GOVERNORS OF NEW ZEALAND. XXI. EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS OF GOVERNOR SIR GEORGE GREY. Government House, Auckland, 27th April, 1847. I received last night a letter from Major Eichmond informing me that the Natives at Petoni Pah were engaged in putting together nine large canoes capable of holding for a long passage, about sixty persons each. I consider it to be a matter of the utmost importance for the protection of the isolated settlement of Taranaki and its undefended settlers, that the Ngatiawa tribe should not be allowed to proceed for the present to that place. * * My own opinion also is that these canoes are not intended solely for the conveyance of E. Puni's own tribe : they are capable of conveying about 540 persons, whereas E Puni's tribe consists of but 200 souls, including men, women, and children. I believe that they will be moved out of the harbour one by one, as opportunity may offer, to other places inhabited by the Ngatiawa tribe * * I should therefore feel much obliged to you if you, in conjunction with Major Richmond, would require E Puni to dismantle these canoes in such a manner that they may «be rendered unfit for the voyage to Taranaki; at the same time, injuring the canoes themselves as little as possible : in fact the best plan would perhaps be to require him to take them to pieces again. If E Puni should refuse to comply with the wishes of the Government in this respect, my opinion is that if his conduct is such as to afford reasonable grounds of suspicion, the canoes should be seized by the Government, and either be retained in their possession until the land question at Taranaki is settled, or that they should be destroyed, as may be thought most advisable; and E Puni should be distinctly warned that these consequences will follow from his refusing to comply with the request of the Government. G. Gret, Lieut.-Colonel McCleverty, &c, &c, &c, Wellington. Government House, Auckland, 27th April, 1847. In reference to a letter you addressed to the Colonial Secretary on the 19th inst., on the subject of nine large canoes which were being put together by E Puni's people in his Pa, I have the honour to inclose a letter which I have this day addressed to Lieut.-Colonel McCleverty upon this subject, which after having perused, you will be good enough to deliver to him; I have also to request that you (vill consider that letter as addressed jointly to yourself and Lieut.-Colonel McCleverty, and that you will take such steps with regard to the subjects adverted to in it, as may appear to you necessary. G. Gret. His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Government House, Auckland, 30th April, 1847. The Senior Naval Officer on this station, having been good enough to direct Captain Stanley to communicate frequently with our settlements at Wanganui and Waikanae, more particularly the latter place, both for the purpose of watching the movements of Rangihaeata, and preventing armed canoes going to the North, and having further requested Captain Stanley to proceed in the "Calliope" to Kapiti, making that place his principal rendezvous : it will be your duty to give the requisite orders for securing to Captain Stanley the greatest facility for speedy communication with Wellington from Waikanae by means of the Police Station at the latter place and at Porirua, and I shall feel much obliged to you if you would also request Lieut.-Colonel McCleverty to give all the assistance in his power to promote this most desirable object. G. Gret. His Honor the Superintendent, Southern Division. [Not before published.^

E—No. 1

governors' decisions.

Governor Grey, 27 ivrit, 1847.

Governor Grey, 27 April, 1847.

Governor Grey, 30th April, 1847.

XXII. EXTRACT Or A LETTER FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SOUTHERN DIVISION TO CAPT. LAVE, 58TH REGT., COMMANDING AT WANGANUI. 28th April, 1847. Enclosed is a description of several routes by which the Ngatiawas can go inland from Waikanae to Taranaki, which I have forwarded for your information. I expect to receive further intelligence on the subject. M. Richmond. The Road by which the Ngatiawa of the North shore of Cook's Straits may reach Waitara without meeting any party of Military but such as may be stationed at Waikanae, is the path through the Ngatimaru district.

Major Richmond, 28 Apiil, 1847.