H.—4o.

1876. NEW ZEALAND.

THE REPUTED MURDERER WINIATA. (LETTER FROM MAJOR TE WHEORO RELATIVE TO.)

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives, No. 50, Ith August, 1876. "That there be laid before this House copies of all correspondence between Major Te Wheoro and the Government regarding the possibility of capturing the reputed murderer Winiata."— (Sir G. Grey.) N.B.—This Return does not include telegraphic correspondence previously presented.

[Tbanslation.] Major Te Wheobo to the Hon. the Native Ministeb. Fbiend, — Alexandra, 28th February, 187 G. Salutations. On seeing the gross attack made upon me in the Waikato Times, which is totally unfounded, I thought that I had better write to you. I wish you to pay no attention to the statements published in the paper of the 24th of this month. It was stated that the information was supplied by a half-caste. The writer could not have been a half-caste, but it must have emanated from an evil-disposed and unprincipled European. At the time this scurrilous attack appeared, my friends Captain Clare and Major Mair were there (at Hamilton). I remained here to gather information about Winiata. All these people read the gross misstatements concocted by that paper. Major Mair came to me and spoke to me about Winiata, but did not mention the article referred to. His friend the European clergyman at Te Awainutu told the pakehas at Alexandra about the article ; in the evening a European gave me the paper, which had arrived by the mail. By this time, Major Mair had returned to Te Awainutu. I wondered why my friend Major Mair had not informed me of that article, as he had already seen it before we met. Had it not been for the good-will of a stranger, who was no particular friend of mine, the threat contained in the article might have been carried out. You must read the article published in the newspaper. There was not one single word of truth in it. I will now enter into correct details. On the receipt of your telegram, giving instructions to Major Mair and myself with reference to "Wi iata, I went to Te Awamutu to consult with Major Mair as to the best course to be pursued for Winiata's apprehension, because all the constables who had been told off to be on the look-out at Moerangi had returned. We proceeded to Hamilton. Whilst we were there, Major Mair, Major Clare, and I had a meeting, when I made the following proposition:— I said, "That some persons should be sent to watch on the Moerangi and Piako roads, in the direction where he was supposed to come out to the Hauhau border." The Mangawara Stream, which joins the Waikato Eiver at Taupiri, was to be watched every night, lest he should come down from Moerangi in a canoe; in the day time they were to conceal themselves, lest any one should see them and inform the murderer, or those who were harbouring him, and so prevent his going by that road. The road between Moerangi and Hukanui should be watched, as also the road between Moerangi and Te Au-o-Waikato in like manner; all the roads which it was suspected he might take were to be watched. After all these precautions had been taken, then search parties were to proceed to those parts where the murderer was supposed to be. Two of my people arrived from Te Kohekohe, and also two English constables. At daybreak they were sent to Taupiri to watch there. Major Mair and I went to Tamahere, to talk the matter over with Te Eaihi and Te Hakiriwhi, and to arrange with them for some of their people, who could be depended upon, to watch. We said to them, "Let the people whom you can trust proceed to Te Au-o-Waikato first, and on their arrival there the sergeant would select the persons to watch any particular part of the roads he might point out." These different lines of road were shown by the Maoris on a rough sketch. A road leading from Piako and Waitara to Moerangi was to be watched, and the road from Piako via Moerangi to Te Au-o-Waikato was also to be watched. After this was done, search parties were to proceed to those parts where Winiata was supposed to be, so that, on his being forced out on to these roads, those who were watching for him would catch him. After these plans had been laid before them, they were agreed to. There were two Europeans and two Maoris sent that day; after they were gone, four Maoris were instructed to await the arrival of some more pakehas, whom Major Clare was to send from Hamilton. We waited from daylight until after dinner, but the Europeans never came.