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king could not tell me to remain, because he would have no power to protect me against Eewi, and he could not blame Rewi too strongly because he was afraid of him (hopohopo). The expression " waiho enei ra ki au" (leave these days to mo) was used as a feeler to try whether Rewi would pay any respect to the kiug's words. We were given to understand that To Paea, Patara and Neri, are coming up here at the enp of the week to meet Ngatimaniapoto. To Paea said that if they would not listen to her, she would leave Waikato, and obey her father's will ; Neri told me he could secure a safe retreat for me, and that was all. The Ngaruawahia people generally seemed favorable to Mr. Purchas remaining, but of course they have no more power to protect him than me. I have, &c, J. E. Gokst. The Honourable the Native Minister.

No. 19. THE REV. A. PURCHAS TO THE HON. F. D. BELL. Te Awamutu, April 16th, 1863. My dear Mr. Bell, — Te Hapuku was here to-day, and spent several hours with us. In the course of conversation with Mr. Fulloon and myself he gave us some information which I think you ought to have with as little delay as possible. I send you a copy of a circular letter from the runanga of Mataitawa to Waikato, which Hohaia brought to me to-day. Id consequence of this letter 'Te Hapuku informed us that Rewi and 600 men are about to leave for Taranaki on Monday ; Te Rangitake is also going. He also told us that the Natives had built five pas at or near Tatarairmika, and that he was greatly afraid lest they should succeed in their intended attempt to take the life of Sir George Grey (absit omen). He assured us that the superstitious feelings of the Natives have been worked on by some " seers" who foretell that if they can only succeed in shooting the Governor, they will be able to drive the Pakeha ont of the country, and that it is therefore no longer safe for the Governor to travel about, and to mix with the Natives, as he has been in the habit of doing. Even at Ngaruawahia, Te Hapuku says the Governor would not now be safe, and he thinks, that if there had been more people there when he visited the place, his life would have been in great danger. Te Hapuku was so very earnest in his manner, and repeated his warnings with so much emphasis, begging us to write and urge the necessity of great caution, that I feel it my duty, though with great sorrow, to write thus to you. After the conversation had been going O n for a long time, he said he would send a letter to Sir George Grey, and accordingly Mr. Fulloon wrote the accompanying letter at Te Hapuku's dictation, in my presence. He said he had promised Sir George Grey to visit Ngaruawahia, and if he found matters all right there he would return by way of Auckland, if not, he would go back overland as quickly as possible. He leaves Kihikihi to-morrow morning, and as he has a change of horses on the road, I have no doubt he will be at Napier in a few days. As soon as he gets there he intends to go and see Mr. McLean. With regard to our own affairs at this place, Te Hapuku said that there was uo doubt that Mr. Gorst and his family must leave, and that Rewi and his people had an eye to the land at the Awamutu, wishing to regain possession of it. I told him that Mr. FillIood and I were going to remain here after Mr. Gorst leaves, ami lie said if Ngatimaniapoto come r,o turn us ou(: we must be careful not to offer any opposition or they would be likely to kill us. AU tins was said in sober earnest and not with any air of hauler, hat with an evident regret that sneh a good work as he had witnessed should be interfered with. Te Hapuke assured as that if a single shot is fired at Taranaki, we shall be all either driven away or killed. He said that u great deal of harm is done by some of the Pakehas being amongst the Maoris, and chat he would strongly advise the Governor in the event of war, to collect all white men, and remove them from the District. We could not find out to whom he alluded, nor do I tliink he knew the persons by name ; but he spoke from what he had heard amongst cue Natives whom hfl had visited. There was only one otiier thing thai; Te Hapuku said, that appears to me of sufficient importance to report, and that lie laid great stress upon, viz., that whatever happens, the pakeha should be careful uot to fire the firsv. shot. Tlie Natives are fully persuaded that whoever fires the first shot will be beaten ; this being the case, if war there must be, it would be well that the weight of the "mata" (vision of the seer) should be on our side. Perhaps part of Te Hapuku's letter to Sir George Grey may be more easily understood if I tell you that the :Kakahu' (garment) he refers to is one which the Governor had, and it answers to the description of what had been seen by a ' Matakite' (a seer) at Napier. The old chief thought it was a bad sign for the Governor that he had not fulfilled the vision of the "seer." I have, &c.., Arthur G. Purchas.

Enclosure in No. 19. Mataitawa, wahi o Taranaki, Aperira 8, 1363. Ki a Wi Kingi, ki a Rewi Mauiapoto, ki a Te Waru, ki a Prookoru, ki a Hone Papita, ki ena rohe katoa.

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