E.—No. 8.

you would not have landed here, but as you are now here its all right." I told him that during his absence our Native, who had started to go to meet Arama Karaka, was very near being shot, when he rode off to ascertain what it meant, and some time afterwards returned with two others, and informed us that it was two Natives who had just arrived from Waimate, as before stated. The two Natives who came with him (Ihaia and Nikirenia) brought a message from Arama Karaka, to say that it was all right for us to come there to see them, but that he himself could not see us, and recommended that we should take away the soldiers. I told them to go back and tell him that if he and his people did not come in at once and sign the declaration of allegiance they would be regarded as rebels. William King's wife came to the camp to request mo to go back to To Namu to see William. I sent her back to tell him to come to the camp, which he did soon after with fourteen followers. He appeared low spirited, but was evidently glad to see Europeans once more, to whom he was always proverbial for kindness, and many years ago tried to get some to settle upon his land, which was refused by the Government. I asked him what had become of the things from the " Lord Worsley," to which he very significantly replied, " You had better ask Graham " (Mr. R. Graham, of Auckland), "who gave everything to the people " (Iwi). The wreck of the " Lord Worsley "is evidently a sore question with him. I heard at the time that he was very much hurt at Mr. Graham's handing over everything to the Warea Natives after he had taken charge. He confessed to me that many of their young men had joined the rebels, but that he and Arama Karaka had persistently refused to take any part in hostilities, which had caused a bad feeling towards them. After the Colonel and I had gone on board the steamer in the evening we saw Arama Karaka coming in under a white flag, but it was too late to go ashore, consequently I did not see him. On hearing that I had left he refused to come into camp. 7. We landed at New Plymouth about eleven o'clock, Saturday night, the 29th April. On Sunday preparations were made for an overland expedition to the same place. The troops, one company of Military Settlers, and some Bushrangers, together with the transport, started Monday morning, seven o'clock. The Colonel and Staff (whom I accompanied, taking with me Edward Stockman, as interpreter for the detachment at Opunake, and a few mounted Natives, at the request of the Colonel) left about noon. We inarched as far as Warea that day, and Tuesday the whole force got to Te Namu. We remained there until Sunday, the 7th instant. During the week we had very bad weather. During our stay there William King's people, sixteen of them, came in with him and signed the declaration. Arama Karaka did not come in, but two of his young men, Ihaia and Para, came in just as we were leaving, Sunday morning. On our leaving the place, Saturday, 29th April, Para started for Waimate, and returned during the week with a letter from Te Ua Haumene and Tito Hanatawa (Hoani Pihama), which I sent a copy of to you by letter of the 12th instant. The reason assigned for Arama Karaka's not coming in was, " That Captain Cay had been up to this place with some soldiers, that on seeing them they were frightened, and ran away to the bush; that on hearing the big guns a few days later they became more frightened" (there were two shots fired from a mortar for practice, by order of Colonel Warrc.) Within an hour after we left (Sunday morning, the 7th instant) for the homeward march, Arama Karaka came in with ten of his men to sign the declaration. Captain Cay, with one company of the 70th Eegiment, and a company of Military Settlers, was in command at Opunake, until Major Colvillo, of the 43rd Eegiment, advanced from Te Namu, where they had been stopping during the week. Captain Cay demanded their guns, and they went back and brought in seven (7), and then signed the declaration. 8. Major Colville was left in command, with some of the 43rd Eegiment, a company of the 70th, and a company of Military Settlers. The Bushrangers and Transport returned to Warea, Sunday evening. The Colonel, and Staff, and I, came into town. We had no opposition either way, and the places which used to be occupied near the coast line appeared to have been deserted for some time ; and the only place they appear to have adopted as a place of defence is inland of Warea, where the worst characters of the Taranaki tribe are living. 9. On Tuesday, the 9th instant, I went by the s.s. " Wanganui," to the White Cliffs, to withdraw some Natives that had been there. Captain Ealston, of the 70th Eegiment, who was in command there, had with his men nearly finished a very fine redoubt. From the White Cliffs (which place we lift about seven o'clock, Tuesday evening) we steamed direct to Opunake, without calling at New Plymouth, and arrived there at daybreak the following morning. Whilst they were landing three boatloads of Commissariat Stores, I sent Tamati Kaweora for Arama Karaka, when he came down to the Waiana Eiver with fourteen of his men to see me. They appeared very anxious to be at peace, and declared their determination not to have anything to do with those who were prosecuting hostilities against the Government; but they complained of their guns being taken from them, and also of the soldiers taking their potatoes and other things from their houses, and asked how they were to live when all their food was taken from them ? As the last boat was going off to the steamer (about eleven o'clock a.m., Wednesday, 10th instant) I had to leave them suddenly, after advising them to remain perfectly quiet, that no one would hurt them from the camp, and that I would return again soon to see them. Before going on board I recommended Captain Cay, who was in the redoubt, not to insist upon their giving up their guns, but he refused to take my advice without instructions from the Colonel, in consequence of which I went to Major Colville, who was encamped with the 43rd on an old pa, a short distance off. He at once consented not to compel them to give up their guns if any more came in, admitting the unreasonableness of doing so, unless they were within our lines for protection. On my return to town I spoke to Colonel Warre on the subject, and he promised me he would send instructions to Captain Cay not to demand their guns. I have, &c, R. Pabeis, To the Hon. tho Native Minister. Assistant Native Secretary.

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PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY POSTS AT PUKEARUHE.