G.-3

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mentioned their particular desire was to capture and kill some of the friendly Natives who had been concerned in the sale and leasing of land. On the 23rd April, Parakaia Te Korau was searching after a missing horse at Pukekura, and was seized by Mohi Purukutu, Hori Te Tumu, and Herewini Ngamuka, who were armed with guns. He was taken to Te Koukou settlement, where he found seven other armed Natives —Paora Tuhua, Hohepa Motuiti, AVira Tarawhati, AVhina, Hone AVaiti Paokauri, Parata Te Ahuru, and Pere Poutururu. After interrogating him as to his participation in land sales or leases, and finding he had taken no part therein, they agreed to spare his life. They then went to Ngaho-ko-whitu, a settlement distant about one mile from Te Koukou; here they all remained until about midnight, when seven left, and Hone AVaiti Paekauri, Parata Te Ahuru, and Pere Poutururu, remained to guard Parakaia. The party were absent the next day aud night, and returned at day light on the 25th, saying, " that slaying had taken place." Parakaia was then released. From information received from other sources, it appears that on arriving at Te Koukou settlement Paora Tuhua, Wira Parawhati, and Hohepa Motuiti remained as a guard, and Mohi Purukutu, Hori Te Tumu, AVhina, and Herewine Ngamuku went on to search for Europeans to kill. They were aware that men were working for Mr. Walker, on the Pukekura block, and travelled by the track leading from Maungatatari to Pukekura. On reaching a point where the paths diverge to Pukekura and Moanatuatua, they saw a man, George Lloyd, driving a cart loaded with fascines. They then considered that there were probably other Europeans working at tho place to which the fascines were being carted, and allowed the cart to pass. The four then followed the dray track to a hill overlooking a swamp, where three men, Jones, Eogers, and Sullivan, were laying fascines, about three chains outside the boundary of the confiscated land. The men's attention was attracted to the Natives by a dog barking, and they at once agreed to abandon their work, and run towards Cambridge. After going some distance, Sullivan became exhausted from fatigue, and went into a small clump of manuka, where he was speedily discovered by Hori Te Turnu —and shot by Mohi Purukutu who came up at the time. Whina and Herewine Ngamuka, by direction of Mohi Purukutu, crossed to the north side of the swamp, with the intention of cutting off Jones and Eogers, but when they reached the boundary line the chase was discontinued. Mohi Purukutu and Hori Te Tumu then mutilated the body of Sullivan, and took away with them the head and heart, and his hat and waistcoat. Shortly after this Mr. Parker (a partner of Mr. AValkor) joined Lloyd, who was carting the fascines, and they proceeded together to the spot where the three men had been surprised by the Natives. They saw two Natives (Mohi Purukutu and Hori Te Tumu) on the opposite side of the swamp, and another coming down the dray track which they had just passed over. Discovering that the working party had left, they considered it advisablo to return also. They accordingly proceeded up the dray track towards the place where they had seen the Native walking. On arriving there, a man (Whina) jumped up from the fern and presented a fowling piece at Parker, at the same time pulling the trigger. The cap fortunately missed fire. Lloyd ran away, and Parker, after the Native had again endeavored to fire his gun and the cap had snapped a second time, put his horse to a gallop and escaped. In the meanwhile, Jones had reached Cambridge and gave the alarm. Major Clare, the officer commanding the Constabulary there, had only two men on the spot, the remainder of the force being employed working on the roads at some distance from the township. Major Clare and a party of settlers then went out and brought in the body of Sullivan, which they found mutilated, as before described. (Vide Enclosure D.) On the following day Mr. Searancke, the Coroner for the District, held an inquest on the body, (vide copy of Evidence at inquest, Enclosure E.) and a verdict of wilful murder was returned against Pere Poutururu, and three other Natives —names unknown, but one supposed to be Whira, and another named Paora. The finding of the jury has since been discovered to be incorrect, and that none of the persons mentioned in tho verdict were present at the time —-those concerned in the murder being Mohi Purukutu, Hori Te Tumu, Whina, and Herewine Ngamuka; tho two first mentioned actually killed Sullivan, and the two last assisted iv the chase after Sullivan and his companions. I arrived at Cambridge on the 27th April, and at once proceeded to collect information as to the actual perpetrators of the outrage, but it was the 16th May before I was in possession of the facts of tho case as hereinbefore relate I. On the 28th April, I went to the scene of the murder, accompanied by Major Clare, Messrs. AValker, Parker, Jones, and others, and made a sketch of the locality, showing tho points at which the various incidents took place. (Vide Sketch Map, Enclosure E.) I found that everything connected with the murder occurred on the leasehold land, outside the boundary of the lands confiscated under the New Zealand Settlements Act, excepting the attempt made by AVhina to shoot Parker, which was within the line. On the 29th April, a meeting of the Ngatihaua was held at Tamahere, at which Tana Te Waharoa, their principal chief, was present I demanded from him that " the murderers should be given up to be tried by the law ; if that was not complied with, that the tribe should stand aside and allow them to bo captured." He professed his willingness to do this, and I said that as the murderers belonged to his tribe he could give them up at once, and he must give me an answer in three days." On tho 30th April, I wrote to Tawhiao, Eewi, and Manuwhiri, as follows:—" I have come here at tho request of tho Government, to inquire about the murder. My proceedings are being carefully taken that peace may be maintained. My idea is, that the guilty should atone for his offence, and the innocent should dwell in peace and security. This is a question of mine to you —Are you not willing to express your opinion as to the persons who murdered the pakeha ? The reason I thus speak to you is that I wish to hasten some good arrangement for us, so that both our people (English and Maori) may live—lest the trouble increase for this unauthorised murder. My thought is that men should not be murdered. The objects which you wish to attain should be carefully considered by _s in peace." Complaints were at this time made by the Hauhau portion of the Natiraukawa tribe that