AGENCY OP MR. McLEAN.

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A.—No. 4

deplorable condition of the Colony under the administration of the present Ministry, and would urge that the general want of confidence felt in your Excellency's Advisers is in itself a source of weakness the mischievous effects of which cannot be exaggerated. That your memorialists consider the grounds they have set forth to be of such serious import as to render it expedient and necessary that the advice and assistance of the Legislature should be taken with the least practicable delay. Tour memorialists, therefore, most respectfully and urgently pray that your Excellency will see fit to call together the General Assembly at as early a date as possible, that such measures may be adopted as the critical condition of the Colony demands. And your Excellency's memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c. J. D. Obmond, M.H.E., and 395 others.

No. 24. The Hon. E. W. Stafford to the Hon. R. Stokes. (No. 340.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sir,— Wellington, 23rd April, 1869. I have the honor to acknowdedge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, transmitting a memorial to His Excellency the Governor from certain settlers in the AVaipukurau, AVaipawa, and adjoining districts, relative to the present state of Native affairs. I have, &c, The Hon. R. Stokes, Milbourne, Kaikora, E. W. Stafford. Hawke's Bay.

No. 25. To His Excellency Sir George Ferguson Bowen, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand. The Memorial of the undersigned Inhabitants of the Meanee District, Province of Hawke's Bay, respectfully sheweth: —That your Excellency's memorialists view with apprehension and alarm the increasing spread of disaffection and rebellion among the Native Tribes, and the present very critical state of Native affairs generally, under tho administration of the present Government. That your Excellency's memorialists consider it of the utmost importance that a resident administrator of Native affairs should be stationed in this Province, and believe Donald McLean, Esquire (from his long connection with this department of the Government, and his personal influence with all the Natives of the East Coast), to be the gentleman of all others most pre-eminently adapted to fill this post with advantage to both races of Her Majesty's subjects. That your Excellency's memorialists have for some time past felt little confidence in the administrative capacity of the present Government in Native affairs, but view with grave alarm their last action in withdrawing from Donald McLean, Esquire, his powers as their agent on the East Coast, knowing that the removal of that gentleman from office will create a feeling of insecurity amongst the out-settlers, as well as suspicion in the Native mind, of the motives of Ministers in dispossessing one who possesses more of their confidence than any other in the Colony. That your Excellency's memorialists are aware that great dissatisfaction is felt by the members of the Native race in this locality at their treatment at the hands of the present Ministry, and believing that this dissatisfaction will lead many (who under wiser treatment would have remained loyal) to become actual rebels to Her Majesty's authority, thereby endangering the lives and property of Her Majesty's subjects in this part of New Zealand, beg most respectfully to urge your Excellency to call together the General Assembly with as little delay as possible, in order that means may be taken to avert or meet this clanger, and measures adopted for the general security of the Colony. And your Excellency's memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray. W. R. Russell, J.P., and 182 others.

No. 26. Mr. Gisborne to Mr. AY. R. Russell. (No. 352.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Gentlemen,— Wellington, 29th April, 1869. I have the honor, by direction of Mr. Stafford, to acknowledge the receipt of your memorial to his Excellency the Governor, dated the 9th instant, on the subject of the withdrawal of the powers of Government Agent from His Honor D. McLean. I have, &c, W. R. Russell, Esq., J.P., AY. Gisborne, And other Memorialists, Meanee, Hawke's Bay. Under Secretary.

No. 27. Mr. Macdonald to Mr. Atkinson, R.M. (No. 298.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sic,— AVellington, sth April, 1869. It having been reported that, when recently requesting Ropata and others of the Ngatiporou tribe to enlist for service on the AVest Coast, you stated that Mr. McLean was in favour of their doing so, I have the honor, by the direction of Mr. Stafford, to request that you will be good enough to inform 3