NATIVE INSURRECTION.

E—No. 3

" Airedale " steamer, on the morning of the Ist March, and H.M.S.S. " Niger," arrived in the evening of the same day. The strength of the Troops assembled at Taranaki is shown below. * I sent immediately Messrs. Parris and Ilogan (gentlemen of the Native Department intimately acquainted with the JNlaorics of this Province) to the Chief William King, desiring him to come and see me, and giving him a written promise of safety under my own hand. These gentlemen were sent from place to place, and would not have succeeded in obtaining an interview with him had it not been for Mr. Whiteley, a Wesleyan Missionary, whom I requested to accompany them. Mr. W hiteley went some distance from the pah alone, and succeeded in bringing the Chief back to his people, where he held a conference with Messrs. Parris and Ilogan. After a long desultory talk, in which he asserted no proprietary claim to the land, he said he would either come or send his final decision to me this day. The place to which he has retreated is far back in the woods and exceedingly difficult of access, but enables him to command many straggling settlements recently occupied by Europeans, most of whom have taken refuge in the town. I have now the honor to forward a translation of his letter in reply, which is nothing but a mockery and a subterfuge to obtain time until he can get assistance. It is now my intention to request Colonel Gold to occupy the land at the mouth of the Waitara with Her Majesty's Troops, taking every possible care to avoid a collision unless it is forced upon him. T shall there erect (at the expense of the local government) a block house large enough to hold a Company of regular troops, and strong enough to be left in charge of twenty men. My future movements will depend on the conduct of W. King, but I am still in hopes of being able to avoid bloodshed. I learn from the Missionaries and others that the Natives generally, have been for some time alarmed by the most mischevious and unfounded reports of our intentions towards them, that they generally admit the justice of the course I have adopted, and would not think of interfering were they not prompted to do so by their own fears and suspicions. To allay these fears as much as possible I caused certain documents to be printed and circulated in Maori of which a translation is enclosed. I have, &c, (Signed) T. Gore Browne. Ilia Grace the Duke of Newcastle, &c., &c, &c.

No. 21. copy of a DESPATCH from governor gore browne c.b. to his grace the duke OF NEWCASTLE. New Plymouth, New Zealand. 12th March, 1860. Mi Lord Duke, — In continuance of my Despatch "separate" of the 2nd M<»rch, I have now the honor to inform Your Grace that Colonel Gold marched to the Waitara with the troops as below f on the morning of the sth March and reached the encamping ground about 11 a.m.

No. 2i. Military.

15

* Strength of Force it Taranaki, 3! :d Man :h, I861 00 5 £ I UQ 2 s •e Corps and Departments. ■5 I a I 2 c 2 S3 s V> General Staff Commissariat Department.. Military Slore Department Medical Department Purveyor's Department Royal Artillery Royal Engineers GSlh Foot .. i 1 1 3 1 1 a 1 8 '2 1 29 19 10 3S1 1 3 3 9 Totals 1 4 10 9 330 34 » (Signed) James Paw,, Captain, 65th Kegt., Actini Major Brigade.

Corps, i> •, Officers. Sergeant!. Drummers. Rank and File. Staff m, Royal ArtUltry Royal Engineers Cilh Regiment 5 1 1 32 2 1 sa 111 10 N8 u TOIAM 1:) 1)41