NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

35

A.—No. 1

" and fixing the cost, Her Majesty's Government will postpone any action till the " Commissioners shall have had an opportunity of laying the case of the Colony "before it." I have, fee, The Eight Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. G. E. BOWEN.

Enclosure 1 in No. 16. Memorandum by Mr. Eox. [This Memorandum has been mislaid and cannot be found. Application will be made to the Colonial Office for a copy.]

Enclosure 2 in No. 16. Memorandum by Mr. McLean. No military operations of any magnitude have been undertaken during the past month. Te Kooti has been wandering about the country at the head of a band of brigands, well armed and desperate, and accompanied by Rewi Maniapoto, with a few of his tribe. Occupying the centre of the Island, this band has had the power of fulling upon any of the Coast settlements, and has thus kept the Thames, Tauranga, Opotiki, Poverty Bay, Wairoa, Napier, and Taranaki, in a state of anxious watchfulness. Every effort has been made to reorganize and arm the Militia and Volunteer forces, so as to render them available for the defence of their respective districts. A body of loyal Natives at Rotoaira, near Taupo, having been threatened by Te Kooti, reinforcements were despatched from Napier, consisting of 190 of the Maori Militia of the Province, and about 20 mounted Armed Constabulary, under Lieut.-Colonel Herrick. A party of Natives, whose exact number is not yet known, simultaneously proceeded up the Wanganui River to the relief of the beleaguered party. Titokowaru has remained passive since his retreat to the Ngatimaru country about four months ago, and has given no further trouble as yet. The temporary detention of the last regiment of Imperial Troops, and the determination of the Colony to make every effort to induce the Government of Great Britain to make that detention \ more permanent, has had the effect of reassuring the minds of the friendly Natives, and of removing a feeling which was beginning to give rise to some uneasiness on the part of, those best acquainted with the temperament of the Maori race. This feeling arose, not unnaturally, from observing the gradual withdrawal of British Troops from New Zealand, and the consequent suspicion on the part of those tribes who had fought for the Government that they were being abandoned and betrayed. Overtures of peace had actually been made between the rebels and some of the most staunch of the loyal tribes ; but when it became known that the last emblem of British power was not yet to be withdrawn, and that efforts were being made to render its retention permanent, the confidence of those tribes was at once restored, and the inchoate negotiations were abruptly broken off. Donald McLean. Wellington, 2nd September, 18G9.

Enclosure 3 in No. 16. Tel/EGB'am from the Govehnou of New Zealand to the Secketaiiv of State for the Colonies, London. Wellington, 3rd September, 1869. Parliament prorogued to-day. Act passed appointing Commissioners to Imperial Government. Dr. Featherston and Dillon Bell are Commissioners, and will sail for England, if possible, by next mail. Act provides for payment of one British regiment, and for local defence force to be organized with advice of the Home authorities. Colonial Government hopes Imperial Government will not decide anything without hearing Commissioners. G. F. Bowen.

No. 17. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Eight Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. (No. 111.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord, — New Zealand, Ith September, 1869. I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the Speech with which, by the advice of my Ministers, I yesterday closed the Session for 1869 of the New Zealand Earliament. 2. As the English mail for September leaves Wellington this day, it will not be possible to send home by it copies of the Acts passed during the late Session,

See Journals of the House of Representatives, 1869, p. 257.