THE OPOTIKI DISTRICT.

25

A.—No. Ba.

No. 47. Copy of a Letter from Mr, 11. T. Clarke to the Under Secretary, Native Department. (D. 36.) Civil Commissioner's Office, Sic,— Tauranga, 16th February, 1868. I have the honor to acquaint you that it is my intention to leave for Whakatane to-morroirr morning. In the event of an opportunity occurring during my absence, I deem it right, under the present unsatisfactory aspect of Native matters in these districts, to place the Government in possession of all the information I have been able to collect up to this date. When I arrived at Maketu on Wednesday last, Dr. Nesbitt handed me the enclosed copy of a letter said to have been received by the Ngatiwhakane from some of their connections of tha Ngatiraukawa Tribe, warning them of the avowed intentions of the Ngatimaniapoto Tribe to commence hostilities at Eotorua. Kihi, the chief named, was the leader of the hostile band which created the disturbances last year at Eotorua, and was carried away badly wounded, then supposed to be mortally. Prom one sentence in the letter, it would appear there are also designs upon Tauranga. Several of the disaffected Pirirakau have visited their friends at Motuhoa, with the ostensible object of having an Uhunga (cry over the dead) —really, it is stated, to induce their relatives to withdraw with them to the ranges. Simultaneously with this visit of the Pirirakau, who are on the west side of the district,' the Ngaitahi, a disaffected tribe residing on the south, have also invited their friends to meet them at Oropi for a similar object. In their invitation they stated that those who had borne arms in defence of the Europeans should not present themselves. Of what transpired, lam able to give an account as stated to me by Bahapia. Eahapia states the principal men of the opposite party were Maihi Pohepohe and Te Tauaroa, the leaders of the party who murdered Campbell in January last year. These two chiefs were the principal speakers. Maihi Pohepohe begged Eahapia and his people to leave the sea, and retire to the bush; that war would yet arise ; that if they refused to go out, it might be the last time they would see him. Te Tauaro said the same. Ho stated further that he was in possession of the mind of the councillors of the king, and that evil was intended. He stated that Eewi, the head chief of the Ngatimaniapoto Tribe, was the leader ; that the meeting held lately at Tokangamutu was a general one; that there was to be another convened shortly, at which only a select number were to bo present; that the conveners of the meeting are Tohu and Whiti (two Taranaki prophets), and Hakaraia, the old chief lately resident in this neighbourhood ; that the object of the meeting would be to concert plans ; that some of the disaffected Tauranga Natives were to be there; and that it was confidently expected that " the island would again appear above water." I regret to state that a great change has come over the disaffected Natives since the return, of their chiefs from the Tokangamutu meeting. Many of these Natives have of late shown a disposition to be friendly. They have visited our men in charge of the redoubt at Pipi's Pa, and our people in turn have visited the Natives at Akeake, their nearest settlement. One of the Native chiefs assured the Officer Commanding that they might visit them in perfect safety, and that if there was any change of feeling he would be informed of it. On Thursday last, Lieutenant Pitt, the officer at present in charge, relying upon this assurance, accompanied by one of his men who understands the Maori language, visited the Akoake Natives. To his surprise, there were a good number assembled. Instead of his being welcomed in the usual manner, he was received with apparent dissatisfaction; many of the men retired into their whares. The chief man of the place, Paraone, who has just returned from Waikato, addressed Mr. Pitt and his companion by telling them that they were dead men —"kua mate koma." "You have crossed the 'kati,' and you must die." After a pause, he asked why he had come to the place—whether Mr. Clarke had sent them. Mr. Pitt replied that he came because the officer in charge of the redoubt had been assured by Waitara, one of their leading men, that they could do so with safety, and that it was from a friendly feeling he did so, as they might see by his being unarmed. Paraone replied, " I am the chief of this place, and no other, but as you have been deceived 1 will spare your lives, but you must remain our prisoners; a house will be built for you and you must remain." Food was then ordered. After a consultation amongst the Natives, Paraone again came forward and stated that they should be released; adding, " Tou will see my face no more, lam going to Tokangamutu; lam grieved on account of my land which has been taken." Mr. Pitt availed himself of the permission to retire, and was accompanied by an old man who stated that he had been sent to see him safely past the Oropi road, as it was not improbable that some Natives might bo coming from that settlement. The murderer Te Tauaro and his party passed by that road a few hours afterwards. Mr. Pitt is an officer in whom I can place the fullest reliance, and would not exaggerate in the least what took place. It is also worthy of observation that some Natives have removed the survey pegs on the Te Puna purchased block, and that since the return of the men from the Waikato meeting the Pirirakau have discontinued communicating with the survey parties at work on that block. A Native from Taranaki (formerly of this place) and a cousin to Eawiri Puhiraki, the chief who was killed at Te Eanga in 1861, has just been on a visit to his relatives. He is, I am informed, an emissary from the Taranaki prophets Tohu and Whiti ; ho has been using his influence to induce the relatives of those who fell at Te Eanga to go out to the ranges. They have been told that if they remain where they are they will be destroyed by the god of the Maori race. I am induced to believe that his representations have had some influence. lam persuaded that there is much moving amongst the Natives of which I am kept in ignorance ; there appears to be a backwardness to give information even by those in whom I have hitherto placed confidence, for which I cannot yet account. This change has come over the Natives since the return of the chiefs from the Tokangamutu meeting. May we not, from what I have stated above, draw the inference, that the result of the late Waikato meeting was anything but favourable towards the peace of the country ? Since the date of my last report I have been visited by a friendly TJriwera who is now residing at 7