E.-No. 2

osure in No. 1. To His Excellency Sib George G-het, X.C.8., Governor of New Zealand. The unhappy war which is now raging in New Zealand, between the Maoris and their English rulers, has excited the most deep and painful interest in this country. It was generally hoped that the contest which recently took place in the Province of Taranaki would have been the last of those painful collisions, which have proved as inimical to the best interests of the colony as they have been disastrous to the Native race. This hope was confirmed by the spirit with which your Excellency entered upon the duties of your high office, and especially by the persevering efforts you made to ■establish a system of self-government in the Native Districts. "We cannot express to you with what profound regret we have witnessed the failure of those wise and beneficent measures, and how deeply we sympathize with you in the peculiarly trying position in which you are now placed. "The justice which has ever been the great characteristic of your Excellency's administration of Native affairs, is a pledge to the world that the war, which is now being waged, will be limited to the one object of restoring British supremacy in the disturbed-districts, and of achieving an honorable, and, if possible, a lasting peace. Occupying, as you do, a position at once so difficult and so responsible, we would not venture to offer any suggestions of our own, did we not feel that Englishmen, even at so <*reat a distance, ought not to regard the momentous events now transpiring in New Zealand, with indifference, or even with silence. We would, therefore, express our earnest hope that your Excellency will avail yourself of the first favourable opportunity which may present itself of endeavouring to terminate the War by negotiation, and especially that you will listen to any overturos of peace which any of the Natives who have taken up arms may make." This course will, we are sure, so commend itself to your sense of humanity and Christian feeling, that we should scarcely presume to urge it upon consideration did we not feel that your hands mignt be strengthened by this expression of our opinion—an opinion which we believe to be shared by the great body of the British people. We have, however, been alarmed by the pertinacity with which, in some quarters, it has been proposed to confiscate the Lands of all contumacious and rebellious Natives. As has been truly observed, such a policy as this would shut the door to any possible settlement of the difficulty except by the sword ; in other words, it would lead to the extermination of a people who value their property in the soil even more than their existence, and who, despite their faults, are worthy of a better fate. We can conceive of no surer means of adding fuel to the flame of War; of extending the area of disaffection; and of making the Natives fight with the madness of despair, than a policy of confiscation. It could not fail to produce in New Zealand the same bitter fruits of which it has yielded so plentiful a harvest in other countries, where the strife of races has been perpetuated through successive generations ; and that, too with a relentlessness and a cruelty which have made mankind blush for their species. We therefore pray that in the hour of victory your Excellency will temper justice with mercy, and give to the world another bright example of forbearance and magnanimity. By such means, and such means only, may we hope to see the Maori Eace saved from extinction, and the dominion of our beloved Queen firmly established over every portion of the Islands of New Zealand. With great respect, We have the honour to be, Sir, Your Excellency's faithful Servants, Chichester, George Thompson, Ebukt, David Thomas, D.D., P. C, Moor Park, Eickmansworth, Henry Bichard, Walter C. Trevelyn, Bart., .Tolm Nichol, 8.A., Oxon, John Hesketh Lethbridge. Bnrt.. Duncan M'Laren, Newington House, EdinWilfrid Lawson, Bart..' burjrh, S. Gurney, M.P., Edward Smith, Sheffield, W. E. roster, M.P., Frederick Baines, Leeds, Thomas Barnes, M.P., Benjamin Scott, P.E.A.S., Henry Pease, M.P., Edmond Beales, M.A., Lincoln's Inn, Thomas Bazley, M.P., Edmund Sturge, Birmingham, William Williams, M.P., John Lee, L.L.D., Hartwell, P. A. Taylor, M.P., Jabez Burns, D.D., Edward Baines, M.P., Joseph Cooper, Lloyds, E. A. Leatham, M.P. John Cropper, Liverpool, John Brady, M.P., John Hodgkin, Lewes, Samuel Morley, Henry Vincent, Thomas Fowell Buxton, Washington Wilkes, T. Perronet Thompson. Lieut.-General, L. A. Chamorovzow, Edward Miall, George Gilfillan, Dundee. E. N. Fowler, Treasurer of Aborigines John Cassell, Protection Society, Arthur Trevelvun, Samuel Lucas, J- P. Teinholm, Trancnt, N. 8., Thomas Guthrie, D.D., Edinburgh, . J. J. Colmnn, Norwich, Thomas Binney, Eichard Smith, 7. Highbury Crescent, Charles J. Hadfield. Colonel. F. W. Chesson, William Howitt, A. K. Isbister, M.A.. Henry Salwey, 6olouel, John Epps, M.D.,

16

PAPERS RELATIVE TO NATIVE AFFAIRS.