E.—No. 18.

The Tataraimaka Block was purchased by the Crown, and has been occupied for years by th settlers ; the Governor has claimed it as his own, has occupied it, and can re-occupy it again. I se a difficulty, but not a great one, in retiring from it. As regards the Waitara, the late and present Governors have both declared that the investigation of title to the land claimed by Teira should be completed, this has not yet been done, and to give up the Block without a public investigation would bo construed into nothing but a sign of our inability to hold it. One point that will certainly be raised by the Natives, in the event of negociations taking place under existing circumstances is, that the occupation of Tataraimaka before the AVaitara question was disposed of, was premature, and that it must therefore be abandoned. Failing that objection, transit across the Tapuae Block to Tataraimaka will be forbidden. This can only be met by sending supplies coastwise, which would necessitate the service of a small steamer with a friendly port to rim into in bad weather. Waitara out of our hands, the nearest port of refuge would be sixty miles off. Admitting however, that Waitara could be made use of, is the Government prepared to go on for an indefinite time to maintain a coast service for 4,000 acres of land ? In conclusion I may state, that my sense of the extremely precarious condition of our relations with the Natives at the present time is such, that I believe not a day should be suffered to pass by without taking the preparatory steps for the course which I propose, and I prefer to transmit this very hasty and very imperfect sketch of my views, than to spend time now in elaborating it, as the scheme may be matured at leisure after the first overtures have been made. Charles Brown, Superintendent. Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 2nd May, 1863.

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE ENROLMENT OF NATIVE TROOPS FOR FOREIGN SERVICE.

No. 1. ME. CHARLES BROWN TO THE HONORABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. New Plymouth, New Zealand, Sth February, 1858. Sir, — I have the honor to enclose for transmission through ITis Excellency the Governor, a communication to the Eight Honorable the Secretary of State for the Colonies recommending the raising of Troops in New Zealand from among the Native subjects of Her Majesty for service at the Cape of Good Hope or in India. I hope the proposition will meet with the approval and support of His Excellency's Government, as one likely to benefit the Natives themselves, and to benefit the Colony by the removal of the most troublesome, till the Colonists have a greater numerical superiority, and are able to maintain the supremacy of our rule, laws, and customs, for the benefit of both races. Among the Natives themselves I am known and respected from Whaingaroa on the West Coast to Wairarapa on Cook's Straits. About twelve years ago I joined a war party of over a thousand men, arming many of them myself, to defend Waitotara from a threatened attack by Taupo and other tribes. During my tenure of office as Superintendent I obtained the restitution of a gun from a Native (Karipa) that no influence of the General Government had been able to obtain ; and the records of the Colonial Office will shew that I induced an armed party of Ngatiruanui natives who were coming into New Plymouth, and were at war with the Natives in this locality, to leave their arms at the Southern boundary and come into New Plymouth, for trading purposes, unarmed, on my personal guarantee of their safety. I have, &c, Charles Brown, Captain of the New Plymouth Battalion of New Zealand Militia. The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

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BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF TARAN_\ XI.