FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE NATIVE PRISONERS.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1864 Session I, E-01a

E.-N. (_

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE NATIVE PRISONERS.

(IN CONTINUATION OF E. No. 1.)

rREBKiJXJCU TO BOTH HOUSES OP *HE &BJTERAL AS3KM«iT Br OOUtIASV OF HI3 KXCELLENCY. ___________————

AUCKLAND. 1864.

E.—No. la,

No. 1. MEMOEANDUM by Ministers. His Excellency having returned from Kawau, Ministers would feel very much obliged if His Excellency would be so good as to communicate to his Ministers anything which may have passed between him and the escaped prisoners which he thinks might be communicated to Ministers. 17th November, 1864. Wh. Vox.

No. 2. MEMOEANDUM by the Governor. In reply to the Ministerial Memorandum of yesterday's dale on the subject of the escaped prisoners, the Governor begs to slate, lhat Mr. White, an officer of the General Government, accompanied him, and conducted any communications which passed with the prisoners. He, the Governor presumes, has made a report upon the subject. The Governor authorised Mr White 1o inform the prisoners that they might return in safety to Waika'o, and that food should be supplied to Ihetn on their route, and that persons should be sent wiih them, to watch over the safety of the settlers near whose places they might paws. Tiie escaped prisoners have abandoned their position on the mountain of O Tamahua, and have inarched part of the way to Waikato. The Governor understood from Mr. White that they promised to pursue their journey in a few days, although it was doubtful what reliance could be placed on their promise. He would earnestly recommend that Mr. While and some of the native chiefs should be allowed to return 1o Mahurangi, where Ihe escaped prisoners are, and that 1 hey should reside with them for a few days, hurrying their movements, and that the " Sandfly " should be placed at Mr. White's disposal for this service, and to enable him constantly to communicate with Auckland. If the Governor could make the arrangement, he would send Mr. While away iv the " Sandfly " this afternoon. November 18th, 1864. G. Geey.

No. 3. MEMOEANDUM by Ministers. Ministers beg to thank His Excellency for the information conveyed to them in his Memorandum of this day's date, on the subject of h-s recent offer to the escaped prisoners. Mr. White had given Ministers an oral account of his interview with the prisoners, but they did not understand from it that His Excellency had made the offers sfa'cd in His Excellency's memorandum, or lhat there was any reasonable expectation that any offers he had made would be accepted, or that the prisoners " intended to pursue their journey in a few days." As regards His Excellency's ' recommendation," that Mr. White and some of the native chiefs should be allowed to return to Mahurangi, where the escaped prisoners are, &c, and that the " Sandfly" should be placed at Mr. White's disposal for the purpose, Ministers beg to say that; Mr White's services and the " Sandfly " are at His Excellency's disposal; but after the action lakm all through this affair, Ministers cannot undertake to send Mr. White as an agent of the Colonial Government. If His Excellency wishes to send Mr. White for the purpose of acting as His Excellency's agent, his services, Ministers repeat, are at His Excellency's disposal; and if His Excellency will let Ministers know lhat such is his desire, Mr. White shall be despatched as soon as the " Saudfly " can begot ready. November 18th, 1864. William Fox.

No. 4. MEMOEANDUM by the Governor. In reply to the Ministerial Memorandum of this day's date regarding the Native prisoners, the Governor begs to state that he has seen Mr. White, who assures him that he did inform the Native Minis'er that he had made to the Native prisoners the offers named in the Governor's memorandum of this day's date, and that the Natives stated in reply that they would send over to Kaipara a message to bring back fifty of their people who were at Kaipara, and that as soon as the fifiy men arrived, Te Hemara would either come in person to acquaint the Governor that such was the case, or write a letter, and that then they would move on toward Wa'kato, and they requested that canoes and boats might be provided for their crossing the Manukau. Mr. White said he was asked did he think they would do this, and he replied, that he had a doubt in his mind and the reason was, that a promise they had previously made had not been performed. Ti e Governor very much regrets that Ministers will not send Mr. White and the " Sandfly" in the manner he requested, he fears that very serious embarrassments may arise, and he would still earnestly urge them to carry out this recommendation. Government House, Auckland, 18th November, 1864. G. Geet.

