G.—6b

and some of his own people lie returned here on Tuesday the 15th current. He landed between Nelson and the valley, and immediately proceeded to the latter, where he commenced his aggressions on the settlers, warning them off the land, and threatening to destroy their houses and themselves if they did not quit. (d) After many alarming menaces he left the valley, and returned to the farm of Mr. F. Jollie (nearer Nelson), where he and his party endangered the crops and buildings by their fires, and also threatened Mr. Jollie as they had done the settlers in the valley. (e) On the following day a complaint was made by the disturbed settlers to the Police Magistrate of Nelson, who with his Clerk and Interpreter, Mr. Tinline, proceeded to the valley, where they had an interview with Paramatta. The latter denied having sold the valley, assaulted Mr. Tinline and Mr. Jollie, and told the Police Magistrate and his Interpreter that he would serve them as Rauparaha had served Messrs. Thompson and Brooks at the Wairau. Eventually, however, he promised to be quiet for a fortnight, in order that the Magistrate might produce evidence of the sale and Commissioner's award, but, if he failed in doing so, Paramatta declared he would drive off the settlers. (/) The Police Magistrate returned to Nelson, and Paramatta, the following morning, recommenced his aggressions. He broke into the house of a settler named Graham, robbed him of some flour, and told him he would return on the following Monday and burn all down. He then destroyed a stockyard and burnt a quantity of hurdles and shingles belonging to other parties, and returned to his pah. (g) These renewed aggressions being reported in Nelson, considerable feeling was excited, and on Saturday afternoon (18th current) the Police Magistrate called a public meeting over which he presided, and at which were present Dr. Monro, J.P., Mr. Valle, J.P., and several leading settlers. It was proposed by the Police Magistrate, and finally agreed to, that he should proceed on the following Monday to the valley, with the plan settled by the Commissioner before referred to, and warn Paramatta against future aggression ; the Police Magistrate stipulating that he should be accompanied by an armed and volunteer force. (.h) On the following evening (Sunday) a meeting of the above-named three Magistrates was held, after which the Police Magistrate announced to the public that his intention was changed, and that he would take no step towards checking Paramatta, except writing to him to come to Nelson to see the plan, and sending to Wellington to request Major Richmond to afford military assistance. (j) This resolution, it afterwards appeared, was not concurred in by Dr. Monro, and, at a private interview which I had with the Magistrates, I informed them that I could not acquiesce in the decision they had come to, and should consider it my duty to maintain the settlers in possession of the land by whatever means I might think most expedient. (k) The following morning (Monday), a public meeting was held, when it was determined that Mr. Stephens, the company's principal surveyor, should proceed to the valley and cut a broad line across it in exact accordance with the Commissioner's plan ; that Paramatta should be requested to inspect this line, and warned against disturbing settlers within it; and, lastly, as Mr. Stephens would probably be prevented by the Natives from cutting the line if alone, that he should be accompanied by a well-armed volunteer force, who should remain with him till his work was done. A number of respectable settlers, including Dr. Monro, J.P., immediately volunteered, and, at their request, I consented to take the command of the party and the responsibility of the necessary arrangements. The rest of this day was spent in making preparations, and, in the evening, an armed muster was held, at which a notice, issued by the Police Magistrate, forbidding our proceedings was read by the Chief Constable. (I) On the following morning (Tuesday, 21st January), the party proceeded to the valley, to the number of upwards of eighty, about one-third of whom were settlers of the upper class, and the whole armed with weapons and ammunition whose order had been carefully tested overnight. On arriving in the valley, Mr. Stephens proceeded to cut the line ; to which no obstacle opposed itself, the Natives having heard of our muster, and withdrawn from the valley. (m) On the previous evening, the Rev. Messrs. Reay and Butt, the resident clergymen of the Episcopal Church, and missionaries, had volunteered to proceed to Paramatta's pah by water, for the purpose of endeavouring to pursuade him to come to the valley to see the line cut, and offering him safe conduct there and back. They found him very sulky and obstinate. He treated the Commissioner's award as a concerted fraud, in which the Protector had taken part, and, as a proof of it, he urged the cases which had been reported to him on the other side of the strait, where the Commissioner's award had been set aside, and the Natives affected by it received additional money from the Governor. He declined coming to the valley or to Nelson, in accordance with the Police Magistrate's requisition which he had received. Mr. Reay, finding him obstinate, left him, and met us in the valley shortly after our arrival in it, when he communicated the substance of the above. (n) It was then proposed to visit Paramatta at his pah, to show him the plan and caution him, but Mr. Reay declined to act as the guide for an armed party, and, no one knowing the road, which was through a thick bush and understood to be difficult, the proposal was abandoned ; and. Mr. Reay returned alone, carrying with him the plan and some printed notices in the Native language (into which they had been translated by the Rev. Mr. Butt) by which I gave Paramatta notice that " I had cut the line, and that if he gave any more trouble to the settlers I would come with many white men and bring him to Nelson to be tried by the Queen's laws."

5 —G. 68.

33