IN NATIVE DISTRICTS.

15

F.—No. 6a

No. 13. Mr. Searancke to the Hon. D. McLean. Sie,— Hamilton, 24th June, 1871. I have tho honor to inform you that the Native Assessor Te Hakiriwhi, of Tamahere, informed me this day that he had just returned from attending a meeting a meeting at Waniwani (a Hauhau settlement on south-west side of Maungatautari), to which the whole of the Ngatihaua Tribe had been invited. About ten of the principal men, including Te Raihi, .Kereama, Tioriori, Rihia, Piripi Matewha, Waata, and Te Teira, attended the meeting. On the part of the Hauhaus, Kerei (Ngatiraukawa), Purukutu (Patukoko), Te Reweti Te Aho, Riki, and Te Pakaroa (all of Te Ngatihaua Tribe), Te Kuiti; (Enoka), of Ngatiruru, Pita Pokai (Ngatikoroki), and Te Ao Katoa (Ngatiraukawa), were the principal chiefs and speakers. Te Kati was also present, but did not speak, acting as prompter to the speakers only. The friendly Natives were not aware of the purpose for which the meeting was called, but believed it to be about the Taupo mail service. Kerei and Purukutu appear to havo been the principal speakers, and spoke very strongly that mails, surveys, roads, telegraph lines, sales or leases of lands must be discontinued at once, also inviting Te Ngatihaua to come inland to join the King party, so that when the great fight, which would extend to Auckland, took place, they, the Ngatihaua (Kupapa) might be saved ; that this was the third and last invitation, and warned them not to disregard it; that the house of Japhet (the Europeans) were a deceitful race ; alluded to Te Aroha, and the way in which it had been taken from them. Ail the Hauhau chiefs followed in the same strain, using both threats and persuasions to try and induce the Kupapas to join them. They were answered by Te Raihi, Tume, Waata, and Tioriori, also by Te Hakiriwhi, Kereama, Rihia, and Te Teira; by the first-named in a very friendly spirit, allowing, in fact, that what the Hauhaus had said was all quite true and correct, more particularly by Te Raihi and Waata, the former making, as an excuse for not joining them, his having taken the oath of allegiance. By Te Hakiriwhi and the others, in a different spirit, refusing to consent to the Hauhau requests; that they would continue the sale and lease of lands (their own) ; that they were satisfied with, and would continue to live under, the House of Japhet; that no good would come of fighting ; alluded to the fighting that had already taken place, and invited them to come in and live peaceably. Some confusion seems to have taken place amongst tho Hauhaus when Te Hakiriwhi and Kereama spoke; they both spoke strongly, defied and taunted the Hauhaus. After the meeting was over, Reweti Te Aho and Te Pakaroa informed Te Hakiriwhi that they had lately returned from Te Kuiti, where they had been received in state by Tawhiao, who had desired them to gather from amongst the Europeans all their friends, and to stop all mails, &c. My informant, Te Hakiriwhi, seems to be deeply impressed with the remarks made at this meeting by the Hauhaus—-their boldness and defiant manner, as also at the remarks made by Te Raihi and his friends. Another meeting on the same subject is to take place at Te Whetu within a few weeks, I am informed. As Mr. Edwards, interpreter to the officer commanding this district, was present at the meeting at Waniwani, he will be better able to give full particulars; but I have also thought it as well that you should have a Native's views. I have, &c., The Hon. D. McLean, Native Minister, Wellington. William N. Searancke, R.M.

No. 14. Mr. Halse to Mr. Searancke. Sir,— Native Office, Wellington, 28th July, 1871. I have the honor, by direction of Mr. McLean, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th June, reporting information received from Te Hakiriwhi of a meeting held at Waniwani, near Maungatautari. I have, &c, William Searancke, Esq., H. Halse, Resident Magistrate, Hamilton. Assistant Native Secretary.

RAGLAN. No. 15. Mr. Brabant to the Hon. D. McLean. Sie, — Alexandra, 21st February, 1871. I have the honor respectfully to submit for your information a short report of the state of the Natives in the Raglan District, including the settlement at Aotea. 1. The tribes resident in the district are Ngatitamainu, Ngatikotara, and Ngatihuaki—Chief, Hakaraia Te Huaki, whose settlements are on the north arm of the harbour of Raglan ; Tainui and Ngatitahinga —Chiefs, Te Wetini and Hoeta Paerangi, who live at Horea, and near the Heads ; Ngatimahanga, —Chiefs, Hone Pirihi and Hetaraka Nero, who have settlements in several parts of the district; Ngatihikairo—Chief, Hone Te One ; part of Ngatihaua and Ngatinaho—Chief, Te Kewene Te Haho ; and Ngatitewehi—Chief, Hepata; these last residing at Aotea.