PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE WAITARA.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1962, 30 October 1863, Page 3

PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE WAITARA.

MEMORANDUM BY HIS EXCELLENCY, STATING masons roa abOiSosikg waitaba pueCHV3K. The Governor begs to express Ins thanks to ministers f"6r the frankness audreadiness with w hich they have given him the advice for which he sought, in reference to the proposed reserve out of block of land at Waitara, called Teira's block. But the G overnor ought to offer some remarks on the ministerial minute in which they have given him that advice, insofar as it relates to the acts and proceedings of the natives ; and he ought at the same time to state to ministers the conclusion at which he lias arrived at in reference to the purchase at "Waitara still under negotiation. 2. Ministers are aware that the Governor is of opinion (as his predecessor believed was the case in reference to himself) that a pressure is being in many ways made on him, and is still likely to be made on him, by somo of tho European inhabitants of Taranaki, to induce him to enter into a war with the native race, or to take land from them, with the avowed object of promoting the permanent security of the province The Governor thinks (perhaps wrongly) that a. justification for these views would be afforded by the ministerial statement, if the disaster brought upon this English province, and the danger to tho lives of the settlers' alluded to in it, had resulted alone from the proceedings of the natives before the war. 3. Moreover, the Government at the present moment stands between two races, excited by recent hostilities, the inferior one of which is not, except to an inappreciable extent, represented in tho General Assembly, and has no eflective means whatever of putting its statements before the Queen or tho public. It would, therefore, seem just, alike to her Majesty's advisers, who will have to decide on the wisdom and justico of the course pursued in tho pi'esent crisis, and to tho General Assembly of Now Zealand, to put forward the native answers to the view of the case (which is that of only one party to the question), contained in the Ministerial minuto of the 20th instant. 4. It would also seem right that the local Government, which is to act at once, in the existing most difficult state of affairs, should before determining upon its line of action, carefully consider all sides of the question, and then, in her Majesty's name, fearless of all parties, earnestly and faithfully do that which impartial men, removed from this scene of national, and in somo eases strong party feeling, will admit was that which wise and dispassionate rulers of a country should have done, and which the future historian may admit was worthy of the greatness and generosity of England. 5. Tho Governor will therefore proceed to state the native answers' to the statements made in tho Ministerial minute, which statements have frequently beforo been made, and have in various forms been discussed at meetings with tho natives. 6. Tho natives, then, allege in reference to their disputes before the war, that these arose from a Native Assessor of tho Crown, whilst trying to meet the wishes of the Government in obtaining land for the Europeans, having with somo of his peoplo been trcacherovuly

Blain by some natives; they go on to state that in this and similar instances, especially of land disputes, they in vain, besought the Govermont to take some steps f6r establishing law -end order in the country, and for affording protection to life and property amongst the Native race. That their appeals were treated with indifference. That at last man}' of them arrived at the settled conviction that the Government intended to lot them destroy one-another, either to get rid of them, or to obtain their lands. That it was their anxiety to save themselves from such calamities, Unit at length induced many of their leading men, as n last resource, to join in the attempt to «et up n National Government, which might afford (bom that protection from the violent of their own race, which they had in vain sought from (he Queen's Government — and, that if the settlers suffered together w lth the natives from such a state of anarchy as Ministers describe, that the settlers as well as the natives should refer their miseries to the true cause — the apathy and indifference or the weakness of the Government. 7. If these allegations are true, it appears to follow that the proper preventive for the recurrence of sn<*h scenes, is to take judicious steps for the gradual establishment of l.uv and order throughout the colony; and tfiat neither justice nor policy will at present permit us either to enter upon a war, or violently to take their properties from the natives with the view of protecting the European settlers from the serious troubles and dangers which they formerly experienced, which wore assuredly Tery great, And such as should never bo allowed to recur if the Government can by auy means in its power prevent them. As there are at the present time many violent and exceedingly ill-disposed young men among the native race whose pride and passions have been excited by the recent war, and who will most unwillingty be brought to submit to any restraint upon their inclinations, it will bo necessary for some time to retain, in this"" district, a strong military aud police force. 