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FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO NATIVE AFFAIRS.

E—No. 3e

3. Taringa Kuri and his 100 followers were prevented from going to Taranaki three years ago, by a purchase of land made for him at an expense of £400, lent to him for the purpose of inducing him to remain at the Hutt instead of going to Taranaki. With the same object in view, Sir George Grey purchased land for the Waiwetu Natives, and at Nelson, the following paragraph from my report on the final cession of the Native lands of that Province to the Crown in 1856, will show that the interests of Taranaki were not sacrificed or overlooked. " 28. The unsettled state of the Ngatiawa tribe, and the disposition manifested by them to re- " turn to their former possessions at Taranaki, where their presence could only increase the troubles '• that already beset the land question in that Province, rendered the present negociation with them one " of no small difficulty and delicacy,—which might, if in any way mismanaged, affect the general tran- " quility of the country. I was induced therefore to agree to reserves of considerable extent being "assigned to them in the various bays they were then inhabiting, with which they appeared to be fully " satisfied." I do not know what change of policy the Memorialists desire, it is very evident that nothing short of strong coercive measures would effect an immediate solution of the present difficulties at Taranaki, and it is not easy to discover on what principle such measures should be resorted to, in this instance, unless the Government is prepared to apply them to every similar case that may arise throughout the colony. With reference to the prayer of the petition that His Excellency should be pleased to cause an enquiry to be instituted into the present condition of the Native inhabitants of this Province, and to the causes which have led to the present difficulties, with a view to establish peace, &c. lam not aware from the full and complete information that the Government now possess, that such an enquiry would lead to any good result, on the contrary it would raise false expectations on the part of some, doubt and apprehension with others, a succession of such enquiries among a barbarous people will only exhibit weakness on the part of the Government, if not followed by measures which it may not be prudent to undertake. Donald McLean. Ist June, 1858.

No. 5. copy of a DESPATCH from sir c. bulwer lytton, to governor gore browne, c.b. Downing Street, 20th November, 1858. Sir — I have received your Despatch of number and date as per margin, enclosing a Memorial addressed by the inhabitants of New Plymouth to the General Assembly, together with a report on that address by the Native Secretary, and a further report of a debate in the House of Representatives. There are many questions of policy to be pursued by your government to the Natives, which are raised in these papers, and for many years to come they will be attended with difficulties of no ordinary kind; but I rely with confidence upon your judgment, and I concur in the views which you have on this, as on several previous occasions, expressed. A straightforward and equitable course of proceeding towards the Natives, especially in those negociations which relate to the purchase or cession of land, is not only a matter of duty, but will, I am persuaded, be found to be most consistent with the interest of the Colonists and the general peace and welfare of the Colony, I have, &c, E. B. Lytton. Governor Gore Browne, C.8., &c, &c,, &c. New Zealand.

(Ne. 35.) No. 45, 9 June, 1858,