DISTURBANCES AT PATEA.

19

A.-No. 3.

Armed Constabulary are a civil as well as a military force, and Waihi being distant about twenty-five miles renders communication rather difficult. Requesting that you will be good enough to furnish me with all necessary instructions, as soon as it may be convenient, I have, &c, Captain Holt, Under Secretary, Wm. Huntee, Inspector, A.C, Wellington. Commanding Patea District.

Enclosure in No. 23. Jnstructions for the Guidance of the Officer Commanding Betachment Armed Constabulary, Kakaramea. Patea, 29th March, 1868. 1. To patrol frequently all about the neighbourhood of his post, especially where settlers are located. 2. To at once apprehend any Native or Natives whom they find opposing the settlers in the occupation of their land, or who may be pointed out by any settler as having done so. The offenders to be sent to Patea under escort. 3. Great care to be taken that no offence is offered to the Natives living near. They are to be civilly treated and spoken to, but at the same time made aware that the detachment has been sent there to carry out the intentions of the Government, and that the settlers who wish to occupy their land will be protected, and those who oppose them will be punished. 4. It must be distinctly understood that the detachment are pnly to act as peace officers, and to arrest offenders, and must not use their arms against the Natives without orders from Head Quarters. Wm. Huntee, Inspector, Armed Constabulary.

Jnstructions for Senior Sergeant Anderson while in Charge of the Betachment of Armed Constabulary at Wairoa. Patea, 29th March, 1868. 1. The detachment has been sent to Wairoa at the request of the Besident Magistrate, in consequence of several reports from settlers in the neighbourhood that their houses had been robbed by Natives. 2. It will be the duty of tho detachment to patrol frequently all about the district where the settlers are located, and arrest any Natives whom they may find transgressing the law, by stealing or otherwise, or who may bo pointed out by any settler as having done so. The offender or offenders to be sent at once to Patea under escort. 3. Great care to be taken that no offence is offered to the Natives living near. They are to be civilly treated and spoken to, but at the same time made aware that the detachment has been sent there to protect the settlers, and to arrest offenders against the law whether European or Natives. 4. It must be distinctly understood that the detachment are only to act as Deace officers, and to arrest offenders, and must not use their arms against the Natives without orders from Head Quarters. Wm. Huntee, Inspector, Armed Constabulary.

No. 21. Copy of a Letter from Captain Holt to the Offices Commanding Colonial Forces, Patea. (No. 186-2.) Colonial Defence Office, Sic,— Wellington, 4th April, 1868. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter, No. 247, of the 30th ultimo, and in reply am directed by the Defence Minister to instruct you as follows : — The Volunteer Militia are to be retained at Patea unless some emergency requires their presence elsewhere. If it is desirable that Kakaramea and Oika should be protected, the Mounted Constabulary must patrol in that direction. No Natives are to be apprehended without a warrant from the Besident Magistrate, unless they are found in the act of committing a felony. Privates in the Militia are to receive 4s. a day, and other ranks in proportion, but are to provide themselves with rations. As Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, with Sub-Inspector and Paymaster Cumming, will in all probability return to Patea very shortly, there is no necessity for issuing fresh instructions for the payment of the men. You, however, in the meantime, should prepare and send in to this office estimates of the sums which will be required to pay the Volunteer Militia and Armed Constabulary for the current month. I have, &c., J. Holt, The Officer Commanding Colonial Forces, Patea. Under Secretary.

No. 25. Copy of a Letter from Captain Holt to Inspector Huntee. (No. 184-2.) Colonial Defence Office, Sic,— Wellington, 9th April, 1868. Beferring again to your letter, noted in the margin, I am directed to inform you that the latest reports received by the Government confirm them in considering that no danger need be

247-1, March 30, 1863.