EXTRACTS FROM COLONEL GOLD'S INSTRUCTIONS

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1469, 6 November 1860, Page 5

EXTRACTS FROM COLONEL GOLD'S INSTRUCTIONS

Apm -ten, ioov. In the event of W. King's m iking no new movement of a hostile nature, I venture to suggest that you should make none, until the arrival of the reinforcements expected from Australia. It would be advisable that Mr. McLean should again communicate with W. King to give him another opportunity to make peace on definite terms. Should that fail, it will be for you to deal with him as you think proper. April 20th, 1860. I have had an interview with aoma influential chiefs from the Waikato, who appear very desirous that thewar should not be extended to the north of the Waitara river. I replied that we, certainly should not advance beyond the Waitara unless the tribes in the north of th it river acted in a manner that would oblige in to do so. I beg therefore, that you will not cross the Waitara, unless some unforseen event should render it absolutely necessary. May 17th, IB6o* _ In reply to yourdesire for instructions relative to W. King, 1 have to ob3erve that the operations at Taranaki, are of minor importance to those which must ensue if the Waikato tribes take part in the war. I have therefore to request that yon will abstain until you hear from me again, from all interference with W. Kiug unless he should himself commence hostilities. Should he do so, I recommend your offering a free passage to any of the Waikato tribes who may be willing to leave the pa. May 28th, 1860. I have still to request you to refrain froni attacking W. King, unless he commences hostilities against you. Should he do so, you will of course inflict as severe a chastisement as possible withouthesitation or delay. June 6th, 1860. I regret that it is still my duty to request you to refrain from attacking W. King unless he commences hostilities against you. 1 have consulted with Mr. McLean (who has returned from Waikato) and my Executive Council and altho 1 all see the inconvenience attending the present state of inaction, we are unanimously of opinion that any movement against W. King at the present moment, without further aggression on his pait, would probably involve war with nearly tha whole of tha tribe 3 on the South of Auckland. July sth, 1860. The occurrences reported in your letter (i.c» the Waitara affair) remove all necessity for restraint in our future dealings with any Natives^in arms against her Majesty's Government.