REPORT FROM MR JAMES MACKAY, JUN. (Continued from our last.)

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 200, 21 August 1873, Page 2

REPORT FROM MR JAMES MACKAY, JUN. (Continued from our last.)

* * # # # # llauu-rc Poutamv sent to the Ngatimamapoto at Uira, ami told them " to arm themselves to take revenge for the attack upon me " Subsequently t heard that the plot to mvid n r me liad been nrranged m the Kuiti Runanga, house by Nukii, Kiwi, and Maneha, and about eighty of the Ngatimaliuta tribe, on the night of the sth, and four men, Ruru, Tana, Puru, and To Roia, were appointed to kill me. The religious service in the morning was to give them zeal and strength for their duty, but the three latter objected to perf rm it, ns thep Biid " they ha I no cause of quarrel with me." During the day (6tb) three demands were made by the Ngatimahuta to Manuuhm to be allowed to kill me. Rewi Afaum] o o got very exeit'd about their resistance, and sent Uone to One to Manuwhiri to tell him to keep Maneha and Kiwi quiet, or he would not be answerable for the consequences. He then addressed the Ngatimamapoto and NgaUtuwharetoa as follows, viz : — " At the time of setting up the King, I objected, because I saw that there could not be two chiefs for one house, or two c.iptn na for one ship. I said, let us fight the Europeans, .md i." they kill us all.kt them take our lands. I accordingly went to fight at Waitara Ik-fore going, my elder relation, Potatau, said to me, 'Rewi, you are the descendant of a murderer, Tukorehu (the Maori Cain) , w e are now Christians, and if wo fight we must cease from the evil ways of our ancestors; there must be no murder committed.' I was known as a bad man, the descendant of a family of murderers. I, the man of evil, consented to the word of Potatau. I thought the days of committing murder had gone by. Through the first Taranaki war, I and my people fought fairly, and committed no murders; and the \cry men who asked me to forbear from murdering people, now commit murders themselves If they desire to kill people, why do they not do so openly * These nve the act* ot Waikato, the people who deprecated murders. Todd, at Pirougia, was the first. The European (Lyon) at Kihikibi, near Orakau, was the second. Laney, struck with the taiaha, the third. Sullivan, the fourth ; and, but for fortunate circumstances, you, Mackay, would be the filth. My people only committed one murder — that of Mr Whitely, the missionary. I was not aware t hat they intended to do s>o. Had I been acquainted witli their intentions, I would have prevented it. I subsequently remonstrated with my people, and they said, ' peaco Lad not boon ni ule, it \\.i3 tin act of wur.' I said, 'if this is war, there bhall be no recurrence ol it ; ' and since then my people have remained quiet. When Todd was killed, I used my influence to get the murderers given up, and I was not attended to. Murders still tale place, and I strongly object to such proceedings. I say, if you desire to kill men, fight. I carried on the war at Taranaki. I fought the pakelia at Pc Mauku, Waian, and Orakau, and I think they will admit I did so fairly. I originally urged war with the Europeans, but I was not th:; on,' to give it up. I said let us all die, and then the Europeans can have our countrj. The Waikato, on reaching Maungatautari, said, ' let us leave off fighting the pakeha.' I went away disgusted I never made peace, but ha\e not committed murders. The W-ukato, the men who said ' conse fighting,' do so. Wlij do not they fight openly and straightforwardly ? I suggested that wo should put up a pa between liangutiki and Te Kuiti, and stand or fall there (you, Mackay, passed the place yesterday) They would not consent to this ; and now they will not remain quiet, but commit murders. I said, 'if you want Waikato back, light the pakeha for it ;' I would assent to that, but I w ill not fight for their murders." Hone te One then returned from Manuwhiri, and e&id :—: — "Manuwhiri is restraining Maneha and Kiwi ; he says he took Ruru round among the people this morning, and said ' Who is this fellow?' and no person answered. He wished him to have been killed by Wharepu, or by Topi, and that is why he said who is this fellow." A message was brought by Te Remga, from Manuwhiri, that " he was so poun (dark) he could not eat, and had left the settlement. I had better tell Manga (Revvi) the business I had conic on, and leave the tettlement." I objected, and replied, my instructions are to see Tawhiao, Manuwhiri, and Rewi ; then I will deliver tho message with which I am charged Hewi has taken the responsibility of