E.—No. 2

which had been claimed by Te Teira and sold by him to the Government, there were any cultivations or any pas belonging to the chief William King standing on that block ; and if so, if any such were destroyed by the troops, friendly natives or others on the occasion of the Government taking possession of that block. I beg to report for your Excellency's information that I have ascertained from Mr. 0. Carrington (who for 22 years has been surveyor in this Province) that two pas situated on the block, and called Te Kuikui (which was William King's residence), and Wherohia, the former of which was occupied by about 200, and the latter by about 35 natives of William King's followers, were burnt by natives in the Queen's pay assisted by marines and sailors, at the time of the Government taking forcible possession of the block. The extensive cultivations around these pas were likewise destroyed by the troops, friendly natives, and others, and an inland cultivation belonging to Tamati Teito and other natives, some of whom were friendly (and which cultivation was situated at a " Kainga" or settlement on the Waiongona river called Poata) was also destroyed, together with the native houses standing near it : immediately upon which William King's natives retaliated by burning an exactly corresponding number of settlers' houses, no settlers houses having been previously burnt or destroyed by them. The position of the pas Te Kuikui, Wherohia, ike, will be seen by the accompanying plan of the block sold by Te Teira. I have the honor to be Sir, Your Excellency's most obedient, humble servant, Henry Stratton Bates. Lieut. Goth Regiment, and Native Interpreter to the Forces. P.S.—There was also a pa called Te Huriarapa which stood on the block between the two pas above mentioned, viz., Te Kuikui and Wherohia, this contained 30 or 40 natives. This pa was not destroyed, but was occupied during the war by the friendly natives, and is still occupied by Te Teira and his adherents. H. S. B. I certify that the above statements are correct. Octa. Caeuington.

Map attached,

Enclosure 3 in Despatch No. 1 MEMOKANDUM addressed to his excellency, by the hon. native minister, on lieutenant bates' report. The Native Minister has felt it his duty to make immediate enquiries on the subject of the statements contained in the report addressed to His Excellency, by Lieutenant Bates, on the 10th inst. When His Excellency was pleased to read that report to the Native Minister on Friday evening, Mr. Bell was under the impression that the facts therein rested on the authority of Lieutenant Bates himself, but on reading it again with the Colonial Secretary, the same night, he saw that they rested on the authority of Mr. O. Carrington. There were three principal facts stated in the report (if the Native Minister remembers rightly). Ist. That a number of William King's people, exceeding 200, were in actual occupation of part of the block sold by Te Teira, at the time of possession being taken by the troops, and were forcibly driven from the land. 2nd. That there were extensive cultivations, belonging to William King and his people, upon the block at the time of possession being taken, which cultivations were destroyed. 3rd. That pas belonging to William King, situated upon the block by the river side, were set on fire and destroyed at the time of taking possession. These statements were so directly contrary to what the Native Minister had always believed, and to what Governor Browne and his then Ministers had asserted, that the Native Minister was amazed at their being now advanced, in the report of Lieutenant Bates, as facts, and he felt that his opinion, as to the Waitara case, must be abandoned. The Native Minister, now, respectfully acquaints the Governor, that the testimony of Mr. Parris, the Assistant Native Secretary, is still in contradiction to the statements of Mr. O. Carrington. Mr. Parris declares, in reference to the three points above mentioned . — Ist. That there were no natives belonging to William King's people in occupation of any part of the block at the time of possession being taken. They having abandoned the Waitara, and gone inland to Mataitawa some time before. 2nd. That the whole extent of cultivation, including the cultivations of Te Teira and his party, did not exceed 10 acres. That William King himself had no cultivation excepting small patches immediately around his pa, from which small patches he removed the crop when he abandoned the place. And, that instead of the cultivation being destroyed by the troops, they were valued and compensation paid to Te Teira. The main cultivations of William King and his people were in the piece excluded from the block, and on the north side of the river. 3rd. That no pas were destroyed at the time possession was taken, nor until the first war pa had

4

PAPERS RELATIVE TO