ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
51
A.—No. 1.
<ire to be the Governor for ourselves, for the Maoris and the Pakehas. That is why our hearts are glad at your coming to New Zealand here. Welcome hither, 0 Father, to us, your children: although we be foolish children, do you teach us. We have received instruction at the hands of other Governors, your predecessors ; but this people, the Maoris, still cling to our ignorance. You are the sixth Governor. Welcome hither to us ; to be kind to us, with the great kindness of our faithful mother the Queen. Father, we enclose herewith a copy of our letter to the Government for you to see. It depends on yourself whether you bring the son of the Queen here to see us. That is all we have to say to you. Tamihaka te Eatjpaeaha, HoKOMONA TOEEMI, ptopata huktjmutit, Eawiei te Waniti.
Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 12 in No. 30. Copy of a Letter from Otaki Chiefs to the Goyebnment. Feiestd Mr. Rolleston", — Otaki, 30th December, 1867. This is a request of ours —the Ngatitoa, Ngatiraukawa, and Ngatiawa —that the Queen's son, the Prince, come here also ; so that we, the tribes who have always been loyal to liis mother, the Queen of England and New Zealand, may see him. This may be the only opportunity afforded us of showing our loyalty to his mother the Queen, for we continued under the Queen's authority during the whole of the war from first to last. Otaki is the most convenient place where we may all meet to see the Prince, the son of the Queen. Another reason why we ask the Prince to come here is that the greater number of us cannot possibly go to Wellington, there being very many of us. That is all. Tamihana te Ratjpabaiia, And others.
Enclosure 13 in No. 30. His Excellency's Reply. Fejends,— The letter of welcome wliich you have addressed to me in the name of the tribes of Ngatiraukawa, Ngatitoa, and Ngatiawa, has been received by me ; and also the copy of the letter which you have addressed to the Government, in which you express your desire to see the son of the Queen. Xour love to the Queen, and your respect for law and authority, are evidenced (shine out) in your loyalty to her son, and to me, whom you have not yet seen. Her goodness will ever shine on you, as it does on all her children throughout the world, who do not put evil between themselves and her. "When the Prince comes he shall be told of your desire to see him, and I hope he will be able to come as you propose. I will let you know when I have ascertained his wishes. From your friend, G-. P. Bowex, Governor.
No. 31. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to His Grace the Duke of Buckingham. (No. 18.) Government House, Wellington, My Lobd Duke,— 7th March, 18(58. In continuation of my Despatch No. 15, of the 4th instant, I have the honor to transmit herewith translations of a correspondence which has recently taken place between the Minister for the Native Department (Mr. J. C. Richmond) and certain Maori^hiefs, on the subject of a threatened outbreak between the Ngatiraukawa and the Muaupoko tribes, in the Wanganui District of the Province of Wellington. 2. It will be seen that the prospect of an immediate collision between these tribes has been averted by the mediation of the Government; but this correspondence is only a specimen of a similar correspondence now being carried on with other Maori tribes in the North, near the Bay of Islands—on the East Coast, near Tauranga and Opotiki, and elsewhere. I transmit it as one among many proofs of the great difficulties with which the Government of New Zealand has to contend, not only in preventing collisions between the Maoris and colonists, but also in preventing the Maoris from waging internecine wars amongst themselves. I have, &c, His Grace the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos. G. F. BO WEN.