8. It is further to be observed that the natives declare that they did not take up arms to prohibit the alienation of territory to the Cron n, or to maintain any seisjuorial rights. They rest their justification for entering into the general conspiracy which was undoubtedly formed throughout the island, by declaring that it was a strusjaile for house and home. Especially on the East Coast the natives have stated this to the Governor; adding that various •imilar incomplete purchases of land had been made in their district from natives who had only a qualified claim to such lands ; aud that the almost universal belief of the native race was, that a new system of taking lands was to he established, and thtxt if they did not succeed by a general and combined resistance in preventing their houses and lands being taken by the Government from the natives of the Waitara, they would have been each in their turn despoiled in detail of their lands. 9. They refer to the manifesto issued by the Government in February, IS6O, declaring the causes of the war against the native race ; and they affirm that the most important statements contained in that manifesto are not correct, although promulgated with the authority it was, and circulated throughout her Majesty's possessions without the possibility of their replying to it, or of their reply being heard ; whereby a great prejudice was created against them. Aud they contend that there was no resort to arms on their part until from this and other causes they were convinced that their destruction was determined on, and that their only hope of •afety lay in their courage and strength, if an armed force was sent to dispossess thorn of their homes. They do not understand why, the Queen buys the houses and private properties of her subjects, her Majesty has more right to enter upon such property than any of her Majesty's subjects, and they say {hat until they were suro that armed force was intended, the survey of the land claimed by Tiera was only interfered with by women, who, w ithout violence, interrupted the surveyors on portions of laud which were then their own property, or that of their husbands. l(s!*~TJieir general statement with regard to all this, is that the people of Waitara were driven from their homes at the point of the sword ; that a great crime has been committed against them ; that through all future generations it will be told that their lands were forcibly and unlawfully taken from them by an officer appointed by the Queen of England ; and they are particularly excited at a wellkno« n native murderer having been adopted as the friend and ally of the Government in some of these alleged proceedings, this confirming their belief that the real object of the Government is to get land, and that any instrument, however bad, will be used for this purpose. The strength of the language they use on this point would hardly be credited by those who had not heard it. The result is, that leading native after leading native has told the Governor that they will, under no circumstances, aid the Government in auy attempt to hold the land at the Waitara, if any war should arise in reference to that block of land. And large numbers of other influential natives have declared to the Governor that the whole native race will engage in a general and simultaneous war upon the several European settlements of the Northern Island, if any further war should be engaged in by the Government on account of the Waitara qxicstion. 11. The natives will not agree to any investigation of the title to the land at the Waitara alone. They say they do not want that. That a great wrong has been done them, which has entailed great suffering on them, and they ask for an enquiry into the whole affair, in order that it may be shott n who is really guilty of the evils which have sprung from the late war. 12. These arc the arguments and assertions made use of by the native race ; their truth or the contrary can only be ascertained when full , means of forming a judgment on the subject have been obtained; but in order that the Government may arrive at a just decision on the questions now under consideration, on the right Bplutionof which such great interests depend, it seems fair to both races that the reasonings and pleadings of the natives, which they have no adequate or proper meaas of giving utterance to themselves, should be recorded and considered. 13. The natives throughout the island are also now in a state of chronic discontent and revolt, giving as their grievances those which are stated in this minute. Many of them have in consequence renounced the Queen's sovereignty ; numbers of them declare that they have been so wronged that they will never return under it. 14 The Governor has exhausted on them every argument and influence he could use, without in any way moving their dogged determination in reference to the Waitara question, and he regards it as hopeless now to look for any success in this matter, or to think that he can lead them to be satisfied with a mere investigation of the title. They say that is quite clear, and well known. What they want is an enquiry into the whole affair, and into the fact of who is to blame for the evils that have occurred. 15. The Governor now proceeds to consider his own position in reference to the block of land at the Waitara. 16. He is informed that, since the war, no complaint whatever has been made against the natives of the Waitara district ; and the Governor's powers in reference to the bloclc of land, stated to be claimed by Te Teirn, are narrowed down within the limits prescribed by his predecessor, as follows : — " The investigation of the title, and survey of the land at Waitara, to be continued and completed without interruption." " Every man to be permitted to state his claims without interference; and my decision, or the decision of such persons as I shall appoint, to be conclusive." " In conformity with the declaration made on the 29th November, 1859, the rights

