A.—No. 19,

No. 1. Copy of a Letter from Mr. E. Parris to the Hon. the Native Minister. (No. 94.) Sir, — New Plymouth, Ist June, 1867. I have the honor to inform you that three Natives have just arrived from Opunake, and report all quiet in that district. I have received a letter from Wm. King Matakatea reporting that Patara has paid him a friendly visit at his place at Umeroa. Patara is tho man of East Coast notoriety whom the Auckland papers constantly represent as being at the present time at the head of a party carrying on hostilities in the Tauranga District; whereas it is over four months since he returned "to this district, and has never been out of it since. I have, <fcc, The Hon. the Minister for Native Affairs, R. Parris, Wellington. Civil Commissioner. P.S. —There is a large meeting now taking place at Te Ngutu-o-te-Mauu, which Hone Pihama has been invited to attend. It is near Pungarohu, the residence of Tamati One Oraukawa and the Ngaruahine Natives. E. Parris.

No. 2. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Eollestox to Mr. H. T. Clarke. (No. 304-1.) Native Secretary's Office, Sir,— Wellington, 12th August, 1867. I have the honor, by direction of Mr. Eichmond, to request you to be good enough to report at your early convenience whether you are in possession of any evidence of Patara's complicity in the murders at Opotiki, Whakatane, or elsewhere. I hare, &c, W. Eollestok, The Civil Commissioner, Tauranga. Under Secretary. Similar letters to the Eesident Magistrate, Maketu ; the Eesident Magistrate, Opotiki; Thomas H. Smith, Esq. ; J. A. Wilson, Esq.

No. 3. Copy of a Letter from Mr. H. T. Clarke to Mr. Eolleston. (D. 423.) Civil Commissioner's Office, Sir, — Tauranga, 29th August, 1867. In reply to your letter of the 12th instant (No. 304-1), requesting to be informed whether I am in possession of any evidence of Patara's complicity in the murders at Opotiki, Whakatane, or elsewhere. With regard to the murder of Rev. C. S. Volckner, I have the honor to inform you that Patara was not present when the murder was committed. It is a well ascertained fact that he was about twenty miles from Opotiki at the time. It is also a well established fact that he assisted Kereopa to instigate the people to destroy their missionaries ; at Whakatane he declared openly that if he found tho missionary at Opotiki he would kill him. After the death of Mr. Volckner, he affected to disapprove of Kereopa's act. After Mr. Fulloon's death, Patara visited the murderers and took away with him Mr. Pulloon'a breech-loading carbine and revolver. From a long personal acquaintance with Patara, I have no hesitation in describing him as being a man of dangerous character, thoroughly unprincipled, and in his insidious and plausible manner capable of doing a great amount of mischief. I have, &c, The L Tnder Secretary, Native Department, H. T. Clarke, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

No. 4. Copy of a Letter from Mr. W. K. Nesbitt to Mr. Eolleston. Sir,— Maketu, 29th August, 1867. In reply to your letter of the 12th instant (No. 306-1), inquiring if I am in possession of any evidence of Patara's complicity in the murders at Whakatane, Opotiki, or elsewhere, I have tho honor to inform you that I have looked over all the papers in this office having reference to the murders at "Whakatane, including the informations and warrants for apprehension, and that Patara'a name docs not appear amongst those accused. There are no papers relative to the murder at Opotiki in this office. I do not know of any one in the district whose evidence would be available. I have, &c, W. K. Nesbitt, The Under Secretary, Native Office, Wellington. Eesident Magistrate.

PAPERS RELATIVE TO RETURN OF PATARA TO TARANAKI.