A.—No. 18.

AND THE GOVERNOR OE NEW ZEALAND

35

No. 13 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. (Confidential.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord, — New Zealand, 30th August, 1869. With reference to your Lordship's " Confidential" Despatch of the 12th June ultimo, I Avould ask permission to explain that I marked as " Confidential " my General Despatch on the affairs of Ncav Zealand of 7th December, 1868, simply in accordance with the spirit of the instructions contained, Avith respect to periodical Reports of this kind, in the late Duke of NeAvcastle's Circular Despatch of sth Eebruary, 1864. 2. In your Lordship's reply, tAvo of my principal suggestions Avere pronounced to be " clearly judicious, " viz., those relating to " a prohibition of out- " lying settlements," and a " modified recognition of the Maori King." It became my obvious duty to communicate confidentially to my Responsible Advisers your Lordship's alcavs in this respect, and also Avith regard to the employment of Imperial officers and non-commissioned officers in this Colony. Mr. Stafford and his colleagues considered that my Despatch of the 7th December ultimo contained an exhaustive summary of the condition, prospects, and requirements of New Zealand, and strongly advised me to give it publicity here by laying it before the local Parliament, urging that my opinion Avould greatly strengthen their hands in carrying out the policy Avhich your Lordship had so emphatically approved. I declined to comply Avith this advice, pointing out that, in the terms of the 184 th article of the Colonial Regulations, the Secretary of State must decide AAdiether a Despatch marked " Confidential" should be published in extenso. In consequence, lioavever, of the repeated urgency of my Ministers, I consented, under the peculiar and pressing circumstances of the case, to quote in my Despatches Nos. 31 and 32 tAvo paragraphs of my Report. 3. Since Mr. Eox and his colleagues came into office, they have also strongly recommended, for reasons similar to those adduced by Mr. Stafford, the publication of my Report of the 7th of December ultimo, and of your Lordship's reply to it. I have repeated that I cannot do this without first obtaining your permission. I presume that as this document has noAV been referred to in your Lordship's public Despatch No. 62, of the 21st May ultimo, it ■will probably be published, together Avith other papers concerning New Zealand affairs lately laid before the Imperial Parliament. I hope that it has been so published; but, if not, I request to bo instructed if I am at liberty to accede to the advice of my Ministers, by permitting it to be presented to the Colonial Parliament. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. G. E. BOWEN.

No. 14. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. E. Boaven, G.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. (Confidential.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord, — New Zealand, 2nd September, 1869. I haA Te the honor to report that a number of copies of the enclosed " Protest " against the recent policy of the Colonial Office, published in England by Sir George Grey, Sir Charles Clifford, and other gentlemen connected AAdth this Colony, Avere sent out to New Zealand by the last English mail; and that this document has been reprinted, with comments in a similar strain, in most of the Colonial journals. I annex one of the most moderate of these comments contained in a leading article of one of the principal newspapers of this Colony. I naturally refrain from draAving attention to the violent invectives against your Lordship's Department Avhich have been published in several other quarters. 2. It need scarcely be said that I deplore alike the substance and the tone of the " Protest," and of the Colonial comments upon it. But seeing that it is one

Article from Otago Witness.