of those who may. prove thoir title to any part of the piece of land at Wuitnva will be respected." 17. The Government is thust to be at the trouble of investigating every claim to this land,— -to put eaoli owiipr in possession of his own piece of land, — and lo retain tlio roiduo of the 9SO acres (if any) for tho Crown, paying for the same tho sum of £880, in addition to the £100 already paid. 18. Since the •Governor has arrived iv Taranakt, from inquiries inndo by the Native Minister and himself, the following facts have come to light in. reference lo this piece of land vi Inch have biluorlo (if known) never been re ported to her Majesty's Government, or in any way made public, which arc of the most important nature — and, in the Governor's belief, alter the whole character oi the transaction, They are aa follows :—: — Tho block of land of 980 acres, said to have been bought from Te Teira, lias never been paid for: a deposit of £100 lias been pnid. The block was originally to have consisted of 600 acres, for which €600 was to be paid. Teira expects, therefore, to receive £9SO for the present block. By the arrangement made with him. he would be entitled to this sum. This block of 980 acres of laud now appears to have beon inhabited, at the tune Teira undertook to soil it, by "William Tviuy imiil between two hundred and three hundred of his people. They had been in occupation for twelve years ; had villages, cultivations, houses, and other buildings on it— their homes for years. Teii'a now states that William King and these people occupied this land under a valid tribal arrangement, which would appear, from his statement, to be of Mich a nature that no person could sell the land without William King aud these people being consenting parties to the snle. Teira also now admits that there arc othor legitimate claimants to various portions of this block of land Teira further states, that he had never in tended to sell the sites of the native villages, although those were what the Government especially wanted ; to form a town site on the river. Finally, Teira alleges that it was arranged that he was to have a reserve of tv\o hundred acres for native purposes kept on the block of land, and that this reserve has not yet been settled. 19. From these important facts never having bceu made public, the Governor has no right to assume that his predecessor know them, or that if ho had know n them, he would have gone on with a land purchase of such a nntnre Jfc is to be observed that the Governor lias himself been in New Zealand for eighteen months, and did know these facts until they were ascertained by personal inquiry at Taranaki ; it seems therefore excessively improbable that his predecessor could have know n them : oven the present Native Minister was not acquainted witu them until a few days since. The Governor thinks, therefore, that there is no reason, arising from delicacy, or tho respect he would always wish to pay to the views of his predecessor, why he should persist in a course, in the propriety of which he does not concur, and which he Mould not follow out against his reason, if he had in error entered upon it himself. 20 If we had not peacably entered into possession of the European lands at Omata aud Tataraimaka, it would have beon difficult lo have abandoned the intention of purchasing the lands at the Wai tarn, however objectionable in many respects it might have been to make that purchase, because it might have been said (however unjustly) that the abandonment of our intentions to make such a purchase, was a sort of bribe to tho natives to induce them to allow us peaceably to occup}' our own territories. Now that we have taken peaceable possession of the Omata and Tataraimaka blocks, this objection to the abandoning the intended purchase of lands at the Waitava no longer exists. 21. The Governor's view therefore is, for the reasons here stated, and contained in othor papers he has laid before the Ministers, that this Government should not go on with the purchase of the block of land at the Wailara ; but the following notice should be at once issued :—: — "His "Excellency the Governor directs it to be notified that from facts now come to light, and not before known to him, he does uot think th.it the purchase of tho block of land at tho Waitara is either a desirable one, or such as the Government should make. That His Excellency therefore abandons the intention of making this purchase, and forfeits the deposit of £100 w hich the Government has paid on this land." 22. Tho country is in such a slate that tho Governor by no moans feels confident that this act will quiet the minds of many of the native population. On tho contrary, ho thinks it may now bo impossible to avoid some collision with them ; but ho believes it would at once win many over to the sido of the Government ; that it is a proper act ; and that if a contest must come, that the closest scrutiny instituted into the conduct of the Government, either in England or in this colony, would result in an admission that every possible precaution hid been taken to avoid such a contest, and to prevent the horrors of the war falling on this colony, and that it was therefore clear that war with the natives was an evident and unavoidable necessity, -w Inch the European race must meet with that resolution, fortitude, and energy, which, they have never failed to exhibit iv a cause of undoubted i ustice. G. Gninr. New Plymouth, Taranaki, April 22nd, 1863.

