r.-Ko. i,

PAPERS EELATIVE TO SURRENDER

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this place, can be almost jumped across ; its source is only three miles distant, also, that of Te Motu. We are near the source of several of the Bay of Plenty rivers, which take their rise from near this range, of which Rangitata and Maungatapere are the highest points. 29^7j January. —At four o'clock this morning, I sent on a party of twenty-five men with a supply of food for Ropata and party; the main body afterwards marching on more slowly, having to carry double packs. On reaching tho place where the tracks branch off we halted, awaiting further instructions from Ropata as to our route. At 2 p.m., a messenger returned, telling us to move on to rejoin Ropata. AVe marched, and descended some very steep places, doing so at great risk, being fearful lest the loose rocks should roll upon those in front. A Hauhau was reported to have been killed here by a stone falling on top of him. The precipice we descended into the Waioeka is about 200 feet in depth, and almost perpendicular, and composed chiefly of loose stones. We passed through Te Kooti's pa, Te AVera, which is admirably situated on a declining spur, with steep cliffs and water on three sides, and surrounded by forest, the river AVaioeka running on the left. Twenty-seven very comfortable whares were erected here, evidencing his intention to remain for some time, had the secret of his abode not become known. Our men have searched all the clearings around, and find only the tracks of the three men, leading in the direction of Maraetahi, or outer AVaioeka. Ropata and I consulted as to the best road to take, and it was determined upon following up the tracks, with the hope of capturing a prisoner, of whom we could obtain information. By thus deviating from our direct line of march to Ruatahuua, we alone are the sufferers, as our guide informs us that the road will be something frightful. 30/A January. —It rained all last night, and we were apprehensive that we should not be able to march ; but, clearing up at daylight, we started travelling along the bed of the river, which we expected to find bad. It was beyond conception so ; the rocks are of an enormous size, and very slippery, the ranges on either side being of a tremendous height, the cliffs, towards the water, near the bottom, being about 100 feet sheer perpendicular. Another of Te Kooti's pas was passed by us to-day, called pa Rangiora, in which he took refuge after his defeat at Maraetahi, from whence he went to Te Wera. Two whares only were left standing in this pa, in one of which the following letters were found, addressed to Te Kooti:— [Translation]. "To Te Tueuki [Te Kooti],— "Friend, salutations to you, Hying at your place. Friend, may God protect you. The salutations end. Friend, give some instruction as a guide. That is all about that. This is another word: Your gun, which Atarihi brought, I have taken to protect myself with. Sufficient, "Te Pueewa (Renata Pohokorua)." [Teanslation]. " To Te Tueuki [Te Kooti]. _ "Te Kakari, 15th May, 1871. " Friend, salutations to you, and to the people who are with you. We have been here eight days, waiting for intelligence from outside. We have heard nothing from that quarter, but only fjrom inside. The worst news is, that Tuhoe (the Urewera) and Ngatiwhare have gone over to the Government, and will remain with them. The names of those who have gone over are:—Pineaha, Te Tuhi, Wharehinia, Ihaia, Toma, Hemi, including women and children, there are ten. The departure of another we did not see. That is all. Salutations to you. "From Maika and Tio." On getting to our camping place, where the stream Kahunui empties itself into the Waioeka, we again found, the fresh sleeping place of the men we were following. They had left this morning, leaving their names written upon a board—Tarawera, Harawira and Te Wharemaiha. We have now come to the conclusion that they, like ourselves, are also in quest of Te Kooti Tamihana tells us that they are three of four men who were lost after Te Kooti's dispersion at Tologa Bay, and have not since joined him. We are now eating taua berries to save what little biscuit we have left. Te Bakiroa, speaking of the Whakatohea, said that it has been proposed by them that Te Kooti, on his return from Taupo, should come and arrange for the slaughter of the Europeans at Opotiki. Te Kooti was to attack the place, and the Whakatohea, who would be called upon to assist in its defence, were, in the height of the panic, to secede to the rebels and to kill the Europeans, and plunder the settlement. Te Kooti had got to Opape, invited there by the AVhakatohea, in furtherance of this object, and had not the two Arawas been killed there by the Hauhaus this devilish deed might have been executed. Captain AValker, who led the small party to Opape, on the information that Hauhaus were there, deserves the credit of having saved Opotiki from destruction. In making comparisons between chiefs, he said Kawakura is a staunch friend of the Goverment, but * * * is a ngakau rua. 31st January. —Last night our outlying sentries came in to report the approach of a party of men, supposed by them to be Hauhaus. We advanced to meet them, and laid wait in a place suitable for capturing them; but they proved to be a small party of Ngatiporou, nine in number, under Ruka te Aratapu, who had followed us with despatches. It was an extremely plucky thing for so few men to undertake such an expedition, and none other but a party of Ngatiporou would have volunteered upon such an errand; it was, perhaps, fortunate for them that we had not penetrated farther into the Urewera country. We are now convinced that the Urewera are aware of Te Kooti's hiding place. It is said that while Te Puehu remains inland, the Urewera will never be at peace ; all other chiefs have little or no influence. This chief is described as a little, old man, ugly, and has a great antipathy to any kind of clothing, always appearing in a state of nudity, whether in assemblies of the people, or in private. We marched eleven hours to-day, expecting to reach Maraetahi; the travelling has been bad, beyond any description I can give; Waioeka was known to be bad towards its mouth, but here, and up to its source, it is frightfully so. There is not another river in New Zealand, known by me, equal to it. The whole line of march has been through a deep gorge, over immense rocks, twenty to