protecting me, and I will not add to it the heavier one of answering alone the demands of the Government, especially as Ngatimaniapoto have committed no otJ'ence against the Europeans, and are living m peaco with them It is the Watkato who caused tl) is trouble. Te Remga »aid "(his was true," and returned to Mainiwluri's house (he had not left) On her departure, Rewi said, " Mackay, your answer is right. Ido not wish you to tell me your business, as I do not desire the responnibility of answering, especially as they will not accede to my wishes " Next day, in tho course of conversation, Rewi said: — "I have heard that the Maoris who killed the pakeha (Sullivan) nt Pukekua chased another man named Jones, fired at him, nnd when Jones reached the lino of the lands conquered by the Governor, called out ' Stop Jones! There is an end of it you are at the boundary.' " I answered Rewi : — " Yes, that took place, Jones says so " Rewijthen rejoined :—": — " Do you not see that Maori thought that he was acting according to the law. The King said 'Do not lease the lands outside the boundary' — the consequence is that the Europeans are killed." I (Maokay) said :—": — " The Europeans nnd friendly natives do not acknowledge your laws any more than you do ours; and do \ou think the way to settle these questions nnd rome to an understanding is by murdering people ? I think tho Maoris and the Europeans were advancing towards peaco, and these murders hare widened the broach." He answered .—". — " That is true, but if you demand the murderers they will not be given up. I hate tried to get these matters arranged, but can do nothing. You go to Te I ira, and stop there. I will see Manuwhiri and tho others and talk over matters " At night I wm placed in a house with sixty Ngatimamapoto and Ngatiluw haretoa, who had orders to shoot any man who attempted to eater the house without permission. Rewi was there the greater part of the night. I had my revolver hanging at my head. The next morning I was proceeding to the house of Alexander Thompson (half-caste), and wns carrying the revolver, Rewi came tome md said :—: — "Do not carry that weapon about with you. The Waikatos say now ' that you brought it up to murder Tawhiao with,' that is their excuse for {attacking you ; hand it over to Thompson to take care of" I answered • — " What a chance a man would have to escape after murdering Tawhiao among a thousand people ; lam not brave enougli for that. The Europeans do not commit murder in that manner — we I leave that for Waikato to do. Had I any such intention I would not have told you I had a revolver on the morning when I was attacked." Rewi replied :—": — " That is what I told tho Waikatos, that you had revealed to me that you had a revolver, and had you known Ruru was coming that j-ou woul I hnve hiiot him ; that had you intended to ki'l Tawhino you would have carefully hidden the revolver, and not told mo, especially after the attack on yourself. Waikato have demanded the revolver ns utu ; they say Maoris are not allowed to carry arms in European districts, and Europeans have no right to carry arms in Maori country." I said :—": — " I merely brought the revolver for defence on the road. A man docs not liko to be shot like a dog, but as you ask me to leave tho revolver with Thompson I will do so, provided it is not given to Waikato." He rejoined • — " They will never get it. I w ill return it to you, butlnot now." I gave it to Thompson, who put it in his box. The Waikatos heard of this, and demanded it ; Rewi then handed it over to Wahanui for safe keeping. Wahanui took it away, and on the 30th Juno last returned it to me by Aloxandor Thompson, Te Wiwini, and Tuhora. Subsequent to the above recited conversation, I, on tho 7th May, went to Te Uira, Rewi sending twenty-five men on horseback to escort me. As we were leaving, Rewi said, in a sneering manner, in presence of some Waikato natives, " Go to Wahanui at Te Uira, and soo how we low people of Ngatimamapoto will treat yon. We will kill you and Hono Te One also " Ho then laughed ami added, "If you are killed my nock shall bo the payment You are a great Pakeha, nnd I will be content to give mysolf up to tho Government to be hung if you are injured." I afterwards heard that Rowi had told tho Waikatos, "If Mnekay had been killed by Ruru I would have gone to Alexandra and given myself up to the Governor as utu (payment)." Previous to leaving for Te Uira, I wrote a letter to Mannwhiri to tho folio wing effcot I—"That1 — "That I had come toTe Kuiti to deliver a message from the Government to Tawhiao, Rpwi, and himself That ho need not take tiny