E.—No. 3. SECTION I.

I have put up for Your Grace a copy of a letter just received from the Superintendent at Wellington, which I think you will find interesting. I have, &c, G. Grey. His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, K.G.

Enclosure to No. 19. - Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 11th May, 1863. Sie, — Your letter of the 4th inst., containing the account of the murdorous attack on the military escort at Oakura, reached me on Thursday morning the 7th. Immediate measures were taken hy Mr. Mantell to give the Natives the correct version of the affair. The Taranaki Natives, on the other hand, lost no time in circulating a statement that there had been a regular fight between themselves and the military, in which they had killed thirty soldiers. This statement was evidently drawn up with the view of concealing the real nature of the transaction, and of leading the Natives to believe that the attack had been commenced by the soldiers. It is impossible at present to say what effect this news will have on the Natives in this Province. The reports furnished to Mr. Mantell by Messrs. White, Buller, and Tamihana Kauparaha, are unsatisfactory. The majority of the Bench of Magistrates at Whanganui speak more hopefully, expressing their opinion that the Natives of the district (with the exception of the Kingites) are peaceably disposed, and approve of the Governor taking possession of Tataraimaka. My own impression is that inasmuch as in almost every Runanga that has been held in this Province the Natives, whether loyal or King's men, have declared that Tataraimaka belonged to the Queen, and have deprecated any assistance being afforded to the Taranaki tribe in any attempt they might make to dispute its occupation by the troops, they will repudiate and denounce this treacherous onslaught, and that, therefore, no apprehension of any immediate outbreak in this Province need be entertained. But, as soon as hostilities are fairly begun, there is no doubt that many will at once join the rebels ; and, unless some decisive advantage be at once gained by the troops, I fear even friendly tribes will be drawn into the war. The Bench of Magistrates at Whanganui agree with Mr. Mantell and myself that it would be inexpedient just now to call out the Militia; but wo shall be ready to do bo whenever circumstances render it necessary. I have, &c, I. E. Feathebston, Superintendent. The Honble. the Colonial Secretary, &c, &e.

No. 53,

No. 20. copy of DESPATCH feom governor sir george grey, k.c.b., to his grace the dtjke of NEWCASTLE, E.G., Taranaki, May 16th, 18G3. My Lord Duke, — Adverting to my Despatch No. 40, of the 26th April last, upon the subject of a Memorial addressed to Her Majesty by the inhabitants of Taranaki, I have now the honor to transmit this Memorial which I received yesterday from my Responsible Advisers, accompanied by a Memorandum upon it dated the 15th of May. 2. I beg particularly to call your Grace's attention to the statement made by my Responsible Advisers in the Memorandum of the 15th inst., regarding the circumstances connected with the wreck of the ' Lord Worsley,' steamer, as this wreck will probably be the subject of future discussion, and it is important that the facts of the way in which the wreck was dealt with by the Natives, should be fully understood. I have, &c, G. Grey. His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, K.G.

Enclosure 1 to No. 20. TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, IN COUNCIL. The Memorial of the undersigned Inhabitants of the Province of Taranaki, in the Colony of New Zealand, Humbly Sheweth, — That the Settlement of New Plymouth (now comprised in the Province of Taranaki) was founded in the year 1841, by the Plymouth Company of New Zealand, on land purchased by the New

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DESPATCHES FROM GOVERNOR SIR G. GREY