua and Pererikau are on their way thither to obtain munitions of war—guns, powder, and caps. From the Committee of the Arawa. From Ngahaija Koeaeea, Secretary.

No. 53. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Clahke to the Hon. J. C. Eichmond. (D. 325.) Civil Commissioner's Office, Sir,— Tauranga, 12th March, 18G7. I have the honor further to acquaint you with the principal incidents which have transpired in this district since my letter of the 28th ultimo (D. 315). On the afternoon of the 28th ultimo fires were seen to burst forth in almost all the villages from which the Natives had been driven. These fires were observed by both Europeans and Natives, and were interpreted to mean that the hostile Natives were in force, and were prepared to meet our men. Prom information we had received it was supposed that a large body of Ngatiraukawa were in occupation of Kaimaai, the nearest Tauranga Native settlement to Patetere. The Arawas who remained in the district numbered 120; with these Mr. Mair was directed to march to Paengaroa with the double object of covering the surveyors, who have been again set to work on the "undisputed" confiscated block, and to watch the movements of the hostile Natives then supposed to be in the occupation of Kaimai. The Arawas reached Paengaroa on the 2nd, and at once commenced to throw up breastworks. On the 3rd a small foraging party, under Mr. Gr. Mair, went out in the direction of To Kaki. After crossing a deep and precipitous ravine they came upon a small cultivation of potatoes and maize at the edge of the forest; here they discovered recent footmarks of Natives. Mr. Gr. Mair, with four men, followed up these footmarks towards the principal clearing, about a mile distant, believing that the rest of their party were close at their heels. The road, which was closely wooded on both sides as it approached the village, followed up a rather short steep hill; here the hostile Natives had laid an ambuscade. Just as the small party was emerging from the wood into the open fern land a terrific close fire was opened upon them, and a brave young Arawa fell severely * Peter Grant ia a deserter from the Militia, who haa been living with the disaffected Natives for the last six months.