3
A.—No. Ib.
MADE BY COLONEL WEAEE, C.B.
take those means which his duty required him to take to save them from becoming the victims of such cruel atrocities as he believed were being committed; I, on my part, because he not only deprived me of my legitimate right of protecting Her Majesty's subjects, but made me appear to those at a distance to at least silently, but willingly, acquiesce in the commission of cruelties of so revolting a kind. 11. I shall forward a copy of this Despatch to Major-General Chute, and shall call upon him to take the requisite steps in regard to the fine of conduct which has been pursued by Colonel Weare. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, M.P. G. GREY.
No. 3. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.8., to the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, M.P. (Separate.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 29th June, 1866. I have the honor to transmit for your information the copy of a Minute which I entered upon the proceedings of the Executive Council immediately upon the receipt of your confidential Despatch of the 26th of March last. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, M.P. G. GREY.
May 23, 1866.
Enclosure in No. 3. Extract from Minutes of tho Executive Council held at Government House, at Wellington, on Wednesday, the 23rd day of May, 1866. Present—His Excellency the Governor iu Council. " Tho Governor has, just as the Executive Council was assembling, received the Right Hon. E. " Cardwell's confidential Despatch of the 26th March, by which he is for the first time informed that a " semi-official notification is said to have been made to Officers serving on the West Coast of New " Zealand, through the Staff of General Chute, that the General did not wish any prisoners taken, and " that the General himself has stated that the Colonial Government did not want the expense of " prisoners. " Tho Governor denies, absolutely and solemnly, that he has ever, directly or indirectly, " communicated to the General Commanding the Forces that the Colonial Government did not w.ant " the expeuse of prisoners. He denies, in the same emphatic manner, that any of his Ministers have " ever made such a recommendation or suggestion to him. He states that he believes* them to be " incapable of so doing. He adds that if they had done so, he would instantly have appealed to the " General Assembly for support in resisting such a policy, and he fearlessly asserts that he would " instantly have received from the Assembly the support for which he asked. He denounces the " statement made to the Secretary of State, that the Colonial Government had desired such a policy, as " a base and wicked calumny upon himself and the Colonial Ministers. He at once enters this Minute "on the proceedings of the Executive Council. He transmits a copy of it to the Right Hon. Edward " Cardwell, M.P., and he at the same time demands, as he has a right to do, that copies of Colonel " Weare's letters be communicated to him, with the name of the person who supplied this information "to tho Secretary of State, and that a full inquiry be instituted into tho whole matter; and he declines " to receive the communication as a confidential one." Approved in Council. Foestee Goeing, Clerk of the Executive Council.
No. 4. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, M.P., to Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B. (Confidential.) Sir,— Downing Street, 26th April, 1866. I think it right to forward to you for your information, and for your report so far as the statements refer to your Government, the enclosed letter from the Rev. T. W. Weare, together with extracts of a letter which he informs me he has received from Colonel Weare, C.B. I learn that Mr. Weare has made a similar communication to the Secretary of State for War; and do not doubt that a strict inquiry will be made in consequence by the Military Authorities. I cannot for a moment suppose that such imputations either upon General Chute, or upon your Government, can be made without meeting with such a complete reply, as will show Colonel Weare's statement to have been altogether