G.—9.

2

No. 4 Mr. E. M. Williams to the Under Secretaet, Native Department. Sic, — Puketona, sth September, 1879. It is with much regret I have to report for the information of the Hon. the Native Minister that on Monday last, the Ist instant, a Native disturbance took place at Mataraua, resulting in loss of life, four having been killed and three wounded. I have also to regret that, being confined to the house by ill-health, I was unable to visit these Natives myself, but have learnt with satisfaction that several of the influential chiefs of the district went at once to Mataraua and have succeeded in quelling this disturbance. This quarrel has been the result of an endeavour on the part of certain Natives to push the survey of a block of land at Mataraua, for which they had received a sum of money in advance, the boundaries of this land being disputed by another party not interested in the sale. I had been informed by Natives from Kaikohe of the probability of a disturbance should the survey be attempted, and at their request wrote to the surveyors recommending them to withdraw until the Natives could arrange their difficulties ; and I was glad to learn to-day that, acting upon my advice, they at once retired. It appears, however, that the Natives who sold the land continued cutting the lines after the surveyors had loft, and, being met by the opposing party, shots were exchanged, with the results already stated. I have not as yet obtained full particulars of this sad affair, but will not fail to report as early as possible any further information I may have to communicate. I have, &c, The Under Secretary, Native Office, Wellington. Edwd. M. Williams, R.M.

No. 5. Maihi P. Kawiti to the Hon. Mr. Sheehan. [Translation.] Friend, — Waiomio, Kawakawa, 11th September, 1879. Salutations to you aud Sir George Grey. Salutations to you both. This is my word to you. If you both stand upon your Government (i.e., remain in office), let the benefits arising from your conduct of affairs continue to increase over the two peoples—the European and the Maori—so that the approbation of the two peoples may rest upon you both. No more upon that subject. I have received your telegram referring to the Ngapuhi disturbance, in which four persons were killed, two on one side and two on the other. Tour telegram states that you are very much grieved dv account of this evil work; secondly, demands that the matter shall be investigated according to law ; thirdly, states that this has been a decided trampling upon the law by Ngapuhi; and, fourthly, expresses your desire that the evil-doing of Ngapuhi should stop at the fighting of Hone lieke, and cease from that time, so that no further evil should arise after those two, including Kawiti. Friend, 1 concur in what you say in your telegram to me. Hearken, O friend, Mr. Sheehan. This people, Ngapuhi, is a strong and a stiff-ueeked people, about whom their proverb says, in the song which you have heard, " Puhi ko whaorau tenei, puhi tani wharau." That is their proverb. Sufficient. We went to trample upon that disturbance, and held a meeting at Kaikohe. I stood up and spoke this word to the chief's of Ngapuhi: " Hearken, oye chiefs of Ngapuhi, and ye candidates for election. This is my word. The candidates from Ngapuhi from Hokianga; the candidate from Kaikohe, Hirini Taiwhanga; Heta te Haara, from Ohaeawai; Wiremu Katene, from Te Waimate— let all these candidates be overthrown. Let there be no candidate from Ngapuhi. Let the member to represent us all be elected by Te Rarawa, by the peaceful and well-behaved people. Let there be no member for Ngapuhi, because this is the seventh time that blood has been shed in the District of Hokianga, Kaikohe, Ohaeaw 7ai, and Te AVaimate." When I had finished, Hirini Taiwhanga stood up and said: "O my friend Maiiii. Tou saw that I was a person of low degree, and that is the reason why you suggest that I should be overthrown." Then I said to Hirini: " With reference to what you have said, when have you advocated tho law during these many years past ? Do you cease." These (words) are sufficient. Now, upon our arrival at Otaua, we found the tw 7o dead persons belonging to Ngaitu lying there. We made application that the land should be given up to us, to the establishment of peace (or to the mediators). This was agreed to by Wi Pou; and that completed the business with the enemy. At daybreak next morning we started, I and Kerei Mangonui, with Te Tai and fifty others, aud arrived at Mataraua, where the other belligerents were. Peace was established, and we made application that the land upon which their people had been killed should be given up to us. The deceased persons were chiefs of high rank belonging to Ngapuhi. We persisted in our application. Then Whakamautara stood up and called (upon the others) and said: " Shall it be so; shall we give up the land ?" And all his people agreed to the proposal. Then Whakamautara said to us: " Take ye the land. Let neither I nor my enemy have it. lam quite willing. If my friend (enemy ? —the word ' riri' having probably been omitted) receives any portion of it, we two shall get into trouble again." And here he gave utterance to his second word: "lam not willing that there should be a rehearing by Court, or an arbitration respecting this land, but that it should remain in the hands of the peacemakers, who will hold it." Here ceased the talking. This is a word of mine to you, O friend, Mr. Sheehan. I am in favour of leaving this matter with the council of the chiefs of Ngapuhi, so that they may carefully consider what shall be done with the laud upon which the people of Ngapuhi have beeu killed. If you have any opinion upon the subject, write, so that I may know what it is. The Hon. Mr. Sheehan, Hauraki, Auckland, From Maihi P. Kawiti,