PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE

care to have agents on the Waikato, and the Bishop of New Zealand has, at ray request, consented to attend the meeting , , where he will be more likely to have influence and obtain correct information than any directly accredited agent. What may be the result of this meeting it is impossible to predict, but I have made every preparation in my power (as explained in my Despatch, No. 35, 24th April) to meet any contingency. I have also invited all the Chiefs of importance in New Zealand, to the number of 120 (excepting only some few who openly refuse to recognise Her Majesty's Sovereignty), to meet me at Auckland on the 2nd July next. I look forward to this meeting as a means of bringing to light any secret causes of discontent, and in the hope that some plan may be devised which will place our relations with the Native tribes on a firmer and more satisfactory footing than it has yet been. It might be asked why a meeting of Chiefs has not been called long ere this; but I can only reply that it would not be in my power to call such a meeting even now had not my responsible advisers, seeing the critical position of the country, agreed to incur the expense —which is estimated at £3000— and to recommend the Assembly to sanction it. 7. It will be seen that there is a party on the Waikato who are decidedly inimical to the Europeans as a race, and desire war with or without cause. I am, however, inclined to believe that they are in a minority, and will be restrained by those who are wiser. On the other hand, it is impossible to foretell what effect any untoward event, or particularly warlike speech, may have on so excitable a people. I believe also, that though the great majority of the King party entertain no ill will towards the Europeans, they would (if their party had been sufficiently consolidated) have taken up a position towards the Queen's Government which would necessarily have led to collision, unless we had been prepared to submit entirely to their dictation—or, in other words, to their rule. 8. The precautions we have adopted and the preparations we have made (of which the Maories are fully aware), lead me to think it probable that the war will be confined to the Province of Taranaki; and if so, there is every reason to hope it will be summarily concluded. Taking into consideration, however, the exasperated feelings to which many of the settlers give expression (vide my Despatch, No. 37), their open demands for unoccupied lands, the delusions of the Maories, and the subtlety with which disaffected Europeans deceive them and misinterpret the intentions of the Government, I am satisfied that a force large enough to overawe the turbulent and render successful opposition to Her Majesty's arms hopeless, is absolutely necessary for the maintenance of peace in New Zealand. I need scarcely add that the Militia cannot be embodied and employed for any length of time in regular service, as is the case at Taranaki, without interfering with all those operations upon which tho existence of a settler must necessarily depend. I trust, therefore, your Grace will forgive my again urging the necessity of your sending out three Regiments and a Company of Artillery to this Colony without delay. I have, &c, (Signed) T. Gore Browne. His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, &c, &c, &c.

No. 44. Military. Plan. Return. •>

No. 30. copy of a DESPATCH from governor gore browne, c.b., to his grace the duke op NEWCASTLE. Government House, Auckland, New Zealand, 21st Ma y. 1860. My Lord Duke, — I have the honor to inform your Grace that the male population of Auckland have now been formed into a Regiment of Militia, which, for the convenience of those residing in different places, has been divided into three Battalions. The town of Auckland will itself furnish five companies and comprise the Ist Battalion. A plan of the town, showing the locality of each company, is enclosed, together with a return of the Militia as it exists at present. The total number armed amounts to 1515, but it is needless to say that so large a part of the population cannot be enrolled and drilled without great inconvenience and interference with the ordinary occupations upon which the prosperity and, I might say, the existence, of the Province depends. This organisation, together with the Guard and Blockhouses reported in my Despatch No. 35 of 24th April, have however rendered Auckland and the Peninsula on which it stands tolerably secure against any attack by the Natives. With the Force and other means at my disposal, the settlements on the South and many on the North of this District are not capable of being defended ; in the event of an attack by the Waikato tribes they must be abandoned, and it will be well if this can be done without other loss than that of property. I have, &c, (Signed) T. Gore Browne. His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, &c, &c, &c.

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