copy of a Drsr.vrcn rnoji ins excehenct sm OnOUGi; OBEY TO HIS GnACE THE DUKE OF SEWC \.STLE. Taranalci, May 5, 1863. My Lord Duke,— Upon the 21th ultimo, despatch No. 39, T transmitted to your Grace the copy of a minute T had addressed to my responsible advisers, recommending the issue of a notice to the natives, that the Government had abandoned the intention of completing the purchase of a block of hind on the Wai tarn. River. In that despatch, and in its enclosures, I explained the reasons on ■« Inch I justified that recemmendation ; and in my despatch I expressed my hope that my responsible advisers might adopt my opinion, and act speedily upon it, — for I knew that all depended upon rapidity of movement in this matter. I had, well knowing this, pressed the subject on ministers in conversation, and I laid it before them, in writing, ou the 10th April,— for I thought that the' natives had encouraged our peaceable occupation of the Omata and Tataraimalca blocks, in the hopes that, having taken these without opposition, we would relinquish the purchase at the Waitara; and I thought that no very lengthened time might be left for our determination, it being my belief, as I reported to your Grace, that the natives were -anxious to bring on a general war before we were prepared for it. 2. On the evening of Thursday, the 30th, April, I received from Ministers the minute, a copy of which I have the honor to enclose, in reply to mine of the 22nd of April, giving it as_ their opinion, in as far as I understand the minute, that they only thought that the intentions of purchasing a part of the block of land should be abandoned by the Government, — and leaving the decision regarding tho mode of dealing with the remainder of the block to me, undertaking however, to aid mo in carrying out my decision, whatever it might be. I enclose also, for your Grace's information, a copy of my reply to the Ministerial minute. 3. The question of abandoning tho pnrchaso at the Waikato was mixed up with tho question of a general amnesty, excepting" therefrom only certain persons accused of committing murder. I enclose a copy of my minute on this subject, and of the reply of my responsible advisers, which I did not receive until Sunday, tho 3rd instant. . 4. Upon the morning of the 4th instant, I regret to say that what was in truth a most

terrible and shocking murder was committed, by ' "the natives on the land between Omuta und Hie Talaraimaka block, the details of whicb I will transmit in another despatch. This sad event has much complicated affairs. . 5. A small party of men were coming along tho boach about nine in the morning, bringing into Now Plymouth a military prisoner for trial : they were accompanied, for the sake of the protection numbers gave, by two young officers, Lieutenant Tragett and Aasislant-Sur-goon Hope, of the 67th "Regiment, coming into town on private business. This party were fired on by a body of natives lying in ambush, and— .at a singlo volley — all of them, but one; or two, were killed or mortally Mounded. The wounded were brutally cut about tho head with tomahawks. Two officers, two sergeants, and four men woro thus murdered, on tho very day month wo took possession of Talnraimaka block. I enclose to your Grace n letter I only received this morning, although written on the 2J)th of April, in which a gentleman, who has a thorough knowledge of tho native rnce, foretold that .some such terrible even! wik likely to tuko place; he informing mo as follows: — "They (the unlives^ argue that these places (Oinnf'a and Tataraimaka) are tlieir.s by conquest, and that they hnd a right to hold them, and that they were determined to do so, so lon«r as we hold Waitnr-i. We propose to decide "Waitnra by arlutraliuti; but to this they object, and contend that, so long as we hold Waitnra, they will hold the other places, or fight for them,— and that if they fight, they have a right, to fight in their own way, even as we fight in our way." G. T fear that 1 cannot now prevent a war by noting in the manner I think iustiee i-equired, m regard to the land al. the Wnitara. T take great blame to inj'self foriiaving spent so long a time in trying to get my responsible advisers to agree, ill some general plan of proceeding. J think, seeing the urgency of the ca*e, I ought perhaps to hnvo acted at once, without or even against their advice ; but I hoped, from day to day, to receive their decision, - -and I was anxious, in a question which concerned the future of both races, to carry as much support with mo as F could — indeed I could not derivo its full url vantage