H.—l4

6

Enclosure 13 in No. 5. The Hon. Colonel Haultaik to Mr. H. Alley. Sin, — Auckland, 14th December, 1875. I enclose you a memo., by Mr. 11. T. Clarke, with reference to the statement you made to me at Shortland, on the 7th instant. I have written to Mr. Davis, asking him to take the first opportunity of seeing me on the subject of your complaint against Messrs. Puckey and Clarke. I have, &c, 11. Alley, Esq., Hikutaia. T. M. Haulta^. Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 13 in No. 5. Memoeaxdttm on Mr. Alley's statement in support of the charges brought by him against Messrs. Puckey and Clarke, re removal of cattle from Waiharakeke. I have endeavoured to tax my memory as to the circumstances mentioned by Mr. Alley. Ist. As to my sending him a letter of warning in 1873; and 2ndly, as to the visit he made to Tauranga and the conversation ho states I had with him. As far as my memory serves me, I never wrote a letter of warning to Mr. Alley, nor did I ever receive a special visit from him iv reference to Waiharakeke. If Mr. Alley did pay a visit to Tauranga, it must have been to Mr. Hopkins Clarke. In May, 1873, I was in the Bay of Islands ;in midwinter (July), I was in "Wellington. I confidently affirm that the alleged conversation never took place with me or in my presence. It is not at all probable that I would allow the following statement to go unchallenged. He states, " I said it was hard that I should be treated differently from Messrs. Firth and Buckland, and others who had been assisted by the Government to maintain their position even in more troublous times." If this refers to Mr. Buckland driving cattle through hostile country, it is contrary to fact. The Government did not assist Mr. Buckland, but he was warned not to make the attempt. He did, however, make the attempt, and suffered, severe loss. I think that it will be found by reference to papers iii Wellington that the letter of warning was written by Mr. Hopkins Clarke in my absence. With regard to the action taken by Mr. Puckey, I think it right to state that had I been in Tauranga at the time Mr. Alley took possession of Waiharakeke, and had I been assured that serious consequences would have arisen from Mr. Alley's occupation, my duty to the Government, as an officer of the Native Department, would have compelled me to follow the same course adopted by Mr. Puckey. I declare this distinctly, lest it should be inferred from what I have stated above that I wish to shirk the responsibility. Auckland, 10th December, 1875. H. T. Claeke. .

Enclosure 14 in No. 5. The Hon. Colonel Hattltain to Mr. H. Alley. Sie ,— Auckland, 29th December, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd instant, which I return to you, as I cannot retain, as an official document, a letter containing such grossly calumnious statements with respect to the Native Minister, and which, if published, would subject you to prosecution for libel. I have already informed you that I have no authority to inquire into anything but the charges you have preferred against Messrs. Puckey and Clarke, and your correspondence with me must be strictly confined to these matters. I have a reply from Mr. Davis, dated Hikurangi, Kuiti, 16th December, 1875, in which he says that there is no probability of his being in Auckland for some time. I have, &c, H. Alley, Esq. T. M. Haultain.

Enclosure 15 in No. 5. The Hon. Colonel Haultain to Mr. H. Alley. Sib— Auckland, 4th May, 1876. I must shortly complete my report to the Government, and having heard nothing from your interpreter, Mr. Davis, since December last, I request that you will inform me whether you have any further evidence to substantiate the charges you have made against Messrs. Puckey and Clarke, of having instigated the Natives to repudiate their agreements with you, and to drive your cattle from the Waiharakeke Block. I have, &c, H. Alley, Esq. T. M. Hatjltain.

Enclosure 16 in No. 5. Mr. Halley to the Hon. Colonel Haultain. Sib,— Hikutaia, 14th May, 1876. I have just returned from Cambridge, and the Ngaiterangis, or a tribe that live near Tauranga, told me that they were advised to drive the cattle off the run, and they also stated that the