AGENCY OP MR. McLEAN.

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A!— No. 4.

We think it of the utmost importance for the safety of this Province and the district commonly known as the East Coast, that some person resident upon the spot, and possessing the confidence of both Colonists and Natives, should be intrusted with large discretionary power to act on behalf of the Government in case of emergency. Mr. McLean has peculiar qualifications for the post. He has been so long personally known and trusted by the Natives upon this coast that they would willingly act upon the advice from him, which if given by a less known person, even though a representative of the Government, would be unheeded. For the same reason, valuable intimations of the intentions of disaffected tribes would be often tendered to Mr. McLean which would never reach the ears of another person acting in his place; whilst his long experience, his intimate acquaintance with tho relations of the tribes throughout the Island, and his various sources of information, fit him beyond others for the difficult task of examining and estimating the value of information so received; and the conviction that from him timely warning of danger may be expected, is an inducement to prevent persons engaged in industrial pursuits in the outlying districts of the Province from abandoning their homes. His successful conduct of affairs upon the East Coast, in 1865-6, has won for him the confidence both of the European and Maori inhabitants, and the approbation of persons of all political parties in the General Assembly; and we feel convinced that if your Excellency would seek the advice of the General Assembly, it would be found to be the wish of the Colony at large that the management of the district should be still intrusted to him. Since the last Session of the General Assembly the efforts of your Excellency's Executive and the Colonial troops, though attended with partial success, have failed to secure peace to districts then disturbed, whilst fresh instances of outrage and rebellion are from time to time occurring in other portions of the Colony, and enormous military expenditure is going on, without prospect of its speedy termination, and a general feeling of insecurity pervades the Northern Island. We feel sure that your Excellency must, with us, desire that in this emergency you should be assisted by advisers having the undoubted confidence of the Colony, and we therefore respectfully implore your Excellency to seek the advice of the representatives of the people without delay. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. H. S. Tiffen, J.P., and 532 others.

No. 18. Mr. Gisborne to Mr. H. S. Tiffen and others. (No. 324.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Gentlemen,— Wellington, 16th April, 1869. I have the honor, by the direction of Mr. Stafford, to acknowledge the receipt of your petition to His Excellency referring to the withdrawal of the authority of Government Agent from Mr. D. McLean, and praying His Excellency to summon the General Assembly. AVith reference to the prayer of your petition, I am to observe, that before it was received the General Assembly had been summoned to meet for despatch of business on the Ist June next. As, from certain statements made in the petition, some misapprehension appears to exist in the minds of the petitioners with reference to the relative action of the Government and Mr. McLean, Mr. Stafford desires me to say that several months ago the Government, with a view to securing Mr. McLean's aid and co-operation in tho settlement of affairs on the East Coast, offered him a seat in the Executive Council and the position of Resident Minister at Napier, which offer he declined. Subsequently, at his own request, he was appointed Government Agent. It was, however, never imagined, nor could it reasonably have been assumed, that he would use tho power which that office gave him in direct opposition to the Government. Such a state of things would be altogether anomalous, and inconsistent with the relations which must necessarily subsist between a Government and its Agent, inasmuch as the Government and not its Agent is constitutionally responsible for the administration of public affairs. Under these circumstances, when, as was recently the case, Mr. McLean took a step so calculated to weaken the authority of all Governments in the Native mind as to induce certain Natives who had engaged for a particular service to violate their sworn engagements, and did not at the same time resign his Agency, the Government had absolutely no alternative but to withdraw from him the authority to act in its name which it had intrusted to him. I have, &c, Messrs. H. S. Tiffen and other Petitioners, W. Gisborne, Hawke's Bay. .... Under Secretary.

No. 19. To His Excellency Sir G-eoege Feegtjsox Bowen, Gr.C.M.G-., Governor in and over New Zealand, Commander-in-Chief, &c, &c, and Vice-Admiral of the same, &c, &c. The humble Petition of the undersigned Kesidents and Persons interested in the Wairoa District of Hawke's Bay, respectfully sheweth: —That whereas the present Advisers of your Excellency have thought fit to withdraw the post of Agent of the General Government of New Zealand for this Province from Donald McLean, Esq., at a moment when the whole future of the Colony is at stake, your petitioners humbly solicit that it shall please your Excellency, in view of the enormous interests involved, by an exercise of your prerogative as Her Majesty's Representative in this Colony, to reinstate that gentleman in his former position. And, further, that it will please your Excellency to refuse your assent to a second prorogation of the sitting of the General Assembly of the House of Eepresentatives, inasmuch as the speedy meeting of Parliament is absolutely necessary to the welfare of the whole Colony. And your petitioners will ever pray, &c, &c. Stephen F. Peentice, and 56 others.