E.—No. 1.

walk, we came to the range of mountains leading to Mount Otamahuhua, which is situated immediately behind Mr. Meieklejohn's house, where we found 11 huts, forming a square of 150 feet, recently erected, with several fires burning in them ; we examined this place very carefully, and having got on the main track proceeded onwards about an hour, when suddenly we saw the Chief Ihaia, with nine other natives. Ihaia having been informed that we had come alone, sat down and welcomed us : the nine other natives left us, and went a-head to inform the prisoners of our coming. I asked Ihaia concerning the prisoners, but could not obtain a direct answer, his replies being that '■ he did not know where they were; you cannot overtake them ; it's of no use your going on." I persisted in walking on, followed by Ihaia, for about another hour, when we arrived at the encampment of the main body ; we heard the natives ■at a distance, crying, and welcoming us, and as we neared them we were asked to approach ; all of them requested me to come amongst them and sit down in the centre of their encampment, to give an opportunity to all of seeing me. I immediately complied with their request, and after the lapse of a quarter of an hour, — Tapihana Tiriwa rose and spoke as follows : Come, come, my son (Te Tioriori) ; come on, Bangatira; our father, Mr. White ; come, welcome; it is well you have come to see us. I won't return. I will not go back —do you hearken. I have got out of the snare ; I have escaped from prison. lam free, and will never return. It is you (the Europeans), and your wrongs that have caused us to come away. Tioriori now rose, gave the Governor's message, and said: You have committed two evils against me. The first at Eangiriri, and now again—and urged them to return. Tapihana answered, and stated that the Doctor who was at the Governor's house, and who wears an eye-glass (meaning Dr. Mouatt) had told them that a man-of-war was coming down to put all of them on board the hulk again, and take them back to Auckland. Tioriori asked the name of his informant P —when Munu rose and said that he was, and that the statement was correct, that Dr. Mouatt had told him so while they (the natives) were pulling him about in the boat. He further said that the Pakehas working for the Governor on Te Kawau had told him that war would soon break out again in the Waikato, and if any of the Europeans were killed, that they (the natives on Te Kawau) would all be put on board the hulk, towed out to sea, and there sunk. Tapihana now again rose and said, that on the evening of the 9th instant a man-of-war arrived, fired a gun and sounded a bugle, which very much alarmed them. On the following morning the man-of-war stood out towards Mahurangi, and when off the island fired broadsides, then returned to Te Kawau, and at the entrance of the harbour and in a line the hulk, fired another broadside. She then shaped her course to the northward, went round tho island, and continued firing. A second steamer had also arrived late on Saturday evening, and after a short time had left the island, (having heard what Munu had stated from tho Pakehas), and the man-of-war firing which had never before occurred. We concluded that we were in peril, and that what the Pakehas had told us was true, and determined to make our escape as speedily as possible. He further stated that His Excellency had asked Takere Te Eau if he thought the natives would ever eat of the fruit of their labours, and that I, Dr. Sam, and Mr. J. E. White had also asked a similar question. He went on to say that Dr. Sam and Mr. J. E. White were also displeased at their not taking the medicines prescribed for them, and that Mr. J. E. White had said, " I understand your disobedience, you wish to run away." He concluded his speech by remarking that the natives would never have attempted to escape had I remained on the island: now you go back to Auckland to the Governor, remain with him, request him to stay there until we come. I will send a messenger when near Auckland, to let you know of it, and you then request him to let you come and accompany us and be our guide to Mechanics' Bay, where we may sec him (the Governor,) and speak with him. Don't molest us, but allow us quietly to go on to A uckland. Wiknmete next rose, and after welcoming us, said: It is well you have come alone, for had you brought any strangers with you, we should have defended ourselves and evil occurred. What do men care who have just escaped from a snare and from death ? they do not care about life. Now you are welcome amongst us. It is not our fault; you sent steamers, and it is your fault; we were frightened by the sailing round the island of the steamer, and firing, and we made our escape. Don't send soldiers after us, don't come to us, we have arms to defend ourselves, for if the Governor or Government send soldiers after us we will clear all the Pakehas from amongst the grass between this and Auckland, —men, women, and children ; don't send after us, tell the Governor and the Government to send you and you only, and don't you be weary in coming to see us, you may bring our own people with you (those living at Te Kawau with you,) if you bring strangers we shall defend ourselves, having no fear "of death.. It is well you have come, continue to come, and leave us to go about quietly, and we will not stretch out our hands to take aught from the Pakeha, nor molest them. This is my final determination, and I will not return. Maihi Katipa said: Welcome my elder brother (to Tioriori), it is well you have come. Come, our Eangatira, our father, Mr. White ; it is very well you have come. This is not my doing, it is not my planning, I am not the leader, I am only one of the followers, I have no influence, this is the Waikato's doings. I did not know of it till the last moment, and just before we came away. Our party was the last that came away from the large stone house. All rests with the Waikatos, and we have nothing to say. Wi Karamoa now rose and said: Because my elder brother is come, and our Eangatira and father, Mr. White, and have brought us word from the Governor that those who were well disposed and wished to return could come back. I shall return, my mind is made up. I shall go back with our Eangatira because we have injured him, he has shown us his love, and I will go back with him, this being my love in return to him. If Igo I might die, if I remain I will die here, whether Igo or stay or may die the same, therefore I will return. lam firmly determined to return. lam afraid if I remain I may bring trouble on the Nagapuhi people. Ihaia Te Manga said: Come, come and welcome my son (Tioriori,) come you and our parent, Mr.

57

RELATIVE TO MAORI PRISONERS.