E.—No. 4

No. 10. CIVIL COMMISSIONEB, TATJRANGA, TO THE HO^OEABLE THE XATIVE MINISTEIt. Te Papa, Tauranga, January 10th, 1865. Sib — I have the honor to report for the information of the Government that on my arrival at this place on the evening of the 7th inst, I ascertained from Mr. Rice that none of the Natives who so suddenly retired to the Ranges a short time since, had returned to their different settlements. Baniera te Hiahia also represented to mo that it was the intention of the Ngaiterangi to send a larger party to Waikato on the 9th to meet delegates from various tribes at Bangitoto, Waikato. I thought it highly important to prevent this if possible. After laying the matter before Col. Greer (the Military Officer Commanding this District) it was decided that Mr. Eice with two of the Ngaiterangi chiefs who returned with me from Auckland should visit the Native settlements in the Eanges near Te Wairoa and that I, with three other chiefs, should take the Native settlements in the Eanges near Te Wairoa at the back of Waimapu. We left as early as possible on Sunday morning the Bth. We came upon a large party of Natives in the evening and found men, women, and children, standing round a Flagstaff, upon which was flying a small white Flag, engaged in some of their senseless worship, I suppose for our particular benefit. The worshippers and the symbol of the Angel Eura received very unceremonious treatment from the chiefs who accompanied me. I have not time to give you full particulars of all that passed at this meeting, suffice it to say, that our expedition was most successful, all the natives without exception gladly consented to return at once to their homes. I accompanied a large party of them down yesterday morning to their canoes. They are now at Ohuki. After seeing this party off", I returned again to the Ranges to meet another party with the same good result. They appear to me to be too glad to be allowed to return. Mr. Rice has not yet returned, but I heard yesterday from a Native Messenger who came across the country that he had also been successful. The cause for this sudden move on the part of these Natives was from no design on their part to provoke hostilities with us. But they suffered themselves to be persuaded by the Pai Marire advocates from Waikato who have been very busy amongst them backed by the repeated warnings and influence of Ilori Tupaea with the belief that the Pakehas would certainly bo destroyed and that they would meet the same fate if they continued to associate with us. There is a deep design in the whole movement. From information I have received from these returned Natives, I have not the least doubt in my own mind that the Waikatos are determined to use any means to drag all the New Zealand Tribes into one general war. Kingism has failed, and they are now trying to work upon the superstitious minds of their countrymen, not a very difficult task at any time. I hope shortly to be able to report that all these foolish misguided people have returned to their different settlements. Great praise is due to the three chiefs who accompanied me, viz: —Wiremu Patcne, Enoka, find Hohepa. I have, &c, Henbt T. Claeke, The Honorable the Civil Commissioner, Native Minister. Tauranga.

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HAU lIAU SUPERSTITION AMONG- THE MAORIES.

NAMES. TEIBES. NAMES. TEIBES. 'arora, male latewira Urawhuia, male leria Tewero, alline Ngatukairangi Eraua Te Karere, waliine Hubaiia " Hcrena Iwaiwa Papaunahi EC fuira Kawliake, male 'etc Taipa, wahinc Te Materawato JTgapuru Marupo Mtiliiina Tokena Patutahora 'aliarangi, male Lwaroa, waliine Te Ngare Patiriki Te Matika Karauamu Ti Kuta Warefcini, tane Ngaitukairangi u