from what 1 proposed to do, unless 1 did so. I believed that the violent of that party of the natives, who thought, their conquest and degradation would, inevitably, ultimately he attempted by the European race, were desirous to hurry on awar before we were prepared for it ; and that they were most anxious to make the Waitara the cause of it, as uniting so many sympathies in their favour, — so anxious are "they to do this, that the evil disposed of the Waikato tribes arc holding William King violently in a stale of enptu lfcy m their territory, in the hope that his people will not dare to come to any arrangement with us regarding the Waitara during his absenco ; but I had hoped that a few days more would elapse before any such disnsterous event, would occur as has taken place. These are tho only evcuses I can ofl'er for not acting with the promptitude I now think I ought to have done. I have, however, still tit is hope left, that the shocking nature of the. wholly unprovoked murders now committed may strike with shame and horror the better disposed amongst the native race, and thus prevent them from confounding the troubles which must result from these murders, with the disputes which have arisen regarding tho land at the Wailara. — T lme, &c, G. Obey. His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, K.G .

MINUTE ADDRESSED TO lIIS HXCKI,Lr\CY BY MINISTERS ON THE PUOPOSHD ABANDOXMI'.NT or the wattaka ruitcirtsi;. Ministers have carefully considered the Governor's minute of April 22nd. They wish in the first plrice. respect fully to observe, that in their inimite of the 20th instant, they did not intend to argue a case on bchnlf of the European Colonists against any of Her Majesty's subjects of the Native race, but simply to call the Governor's attention to the state in which the natives of Taranaki had existed for many years pre^ ions to the Waitara purchase, and which renders some decisive interference by Government imperative. Ministers trust that nothing in their minute would countenance the imputation that they intended to justify the desire on the part of any ono (if such desire, as His Excellency believes, exists) that war should be made for the acquisition of native territory. His Excellency's present advisers have always believed that the real (parrel between the Government and the natives concerned in the late insurrection, was not whether the 1 it le to a particular piece of land was good or bud, — but whether any natives, in case of a dispute between them and the Government, might resort to arms to resist the course the Government pursued. The colony as a whole, never cared for the purchase of the Waitara — only a few have any interest in it. Had the colonists at any time believed that the war was being cairied on to obtain land, Ministers are firmly persuaded that the judgment of the Assembly and the whole voice o the settlers would have been against its prosecution. The views which the Governor attributes to some of the Taranalci settlers (the uliole body of whom do not constitute onefiftieth part of the European populnliou of the colony) have never found ati advocate in the Assembly, alid would be rejected throughout New Zealand. It is quite true that Ministers believed, and even with the new facts which have recently transpired relating to the- purchase, they sec no reason to abandon the belief, that the war at the Waitara was the natural result of a previous combination among many powerful tribes, to prevent the further nlicnation of land to the Crown, and Ihus to oppose a barrier to the further spread of colonization. But against a combination even for that object the colony would not have desired to see force employed, so long as its effects were confined to the property of the combining natives. The Assembly believed in 18fiO that the time had come when dissentient natives ought to be protected by the Queen's Government from the oppression which was threatened by a rival authority, and that it was to uphold that rival authority at all risks that the war was joined in by tho Wailcato tribes, who were disputing — not the validity of Teira's title — but tho authority and jurisdiction of the Crown. With respect to several statements of the natives as to the origin of tho war, recapitulated by tho Governor, Ministers arc desirous that they should not bo understood as acquiescing in their truth, merely because they abstain from a refutation of them. Ministers now understand tho Governor to have come to tho following conclusions : — 1. That it is hopeless to look for any success in the attempt to induce the natives generally to submit the case of the Waitara land purchase to a mere investigation of title. 