A.—No. 14a.

gare a report of the hostile meeting which took place on the 10th instant between the two contending tribes in this district, no further fighting has taken place. On the evening of the 16th, returning late from the two pas, after many though ineffectual efforts to dissuade the parties from a fixed determination to bring on another engagement in the morning, I received intelligence of the death of Archdeacon Williams ; and being anxious to bringevery argument I could to bear upon those Natives, I immediately wrote and despatched during the night a short note to the leading men in each pa, informing them of this melancholy occurrence, and requesting them to pause before meeting at daylight, as was their intention. Answers to these notes were on the following morning sent me, to the effect that, in token of respect for the Archdeacon, hostilities should be suspended until after his funeral —Haratua and other chief's of the Ngarehauata at once leaving for the Pakaraka, where they remained until the funeral was over. 1 did not again visit the pas until the 22nd, when, at four a.m., I left home in consequence of a special messenger sent by Haratua, bi'inging a request that I should be with them at daylight, as fighting was imminent. At the pas I met three of my brothers, together with some of the Waimate gentlemen, who had also been invited by Haratua to accompany me, and since then our time has been fully occupied in visiting and negotiating between the two parties —not however with that degree of success we had hoped for, a disposition for peace manifested by some being either checked or entirely frustrated by the more determined amongst them. Tamati Waka, who for the last few days has been residing with the Uritaniwha, in answer to a proposal from us that he should accompany us to the Ngarehauata Pa and negotiate a peace, expressed his willingness to do so, but in consequence of information received from Hokianga, that a peace party headed by several chiefs of that district were on their way, declined taking any steps until their arrival, not wishing to anticipate their movements. Awaiting those arrangements a truco has been agreed upon by both parties ; but such is the excitable nature of Maoris, and the inability on the part of the leaders to control their people, that I place but little confidence in these promises : their turbulent spirits may bring on a collision at any moment. It is much to be regretted that after so many years of peace a disturbance of this nature should have taken place; but I trust that, with the assistance of the Hokianga Natives, peace may soon again be restored to the district. I have, &c, Edward M. Williams, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Resident Magistrate.

No. 6. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Rolleston to Mr. Williams. (No. 315-2.) Native Secretary's Office, Sir,— Wellington, 20th August, 1867. I have the honor, by direction of Mr. Richmond, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th July, reporting the cessation of fighting in your district since the date of your last letter (15th July). Mr. Richmond directs me again to thank you for your exertions to prevent another collision between the contending tribes. I have, &c, W. Rollestow, The Resident Magistrate, Waimate. Under Secretary.

No. 7. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Williams to the Hon. J. C. Richmond. (No. 53.) Resident Magistrate's Office, Sir,— Waimate, 6th August, 1867. I have the honor to report, for the information of the Government, that peace has been restored to this district. The friendly meeting and reunion of the two contending tribes took placo this day at the Uritaniwha Pa, on which occasion nearly 500 men were under arms. I write in haste, to secure if possible the sailing of a vessel for Auckland on the morrow, and shall hope by next post to forward a more detailed account of this most interesting meeting. I have, &c, Edward M. Williams, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington, Resident Magistrate.

No. 8. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Williams to the Hon. J. C. Richmond. (No. 54.) Resident Magistrate's Office, Sir,— Waimate, 12th August, 1867. I have the honor to transmit, for the information of the Government, the following particulars of the peace meeting which took place at the Uritaniwha Pa, on the 6th instant, and of which I gave a hasty report in my letter written the same day. In visiting these Natives subsequent to the date of my letter of 2Gth July, I observed with 2

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NATIVE DISTURBANCE AT THE WAIMATE.