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO NATIVE PRISONERS.

E.—No. Ia

No. 5. MEMORANDUM by Masters. Ministers beg to acknowledge His Excellency's second Memorandum of yesterday's date, relative to the escaped prisoners. Ministers beg mis rupejtfully to repeat that the oral statement made, by Mr. Whito to them differed very materially from that contained in Hta Excellency's Memoranda. Mr. Waifce did not state to Ministers that Hii Et relljney offered to provide food for the prisoners—nor to send a person with them for tho purposes sated by His Excellency—nor that they aakod that canoes and boats might be provided for their crowing tiie Ma;iuk;iu. Ministers never understood Mr. White to say that His Excellency proposed tint roue to them, and are certain that tiie only allusion to boats or canoes was in reply to a quo^io;i put by the Coo lial Secretary to Mr. White vvaether the " Sandfly" could take them all up the Tliames, w leu Mr. Wuite replied that they seemed to prefer the idea of going in boats and canoes ; but tas iiad no reference to Mauukau. In addition to these matters which Mr. Whito did not tell them, he did tell them several other things which are not stated in either of His Excellency's Memoranda. For ins'an^e, Mr. White informed Ministers that the prisoners said they would not go back to Waikato if when they there they were to bo driven to the hills —-that they were aware that they had by rebellion forfei ed all their lands, and that soldiers were living where they lived before ; they would not cons ;nt lo <xo I ill they had land allotted to them fit for cultivation, and not on the mountains. Mr. White also said that they sjemxl very suspicious of His Excellency's plans, and afraid that he meant to entrap them ; and that, they said ihey would not go unless they had written pledges that 1 hey should not be so dealt with. Ho asked them in reply if he (Mr. White) had ever deceived them. Tuey admitted he had not, but said they must have " a writing." T.iay also said they would like Mr. White to a;o with them. He said in reply, that after their breach of faith on so many occasions, he would not like to trust himself with them ; that if he did, it would only be because he believed prisoners would no^ let them hurt one wiio had been so kind to them. Tapihana replied that neither Mr. Wiiite nor Mr. Fox need fear to trust himself with them ; that they remembered their kindness to them on board the hulk, and that none of them would hurt either of them. Mr. White said that he made them no promise on the subject. These s a!emeu's, which are not in either of His Excellency's Memoranda, led Ministers to believe that but, little progress had been made by His Excellency in his attempt to induce the na'ives to re'urn peaceably to Waikato, and that they were asking for conditions preliminary to the'r go:ng which Ministers did not understand that His Excellency was prepared to grant. In reply to His Excellency's expression of regret that " Ministers will not send Mr. AVhite and the ' Sandfly' in tho manner proposed, and that he fears very serious embarrassments may arise in consequence," M'mVors thought they had met His Excellency's wishes when they placed Mr. White's services and the " Sandfly" a f His Excellency's d sposal to enable him to carry out whatever plans he mitjht have devised. T icy have no objection, however, to send Mr. White in the " Sandlly," in the distinct undcrs'anding that lie goes as His Excellency's agent, and to carry out His Excellency's plans, and that Minis ers do no 1 hold themselves in any way responsible for the result of his mission. Tao " Sandl! y," however, Ministers regret to state, cannot be lefr at Mr. White's disposal while at Mahuraiv', as she has already been placed at the d sposal of the Registrar-General, for the purpose of carrying Itv> census enumerators along the North-.East Coast, —a service which could not be delayed ; but ahn shall convoy Mr. White there on Monday and leave him there. What em'wrrassmen s Hs Excellency Jludes to as likely to ensue if Mr. White is not immediately senf, however, Mm's ers are a* a loss to understand, since His Excellency appears to have made no promise that either Mr. White or the " Sandfly" should go to Mahurangi; and he has stated to Minis'ers that before any further movement is to be made by the prisoners, To Hemara is communica'e ;n person or by letter with His Excellency. November 19th, 1864. W. Fox.

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FURTHER PAPERS ON NATIVE PRISONERS.