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R—No. 3a,

2. From the first of the letters it appears that the Waikato Chiefs had sent orders to the Taranaki, Ngatiraanui, and Ngarauru Tribes to attack the Troops at Taranaki and Te Kahakaha on the 17th day of July, on which day the "Waikato Tribes would attack Auckland. 3. Fortunately the precautions taken prevented the Waikato Tribes from carrying out their intentions, but they in so far fulfilled their promise that on the day named they attacked the party under Captain Ring, and fought an action with the Lieutenant-General ; but that part of the proposed combined movement which was to have been earned out at Taranaki never took place. 4. The second of the enclosed letters shews that the Chiefs of Waikato have ordered the tribes living near Wellington and the town of Napier to attack those places. I do not think these orders will be obeyed, but they shew what extensive plans the Waikato Chiefs have formed, and how determined they are to try and prosecute them. I have, &,c, G. Grey. His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, K.G.

Enclosure 1 to No. 2. MAJOR HASSARD TO THE ASSISTANT MILITARY SECRETARY, HEAD QUARTERS, AUCKLAND. Whanganui, New Zealand, 18th July, 1863. Sib,— " Having been appointed Agent to the General Government in this District and certain duties jxrinted out to me, all communications in the performance of which I have been directed to forward through the Lieuteuant-General Commanding, I have the honor to state that I have placed myself in communication with the Magistrates, &c., and gleaned the following information which is not generally known. At 4 p.m. this day Wirihana) a Mounted Policeman of the Central Whanganui Court, informed Mr. White, Resident Magistrate) that a Native named Ngataka, of the Ngatipikiaha Section of the Ngatiraukawa Tribe, arrived at a settlement called Te Ahu, on the Waitotara Block, at 1 p.m. Ngataka was the bearer of letters from the Waikato Chiefs to the Ngatiraukawa of Rangitikei, Otaki and Waikanae, asking them to proceed at once to Tataraimaka, thence, if there was no need of their help, to Waikato, to assist in any action likely to take place there. He also stated that they would pass this on Tuesday, 24th July. No further information concerning them has reached me. That the Waikatos had sent orders to the Taranaki, Ngatiruanui, and Ngarauru tribes to attack the Military at Taranaki, at Te Kahakaha, or St. Patrick's Redoubt on the 17th instant, on which day the Waikatos would attack Auckland ; but Mr. White does not attach much importance to this man's report. On the same day (18th instant) two Chiefs of the Ngatiraukawa, named Rimu Tuainanei and Rawiri Te Tihi, on their return from Taranaki, stated to Mr. White, at 6| p.m., that the Ngatiruanui and Taranaki Tribes have returned to their own Districts; that the"Wlianganui people, about four hundred strong, now occupy the old pa at Warea ; that the Whanganuis have been to St. George's Redoubt, and have seen the graves of Hori Patene and those who fell on the 4th day of June, and that they were much pleased to see the graves enclosed with a fence ; but for fear of being taken by surprise, they have removed, as already stated, to the Warea Pa, three miles Southward of where they were on the 4th June. These two Chiefs stated that even the children of the Ngarauru and Taranaki Tribes speak of the Europeans with the most bitter feelings ; but fully one half of the Tribes admit that the massacre of the 4th May was murder. They have heard of the confiscation of the land between Tataraimaka and New Plymouth, and intend to fight for it. They have also heard the decision of the Supreme Court on the half-caste Hori, and of the arrival in Auckland of eight hundred Troops from England. The Chiefs also stated that twenty-three of the Pipiriki Natives who escaped on the 4th June, are now returning with their Chief from Warea; and that the four hundred Whanganuis now at Warea, intend remaining there to consume the crops of potatoes which they have planted, ere which time they expect Pehi Turoa, the principal Whanganui river Chief, to join them, as he has sent them a message by Epiha Papatu to that effect. They also stated that Parenga Kingi's Pa, Kaitaki, was knocked to pieces by the Armstrong guns, the houses blown totally away, butTno casualty. Parenga Kingi has about eighty men with him at that place. 22nd July, 1863. As Mr. White has daily communication with the Native Assessors at Waitotara, in the fidelity of some of whom he seems to have every confidence, I have considered it advisable to forward all reports received from him with any remarks of his own. I have done so, as he is intimately acquainted with native manners and customs, and can explain passages in the Maori letters which to me would seem ambiguous. As there is little doubt that there are over six hundred armed natives of the Ngarauru and Ngatiruanui within from fifteen to twenty-five miles of this garrison, and of course much nearer the outsettlers in the Waitotara direction, who have recently returned from Tataraimaka, Teat vigilance is exercised in watching their movements. I will mark Mr. White's communications, beginning with A, and so on.

2

DESPATCHES FROM GOVERNOR SIR G. GREY

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