THE IMPERIAL BLUE-BOOK ON NATIVE AFFAIRS IN NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6813, 18 September 1883, Page 5

THE IMPERIAL BLUE-BOOK ON NATIVE AFFAIRS IN NEW ZEALAND.

r Br the mail we have received a copy of a ■ blue-book laid on the table of the House of ■ Commons, and containing a number of de- ' spatches relating to native affairs in New Zealand. , The most interesting is a despatch written ; by Sir Arthur Gordon in reply to memoranda ot Mr. F. Whitakor and Sir James Prendcrfiast. Sir Arthur Gordon dates from " The ! Red House, Ascot, March 31, 1883." He says:—"l certainly never concealed from them [Uia Ministers] my agreement with views as to the enforcement of rights acquired by confiscation, which, when expressed twenty years ago, by a Secretary of State such as Lord Cardwell, a Governor J such as Sir George Grey, a prelate such as Bishop Selwyn, or a judge such as Sir William Martin, appeared-to the local Government of that day (of which Mr. P. Whitaker was, as now, Attorney-General), to manifest a ' morbid and unaccountable sympathy' with the native owners of land. That they were the views of a nfinority I was well aware. On that point I have never deceived myself, and the fact is emphatically dwelt on in my despatch of October 22nd. But ' insignificant' as that minority may be in point of numbers, it is one to which no one need be ashamed to belong. It includes Mr. Fitzgerald, the first Premier of New Zealand under responsible government, a man who has not been surpassed in eloquence and knowledge by any of his successors. It includes Bishop Hadfield, whose labours in New Zealand for more than 40 years, and ptrfect acquaintance with all the facts bearing on the case, give to his opinion a weight to which that of few others is entitled. It includes Mr. MaDtell, whose acute intellect is at least equal to that of any other public man in New Zealand, and whose long experience has made him perfectly familiar with much of which many, even in the highest employments, are lamentably ignorant. It includes Mr. Swainson, the first and ablest Attorney-General of the colony, and others with whose names I will not now trouble Lord Derby, but which are held in honour in New Zealand. It would indisputably have included the late Bishop Selwyn and Sir William Martin, were they Etill living, and I know that it also includes men whose practical experience entitles their i judgment to respect, but whose position as public servants precludes its open expression. I know also that the majority is mainly composed of settleis absolutely unacquainted ■ with the history of toe colony which tfiey ' have made their home, and that a large proportiou of those who, whether in the Press 1 or the Legislature, guide the opinion of others, ' are not much bcttrr cognisant of past transac- ■ tions than thosa whom they profess toinstruct." - Sir Arthur writes at great length as to all ' the matters in dispute between himself and his Minibtcrs, and as to the conduct of Sir ' James I'endergast in taking action at the i instance of AlinUtcrs at the time he did. ' The concluding part of the blue-book is occupied with despatches from Sir W. 1 J- rvois, and contains copious extracts from ' the NbW Zealand Hkrald, giving an i account of the capture and imprisonment of = Mr. Hursthouse, the raid on Alexandra by l To Mahuki and his followers, and the t jiurney ot Mr. Bryce through the King < Country. £