A.—No. 1

34

DESPATCHES PROM THE GOVERNOR OF NEW

Extract from a letter of Sir G. Grey to General Cameron, 22nd March, 1865. AYliat I desire to sec is, the subjection and punishment of tribes who have been guilty of great atrocities and have instigated others to commit similar acts. Until thejr are put down and punished I am sure there can be no peace or safety in this island for Her Majesty's European subjects, or for loyal and well disposed Natives. Next, I would say, you have in j rour own correspondence, answered the question whether or not I can wish you to attack the AVeraroa Pa at ouce. However necessary I might think the capture of the pa to be, to prevent wrong impressions in the Native mind, or to attain the important objects which you have pointed out in your letter of the 17th instant, would follow from the capture of that pa, it is quite impossible for me to request you to attack it at once, when you have told me that you consider your force insufficient to attack so formidable a work, and that to enter upon this task you would require an available force of two thousand men ; that the Natives have rendered the pa so formidable a position, and have at the same time occupied it in such strength, that it could not be taken without serious loss, uncompensated by any corresponding loss on the side of the rebels, who could at any time escape into the bush with impunity. The other alternative presented to me, must therefore necessarily be the one that I choose, viz., —that you should continue your advance towards Taranaki, so for as the means at your disposal will admit. All I would ask is, that when you find that you cannot get further than some particular point, that you would let me know where that is, that the Colonial Government may determine what it will then do. I have, &c, G. Grey. Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron, K.C.B.

Appendix C. Extract from a Memorandum by Mr. Weld, 26th June, 1865. They agree with the Governor that his instructions to Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron havenot been carried into effect. The country between AVanganui and Patea is not in our possession, and the defiant attitude of a few hundred fanatics at the AVeraroa Pa, in the immediate presence of a British army, and commanding the main line of road between AVanganui and Taranaki, —the very Waitotara road which it was the object of the Government to carry on, —has renewed the confidence of the hostile Natives, not only in their superior prowess, but also in the supernatural powers which their prophets claim to possess. As the means at the disposal of the Lieut.-General are, in his opinion, insufficient to enable him to capture the AVeraroa Pa, Ministers whilst availing themselves of this opportunity of reiterating the expression of their respect for the gallant British Army now in this country, are of opinion that its forced inaction renders it a source of weakness to the Colony, and rather retards than promotes that peace which it was their hope ere this to have established. They believe that the political action of the Military Officer Commanding has resulted in fresh embarrassment and detriment to the public service. Extract from a Memorandum by Mr. Weld, 12th July, 1865. In the actual conduct of operations in the field, not merely have the instructions given by His Excellency the Governor to the General been disregarded, but the efforts of the Colony to bring the war to a close by tho capture of the Weraroa Pa, the centre and focus of disaffection (as admitted by high military authority), have been frustrated by military interference. The effect has been, not merely to protract the war and exhaust the resources of the Colony, but the enemy has been emboldened, his stronghold reinforced, and a new outbreak is threatened on the East Coast, the natural and obvious result of the inaction of the Imperial Forces on the AVest Coast. Had the Colonial Government received from the Imperial Forces the hearty assistance and co-operation which they had a right to expect; or had the Colony been permitted to carry out, without interference, its policy of self-defence, Ministers believe that peace would have been ere this restored, and the Colony relieved from the burthens which are involving it in ruin.

Appendix D. Copy of a Memorandum by Mr. Stafford. Ministers have read General Cameron's letter of the 4th September, 1865, transmitted in Mr. Cardwell's Despach No. 86, of October last. Ministers do not desire to prolong the discussion as to the AVeraroa Pa, but they think it right to express their unqualified dissent from General Cameron's statement with respect to the position of affairs on the Fast Coast. It is difficult to understand how General Cameron could describe this position as being one with respect to which there would appear to be no necessity for our interference. The following is a brief review of the facts in connection with it: Some months before General Cameron left New Zealand the Bey. Mr. A Tolkner had been murdered at Opotiki, on the East Coast. This murder was long premeditated, was committed in cold blood, and accompanied by cannibalism and other atrocities. The person murdered was a most amiable missionary, who for many years had devoted his time and energies to the improvement of Natives who were consenting parties to his murder. Another Missionary clergyman, who was with Mr. A'olkner, escaped with difficulty from their hands. No single event since our occupation of the Colony produced so profound a sensation amongst both Europeans and Natives. The impunity which apparently followed so great an atrocity was daily encouraging Natives more or less disaffected in many parts of the Colony to throw off all restraint and to plan further outrages. Hau Hau emissaries from Taranaki, Wanganui, and other places,