A.—No. 10.

34

REPORTS FROM OFFICERS

G-overnment would wish to be thoroughly acquainted with the state of the Native affairs in this district. Another great evil existing here, is there being no chief of sufficient influence to take any decided lead in affairs of importance ; this, in combination with the division of the Native population into a number of small tribes, all being imbued with a large amoimt of jealousy and distrust towards each other, is quite sufficient to neutralize any efforts made for the common good. I regret much that such a feeling should prevail, especially (at the present time) when unanimity is so much required. The feeling I allude to was not so prevalent at the time Kopu was alive, or even for some time after his death; but now that a combined effort is required on the part of the Natives, it is unfortunately too apparent. But although affairs here at present wear such a gloomy aspect, I trust it will not be for a continuance; and I am of opinion that, if the prime mover of all the disturbances in this district, Te Waru, is captured, the place will soon again revert to its former prosperous condition. I have, &c., The Under Native Secretary, Wellington. S. Deioiiton', II.M.

TAUPO. No. 28. Copy of a Letter from Mr. S. Locke to the Hon. J. C. Richmond. Sin,— Napier, 10th February, 18G9. I have the honour to forward, in compliance with your desire, a report of a journey made in company with Lieut.-Colonel Lambert to Taupo. We left Napier on the 21st of January, and proceeded by way of Petane and Tarawera to Nukuhau, at the outlet of Taupo Lake, the pa of the chief Poihipi, and from thence to Oruanui, where we met HohepaTamamutu and Hare Eewete te Kume, and then proceeded along the eastern shore of Lake Taupo, calling at Hatepe, the principal pa of Paora Hapi, and Tauranga a Hauhau settlement, the pa of Tukorehu, and the residence of Wirihana (who endeavoured to get the Taupo Hauhaus to join the ex-prisoners), on to Tokanu, the residence of Hare Tauteka, Heuheu, Herekiekie, Paurini and others. We next visited Rotoaira, and thence on by the Rangipo Valley to Patea, where we saw Karaitiana, and further on Ihakara, chief of Patea, and returned to Napier through the Ngaruroro Gorge. I have furnished Lieut.-Colonel Lambert with all the information relating to the Natives, and the districts through which we travelled, giving him a tracing of our route so that he can supply the Government with a full report in reference to matters connected with military posts or other subjects of that nature to which it is unnecessary for me to advert. The tracing which I enclose will show the route we followed, and also the different lines of roads that have been examined between Napier and Taupo. But as full reports on these roads have been made by Messrs. Gill, Weber, and Ross, engineers, and by Mr. Ellman, copies of which have been already furnished to the Government, it is scarcely necessary to express an opinion as to the most eligible of the several lines. I fully admit that, owing to the poverty of the great part of the land in the Taupo district, the necessity for making a good dray road within that district may not appear necessary ; but for military purposes, and in a political point of view, especially if Natives were employed upon the works, the advantages derived from a main line of road through the centre of the Island cannot be overrated. A large body of the Natives, I am satisfied, take a very lively interest in the matter, and would be ready to work at a moderate rate of wages, and instead of being isolated as at present would soon begin to feel the advantages of more easy and frequent communication with the different towns and settlements on the coast. The Natives at every pa treated us with the greatest hospitality and kindness makingfriendly speeches, which were replied to in the same spirit. From their appearance and manner, and from the tenor of their remarks, I am inclined to think that a great want of confidence exists on the part of the Hauhaus as to the action that may be taken by the Government and the friendly Natives. I believe many of the doubts and jealousies now existing could be removed if more easy means of communication were opened up, and a friendly intercourse established. It is well known that our greatest enemies are those who have been most isolated and secluded from intercourse with the Europeans, and who have had but few opportunities of participating in the advantages of civilization. A few days before we reached Tokanu, Rewi Ngatimaninpoto had been called to Taupo, owing to a dispute with Hohepa Tamamutu, who was shot at by the Hauhaus for persisting in putting up a flag on a hill w rhich was disputed land, the object being to carry on the trigonometrical survey for the Native Lands Court. Rewi cautioned the Natives of his party against any disturbances in that district; at the same time he addressed the following message to the chiefs of the Government party at Taupo : — " Whakaarohia mai kei te Maehe nei Matuatia ai, Tamaititia ai, Tuakanatia ai, Teinatia ai, Tangata ke ai, AVhanaungatia ai, Pakehatia ai, Mate ai, Ora ai." Like most of the messages of this kind from important chiefs, the language used is ambiguous, and may be construed to mean good or evil. The Natives to whom it was addressed did not understand the purport of it. The impression of the majority with whom I conversed on the subject understood it to mean that in March a meeting of the King party will take place at Moerangi, near Taupo, when a final decision will be arrived at as to whether peace or war is to prevail. Of the Ngatihineuru Tribe, of whom Nikora was the chief, formerly residing at Pohue, Haroto, Tarawera, Runanga, and the mountainous wooded district that divides Hawke's Bay from Taupo, little need be said, as nearly the whole tribe is extinct, having been killed or taken prisoners at Omarunui and Petane in 18G6. That portion of the road to Taupo is now almost deserted. The population in the Patea district (a road through which also leads to Taupo) may be considered friendly; the Natives are few in number, and generally well disposed. The tribe to whom most of the Taupo country belongs (the Ngatituwharetoa) musters about 400 fighting men, about 250 of whom