PAPERS RELATIVE TO HOROWHENUA.

27

F.—No. 8.

he told me that some Natives from Napier were there when the cattle were killed, for they helped to eat them. He said that his people were very sore about it, and wanted to go and look for their cattle and horses ; but he would not allow them to go until Hunia returned from Wellington, and then they would decide as. to what was to be done. He also informed me that the Ngatihuia had threatened to shoot any of them that crossed the boundary. He told me that he would not allow his men to carry arms for fear lest they should quarrel with Ngatihuia and lose their guns. The policeman, after we had had some food, proposed taking our horses back to Mr. McDonald's, and returning with them in the morning. When he had left the Natives began to speak plainly, narrating how treacherously they had been treated by Ngatiraukawa in old times, and how it was that Te Whatanui came in possession of Horowhenua ; they also warned me not to believe anything Ngatihuia said, for they were a bad lot. Major Kemp invited me to go and sleep in the pa, which I did. The next day we visited tho Ngatihuia Pa at Poroutawhao, which is about four miles in a direct line from Major Kemp's Pa. We were very well received, and, after the usual speeches of welcome, I told them I had been sent by Mr. McLean to watch their proceedings ; that I was a perfect stranger, and knew nothing about the land dispute, and therefore my mouth would be shut on that subject. I told them that the Muaupoto had accused them of having driven off anil killed some of their cattle. Upon hearing this they became very excited, denied having killed any cattle belonging to the other party, and that the cattle the Napier men helped them eat were their own, and killed for the Manuwhiri. llunui (they say) has broken the law by burning Watene's house; and wishes to excuse his conduct by charging them with committing an illegal act. They admit that they went about armed with loaded guns ; justifying their conduct by stating that Kemp's men carried revolvers. They also informed me that spies came out at night to inspect their position and to ascertain their numbers, and that was why they built a pa. Tuesday, 22nd August. —I again visited Horowhenua, in company with Parakaia, whom I overtook on the road. Wfien we arrived at Te Watene's place we found him busy building a large house, which I believe he intended for a pa : the floor is excavated two feet below the surface. Parakaia commenced by telling them all that had transpired in Wellington between Mr. McLean and themselves. He wound up by telling them that it was Mr. McLean's wish that Watene should leave Horowhenua for a short time. Watene replied that he was quite willing to do so, provided the Muaupoko moved back to their old pa. He promised to think over it; he also told us that Major Kemp had sent a messenger to inform him that he was not to cut, fell, or remove any timber from the adjoining bush. This order was given in consequence of his having removed some timber from an old cultivation which he and Muaupoko had once occupied. Upon our arrival at " Kupe " (the Muaupoko runanga house) we were met by Hunia, and were shortly after joined by Kemp and party. Parakaia made a long speech, reciting all that had been done at Wellington, Te Watene's place, and elsewhere ; concluded by saying that he had nothing particular to say to them. Major Kemp replied by repeating all that he had said and done from Major Edwards' first visit to the present time. Kawana Hunia followed, and, while addressing me, used anything but complimentary language ; he spoke in an excited manner. I first replied to Major Kemp's speech. I then addressed Hunia, telling him in plain language that I was not accustomed to his complimentary speeches, and that as I had been sent up by Mr. McLean, he was not abusiug me, but the person who sent me. Kemp then spoke to me about their cattle. He said that he had taken a memorandum of the number of their cattle and horses, thereby implying that, if they could not recover their stock, the Government would pay for them. Hunia then made a very quiet speech. He told us that he and Major Kemp were going to leave the district, but that " their spirits would be at Horowhenua." He then asked me who was to pay for their stock ? I told him that I had no authority to deal with such questions. He then asked, if, when he Kemp left the district, and one of their men were killed by Ngatiraukawa, what then ? In reply, I told him that if the Ngatiraukawa were the aggressors, and murdered some of his people, that it would then become a Government question. He also asked me if he had not better send three of his men with me in the morning to go and look for their missing stock ? I told him that they had better wait until I had been to the other pa. He said that he thought it was quite right, and that the reason why he used such strong language at the commencement of the evening was, to see how brave I was. During the evening we heard the report of some guns in the direction of the other pa, which caused some excitement. It was generally supposed to be tho arrival of reinforcements. The Muaupoko complain about Te Watene's moving the timber from the disputed land. Early next morning we went on to the Poroutawhao Pa. After breakfast wa3 over, and Parakaia had narrated all that had transpired, I asked them if they would remove the aukati, so as Muaupoko might go and look for their missing cattle. When they had considered the question for a short time, they agreed to do so ; but they said they would not allow them to come within their enclosures. I told them it would be better to allow them to go over all their plantations or they might bo accused of concealing horses or cattle in their cultivations, and that one of them might go with them. To this they all agreed. I then recommended that, for the future, whenever they wished to go over the Muaupoko run to look for stock, or the Muaupoko wished to go over their run for the same purpose, one should go and inform the other, so that one could go with the party and see what stock were removed. Also, that neither one nor the other were to carry weapons, and if any dispute arose to let me know, and I would try and settle it for them. This plan they highly approved of. I rode on to Foxton, to try and get the Natives in that district to use their influence to remove Watene from Horowhenua. This they agreed to, and wrote a letter to Te Watene, advising him to leave his place for a short time. On Saturday morning I returned to Otaki. Matene Te Whiwhi came over to see me, and to him