notico of the attnek on mo by Ruru ; it was wrong, and was not, a* I believed, sanctioned by Tawhiao himself and the other chiefs. Tlmt tho harm done would only be mcroased by not seeing me, and bearing what I was charged by the Government to say ; that ono degradation was enough, in bring attacked, without adding to it further insult. That I object to going back to the Government m that manner." Hcwi has requested me to go to Te Uira to-day. I have consented, but I wish an answer as to the day when we shall meet and discuss mutter 1 . To Reinga returned with the answor, " That Manuwhiri was too ' pouri ' — troubled — to talk " I asked, " Why is ho ' pouri ' — troublod ?" She said, " Because of the attack on you." I then proccocled to Te Uira, where I wag cordially welcomed by the people of Ngaiimaniapoto, Ngatitnwharetoa, and tho Whanuanui natives under the chief To Mamuku. [ Colonel Lyon iirriiod early that morning and made arrangement* to romovH the head quirtrrs of the Armpd ConRtabularv from Hamilton to Cambridge. I nt ovice took stop*, in ooiitvrl with hi.n, to put tho frnjitior in the best stato of cleft. n<,e wh.ich tho hunted, fuve at our disposal permitted, i

and to prevent any mistakes arising about friendly or other natives travelling after dark, a notice warning natires against % travelling 01 roads or over bridges or ferries on the Waikatoand Waipa between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. A3 there were several points on the frontier between Cambridge and Orakau unguarded, and by which a hostile party could penetrate our land* unperceived, and the reports brought in by mj spies beiag to the onect that Purtikutu intended to commit inoro murders, and wa« lying in wnt for Mi- Walker's Inborcrs and stockmen on the we»t side of Maungatautan, I deemed it advisable to establish a po<t at Rotorangi, ft conspicuous hill sin rounded by the | Mo.mutuiit mi Swamp, mid which commanded a rbad from' Wl arepapi to Cambridge, and the swamp road from Cambmlgo to Rangiuohia. 1 aNo suggested to the Government that a number of men of the Ngatuiaho and Ngatitipa tribes, under the long and well tried loyal chiefs Wnemu te Wheoro and Hori Kukutai, should be enrolled a« Armed Constabulary and placed on the frontier. In reply 2 received instructions that all steps necessary for the defence of the district were to be at once taken, and the enrolment of the natives- in> the Armed Constabulary was sanctioned. The Armed Constabulary furnished guards for the bridges at Alexandra and Cambridge, and the Cavalry Volunteers two patrols for the frontier between Alexandra and Rangiaohia, and one for the west bide of the Waikato, between Cambridge and Mnngapiko Te "Wheoro'e contingent (sixty in number) arrived on the 2tth May, and were placed in a position about, midway between Alexandra and Kilnkihi, and commenced the construction of a redoubt to command two fords on the Puma river, to which there T\eieroads~ leading from the interior. if^ A. redoubt has been erected' »fc Pukekura so as to command a road from Maungatautari to Cambridge West. A redoubt is to be constructed at To Tiki, on the main line of roud from Maungatautari to Cambridge, bo as to guard tho approach to the frontier from that quarter. A block house is in course of erection in a commanding position at Paikuku , on the exposed side of Eangiaohia and Orakau. It is in contemplation to erect a block house on the east side of the river Waikato so as to protect the settlers living at Taotaoroa and in that neighbourhood. The only question which has delayed tho commencement of this work is, that some natives, who are at piesently friendly) claim to haie a right to have their names inserted in the Crown Grant of the Taotaoroa black, and that they were excluded from it inconsequence of n ot knowing of the sitting of the Native Land Court. Shoi tly after my arrival in this districts Te Keepa.Ringatu made such strong complaint about S£r Campbell surveying some roadi on the block, and subdividing the land, that I wrote to him on the 14th May requesting him t<vdesist from« the surrey, which Mr Campbell at once coCJnlied ■with. (Tide enclosure G.) The Government have thw^fore considered it unadVisable at present to erect a deferisive work on the Taotaoroa block, but propose to erect a block house at Mr Buck-land's late station in the immediate neighbourhood of it. Tne neU question to be considered for the defence of the district was the establishment of a patrol road, as near as possible to the frontier, so as to connect the various posts, and give the means of forming a proper and satisfactory sys- ' tern of