Evil Advisers.

6. The Natives have been induced to adopt this course partly from the advice of chiefs in the southern portion of the island, amongst whose names that of Rawiri Kingi (Puaha) was most frequently mentioned; but their conduct has been principally guided by the advice of a Mr. Hopkins, who trades with a small vessel from Mokau, where he has a house. This person told them that they were wrong to sell their lands, using the usual argument that they would become slaves te the Europeans, &c., and, finding that they were still determined to sell, he told them only to let the land go in small blocks, as they would thereby obtain a much larger payment for it; and he induced them, under threats of leaving the place altogether, to reserve for him about fifteen acres, at the Kauri, of the best page 361 land for commercial purposes, including a portion of the river bank where loaded vessels can lie alongside and discharge their cargoes as at a wharf. I received all this information from the Natives privately, but cannot see how at present any proceedings could be taken against this man, although the mischief he is doing is very great, and his presence is a nuisance to the resident missionary, because he is under the protection of the chief Ngataua, and he possesses considerable influence with all the Natives on the river; so that it would, I fear, be impossible to induce any Native to give such evidence against him as would support an information under the Native Land Purchase Ordinance.