2. Tlmt so deep rooted a feeling exists on this subject in the minds of tho natives, that tho whole race would engage in a, general and simultaneous war upon tho several European settlements of tho Northern Tsland, if auy further war should be oneaged in by Govcrnmont»on account of tho Waitara question. 3. That tho new facts which have lately transpired relating to tho Waitara purchase — viz., firstly, that an agreement existed among the members of tho tribe that tho pas south of tho Waitara should bo occupied as places of security for the tribe, which agreement had never by general consent been put an end to ; secondly, that a large number of natives wero living in pas within the block sold, and had been living there for twelve years ; and thirdly, tl»<it To Teira intended to make a reserve of these pas ; which intention he never communicated to Governor Brown, — that these facts are such as to show that the Waitara parchaso ought not to have been prosecuted. 4>. That under these circumstances, a small '

instalment only of tho purchase money having been puid, the purchase ought now to be abandoned. 1. With respect to tho first of the above paragraphs, ministers do not understand that tho Governor is necessarily precluded from tho movo extended investigation desired by tho nativos. For their own part, they can have no objection to any investigation — tho amplest and moat searching that can bo made. But thu ia set aside by the conclusions tho Governor lias come to, stated in tho paragraphs that follow. 2. Ministers cannot dispute tho opinion that an attempt on the part of tho Government to settle the Waitara question by force of arms, ■would probably result in a general rising of the natives and an attack upon all the European settlements of tho Northern Island. 3. Ministers admit the fact Unit a large number of natives, having been resident for many years upon a part of tho block of land oflercd for salo at Waitara, under tho tribal agreement above staled, und,tho fact of a reserve of some part, to cover the places thus occupied, having been stipulated for, but never made, justify the conclusion that snoh a purchase should not have been completed until satisfactory arrangements ou these points hud been made with the natives. Certainly, if the circumstances, were to occur over again, his Exclleney's present advisers could not recommend that any oiler of sale, leaving such points of difference undetermined, should ibe entertained. Although rhe facts alluded to did not in any way affect To Teira's abstract right to the ownership of the land, it is quite clear th.it sonic of them ar« such as would have prevented the former Government, had it been aware of them, front completing tlir* purchase. Minister-; conclude, with his Excellcucy, that (ho Government was not aware of them. The facts t heinsol ves appear indisputable, having been voluntarily communicated by To Teira himself to (he Native Minister. 4. Is then the purchase to be abandoned? Admitting the fads above stated, it certainly appears to Ministers consistent with just'uo thai, all claim to the site of tho pas, and nil tho land intended to h.ive been reserved, should be relinquished by Government, and tho purchase, to that extent, at least, abandoned. On the other hand, (he relinquishmcnt of tho purchase of the rest of the land undoubtedly implies the abandonment of one of the principal ob|ct'ts for which the Mar was undertaken, vw. : the maintenance of (he principle that one native should not by forco prevent another from selling land belonging to tho latter. William lung's pretension to prevent To Teira selling his own land Mould virtually be admitted, unless it be decided that To Teira has no individual proprietary right Jo any land at all within the block. Hut the Native Minister declares that with, tlio exception of tlio ti-ib.il occupation of the pas, nothing has occurred to shake his conviction that the proprietary rights of the sellers to the greater part of the block would be proved by any investigation to be valid. Ministers do not think it would be right to abandon the principle just stated. They believe that the Duke of Newcastle was right when m his despatch to Governor Browne, of tho 27th of November, lfiCO, ho expressed his opinion that William King had undoubtedly assumed towards Government tho position of a chief using his influence to further usurpation of a laud league, which attempted to prevent persons, over whom they had no legitimate authority, from alienating their lands. And they concur with his Grace in thinking that all such attempts should be inflexibly insisted. 