night patrolling. On carefully gows; into the question, and personally inspecting the roads, I found none of those at present used orconstructed were suitable for the purpose. I* therefore submitted proposals to the Government about the formation of a patrol road along tho whole frontier, and I had also, with the aid of Colonel Lyon, drawn out a plan for the disposition of the forces for garrison and patrol duties. Tins met with their approval, and I was authorised to talte the steps necessary to carry out the scheme of defence. The survey of the entire line is now completed. Te Wheoro's contingent hate been relieved from garrison duty at Ford Redoubt, and arc forming the road between Alexandra and Orakau, and there are sivty-fbur men of the friendly Ngatihaua, Ngatitamamu, and Ngatihourua tribes now engaged on the part between Cambridge and Orakau. Te Wheoro's men nro armed and receive pay as Armed Con»tabulary. The Biity-four last named are working by contract at per chain. The line of electric telegraph between Cambridge and Alexandra via Obaupo is in a very bad state of repair, and it was in contemplation to renew it by the same ronte,. and tenders were invited for tho supply of posts for its construction. On the 16th May I recommended to the Go\eminent that the course of the line should be altered, and that it should be taken in such ft manner as to past through the frontier settlements, and be easily connected, if necessary, with the garrisoned posts. The Government approved of the scheme, and Mr Sheath,, the Inspector of Telegraphs for this Province, most cordially assisted me in the- mattpr, a-nd is at present actively engaged, in carrying on the work. Every eifort is being mada by Colonel Lyon and theofficers and men under his command to carry out ,the plant approved of by the Government for the defence of the district. Major Jackson, Captain Runciman, and" the Voluu'teor Cavalry under their command have afforded valuable assistance in furnishing night patrols. I feel eyery confidence in the Constabulary and Volunteers being able to defend tlio settlers and protect the settlers, if the posts, as, proposed, are duly established and garrisoned, the patrol roadi completed,, and telegraphic coinmuni'jation between thevanous frontier posts and settlements effected. In conclusion I propose to revert to the state of the nativemind in tho Waikato district within the confiscated boundary, and to that of* the native population beyond those limits. The friendly natives in the Waikato belong principally to> the Ngatinaho, Ngatitipa, Ngatilamainu, Ngafcihourua, Ngatihikairo, Tainui, Ngatrtaliinga, Ngatiteata, and Ngatihaua. tribes. As a rule they nre well inclined towards the Government, and I have reason to believe that the largest proportion of tlie people composing them will,, under any circum--stanccs, remain loyal to the Crown The Ngatihaua are the most likely to- be disaffected y from their close connection with Purukutu and the larger division of that tribe now at Tokangamutu with him. The Ngatikoroki hapu of Ngatihaua, under Tioriori teHura, who made professions of loyalty, have gone in a body to Tokangamutu. Only two or three days before they abandoned their settlement at Maungatautari they asked to befurnished with arms and ammunition to defend themselves from Purukntu, which request I declined to accede to. I believe it is only the influence of Te Raihi, Hakiriwhi,. and Irihia te Kauae winch keeps any of the Ngatihaua in-, tho district. The Rev W. Barton (Wiremu Patene), Andrew Barton, nnd Mohi te Rongomau have been indefatigable in.r their eterttons to keep order among the Waipa and, Baglan/ natives, flone te One has also- rendbred valuable assistance to the Government at Kawhia, Aofcea, and Raglan, in explmning matters to the natives there, and ia obtaining information. * Tbe chief Wiremu te Wheoro has more influence with, the friendly natives than any other man in the district, and hia opinion is much respected by them. He has, since my arrival here, constantly resided at Cambridge, and has rendered me very valuable assistance, and I entertain a very high opinion of his abilities, judgment, nnd loyalty. The Native Co»tingent Armed Constabulary are under the com^ mand of Colonel Lyon and the immediate charge and control of Mr Tregear, who holds a temporary rank as secondclass Sub- Inspector, and is a promising officer, and Ratama te Whakaete and Hori Hukutai, who rank as second-clasa Sub-Inspectors. Thirty-five men und three non-commiS' sioned officers are with Ratima te Whakaete, working on, the patrol road between Alexandra and Kihikihi. T^mtyfive men