From information I have received from these returned Natives, I have not the least doubt in my own mind that the Waikatos are determined to use any means to drag all the New Zealand Tribes into one general war. Kingism has failed, and they are now trying to work upon the superstitious minds of their countrymen, not a very difficult task at any time.

I hope shortly to be able to report that all these foolish misguided people have returned to their different settlements.

The Tauranga correspondent for The New Zealander (15 January 1865) provided a much more graphic account of how the Tauranga people were persuaded to return home.

Since my last communication matters here have taken a different aspect, and I am happy to say for the better.

The infatuated Maoris who went to visit Pai Mirire have to some extent returned to their settlements, and as an explanation of their sudden flight give some very feasible reasons, amongst them that they are disgusted with the step they took; they now relent, and appear to be repentant, and it is to be hoped for their own sakes, that their repentance is sincere. They explain that their only reason for going away was to see and hear what the new prophet Pai Mirire had to say to them, and also as they thought to be protected from the imminent danger which they were led to believe was to drive all Europeans, and also those Natives who remained behind into the sea; but being now disgusted with his doctrines, and made sensible of the imposition which had been wrought upon them, they have now returned, much humbled, with the intention of peacefully remaining under our protection.

So soon as Mr Commissioner Clarke arrived here, he took the initiative to endeavour to bring the Natives to a proper sense of their position, and with this view he and Mr Rice, who represented at that time the Native department at Tauranga, at once proceeded to the principal strongholds of the Pai Mirires, who are all residing on the mountain ranges, and through the indefatigable exertions of these gentlemen managed ultimately to thwart the false and ridiculous ideas that had been implanted by the impostor Pai Mirire. Mr H. Clarke took the ranges to the south, accompanied by several of the leading chiefs, who had only recently returned from Auckland. Mr H.E. Rice took the more western ranges, and was likewise accompanied by two powerful and influential chiefs, who had also but just returned from Auckland. All these chiefs were equally anxious and doubly interested in this mission than the gentlemen whom they accompanied, inasmuch as their wives and families had all been led under the influence of Pai Mirire to flee from the danger which would befall them if they remained in their settlements unprotected.

Amongst the party who accompanied Mr Clarke were two noted characters well and favorably known as determined, persevering, and bold in everything which they undertook, and who were not to be daunted by the influence of such an impostor as Pai Marire, whose names are Enoka, a nephew of the late most regretted Raniri Tunia, who was killed at Te Ranga. The other was Hohepa Kukutaia, the most eloquent and graceful chief in Tauranga, and no doubt those two chiefs, independent of Mr Clarke ’ s assistance, assisted to some extent in bringing about the present favorable change in the minds of the Natives whom they visited. As soon as Mr Clarke and his party neared