AGAINST REBEL NATIVES.

25

A.—No. Ba.

On the 10th instant Ilori Tupaea and his son Akuhata came to this office and informed me that Wi Kotero had brought the following information, viz., that Paratene, of Ngatiporou, had been to Parakiwai, near Whangamata, to take away the Patetere Natives, who for the last two months, have been digging gum there, to meet Tc Kooti at Patetere. These people number about fifty, and consist of Ngatirangiwcwehi, Tapuika, and Ngatitengiha. Paratene had nothing to say to the resident Natives. Ilori added that he had been informed that Tc Kooti left Tuhua in consequence of his scouts having seen the Wanganuis, whom he did not care to fight, coming up the river, and was last heard of at a place called Papawaka, but was now, in all probability, on his way to Patetere and Tauranga, which place he said had been " given into his hands by his Atua;" that if he were delayed it would be in consequence of the action of Tawhiao, wdio would not permit Te Kooti to overrun the country west of the Wairoa River, but all to the eastward of it is in the hands of Hakaraia, who would support Te Kooti." Te Puru came next, and said, "Te Hou, a relative of mine, came from Patetere this morning to warn me that Te Kooti is on the war path, and will come to Kaimai by the Kaitoremi Road unless Waikato and Ngatimaniapoto, now assembled near Te Aratitaha and Arowhena, prevent him. On the 11th Te Ranapia gave me the following information : —On the night of the 10th, Pomare, of Oropi, with Takcrei and Te Puke, of Te Waotu, came to Haerini to warn the people that Te Kooti, with Kereopa and Hakaraia, would ere long be in Tauranga with 270 men; that they would come by Arowhena, where Waikato were now preparing food for the ope. Last night after dark Ngawharau eaine from Kaimai to the Wairoa and warned the settlers there to leave at once. This morning he came to this office and informed me that his father, Herewini, went to Kuranui to a tangihanga; that yesterday morning a messenger came to that place from Tapapa •with the intelligence that Te Kooti had halted near therewith about 270 men, and that the gum-diggers from Parakiwai had not yet joined. Letters Nos. 2, 3, and 4, from Rawiri Tata, speak for themselves. They were brought to one of the settlements near Rangiwaca by a man called Piripi, who said that a karere of Te Kooti's had been to Te Whakamarama, and had told them that he had left the ope on the march. Since I commenced writing, Matutaera, of Haerini, has returned from Oropi, and informs me that a karere arrived at that place on the 10th, and reported that he left Te Kooti near Tuhua some days since, having been sent in advance. Matutaera says that the Hauhaus of Oropi, Te Akeake, and the other villages along the skirt of the forest, are very uneasy, not knowing how Te Kooti will treat them, and that they have decided upon assembling either at Te Taumata or Araia-te-uru (Tauaro's place near Paengaroa). Ngaiterangi, who are satisfied from all this information that Te Kooti is on his way to this district, are in a great state of alarm, and plead hard to be put in a position to defend themselves ; but I have informed them that as yet I cannot assume the responsibility of arming them. You will observe that the information received has come through a variety of channels, each account being consistent with the others, the whole warranting the belief that Te Kooti really does intend to attack some of the settlements in this district. I have, &c, H. T. Clark, Esq., Civil Commissioner, Auckland. W. G. Mair, R.M.

Enclosure 1 in No. 58. Lieutenant Preece to Major Mair. Dear Sir, — Puketarata, 4th January, 1870. Marino te Hingohi has just arrived from Tuhua. He says he left on the 29th. Te Kooti's scouts had seen the Ngatihau poleing up the river two days before, and abandoned his position at Taumarunui, and is now at Otamakaha, in the bush near the Ongarue River. 14ie Wanganuis would get to Taumarunui the day Marino left. He (Marino) thinks Tc Kooti will try to get through to Urewera country this way. He has left word with his people to communicate with Wanganuis, and then send a messenger to us at Tokano. Tc Kooti has nearly 200 men in all. Kereopa only took nineteen men with him to Tuhua. He shot Marino's cattle and horses at Papawaka. Kereopa wants to go to Patetere. Te Kooti still wishes to get into the Urewera country. Marino came by the Maraeroa track, and thinks Te Kooti will also come by the same road. Rewiri te Numuhu has returned from the Urewera country. The result of his talk with them is that Wanganui is going to visit the Arawa at Ohinemutu. Part of Urewera are inclined for peace. In haste. Yours truly, Major Mair, Tauranga. George Preece.

Enclosure 2 in No. 58. Rawiri Tangitu to Major Mair. Te Whakamarama, Bth January, 1870. To Mr. Mair, director of affairs at Tauranga, — Friend, salutations. This is my word to you. We have heard that Te Kooti will come to this place. This is an established word. Enough. From Rawiri Tangitu.