and two non-commissioned officers are with Hori Kukutai, constructing the portion between Orakau and Kilukilii. Mr Trogear personally superintends the whole of the work done by his detachment, and his practical knowledge of surveying specially fits him for the duty. The contingent have made considerable advance in drill, and can now parade in a oreditable manner. Colonel Moule, tbet Commissioner of Armed Constabulary, recently expressed himself as |being well satisfied with the progress they havemade, '"he redoubt commanding the Puniu fords, nowknown as " Ford Redoubt," was constructed by them, and was put up in a »hort time in a creditable manner. With your permission I will confine this portion of mjreport to general questions. I am of opinion that the murder committed by Purukutu and his associates was not done with the unanimous consent of Tawhiao and the King pait\,and is looked on by the majority of Hauhaus w lth disfavor. A lew fauatics likeNukuwhenna and Rum are w ilhng at any time to commit the same crime as Purukutu. Purukutu and his paity doubtless murdered Sullivan fortwo reasons, one private and one public The first, because it was annoying to them to see Mr Walker's cattle grazing on land which they were partially oeeupwng themselves, and w Inch had been granted through the Native Land Court to members of their t/ibe who were not in occupation of any part of it, and who diew rents for the depasturage of stock on it A supposed private wrong led Purukutu to uphold what he considered to be Tawhiao'a so-called law against thtt alienation of land by lease or sale. This is the political or public reason for his act. Manmv'hiri in a conversation with Paora Tnhaere, at Tokaugiimutu, on the 1 lth May last, distinctly states :— " It is said that Tawhiao was the cause of Purukutu'si'act. Purukutu committed murder for Ins own land. Another man kills a Europoin for his own Und." It may be asked it' Sullivan was not killed in consequence of instructions from the King, how is it that he has found ,>n asylum at Tokangamutu ? In my opinion, Purukutu, went unwillingly to Tokonganiiitu, in numerous messages were despatched to him before :he would comply with Tawlnao's request. I believe he was sent for to keep him from doing further mischief, and to prevent linn from precipitating a war with the Europeans, when, the Hauhau party were not ready to fight. Manuw'-in, in a recent conversation with Nini Kukutai, at Tokangamutu suid: — ''Purukutu will not be allowed to return to Maunj.it autan. If he goes it will be on his own reapon*

•ibility, and not on Tawhiao's, because Tawhiao does not w»nt to fight." T&whiao arrived at Te Kuiti from Hauturu, secretly, during the afternoon of the 7th, although Te Tuhi wrote to me a letter sa\ing that "Tawhiao was still at Hautauru, as his wife wa» ill from a recent confinement." I only mention this as showing the subterfuges adopted by the King party, and the miserable nature of their communications I received information that a secret meeting was held that night in the Runanga house, with closed doors, to discos Ruru'i attack on me, and if. was proved that it was done at the instigation of Nuku, the same as the murder of Mr Richard Todd. I fcund Te Kooti at Te Uira, and he appeared to have considerable influence with the Ngatimaniapoto. Wahai.ui put nine men on guard at night to watch over my safety, and Te Kooti was not satisfied until three of his men were added to the party. Te Kooti was very friendly. I, however, felt a strong objection to ha\e any intercourse with him, but he insisted on telling me his history, and detailing the wrongs which ho aaid he had suffered at the hands of the Government, in being deported to the Chatham Islands when he was innocent of rebellion, and had fought on our side at Waerengalukn. He said he would have nothing to do with the Waikatos ; lie believed in fighting, but not in their manner, by committing occasional murders ; that he would be guided in all things by Hew 1. On the morning of the 'Bth May, Wolianui asked me to return to Alexandra, which I refused to do. I then requested him to go to Te Kmti, to 'lawluao, Manuwluri, and Rewi, and urge- them fco gee me on the Government business. I was desirous that all three should be present, as I heard the administration of affairs, tins year was >ested in Tawhiao only. He returned in the evening with a letter from Manuwhiri, telling me to go back to Alexandra. I replied to it, "I am willing to return there when I have spoken the words, of the Government to 30U, then I will hasten back. Consent to let me spejik to jou and Rewi, then I will go to Alexandra " Te Ka Whakaari, who accompanied Wahanui from Te Kuiti, urged me to go, saying that the whole of the tribes had met to consider certain questions, and my being at Tokangamutu prevented them from proceeding to business. T gave him the same answer as to the others, viz, that I would not leave until I had delivered the message of the Government. I at the same time wrote to Rewi, asking him to use his influence to bring about a meeting with Tawhiao ami Manuwhiri, and to come to Te Uira next morning, if the answer was unfavorable. It is a curious circumstance that the man who carried the letters to Manuwhiri and ltewi, a half-caste named Te Roia, connected with both Waikato and Ngatimauiapoto tribes, was one of the men selected by Nuku to murder me, a fact which he acquainted me with on the morning of the 9th, when I paid him for his services in conveying the letters. He said that the whole affair was plotted by Nuku, and Kiwi, in tbe Kuiti Runanga house ; th.it he, Ruru Tana, and Puru, consented to take part in the murder the night before, but in the morning all but Ruru objected, because they had no cause of quarrel with me. Rewi Maniapoto arrived at Te Uira shortly after daylight, and the following conversation took place between us, viz. • — Mtickay — " Has Manuwhiri received my letter ? " Rewi — " Yeg. I took it to him last night. He will not ace you " Mackay— " What is the answer ?" Rewi — " He will not see you." Mackay — " If so, I must tell you the message I have to deliver." Rewi—" I do not wish to hear it by myself." Mackay — " Neither do I wish to deliver it to you only, as your ti ibe have not committed any offence ; but I will tell you, so that you can deliver it to Maimwhiri, Tawhiao and others. This is what 1 was charged by the Government to say to Tawhiao, Manuwhiri, and yourself. I will confine it to three questions. I had other matters to talk of, but I shall not now allude to them." Ist. This is a question. " Who instigated Purukutu to kill Sullivan at Pukekura ; was it his own act, or that of the King ?" Rewi—" I am trying to find that out now ? that is one of the mattert for the consideration of the meeting." Mackay — 2nd. " Arc you willing to gire up the murderers to be tried by the law ? There are seven of them concerned — Moln Purukutu, Hori te Tumu, Whina, Herewme Ngamuka, PaoraTuhuna, WiraTarawhati, and Holiepa Motiuti. Now, of these, two, I believe, killed the man and mutilated him. According to our law, they are all liable to be punished. You, however, can easily find out the two. If you wilFdeliver them up to be tried, the Government will be satisfied." Raw. — " That is another matter for the conuderation of the meeting." Mackay — 3rd " If you will not give them up promptly, will you in that case stand aside, and allow the Government to take them ? " Rew i — " Let those questions be left for the consideration of the meeting. These demands are the same as those contained in the letter of the Government which I received." Mackay — " Yes ; but the Government thought it better to send me also. I had other things to Bay, had these questions been answered ; but as they are not, I shall keep them to myself." I IRewi — " I wity attend to your questions, and let you know the result." Mackay — " But you may be a long time in arriving at it. I want you to fix a day w hen you w ill reply to my demands." Rowi — " The meeting will take some time perhaps. Let me see this is the 9th ; perhaps by the 1 1th I may be able to answer." Mackay — " Ido not want to hurry your answer, as lont» fts you agree to give one. But I must ha\o a reply, for I have heard from Te Wheoro that Ngatiraukawa say there are to be (three more murders. I mil give you until the 20th. You can either write to me or the Government, or both." Rewi — " I will send you an answer by that time, if we come to a conclusion. Do not be in a hurry, be easy (ngawari) ." Mackay — " You say ngawari (easy). Why should Ibe «asy when you are so hard that you (the King and others) will not even allow me to deliver a message properly ?" Rewi — " lam a child, and you are an old man." Mackay — " Yes ; you are a child, as far as kntAving how to make guns, powder, mills, and ships, but in matters relating to war, peace, and murder you are my equal, for you did those (things before I came into the country. I must have the answer, and this has nothing to do with my not being allowed to gee Manuwhiri and Tawhiao." Rewi — " That is because your coming here and the attack made on you has disturbed the business of the meeting, and we havo not proceeded to discuss matters. We are inquiring into these very