'But if Teira 'a own land, with respect to which Kingi had no legitimate influence over him, be now given back, will not an attempt precisely of that kind, which should bo resisted, have been really, if not formally, acquiesced in by Government . Again, without some further arrangements (which, however, may be made), the abandonment of the purchase might be held to involve, a-s a consequence, the possible abandonment of Te Teira and his party, the sellers of the land, ■who fought on the side of the Government during tho war, to the chances of the renewal of tho native dispute about the ownership of this land, and of the miserable state of danger and continual hostilities in which th<*y were living before the war, should Wivemu Kingi or his followers attempt any retaliation upon their late foes. Te Teira would apparently be placed by this measure, without an investigation, in the worst position in which he could I o placed, as far l regards hit. title lo his own land, even by an investiga-tion the result of which should prove unfavourable to his claims. To Ministers, with their views of th* past and present circumstances of the case, there appears to be this amount of real or possible injustice involved in tho abandonment of the whole of the purchase. Considered as a matter of expediency, the proposal has many forcible reasons m its favour. The Governor, if Ministers do not mistake the purport of his minute, his come (o the decision that, the purchase beini unjust, and one which could not be investigated or curried on without a general war, he himself could not compel by force either its investigation or completion. In the face of this decision of the Governor, it is certain that no war for these nbjeots would be sanctioned or entered into by the Imperial Government. And it is equally certain that a war carried ou by the colony, unnidvd, would be attended with many disastrous results. Nor arc Ministers prepare!! to assort that the maintenance of this purchase is a cinse for Hie sake of which they should, at all hazards, plunge the colony into opposition to the Governor, to the Imperial Government, and into a war of races with the natives. It appears to Ministers that the preponderance of motives, based upou expediency, is greatly in favour of tho Governor's proposal. At the same time, they cannot overlook the fact that there is as least considerable probability that the abandonment by Government of a position so long adhered to, may be looked upon by the natives as a mere concession to dogged resistance, if not (o intimidation. And in such case, though existing irritations might be -allayed for a time, the difficulty of overcoming or dealing with any future opposition of the natives to Government, on account of the King movement, for instance, would bo very much increased. Ministers have no hesitation, then, in recommending that the Governor should immediately renounce all claim on tho part of the Crown to the site of the pas occupied by Wi Kingi and his people, and to all the land intended to have been reserved, the amount of which or any additional amount which it would have been reasonable to have reserved on tho same grounds, should be determined by arrangements immediately to bo made. With respect to the proposal for abandoning the remainder of the land, it is not one— at least in its present unqualified shape— which seems to Ministers free from the serious objections above slated. Nevertheless, considering tho great complexity of the whole case, the difficulty of the Governor's position, the critical state of the colony, and the aggravation of all these evils which would be produced by tho opposition of tho Ministry to any course which the Governor might feel himself compelled to adopt, Ministers consider that thoy are justified, especially under the relations botwecn them and the Governor established with respect to all matters of native policy, in leaving tho decision of this part of the question entirely to his Excellency ; undertaking, on their part, whatever that decision may be, to assist his Excellency to tho utmost of their ability in so carrying it into effect, as to make it conducive to tho establishment of a permanont peace. Alfred Domett. New Plymouth, April 30, 1863.

SAVfNfls' Bank.— An adjourned meeting of the trustees of this bank was hold yesterday afternoon at throe o'clock, in the Banking-room. Mr. W. 0. Dalily, tho viro-piesiilcnt in the chair. The only business transacted was tho receipt of applications for tho loan of money.