IN NATIVE DISTRICTS.

A.—No. 10.

17

As long as Te Kooti occupies his present position, Whakatane and the road thence to Ohiwa will he very unsafe, as he can send a party at any time to any portion of it. The two or three Europeans living at Whakatane are in imminent danger, the Natives having all left the place. The Arawa at Ohiwa are anxious that reinforcements should be sent to them, and that they should be permitted to attack Te Kooti in his present position. He has expressed his intention of remaining there as long as the food lasts ; of attacking the Arawa pa, then Opotiki, and, having finished them, of sweeping the Ngatiporou —men, women and children —from the face of the earth. The Pakeha, the Arawa, and Ngatiporou, have been specially devoted to destruction by his god. 1 have, <fcc, Tlie Civil Commissioner, Tauranga. W. K. Nesbitt.

ABSTRACT RETURN of MEN of the ARAWA TRIBE with and without GOVERNMENT GUNS.

No. 16. Copy of a Letter from Captain St. Geoege to the Hon. J. C. Richmond. (No. 27.) Sir,— Taupo, ICth February, 1869. I have the honor to send the following report: —Eewi has returned to "Waikato after staying at Pukawa some time, his mission being to ask the friendlies not to interfere with any Hauhau passing through Taupo. He states that the King is for peace ;on his way down Waikato he wrote a letter to Poihipi and Hohepa, requesting them and the friendlies on the northern and eastern shores not to molest any of Te Kooti's men or other Llauhau, but to keep quiet, and there would be no disturbance; also informing Hohepa that the firing on him (Hohepa) was only a " inahi tamariki" and not to be taken as coming from the Hauhau and King's Natives. After the receipt of this letter a small meeting was held at Te Honeti, when it was decided not to agree to Rewi's request with regard to Hauhaus passing through the district. The Queenites have therefore drawn a kati from Rotoaira to Horohoro passing on the western shores of the lake, and crossing the Waikato above Waimahana. Of course, if this line is kept, no llauhau can pass between Urewera and Waikato. The Hauhaus a few miles down the Waikato have also established a kati at Te Niho o te Kiore. They say that there will be a general rising in March, and that this is the King's word. Ido not, however, put much faith in this, as the Hauhaus always bring the King's name in whenever thev can. The few rebel Ngatiporou that were at the upper end of the lake have left; I believe returned to Waikato. They did not get any one to join them. Wirihana Te Kockoe, with some of his people, are still at Frewera. Te Kooti is reported to bo at the Opotiki side of the Maungapowhatu. The Natives are anxiously looking forward to the Land Court; some few have written to have it put off, but it is not the general wish. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. J. C. St. Geoege.

No. 17. Copy of a Letter from Mr. 11. T. Clarke to Mr. Coopee. (D. 222.) Civil Commissioner's Office, Sir,— Tauranga, 30th March, 1869. In continuation of my last report, of date and number quoted in the margin, I have the honor to acquaint you that further information has been received of Te Kooti's present position and probable movements. It appears that three young men who had been detained by To Kooti succeeded in eluding his surveillance, and escaped to Motumako, where they found Captain St. George, with a force of Arawas. Paui, one of the young men, made his statement to Captain St. George, which is shortly given in a report from that gentleman, a copy of which is herewith enclosed. Tamati, another of the young men who escaped, arrived at Te Awa-o-te-Atua on the night of the 2Gth instant. Mr. Gilbert Mair took his statement down in writing, which I also enclose. In the main, the two statements agree with regard to Te Kooti's present position and his probable future movements. It is clear that he is short of atnmuition, and it is very likely he will make sudden attacks in small detached parties. His having so many mounted men will enable him to do this with rapidity. As I stated in my last report, he has a choice of movements: he can fall upon the coast settlements; 5

Rifles. Smooth-bore. Number of Men With Guns. Number of Men without Guns. Total number of Men. Men with guns (inspected) Men without guns (inspected) Men wilh guns (estimated) Men without guns (estimated) 136 260 396 25 25 53 261 735 This return does not include the Constabulary. .rawa (abo ;t 70) who joined Ca] itain Ghmdry's Armed