interesting questions you have come about." Mackay — " I have something else to say with reference to Purukutu. I hear he 19 out with armed men, and will comm't more murders. Recollect, if he does, between now and the 20th, I will follow him, and take him. Do not then blame me for any evil that arises. I have warned you of his intentions, and you h"d better prevent him." Rewi—' 1 That is your business. I would not say that was wrong (I think he meant this individually), but Tawhiao himself has gone there (to Wharepapa, yesterday." This concluded the talk ; Rewi shook hands, mounted his horse, and gave me a hint he wanted to speak privately. I walked down beside his horse. I said— "Keep clear of Waikato ; look out for your lands." He replied — " lam working at that business of yours every day — leave it to me [ to work out." Rewi then said to Wahanui, " provide Mackay with an escort to take him safe back to Alexandra " He returned to Te Kuiti, and I proceeded to Alexandra with Hone te One and Warana, escorted by Taiaroa, Tumu, Tawhata, *nd seventeen men of the Ngatimaniapoto tribe. I travelled from Alexandra to Cambridge on the evening of the 10th May, and, after passing Walker's station, noticed a signal fire on the Pukekurft range. About 11 o'clock p.m. reports of fire arms were heard behind Cambridge West, in the direction of Pukekura, aud parties of Armed Constabulary and Volunteers, under Major Clare and Captain Runciman, were sent out to bring in women and children of the outsettlers, and patrol until daj light ; I accompanied one of these parties w ith Mr J. Sheehan, M.H.R., and •hortly after sunrise we <aw a boy named Dillon running along the road in breathless haste and evident fear. He said lie had been looking for milking cows belonging to hit father, and a Maori rushed out of some thick manuka and chased him. A number of men were sent, for and we commenced a very careful search for the Maori or Maoris. We did not succeed in finding them, but discovered where two had lam down in the fern, and on some new ly sown grass land of Mr Walker's found tracks of |three natives who hod been sitting down, and the imprints of the butts of tlieir guns were clearly risible. The footmarks crossed the ploughed land and entered •ome manuka scrub in the direction leading to the Pukekura range. I have since ascertained that they were three of Purukutu's men who came down to carry off some blankets and clothing, which had been hidden in the manuka for them by some of the Maungatautari natives. Tawhiao knowi that if he delivers Purukutu over to the Europeans, a large number of his people will immediately secede from him, and hi* power and influence become a thiug of the past. The natives are all aware that Mohi Hotuhotu Purukutu is, according to Maori custom, one of the owners of the Purekura block ; that the issue of the Crown Grant, and the subsequent leasing and occupation of the land by Mr Walker, ha* helped to deprive him of his rights ; that Tawhiao, and Ins Runanga laid down \\\u\\ HlO3 consider to be a law, lorbidding the sale or leaau ol lands outside the confiscated boundarj, for winch death was to be mflicted on any European concerned, or any Kupapu (friendly) native. It 13 true Tawluao had subsequently suid, "'lhat the »word should be sheathnl " Purukutu did not recognize

that this repealed the penal clause of the first so-called law, and by a mis-interpretation he killed Sullivan. It is my firm conviction that, as seen from the Hauhau point of uew, the above are the reasons wliv Purukutu is not handed over to be tried by the law in answer to the demands made by the Government. I wish it most distinctly to be understood that the above remarks are not my ideas of what is ngl't or wrong in the matter, but merely an imposition of the feelings of the Hanhnu party arrived at by me after much observation and reflection. I paid two visits to Te Waotn to the Ngatirauknwa Tribe, and also had an interview with Kewi Munupoto atTe Kopua. I believe I can safely Bay that the Ngatnnaniapoto an 1 Ngatiraukaw a Tribes will not join in any hostile movement against the Europeans arising out of Purukutu's proceedings. In considering the question of tho defence of this district, it must always be borne in mind that the Waikato and Ngutihfiua tribes have 'no land of their own at Tokangamutu, and that some subdivisions (liapus) of Waikato lost the whole of their lands by confiscation. Those are the men who smart under the feeling that they are mere sojourners on the lands of Rcwi and Ngatimaniapoto, and it is against them that the Government of the country must at all times be upon their