A.-ISV 1

28

DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR OE NEW

Sir D. Cameron. Sir George Grey. the pa, and he gave me permission to abandon temporarily any of the posts on the coast which I might think necessary to enable me to assemble a force sufficient for the purpose. 9. In reply to this proposal, I considered it my The enclosed extracts from Memoranda adduty to represent, that the rainy season having dressed to me by the Colonial Ministers will show set in, the operations of a regular attack would how different the views of the last Government be extremely harassing to the troops, and from are from General Cameron's on this subject-, the impossibility of preventing the escape of the and how entirely they accorded with my own. garrison, the result would be only the capture of Experience proved that we were right. (See an empty pa. Intelligence, moreover, had been Appendix C.) received through the friendly Natives related to those in the pa, that a large party were for giving it up, and I felt convinced that if a post were established near enough to observe the pa, some opportunity would occur before long of obtaining possession of it, without assembling a large force for a formal attack, which at that time of the year it was desirable to avoid. 10. I however informed the Governor that I General Cameron's repugnance to attack the would comply with and carry out to the best of place had been so great, his exjircssions regarding my ability any instructions which, after that its formidable nature and the danger of the expression of my opinion, he might think lit to undertaking had been so strong, his statements give me for undertaking the siege of the pa. regarding the winter season had been so decided, and his losses before other places of very inferior strength so large, that I was afraid to direct him to attack the place after what he had said. I did not however take this view on the 19th of May. I wrote to General Cameron, and told him my opinioTi was that leaving the enemy in the Weraroa Pa was producing very bad effects, and told him that it was my opinion that a force should be collected with the least practicable delay to take the AVeraroa Pa. 11. Sir George Grey having declined to give I have pointed out in a previous letter that the me instructions, I directed Brigadier-General post at Nukumaru was in every way unfit for Waddy to construct a post at Nukumaru, and such a purpose; in fact, the object named could gave him a discretionary power to attack the pa not have been attained from it. if he saw a favorable opportunity of taking it by surprise or sudden attack. 12. Brigadier-General AVaddy was aware of my objections to a formal siege of the pa at that time ' of the year, and concurred in them. 13. After the establishment of the post at I could not have acquainted General Cameron Nukumaru, all the reports I received from with my intention of going to Wanganui; he had Brigadier-General Waddy confirmed me in the quitted the then seat of war, was not at the then opinion that the Natives would surrender the pa. seat of Government, and was distant from me in On the 17th July the Governor arrived in front point of time from twelve to fifteen days. But of the pa, and held a conference with the rebels. I had, in truth, no desire to see him there; my (Had he acquainted me with his intention of object was to try to have a new system of going to Wanganui, I might have joined him operations inaugurated opposed to his, in which, there.) On the following day the two principal he never could have cordially aided me. Chiefs gave themselves up to the Governor ; I cannot believe that General AVaddy, after the another left the pa with his followers, and the manner he had seen mc turned away from the pa whole professed a desire for peace. On the 20th on the 17th, and after the rebel Natives had July, General A\ raddy wrote from AVanganui — declared upon the 18th that they would only " Mr. Parris and Captain McDonnell, who know make peace upon my acknowledging the Nntivo the Natives well, firmly believe that the pa will King, could have seriously believed that the pa be given up." would be given up. Certainly, after the 18th, Mr. Parris never led him to believe that he thought that such would be the case. 11. Sir George Grey, however, thinking that I did not break oil' negotiations. I was turned he had reason to doubt their sincerity, broke off away from the place, the negotiation, and having applied to General Waddy for reinforcements,sent the Forest Eangers and friendly Natives to occupy the Karaka Heights, a point about one thousand yards from the pa, and on the same bank of the river. 15. The Natives then evacuated the pa without This is not correct. A reinforcement of 57 firing a shot. men, with their Chief, was, according to the Native custom, bivouacked outside the pa, in its rear, so as to be removed from under fire, and to make no call on the provisions of the pa, yet ready to rush in and aid in its defence the moment firing