A.—No. la,

10

DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR OE NEW

Native letter with translation herewith enclosed.

Enclosure 5 in No. 8. The Besident Magistrate, Upper Wanganui, to the Under Native Secretary. Sir, — Upper Wanganui, 23rd October, 1866. I have the honor to report that on Sunday morning last, in accordance with instructions received from His Excellency the Governor, I sent up messengers from Pipiriki to Mangaio with a letter inviting the Upper Biver Chief's and people to come as soon as they could collect together and meet His Excellency at Pipiriki. In the evening the messengers returned. They report that in consequence of a letter received from Matutaera and Tamehana te Waharoa, almost all the Upper Biver Chiefs and people have gone to Waikato. From the tone of Tamehana's letter, it is supposed by the Natives that there will be fighting again shortly at Waikato. The Wanganui Natives, who paid a friendly visit at Banana in June last, together with Topia Topini and the other chiefs, say that their object in visiting Waikato is, to state before Matutaera and Tamehana their intention to give in their allegiance to the Queen. I have further to report that this morning, at daylight, I sent off messengers to Taupo, as instructed by His Excellency the Governor, inviting the Taupo Chiefs to come to Wanganui to meet His Excellency. I have the honor, &c, W. Eolleston, Esq., Under Secretary, Native Office. James Booth, B.M.

Enclosure 6 in No. 8. The Civil Commissioner, Tauranga, to the Native Minister. Sir, — Civil Commissioner's Office, Tauranga, 25th October, 1866. In obedience to the request contained in the latter part of your letter of the 6th instant, No. 727,1 have the honor to report for the information of His Excellency's Government, the present state of the Bay of Plenty Districts as far as I have been able to gather from different sources. Various rumours have been in circulation which for the most part I have treated as idle reports, but when I find that those reports have? been confirmed by recent events at Napier, I am led to look upon them in a more serious light. About a month ago I heard that the Natives were on the move for Napier, and that tho destruction of the Town was intended. Tou will doubtless have heard that some of tho Arawa, in an attempt to go overland to Cambridge for the purpose of advancing claims to land about to be investigated in the Native Lands Court, were prevented from crossing the King's boundary line. They were threatened first by letter, afterwards in person. A second attempt was made by a different route, with a like result. The Arawas were unarmed. The " Kati" spoken of has not been established specially to prevent the Arawa from being present at the Land Court, but is a part of the policy established by the disaffected Natives to prevent information being brought out of their district. Harawira, a young chief of some note, came to me last week and warned me not to allow any surveyor to go to the north side of Te Wairoa, as they would certainly be murdered. He informs me that he had held personal communication with a party of Natives, headed by a Native named Popata, of the Ngatiporou (East Cape). He states that Popata abruptly addressed him to the following effect, " Keep your ears listening, and don't be startled if you hear great news." This led Harawira to question him closely. Popata stated that five of his companions were from Taranaki, that they had been sent to murder any surveyors they could find at work on any confiscated land. In consequence of this information, the Natives engaged in tho surveying parties left their work. This report has been confirmed by Hori Tupaea. Some time since the old Chief promised me that if he heard anything of importance which he believed, he would himself come and tell me. Two days ago he informed me, that he and the Natives on tho north side of Tauranga had received a letter from the Ngatiporou, who reside on the coast a little to the north of this district, requesting them to collect in one body and move out of the way, as " it was near." That since the receipt of that letter, a deputation of Ngatiporou and Taranaki Natives had visited Moanaunio (of Tauranga) Kainga, to inquire whether any surveyors were at work. Hori Tupaea begged me not to allow surveyors to go anywhere on the north and west side of To Wairoa. Yesterday a Native named Te Keepa Matu, living in the ranges near Katikati, called upon me to ask for a certificate to the effect that he had made a declaration of allegiance to the Queen twelve months before. When I asked him why he wanted the certificate, he replied, —" Ido not properly " belong to this district, I am a Ngatiwhatua (near Auckland), and I am not going to be put again in " the same position as I was at the breaking out of the war at Waikato. I went to Waikato to fetch "my wife and children, when I got there I could not get back again." I asked him whether he apprehended anything here, and from his replies I could see he knew more than he would reveal. This is the position of matters in these districts. It is hard to tell what amount of truth is mixed up in these rumors, but without wishing to be an alarmist, I believe there is some important movement in contemplation ; in what shape it will develop itself, or where it will burst forth, it is at present impossible to conjecture. The greatest vigilance will be required. It has been stated that there are designs on foot against the Arawa on account of the assistance they have rendered us. The Arawa are on the watch, and will guard against surprise. They will not take any offensive steps to force the " Kati " without the sanction of the Government. The Ngatiporou between this and the Thames District are a constant source of annoyance to this district, and the party under the immediate influence of the notorious Hakaraia cause the Arawa some anxiety. From the close proximity (only six miles) to Maketu on the coast, a hostile force might easily be concentrated at that point without the least chance of discovery, and fall either upon