E—No. Iβ

THE NATIVE INSURRECTION.

No. 15. COPY OF A LETTER FROM WM. THOMSON TO MR. MCLEAN. Tamahere, May 23, 1861. Friend Mr. McLean, — Your friend Mr. Searancke has arrived here. I did not see him. On the 10th (instan I arrived at Tamahere ; and when he also arrived at Maunuatautari he delivered his letter, and said that lie was going to wait for me. I did not see his face (see him personally). The letter brought by him is being considered since he left. Wi Tamihana te Waharoa. To Donalc McLean, Esq., &c, &c , &c.

No. 16. COPY OF A DECLARATION BY THE GOVERNOR TO THE NATIVES .ASSEMBLED AT NGAEUAWAHIA. Thomas Gore Browne, Governor. In order to avoid misapprehension, the Governor directs the attention of the Chiefs and pfople, assembled at Ngaruawahia, to the present condition of affairs in New Zealand, and states distinctly the course necessary to be taken in order to avert the calamities that threaten the country. Tn "the year 1858 a portion of the Maori people, resident in Waikato, pretended to set up a Maori King, and Potatau was chosen for the office. He was installed at Rangiaowhia in the month of June in that year. On Potatau's death, in 1860, Matutaera his son was nominated his successor. Diversity of opinion existed from the commencement as to what would result fiom this movement. Some were led to believe that its supporters desired only the establishment of order, and a fioverning authority amongst themselves ; while oth< rs viewed with apprehension a confederacy which they deemed fraught with danger to the peace of the Colony. The Governor at first inclined towards the more favorable view of the movement, but soon felt misgivings, which have been justified by the event. 1 lie Governor however has not interfered to put down the Maori King by force. He has been unwilling to relinquish the hope that the Maoris themselves, seeing the danger of the course they were pursuing, and that the institution of an independent authority must prove inefficient for all purposes of good, would of their own accord, abandon that course. The Governor can now only look with sorrow and displeasure on what has been done in the name, and by the adherents, of the Native King : — 1. An authority has been set up inconsistent with allegiance to the Queen, and in violation of the Treaty of Waitangi. 2. A large number of the adherents of the Native King have interfered between the Governor and other Native tribes in matters with which they had no concern ; have levied war against the Queen, fought against her troops, and burnt and destroyed the property of her peaceful subjects. 3. Other adherents of the King have assisted, encouraged, and harboured the men who have committed these outrages. 4. A war party of several hundred men some time since assembled, and advanced to within forty miles of Auckland, for the purpose of interfering with the due course of the administration of Justice. 5. Her Majesty's Mail has been stopped ; jurisdiction has been usurped over Her Majesty's European subjects; and other offences have been committed to the subversion of Her Majesty's sovereignty, and of the authority of Law. At this very time the adherents of the Native King, are using the most strenuous efforts to possess themselves of arms and ammunition for the purpose of effecting their objects by iniimidation and violence. The Governor cannot permit the present state of things to continue. No option now rests with him ; he has been commanded by Her Majesty the Queen to suppress unlawful combinations, and to maintain Her Majesty's sovereigniyin New Zealand. Submission to Her Majesty's Sovereignty requires— 1. That every man yield implicit obedience to what the Law (which is the same for all) prescribes for the public welfare. But while the law exacts what is essential for thi object, it confers great benefits and guarantees freedom and security to the weak as well as to the strong. 2. That rights be sought and protected through the Law, and not by a man's own will and strength. No man in the Queen's dominions is permitted to enforce rights, or redress wrongs, by force: he must appeal to the law.

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