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their native authority, instead of deferring to ours, they would still have been alive, and in the possession of all their rights, which none would have dared to dispute. And if, after losing their lives in the maintenance of our cause, the slaughter is to be ignored, and the murderers go free, it is not to be supposed that the survivors will submit themselves any longer to our direction. Their only protection will be found in their ancient though barbarous customs ; and the Queen's laws they will leave for the Queen's subjects. And thus will rise up in our midst an imperium in imperio —the Maori Chief will supplant the Native Assessor—and British rule and supremacy will cease to be acknowledged, even in our own Township. " We have tried, on every available occasion, to effect an arrangement for the termination of hostilities, especially by urging upon Katatore to adopt the plan proposed by Mr. Commissioner McLean, in accordance with Native usage, viz, to abandon the land to the use of the survivors, and with his few adherents, to remove away from the district. But this he peremptorily refuses to do ; and so long as he can get assistance from other parties, it is not to be expected that he will comply with even so lenient a measure. Thus, with the exception of the slaughter, William King is even worse than Katatore ; because, had it not been for his unwarranted interference and support from the very commencement, the question might probably have been settled long ago. And now that the wives and children of the Ngatiruanui have arrived at the Kaipokopoko, it seems as if they have made up their minds to a prolonged struggle ; which, if allowed within half-a-dozen miles of an English settlement, and British troops, will make me ashamed to confess myself a British subject. And as a Missionary to the Natives, and one of the best friends they possess, I should consider such a policy destructive to their interests, as it would be suicidal to ourselves. It would lead to the entire demoralization of the district, and thus neutralise every past effort for their advancement and every fresh project for the future—besides surrounding the settlement with a cordon of most turbulent men, with whom no peaceful relations could ever be established." " 13th.—Having just heard that Bishop Selwyn is on his way hither, overland, and that his visit has reference to our Native disturbances, I would beg to add a few further observations. Amongst his own people, it is well known, that his Lordship possesses great influence, and it is quite possible that that influence may be rendered effectual on the present occasion. Nearly every individual engaged in this aggression, and committed to this fatal policy in legard of the land, belongs to the same communion. If, therefore, his Lordship can only persuade William King to retire from the league, and remove, with Katatore and his people, to the other shore of the Waitara, leaving the whole of the block on this side, to be disposed of by those who are now its sole and rightful owners—thus causing it to be immediately occupied by a large European population—then the Ngatiruanuis would retire quietly home, and the question would bejpeacably settled. But if some minor arrangement of this kind is not proposed and agreed to, then I will venture to prophecy that the final settlement of this perverse dispute, to render it effectual, will have to include the whole of the seaboard, from the White Cliffs on the one hand, to Whanganui on the other." "16th.—When we mentioned our proposal in the last paper, we meant to say that that was the most lenient measure, which under the circumstances, would be accepted by the injured party. Otherwise, the full justice of the case would require, as regards William King's people, that they should be at once removed away beyond the original Surveyor's line at Titirangi; and by no means be allowed, (after all their opposition to the Government, for the past three years,} to reap the commercial advantages of the Northern banks of the Waitara, which in a short time, would make them more unbearable than ever. From what we know of the men and their conversation, this would be, by far, the better arrangement. And then as to the alternative—we simply prognosticated, from our entire knowledge of the question, if some such mode of settlement as the one alluded to, were not adopted, that the future consequences would be such as to involve the whole of the Province, both North and South, in any final arrangement that would require to be made. The very fact of leaving the dispute to be settled by the Maories themselves, would bring every surrounding tribe into the conflict, and thus necessitate the adoption of those final measures, which as a mere matter of conjecture we pointed out." " 18th.—Yesterday a letter was brought to me to read and seal, and send to the Post Office. It was addressed to the Government, and stated that if His Excellency would assist them in obtaining justice from Katatore, and prevent their lands from being taken possession of by King and the Ngatiruanuis, that then they would dispose of the whole block to the Government, as far as Waiongana—■ and tiat is about as far as the Puketapu claims extend. It was only signed by one Native, after the fashion of most Maori letters, but we find that it was the result of a general council. And though we were not aware that they intended to make their proposal in so formal a manner, yet we highly approve of it, on every ground. But, especially, on that of their own advancement in civilized life, which will never be the case until they become more intimately intermixed with their European neighbours, and establish private friendships amongst them, which alone will bind the two races together in interest and affection. But this can never take place where the blocks of each party are situated so widely distant, as to convey the idea of separate districts with disunited interests. The district must be one, with the came laws and penalties for each ; and then for the first time, the fears and affections and obligations and good offices of brotherly kindness on the part of both, will be found to be reciprocal. As to the old system of tenth sections as Maori Reserves, we prevailed on Col. Wakefield not to press for its adoption (as being too far apart.) But the plan of intermixing the two races, as at present adopted, and allowing the Natives to re-purchase their lands from the Government, (if done impartially), and thus derive a personal title from the Crown, is a system well adapted to exalt them in the social scale, without, at the same time, rendering them inaccessible to Missionary labor. And thus their every interest, will be promoted, in every available way, and at all times ; and the principles of a true and Christian philanthropj will be carried out to their utmost extent."

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CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE BISHOP OF