E—No. S_

THE NATIVE INSURRECTION.

this Office on the 11th instant, when it was resolved that a monthly meeting should be held, to take i nto consideration any steps which may be proposed in this Country affecting the interests of New Zealand. At the request of the Colonists, I consented to convene such meetings after the arrival of each mail via Southampton. At the meeting of the 11th inst., it was resolved unanimously, that a Deputation should wait upon the Colonial Minister, and also upon Lord Palmerston, to urge on the Government the necessity of sending additional Troops to the Colony. Lord Palmerston was pleased to grant an interview, when the subject was strongly advocated by Mr. W. S. Grahame, and supported by Mr. Fitzgerald, who also specially directed His Lordship's attention to the expediency of sending experienced Officers with the Force. Since then a communication has been received, in reply to the Deputation, in which His Lordship states that " One Regiment lias already gone to New Zealand, and that another is goiDg to relieve " the one previously there, while the Regiment which is to be relieved may be detained in the Country " for a time, if it be urgently necessary." Yesterday tenders were issued for the conveyance from Cork of 39 Officers, 928 Men, and 190 Women end children, to Auckland in two Ships, which are to return to Portsmouth, with 3G Officers, 1180 Men, and 490 Women and children, or, at least, 500 adults is guaranteed to each ship. I forwarded to your Office, via Southampton, several copies of the Bill—"For the better "Government of the Nativis of New Zealand, and to facilitate the purchase of Native Lands," which has been introduced into the House of Lords by the Duke of Newcastle. It was fully discussed by the Colonists at the above meeting, amongst whom some difference of opinion existed, but the majority ruled that the Bill was likely to interfere with the powers of the General Assembly of New Zealand, and that Petitions should be presented to both Houses of Parliament, praying that the Bill in question be not passed until it has been referred to the Colony, and the opinion of the Local Legislature ascertained. A Committee was appointed to draw up and obtain signatutes to such Petition, and I believe it has been generally signed. I should add that a third reading of the Bill, in the Lords, has been delayed to allow the correspondence between His Excellency the Governor and the Imperial Authorities to be printed and laid before both Houses. It is necessary for me to state that I strictly avoid taking part in the proceedings at these meetings, limiting my interference on such occasions and generally, as far as possible, to the promotion of a cordial co-operation of the Colonists in England in the interests of New Zealand. In the absence of your promised instructions, I trust that the conduct 1 have pursued, and the information herein furnished, will be satisfactory to you. I am, Sec, (Signed) John Morrison. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Auckland. No. 8. ADDRESS OF INHABITANTS OS THE HUTT, PROVINCE OF WELLINGTON. To Eis Excellency Colonel Thomas Gore Browne, C.8., Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of New Zealand. We, the undersigned Electors and other Inhabitants of the Hutt District, desire to express our entire approbation of the policy of Your Excellency, in proceeding to quell by force of arms the Insurrection of W. Kingi, in the Province of Tarauaik. While we deeply deplore the circumstances which have compelled Your Excellency to such an extremity, we are convinced -that sooner or later a collision with this turbulent Chief was inevitable; and that any further tampering with the question of Sovereignty would have been construed by the Natives as an admission of present weakness, and probably eventuated in more wide-spread disaffection. Even had we been less satisfied than we are of the justice of the war, we should feel that therewould be now no other alternative for Your Excellency, having in view, not simply the best inierests, but the actual existence of the Colony, than to prove by vigorous exertion the Supremacy of the Queen's power: until a conviction of which is summarily brought home to the Native mind, we fear that Your Excellency will be unable to establish a lasting peace, such as may serve, for all future ages, to cement in one band the mutual prosperity and happiness of both Races. We offer to Your Excellency our most earnest cooperation in bringing the issue to such a termination; and should much regret that any member of the House of Representatives should consent to patching up present tranquillity at the risk of future security. (Signed) A. Ludlam, Ed. Augustus Carlyojt, Charles Hunt, And 271 others. Hutt, September 21st, 1860.

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