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It would have tended much to restore the confidence of the settlers if arms and ammunition, with persons qualified to take charge of them, had been sent, which step had been previously impressed upon the Government as necessary, and was proposed to His Excellency by myself. Had this been done, I should have been placed in a position to render some service to the settlement; as it is. however, I am looked upon with suspicion by both Europeans and Natives, and my means of carrying out His Excellency's instructions are much cramped, from the want of cordial co-operation on the part of the Provincial authorities. I have been informed that the Ngatiruanui tribe was again on their way to attack Ihaia, to avenge some fancied insult offeredto their dead. Should they arrive, and succeed in their attack, the defeated party are very likely to fall back upon the to.wn, where a pah is situated ; in which case the consequences are likely to prove disastrous to the settlers, as they are but scantily provided with arms, the ninety flint muskets mentioned by Major Nugent being barely serviceable, and as they have no place of refuge for their families in case of need, I therefore consider that a stockade and blockhouse should, as soon as possible, be erected on Mount Marsden, and two twelve-pounders placed there, which would secure the church, a stone building capable of holding from 150 to 200 people, and would command Mount Elliott, where it would be advisable to place another blockhouse, to protect the boats and landing-place. I conceive that the suspicions of the natives would not be aroused by these proceedings, as they are re-building their pahs on a much larger scale, than formerly, and more than sufficient for their own purposes, from which I infer that they expect reinforcements. This work should be promptly performed, and I feel assured that the settlers will render every assistannce in their power. A case occurred previous to my arrival, which proves how easily a collision might take place. Some European children stole some peaches, the property of the natives. The theft haying been discovered, and the parties traced to their father's house, twelve armed men of the friendly natives appeared at the door, and demanded " utu." The settler was not at home, when they insisted upon having his gun, which his terrified wife gave up to them. As yet it has not been recovered; but I shall use every endeavour to induce them to give it up. By the next mail I shall be able to give a full account of the state of the natives of the district; at present I do not apprehend any serious disturbances. I have, &c., (Signed) John Jermyn Symonds, Lieut, and Staff" Officer. The Honourable the Colonial Secretary.

Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 4th December, 1854. Sir,— 1 have the honour to enclose for the information of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government a copy of a report from the Sub-Inspector of Police, on a murder that has recently taken place at Waitera, by a Native Assessor. I regret to state that since the native affray in the Pukutapu tribe, the natives generally are manifesting an inclination to return to their own customs, and to disregard European laws, on the ground that the latter are not strong enough to redress their wrongs. This state of feeling, I need hardly observe, is calculated