AGAINST THE REBEL NATIVES.

5

A.—* No. BA.

Enclosure 4 in No. 2. Whangamata, 2nd August, 1869. " This is a showing of mine to you, that is to you all, concerning Te Kooti's intentions about Tauranga, so that you may know; Tauranga will be attacked by Tc Kooti. This is a true word of mine." From Wi Kotero. This letter was addressed to Akuhata Tupaea (son of Hori Tupaea), who allowed me to copy this extract. —Henry T. Clarke.

Enclosure 5 in No. 2. To Mr. Clarke,— Te Akeake, 18th August, 1869. Salutations —The word, listen you, is that Tc Kooti has returned to his place Ruatahuna. This is an established word. He will depart in these days. Do not you listen to the reports travelling along the borders of Tauranga. There will be no fighting at Tauranga. The doors of fighting will be Maketu and Te Awa ote atua. That is all. From your friend, Paraone Te Rauhea.

Enclosure 6 in No. 2. Memo, of Statement made by Ranapia, Arama Karaka, and Pareti, of Speech made by Maihi Pohepohe to the Ngatihe, giving an account of Tc Kooti's proceedings in the Waikato. Hakaraia and myself were on our way to Taupo, when we received a letter from Te Kooti, requesting an interview. Hakaraia consented, and wrote a letter to that effect. We travelled towards Pukerimu. On our way we met a man, who stated that Te Kooti had declared his intention of destroying all those who would not agree with him, and that he would make no distinction between Hauhaus and Queen Natives. Hakaraia then said—" The words of this man do not agree with the letter I have received from Te Kooti; I do not believe him.''' We journeyed on to Pukerimu, where we met Tc Kooti, with 300 followers, amongst whom was Te Heuheu. Tc Kooti had left a part of his force at Tokaanui and Waihi, to watch the Pakehas and the Arawa. In the evening we assembled, and Te Kooti got up to address the people, and especially Hakaraia. He spoke for five hours, and made quotations from a large book written in the English language. During this long address, which was listened to with great attention by every one, Hakaraia constantly said to me —" Te Kooti is a true man. I thought I knew a good deal, but this man's knowledge is much greater than mine. I shall have to succumb to him." His knowledge did not only relate to things of the earth, but extended to those of heaven. Hakaraia agreed to accompany him to Tokangamutu. Te Kooti and his people marched with a bold front, and did not show any symptoms of fear. The news of his intention to visit Tokangamutu had preceded him, and the King had assembled his people, for great was his fear of Te Kooti. He had succeeded in getting together 250 men, thirty of whom were Ngatimaniapoto. The rest of the King's followers would not respond to the King's request for assistance, from fear. When Te Kooti arrived at Tokangamutu, he did not go to Tc Kuiti, the King's house, but to Taupiri, the Ngatimaniapoto house. Rewi was there with his thirty men. In reply to Tc Kooti, Rewi welcomed him in the most cordial terms, and said : " That he was the long hoped for; that he was ready to accept all Te Kooti's demands; that he had often asked his lord (the King) to be allowed to take arms, but was not permitted." Te Kooti's force amounted to 500 men, and great was the number of breechloaders and rifles amongst them. It was here that Te Kooti first heard that it had been stated that he had come to depose the King. Tc Kooti denied this, and said —"That it was not in him to trangress the laws of God by destroying His anointed. That every man had his mission from above ; some were masters, others were servants. He (Tc Kooti) was a servant, sent to punish the wicked. The sword had been placed into his hands, and he would use it. He came to greet the King, and to rouse the Waikato to take up arms. It was not right that the tribe who initiated the quarrel with the Pakeha, dragged the island into the sea, and made many fatherless and widows, should remain quiet while the sword was being lifted in other places." Rewi was pleased with this, and said his joy was great. Invitations were sent to assemble all the people of Waikato to meet Te Kooti. Rewi sent these messengers. Waikato soon assembled to the number of 500 men, and they collected a large quantity of food, —dried sharks and flour. The flour had been supplied by the Pakeha to Waikato previously. Tc Kooti said he should consider himself the host (tangata whenua), and that the Waikato were his visitors. He ordered his 500 men to load their guns with ball cartridges, and, when the Waikatos came within a short distance, he gave the word to fire over their heads. Great was the fear of the Waikato. They threw the food down and ran away. They retired a short distance, and were very angry. They said that they would fight Tc Kooti on the following day. When Te Kooti heard of it, he said — " Heed them not; it is only talk." Te Kooti waited a week, but 2