When asked any questions, they had to pass the usual salutations of holding up the hand and saying Pai Mariri. Nothing at all satisfactory could be obtained from them. Mr Rice, however, brought them to the camp, where I believe, they are at present staying.

All this has produced the greatest excitement in camp, and extra duties have been imposed upon our men.

The regatta which ought to have taken place on the 26th, was, in consequence of the flight and other circumstances, postponed until the 2nd of January.

On 4 January 1865 The Daily Southern Cross pontificated on the “ critical state of native affairs ” and in particular the events at Tauranga.

This occurrence bears a very grave aspect, and speaks volumes as it regards what we may expect in the future. What more telling proof would we have of the false sympathy which has been thrown away upon these men, who, upon the first opportunity that occurred, have virtually renounced the allegiance which they have so lately acknowledged?

The Civil Commissioner for Tauranga, Henry Tacey Clarke, arrived on 7 January and the next day he left to visit settlements in the ranges inland of Waimapu while Rice visited those inland of Te Wairoa. Clarke reported on 10 January (AJHR E4 1865, p. 11)

We left as early as possible on Sunday morning the 8th.

We came upon a large party of Natives in the evening and found men, women, and children, standing round a Flagstaff, upon which was flying a small white Flag, engaged in some of their senseless worship, I suppose for our particular benefit. The worshippers and the symbol of the Angel Rura received very unceremonious treatment from the chiefs who accompanied me. I have not time to give you full particulars of all that passed at this meeting, suffice it to say, that our expedition was most successful, all the natives without exception gladly consented to return at once to their homes. I accompanied a large party of them down yesterday morning to their canoes. They are now at Ohuki.

After seeing this party off, I returned again to the Ranges to meet another party with the same good result. They appear to me to be too glad to be allowed to return.

Mr Rice has not yet returned, but I heard yesterday from a Native Messenger who came across the country that he had also been successful.

The cause for this sudden move on the part of these Natives was from no design on their part to provoke hostilities with us. But they suffered themselves to be persuaded by the Pai Marire advocates from Waikato who have been very busy amongst them backed by the repeated warnings and influence of Hori Tupaea with the belief that the Pakehas would certainly be destroyed and that they would meet the same fate if they continued to associate with us. There is a deep design in the whole movement.