NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6738, 19 September 1883, Page 2

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

SIB ARTHUR GOBDON AND HIS

MINISTERS.

(Peb United Pbess Association.)

Auckland, September 18. By the mail has been received a copy of a Blue-book laid on the table of the House of Commons, and containing a number of dispatches relating to Native affaire in New Zealand. The most interesting is a dispatch written by Sir A. Gordon in reply to the memo, of the Hon. IT. Whitaker and Sir James Prendergast. . Sir A. Gordon dates from the Red House, Ascot, March 31, 1883. He says:—"l certainly never concealed from them (his Ministers) my agreement with their views as to the enforcement of rights acquired by confiscation which, when expressed 20 years ago by a Secretary of State such as Lord Cardwell, a Governor such as Sir George Grey, a prelate such as Bishop Selwyn, or a judge such as Sir William Martin, appeared to the local Governmens of that day (of which Mr 1\ Whitaker was, as now, Attorney-general) so manifest a morbid and unaccountable sympathy with the Native owners of land. That these wore tho views of a minority I was well aware. On that point I have never deceived myself, and the fact is emphatically dwelt on in my dispatch of October 22. 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 firßt 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 perfect 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 Mantell, 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, first and ablest Attorney-general of the Colony, and others, with whoso names I will not now trouble Lord Derby, but which are held in honour in New Zealand. I would indisputably have included the late Bishop Selwyn and Sir William Martin were they still living, and I know that it also includes men whose praotical experience entitles thnir judgment to respeot, but whole position as_pubhc tervants precludes its open expression. I know also that the majority is mainly composed of settlers absolutely unacquainted with the history of the Colony which they have made their home, and that a largo proportion of those who, whether in the Press or Legislature, guide tho opinion of others, aro not much better cognisant of past transactions tlmn those whom thfly profess to instruct." Sir Arthur writes at longth as to matters in dispute between himself and his Ministers, and as to the conduct of Sir Jus. Prendergast in taking action at the instance of Ministers at the time be did. The concluding part of the Blue-book is oc-

oupied with dispatches from Sir W. Jervois and contains copious extracts from the New Zealand Herald giving an account of the capture and imprisonment of Mr Hiirsthouse, the raid on Alexandra by Te Mahuiki and his followers, and the journey-of" Mr Bryca through the King country. .