A.—B.

4

complained of the treatment they were receiving from the military detachments stationed at Stoney River and Warea, aud Mr. Carrington, who was stationed there as interpreter, sent me a written statement of what was going on, which I forwarded to the Hon. the Native Minister by letter dated February 17th ; but in case your Excellency should not have seen it, I beg to transmit a copy herewith. In terms of my genoral instructions from Mr. FitzGerald (which I am directed by the present Native Minister to act upon), I located those Natives at the Taihua in September last. They are an important section of the Ngamahanga, tribe, of which Iharaira Tuaparo is the principal chief. In January, 1865, they signed the oath of allegiance, after I had risked my life by going into the bush for them, believing, as I always h;ive, that nothing but a forced communication with these deluded fanatics would have the effect of bringing them back to their allegiance to the Government. I feel that both the Natives and myself have been ill-used, and it weighs upon my mind as to whether I shall be dealing honestly with them in prosecuting my duties in terms of my instructions, and thereby rendering them liable to the sort of treatment the Taihua Natives complain of. Te Ua's case was very similar. I was authorized by Colonel Haultain to bring him into a settled district. Having prevailed upon him to secede from the rebels, I located him at Matakaha (his own place) with a friendly chief, Arama Karaka. I could have induced him to go to Wellington, or any other place, without subjecting him to the disagreeables of being paraded as a prisoner from his place to Wanganui. Of course, the Natives will think I have acted treacherously toward them, until they can be convinced to the contrary, which will be no eas} r task. I have sent your Excellency's letter to Wiremu Kingi Matakatea, and expect in a few days to hear the result. Herewith, I have the honor to enclose for your Excellency a Taranaki Herald, containing in its leading article a correct account of the cause of his defection. Whenever your Excellency can part with Te Ua, I shall be glad to have him to assist me in my critical work for the pacification of my district, which was progressing most favorably up to the time of the late military disasters. I have, &c, R. Paekis, His Excellency Governor Sir George Grey, X.C.8., Auckland. Civil Commissioner.

No. 5. Instructions by Mr. J. C. Richxioud, Native Minister, to Mr. Pabeis. Sic, — Native Secretary's Office, Wellington, 10th September, 18G6. In reference to conversations between yourself and the Government, on the subject of the approaching sittings of the Compensation Court at Taranaki, I have the honor to inform you that the Government are of opinion that your services will be of more value in negotiating and arranging claims on the Ngatiawa and Ngatimanui Coast Blocks, proclaimed under the New Zealand Settlements Act, in the capacity of Judge of the Compensation Court within the districts referred to. It has, therefore, been arranged to relieve you of the duty of acting in the approaching sittings at Taranaki, and some other Judge will be instructed to act in your stead. It will be desirable, if possible, to induce the absentees who claim within the blocks in question, to abandon their claims, and you are authorized to treat with W. Katene te Manu, or any other leaders of the Ngatiawa, and other claimants in Nelson and Marlborough, for the surrender of their entire claims within the confiscated territory on the "West Coast. These claims number in all about 216, according to the notes of the Compensation Court on the investigation of claims at Oakura and Waitara South. The Government are of opinion that reserves to the extent of, say, 5,000 acres of the same average character as that allotted to military settlers, aud a sum of £1,500, ought to be the limit of the offer made to quiet these claims, which, by the rule already laid down in the Court, will be excluded from all compensation. If Mr. A. Mackay is in Nelson, he will be instructed to assist you; and the Government trust you may be able to prevent any large number of the claimants going to the expense of a journey to Taranaki, where they will probably meet only disappointment. On your arrival ia Tarauaki, your duty will be first to deal with the claims within the Ngatiawa Coast and Middle Taranaki Blocks, and if possible so to arrange them that the work of the Court may be only to give formal sanction to adjustments previously assented to by the claimants. It will be right to make it clear, in these negotiations, that the whole of the large district reaching inland of Mount Egmont is passing through the Court, and that their claims within the district will be entirely disposed of, and no further claim afterwards allowed. You will of course consider, in assenting to any arrangements, not only the extent but the comparative value of the land returned or retained. As soon as this business is in proper train, which, with your exact knowledge of the positions and rights of all the hapu within the district, and with the aid of the Crown Agent, the Government hope may be accomplished at a very early date, attention must be turned to the territory immediately to the northward of the Eiver Patea. It is of the very greatest importance to enable the Government promptly to place the military settlers who have been promised land in this neighbourhood; and to that end they desire to be assured as early as possible whether any, and what extent of, friendly claims can be substantiated to land that has been surveyed for settlement, and what kaingas and favourite places it is proper to reserve for surrendered rebels. If you can by any means obtain exact information on this subject without waiting till after the sitting of the Court at New Plymouth, it will be a great satisfaction to the Government. You will next proceed with the attempt to arrange generally for the claims in the rest of the Ngatiawa Coast Block. The Government wish that all the land of W. Kingi Matakatea, Arama Karaka, and their liapus should be left to them, excepting space for a township at Opunake, which it is understood they are willing to cede. These are almost the only loyal men residing within the block. With respect to the eurrendering rebels, a reserve or reserves will have to be made at convenient