A.—No. 20.

60

PAPERS RELATIVE TO

Auckland, and said to be the perpetrators of the horrible murders committed in that locality during the last war, who have till lately resided at Whangamata, have all left for Ohinimuri, and that the Ngatiporou from Mataora are there also. From Ropata, Ngatai's brother, a friendly Native, Mr. McMillan learned that there was a great gathering of Natives at Ohinemuri, that as soon as they have all assembled an attack upon Tauranga is to be made —that the forces will principally be made up of Waikatos, Ngatihana, Ngatiraukawa, Ngatiporou, and Upper Thames Natives—that it is said the number of the enemy will be 500— that an advance party have come on to Whakamarama —that au attack upon To Papa will sooner or later be made. From the same authority I also learn that twenty-four stand of arms have been conveyed from this district to Ohinemuri. The reports put in circulation of the Hauhaus who are sending emissaries along the Coast are — that there have been two great fights in the Rotorua District, between the Arawas and the Hauhaus, in which the losses of the former had been most disastrous. In one fight the Arawa lost 100 men, the remainder of them retired to the Island Mokoia—that they were followed by the Hauhaus and overthrown with great slaughter, leaving 170 dead behind them. With such lying stories as these they are endeavouring to excite the war spirit of the young men, and gain accessions to their forces. The Rotorua Natives have sent spies into the Pateterc District, and they report —that the Upper Patetere Natives have left their different settlements and are concentrating themselves in the Upper Thames District. At Rotorua the number of the enemy is estimated at 1,000. The destination of this force is also said to be Tauranga. There can be no doubt that the numbers of the enemy are most enormously exaggerated, but as to there being a largo gathering of Natives in the Upper Thames District, all seem agreed. We have now, in this district, 175 Arawas, fifty-two of whom arc stationed at the Gate Pa, and 123 at the Judea Redoubt. I had hoped that we should have been informed of the views of the Government with regard to keeping up this force in the district, and in the absence of positive instructions I do not feel justified in disbanding the Arawa on my own responsibility, at least not until the movements of the Hauhaua are certainly known. I would respectfully request that I may be informed of the views of the lion, the Defence Minister upon this important matter. There is to be a largo gathering to-morrow at Motuhoa on the occasion of the death of the loyal old chief Tomika To Mutu. It is said many important matters will be brought forward for discussion, and I think it right to be there. A report shall be scut you of what occurs before the close of the mail. I have, <fee, 11. T. Clarke, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. G2. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Clarke to the Hon. J. C. Richmond. (D. 343.) Civil Commissioner's Office, Sic,— Tauranga, 27th April, ISG7. I have the honor to transmit, for your information, copy of a report from Mr. Mair, Resident Magistrate at Opotiki, bearing date 17th instant. I have, &c, Jl. T. Clarke, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure 1 in No. 02. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Math to Mr. Clarke. Sib,— Opotiki, 17th April, 1867. In continuation of my report of the Sth instant I have the honor to inform you that on the 9th instant I left this place for the purpose of testing the truth of the information given in my last communication. On tlic 10th I rode up to Whakatane Valley to Opouriao, the Natives of which place I found in great consternation, they having been informed that it was the intention of Ngatipukeko, with the permission of Major St. John and myself, to drive them back to the interior. It appears that they had actually received a message from Hohaia and Hori Tunui to that effect; gome of the friendly Ilriwera had actually left for Euotoki, and I arrived just in time to prevent a general exodus. I have written to Ngatipukeko censuring them very strongly for their unwarrantable conduct. From Opouriao and Otcneku I crossed the ranges to the Wahnaua, and visited the chief Baku Baku. It appears he was present at the great meeting at Tawhana in February, but the account given by him of what passed, and of the intention of the Uriwera and Whakatohea, does not at all agree with the information derived from the letters found at Waiaua. I am persuaded that in endeavouring to keep in with both sides he is not dealing honestly with us; he would not admit any knowledge of the intentions of the Hauhaus, and yet from some of his people I received intelligence which confirmed the report that the Whakatohea had determined to waylay and murder Wepiha, To Kepa Iletaraka, of Ngatiokopu. I returned to this place on the 11th, and immediately sending for the Ohope people, gave them ten stand of arms and some ammunition. On the 15th I received a letter from Rakuraku to the effect that two of his people, who had been absent for some time, had returned from Tawhaua with the information that messengers from Whakatohea at Maraetai, in the Waioeka, had been to the Uriwera