IN NATIVE DISTEICTS.

7

F.—No. 6b,

No. 7. Mr. Halse to Mr. Paeeib. Sie,— Native Office, Wellington, 27th September, 1870. I have the honor, by direction of Mr. McLean, to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 22nd instant, reporting the progress made by the Natives at the Parihaka meeting; and to convey tojovl his thanks for the same. I have, &c, H. Halse, The Civil Commissioner, Taranaki. Assistant Under Secretary.

No. 8. .; Mr. Paeeis to the Hon. D. McLean. Sib,— New Plymouth, 27th September, 1870. I very much regret not being able to send you by this mail my report in full of the Parihaka meeting, which terminated last Friday evening, and on Saturday, 24th instant, the main body of Natives assembled left to return to their respective districts, leaving only the Tokangamutu Natives, and the Southern Natives from the Wellington Province, who intended remaining a few days longer. I returned to New Plymouth on Saturday evening, and on (Sunday I was engaged with Mr. Commissioner Branigan, and with Captain Montgomerie, R.N., up to the time of their leaving. During my absence at Parihaka, two Natives arrived from Tokangamatu with a second letter from Rewi Manga to Iliaia Kirikumara, inviting him to go there. The two Natives arrived soon after our departure from Parihaka, and have been stopping at Waitara. Ihaia stopped at Eopata Ngarongomate's place at Oakura until yesterday, having on Saturday sent on to Waitara requesting the two Natives to meet him on Monday (yesterday) at my office. The two Natives came in, and the question of Ihaia going to Tokangamutu was fully discussed by a largo party, the result of which was a proposal to make up a party from this district (myself included) to accompany Ihaia. I explained to them that Tokangamutu was out of my district, and that I could not go unless ordered by the Government; that with reference to other Natives going with Iliaia, they had better await the arrival of yourself and His Excellency the Governor, reported here to be expected this week for a certainty. The young chief Pungarehu, whose arrival I reported in my letter of lLth August, No. 209, has remained with us ever since. I had him at my own house, and showed him civility and kindness, and he accompanied me to Parihaka, and kept with us the whole time, although Te' Whiti and Aporo invited him to stop with them. The two last messengers from Eewi were anxious for Ihaia to leave with them at once, as they had been waiting for him a fortnight, and said that as they were leaving Tokangamutu a party of Arawa arrived here. Ihaia stated that he should wait to see if you came with the Governor. To-day some Parihaka Natives are coming in about some horses which were driven off their run, near Warea, by some Europeans who took advantage of the absence of the Natives attending the meeting, thinking, I suppose, it was a favourable opportunity for taking the property of the Natives. The discovery was made by some Parihaka Natives who went out to the run to catch some horses which they were not able to find, and on looking about they discovered traces of horses with shoes oil their feet apparently following others without shoes, and they traced the marks as far as Kaihihi, where they were told by some European children than a party of Europeans had driven live horses past that place towards Tataraimaka. The Natives returned to Parihaka, and reported what had occurred, which caused excitement and unpleasantness for me, and the next day the young men went out scouting the district. I wrote to Mr. Halse, requesting him to see the other members of the Native Board, and tako immediate action to arrest the offenders, if sufficient evidence could be obtained; but I am sorry to say that, up to the present time, the information ia insufficient, although there is strong suspicion against certain individuals. Since my return I have been besieged by Natives, in reference to the before-mentioned matters, and have been utterly unable to do anything to my report of the Parihaka meeting. The axe has been laid to the tree, but its fall is problematical. Te Whiti has said there is no longer a King, but will other tribes submit to his dictation? One thing, I think, is certain :it will tend more than anything that has occurred to break up the league, in reference to which Heremai said to me, " Katahi te motu ka puta ki te Kawanatanga" (Now for the first time the people of this Island will acknowledge the Government.) I have, &c, E. Paebis, , The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 9. Mr. Paebis to the Hon. D. McLeatt. Sib,— New Plymouth, Ist October, 1870. I have the honor to forward herewith a report of the proceedings of the Parihaka meeting', which broke up on Saturday last, the 2-ith ultimo, the main body of the natives leaving on that day to return to their respective homes. The meeting, which was convened by Te Whiti, a young chief of the Patukai hapu of the Taranalu Tribe, who has for the last three years been exerting his influence to put a stop to hostilities, was expected to be one of importance in reference to the future relations between the two races in NewZealand, and for that reason, as I have already represented to the Government, I was of opinion that