guard, and keep tho frontier in good defensive order, or there will be numerous repetitions of acts similar to that of Mohi Hotuhotu Purukutu. The alarm and excitement which at first prevailed in the Waikato amongst the frontier settlers after tho murder of the unfortunate Timothy Sullivan has subsided, and they are now quietly following their usual avocations with a feeling of security not before experienced in this district It is, however, a very prevalent opinion in their minds that the murderers of Timothy Sullivan should be brought to justice, winch they consider would pre\ent the recurrence of similar outrages. I do not think it would be right to close this report without drawing the attention of ths Government to the very cordial manner in which I have been assisted in my duties in this district by the whole of the officers ot the Government; and I would point out that Mr Reynolds, Telegraphist and Postmaster, at Cambridge, and Mr Rayner, who holds a similar office at Ngaruawahia, are two most efficient and de # serving officers, and have shown a large amount of zeal for the public service during a period when their duties have been very arduous. Mounted Constable Collins, who acts a^ my orderly, appears to be a man worthy of promotion, and ho has accompanied mo to some native settlements, where there was risk, and hai invariably conducted himself in a praiseworthy and efficient manner. A native lad named Peri, of the Ngntihaua tribe, has been a very trustworthy messenger and collector of information ; and on one occasion, w hen I sent very important letters by him to Wharepapa, he jwas captured by Purukutu, tied up, and would have been killed but for the intercession of some of his relations ; he, however, contrived to retain tho letters and procure the information required. I enclose herewith a rough sketch showing the position of the posts on the frontier, the patrol road as surveyed, and tho line of telegraph now in course of construction. I hope the sketch may be useful in explaining certain portions of this report. — I have, &C., Jamts Mackvy, Jun., Agent General Government, Waikato. The lion the Native Minister, Wellington.

The Air from mr. Diving-bem.. — Tt lms been found by M. J. D. Pasteur, of Gennep, that the air escaping from the diving apparatus, although unfit for healthful respiration, will still maintain combustion. He has, therefore, con» strutted a lamp for burning under water, which is supplied with the air which has been used by the diver. The diver wears a lamp attached to his dress, and, as it is provided with n parabolic reflector, nnd the combustion i* well oupported, the light given is sufficient to read small handwriting under a considerable deptli of ■water. Dr Conneau nnd Dr Baron Corvisart waited upon Sir William Gull and presented him on the part of the Empress Eugenie with a costly gold box, bearing the Imperial cipher in diamonds This memento, presented by the Empress through Sir William Gull's French colleagues in recognition of his services, is all the more precious because the box contains a pair of slecve-hnks worn by the late Emperor Uapoleon. The new hotel in front of the Midland Railway terminus m Eu«ton Road has been opened. The mere fabric will cost the Midland Company the turn of £330,000, while the decoration and furnishing of the interior will require an additional amount of £150,000. It is intended eventually to accommodate about 600 guests. A Milwaukee lady bad several hundred dollars' worth of point lace clipped off her clothing by an adroit thief while she was at church singing " strip me of the robe of pride; clothe me in humility." A contemporary describes how " a young man who thinks he ha« a fine tenor voice was vaccinated with a brickbat by a sleepless neighbor one night lajt week." Dr. B right's PnosriiODYxr.— Multitudes of people are hopelessly suffering from Debility, Nervous and Liver Complaints, Depression of Spirits, Delusions, Unfitne^ for Business or Study, Failure of Hearing, Sight, and Memory, Lassitude, Want of Power, <!Le , whose casce admit of permanent cure by the new remedy Phosphodvne (Oxonic Oxygen), which at once allays all irritation and excitement, imparts new energy and life to the enfeebled constitution, and rapidly cures every stage of these hitherto endurable and distressing maladies. Sold by all Chemists and Storekeepers througout the colonies, from whom pamphlets containing testimonials may be obtained — Caution : Be particular to ask for Dr Bright's Phosphod^vne as imitations are abroad; and avoid purcha«ing single bottles, the genuine article being sold in cases only. — Advt