E.—No. 2

No. 1. COPY OF A DESPATCH FROJI HIS EXCELLENCY SIR G. GREY TO HIS GRACE THE DUKE OP NEWCASTLE. Taranaki, New Zealand, 24th April, 18G3. My Lord Duke, — I am sorry to be compelled to trouble you once more on the subject of the land at the Waitara. Your Grace was originally informed, January 25th, 1860, that the title of Te Teira and other proprietors of this land had been proved and extinguished, and that you were only troubled with a reference to this subject as a matter of information, and that it was trusted that it might not be necessary to allude to it again. Your Grace was subsequently informed, February 27th, 1860, that there was no expectation of any serious difficulty arising from this affair, and that there was little doubt the Natives would acquiesce in the course the Government had adopted. After, however, twelve months of a disastrous war, such difficulties had arisen, that the matter was left exactly as it originally stood before any disturbance had arisen, the Government having then notified " That the investigation of the title and survey of the land at Waitara was to be continued and completed." 2. It is now my duty to report to Your Grace, that since I have been in New Zealand I have made every effort in my power, and have exhausted every argument and influence I could bring to bear upon the Native race, to induce them to acquiesce in this decision of the Government. But I have altogether failed to shake their dogged determination upon this subject. They say generally, that the title to the land is quite clear and well-known, and that what they regard themselves entitled to is, an open enquiry into the whole subject, in order that it may be ascertained who is to blame for the evils which have befallen themselves and the whole country. 3. A great part of the Native race may bo stated to be at the present moment in arms, in a state of chronic discontent, watching our proceedings in reference to this Waitara question. Large numbers of them have renounced the Queen's authority, and many of them declare openly they have been so wronged, that they will never return under it. Other most influential men state that they will not aid the Government in any war that may arise out of this Waitara question. The great majority of them declare that if a war arises from this cause, they will rise and make a simultaneous attack upon the several European settlements in the Northern Island. 4. The reasons they urge for such proceedings, are, that they did not take up arms to prohibit the alienation of territory to the crown or to maintain any seignorial rights, but that the people of the Waitara, without having been guilty of any crime, were driven at the point of the sword from villages, houses, and homes, which they had occupied for years. That a great crime has been committed against them. That through all future generations it will be told, that their lands have been forcibly and unlawfully taken from them by officers appointed by the Queen of England. That they have striven to find a way in which their lands may be restored to them and reparation made ; that they have sought this in vain from the Queen, and find that Her Laws do not rectify wrongs. They also affirm that the most important statements contained in the manifesto issued by the Government in February 1860, setting forth the cause of the war against the Native race, are not correct, although promulgated with the authority they were, and circulated throughout Her Majesty's possessions without the possibility of the Natives replying to it, or of their reply being heard, whereby a great prejudice has been created against them. For all these reasons they argue that they have no hope of obtaining justice : that their eventual extermination is determined on : that all that is left to them is to die like men, after a long and desperate struggle; and that the sooner they can bring that on, before our preparations are further matured, and our numbers increased, the greater is their chance of success. 5. It cannot be said that there are no grounds, however unreasonable these may be, for these suspicions being excited in their minds. For other persons have entertained them, and this is known to the Natives. My predecessor reported to your Grace, in a despatch which was made public and is often quoted, " That the Europeans covet the lands of the Natives, and were determined to enter in and " possess them, ' recti si posdnt, si non quocimque modo' that this determination became daily more " apparent, and that neither law nor equity will prevent the occupation of Native lands by Europeans " when the latter are strong enough to defy both the Native owners and the Government."

No. 39.

PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE WAITARA,