ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

11

A.—No. la.

Tauranga or Maketu with telling effect. I know of my own personal knowledge that Hakaraia has sent emissaries to Waikato. The Government may rely upon my doing my utmost to preserve peace in these districts, and at the same time carefully watch the course of events with a view of guarding against surprise. I have arranged to meet Dr. Nesbitt and Mr. Mair on the 30th instant, at Maketu, to confer upon these subjects, and to make arrangements about the distribution of food amongst the Arawa. I have, &c, H. T. Claeke, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure 7 in No. 8. The CrviL Commissioner, Auckland, to the Under Native Secretary. Sir— S.S. " Queen," 26th October, 1866. I have the honor to inform you that the friendly Natives in the seaward portion of the Thames District continue firm in their loyalty to the Crown, and are very well behaved in every respect at present. The ex-rebel portion of the population inhabiting the valley of the Thames are in rather an uneasy state, they being all under the influence of Hau-Hauism, and also frequently visited by delegates either from Kawhia or Taranaki, which prevents them from settling down. I understand that at the late meeting held at Ohinemure a large numper of Natives advocated peace, and others proposed war. Three war garments had been sent from Matutaera to Taraia and Te Hira, but they would not consent to a renewal of hostilities. A trustworthy Native, who happened to be travelling through the district at the time, was present at the meeting, and he supplied me with the accompanying sketch of the garments. There was a large open-air meeting in the day-time and a secret one at night. I shall shortly be in possession of information respecting the secret meeting. Only ex-rebels were present with one exception, and that was a Ngatimaru Native, who was supposed to be friendly to the fugitive Waikato from having allowed them to settle on his land. I have heard that Thompson counselled that " Surveyors should be stopped at Tauranga, but not injured ; that their instruments should be taken away, retained for a time, and then be returned to them." He also said " that the General Assembly had offered to return him all Waikato south of Ngaruawahia," and he had refused this. They finally proposed to make Bangiriri the boundary, but he declined. He had consented to take to the Maungatawhiri. He had, on leaving, told the Governor he would fight. Most absurd and exaggerated reports are in constant circulation at Auckland respecting the movements of the Natives, which, after being published and circulated, are generally contradicted within a day or two. These, however, do no good, and engender a spirit of mistrust and suspicion between the two races. I, however, believe that the Natives generally are not so well disposed as they were, and this is principally to be attributed to a renewed confidence in their own strength, caused by the withdrawal of the troops. They have also an idea that it is the intention of the Government to renew hostilities at midsummer. I this day saw a letter written by a Tuparoa Native to the Ngatiporou residing at Kennedy's Bay and Mataora. The following is an extract from it: —" A person will shortly go to fetch you. If you " do not consent you will not then know on what day you will be taken by the Europeans or by us " friendly Natives. Tou will see by-and-bye. This is another word you ask and what took " place when we went on board the steamer. The Captain asked me how many there were going with " me. I said six persons. He then said, 'If they will not agree to come away, an application will be " made to the Governor for a man-of-war to take them prisoners,' and the other heard this. Be " cautious. In the summer will be the great fight in the centre of the island. The Europeans will not " spare a remnant, all will be killed." The Ngatiporou residing at Kennedy's Bay made a similar statement to me on Monday last (22). This I of course contradicted. Several of the Natives who lately migrated from Waikato are now at Piako. They say they have no complaint against the Government. The Government gave them land, but the friendly Natives would not let them enjoy quiet occupation of it. They were constantly making claim to it. This I believe is untrue. Beihana Taiporutu and the Ngaunga party have proceeded to Hangatiki. I am now on my way to Tauranga, to assist Mr. Commissioner Clarke at a land meeting to be held at Motuhoa on Monday next. It is my intention to return to Auckland on the 4th November. I have, &c., The Under Secretary, Native Department, James Mackay, Jun., Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

Enclosure 8 in No. 8. The Besident Magistrate, Napier, to the Native Minister. Sir,— Napier, 29th October, 1866. Since the defeat of the projected attack upon this town by the destruction, at Omarunui and Petane, on the 12th instant, of the Hau Hau detachments, by whom it was to have been perpetrated, and the subsequent pursuit of the fugitives to Tarawera, operations which have been fully reported to the Government by Mr. McLean and Lieutenant-Colonel Whitmore, nothing of any importance has occurred with respect to the Natives of this Province. The result of those operations has been to prove that of whatever practical value the assistance of the local friendly Natives has been, and in many cases it has been considerable, their loyalty at all events is not to be questioned. I have had many interviews with the prisoners since their capture but find them very reticent. They all adhere firmly to the same story that Panapa, the Prophet, and Kipa and Kingita, the fighting