THE LATE GOVERNOR AND THE NATIVE QUESTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2805, 19 September 1883, Page 3

THE LATE GOVERNOR AND THE NATIVE QUESTION.

(By Tblesbaph.) Aucklahd, Sept. 18. By the mail has been received a copy of a Blue Book laid on the table of the House of Commons, containing a numbif of despatches

relating to nativo affaira m Now Zealand. Tlu most interesting ia a despatch written by Sii A. Gordon m reply to a memo of tho Hon, If. Whitaker and Sir J. Prendereast. Sir A. Gordon dates from the Red House, Ascot, March 31st, 1883. Ho soy?:—" I certainly never concealed from them (his Ministers) my agreement with tho viewa as ti the enforcement of rights acquired by confiscation, which wero expressed twenty years ago by a Secretary of State such as Lord Cardwell, a Governor such as Sir Georgo Grey, a prelate such as Bishop Selwyn, or a Judgo such as Sir William Martin. Theso appeared to the local Government of that day (of which tho Hon. F. Whitaker waa, Ba now, AttorneyGeneral), to 'manifest a morbid and unaccountable sympathy with native owners of land. That these were the views of a minority I was well aware. On that point I hive never deceived myself, and tho fact is emphatically dwelt on m my despatch of October 22nd. But insignificant as th»t minority may bo m point of numbers, it ia one to which no one need be ashamed to belong. It includes Mr Fil2gerald, tho firat Premier of Now Zealand under responsible government, a man who has not been surpassed m eloquence and knowledge by any of his successors. It includes Bishop Hadfield, whose labors m New Zealand for more than forty year.", and whose perfect acqunintance with all the facts bearing on the case givo to hia opinion a weight to which that of few othora ia entitled. It includea Mr Mantell. whoße acule intellect is at least equal to that of any other public man m New Z?nland, and whose long experience has made him perfectly familiar wilh much of which many even m the highest employments are lamentably ignorant. It include* tho firat and ablest Attorney-General of the colony, and other*, with whose names I wi!l not trouble Lord Derby, but which aro held m honor m New Zealand. I would undispntably have ineludod tho lato Bishop Selwyn and Sir William Marlin, were they still living, and I know that it also includes men whose practical experience entitles their judgment to respect, but whoso position 88 pub! c servants precludes its open expression. I know alao that tho majority is moiuly compoaod of settlers absolutely unacquainted wilh the history of the colony which thoy hays mido their home, and that a Urge proportion of those who, whether m tho Press or m tho Legislature, guide the opinion of others, are not much bettor cogni9.\nt of past transactions than those whom they profess to instruct." Sir Arthur writes at length as to matters m dispute between himself and his Minister?, and as to tho conduct of Sir James Prcnderg-iH m taking action at the instance of Ministers at the time he did. The concluding part of the Blue Book is occupied with despatches from Sir W. Jervois, and contains copious extracts from tho Xei': Zealand Herald giving an account of the capture and imprisonment of Mr Hurslhouse, tho raid on Alexandra by Te Ma'mki and his followers, and tho jjurney of Mr Bryce through tho King Country.