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DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR OF

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even pretended to have received at the hands of the British Government. No suggestion can be made that the insurrection in this part of the Colony was the result of misconduct, ill-feeling, or mismanagement on the part of the European settlers or of the Government. With matters which are called political, we have nothing to do here. It may be that some persons may think that if these prisoners had been better guarded these events would not have occurred ; but what justification can that be to them for anything further than their escape, which undoubtedly the law of nature suggested to them ? If it were necessary to show this distinctive motive more clearly, does it not appear that tho mode by which they sought to shake off the yoke of British rule was by annihilating the British people ? Aye, and that so little was there of anything like a national spirit in it, that they were ready to sacrifice persons of their own race, and not only those who, in assisting the Government, might be said in some kind of sense to be traitors to the Native cause, but harmless women and children of their own blood, merely because they w rere under the protection of the Government. If, gentlemen, these things or any of them are made out to your satisfaction, you cannot have any reasonable doubt, after the definition I have given you, that there has been levying war under the Statute. But, gentlemen, before I conclude, I must caution you not to allow any feelings which may have arisen at the recital of the various events of the sad tale to blind your judgment. The question for you to decide is, did the prisoners assist willingly or by force to put down the Government of the country, or throw off subjection to it, not with the idea of getting another political constitution, but simply for the purpose of overthrowing the Government ? I wish you to understand that the incidental barbarities introduced into the case are admissible as evidence, because they were committed upon persons who were, or who were supposed to be, friendly to the Government. And now, gentlemen, the whole case is before you. Its importance cannot be overrated, and 1 feel very confident that no prejudice will have any effect upon your minds. You will feel you are now going to perform a duty, perhaps one of the most sacred, the most important, the most responsible, that you can have to answer for from your cradle to your grave.

No. 29. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Eight Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. (No. 115.) Government House, Auckland, My Lord, — New Zealand, 11th November, 1869. With reference to my Despatch No. 116, of the 11th September ultimo, I have now the honor to transmit six (6) copies of the annual Blue Book of New Zealand, containing the Statistics for 1868. 2. Prefixed is the Eeport of the Eegistrar-General, which is recommended for publication in the Colonial Blue Book annually presented to the Imperial Parliament, in preference to the less complete Eeport transmitted with my abovementioned Despatch No. 116. It is so full and yet so concise, that it seems superfluous to add any remarks to it. 3. The condition of New Zealand cannot be regarded as, on the whole, otherwise than very satisfactory and promising, if the general commercial depression which has prevailed throughout most parts of the world during the last three years, and the effects of the long-continued Native disturbances in the North Island, are taken into account. The Returns forwarded herewith abundantly prove the great value of this Colony to the British Empire. 1. The reasons which have hitherto caused delay in the publication of the annual Statistical Volume, were explained in the Eegistrar-General's Eeport prefixed to the Statistics for 1867, and forwarded with my Despatch No. 39, of 25th March ultimo. It will be seen that the volume has been published on this occasion at a much earlier period than for some years past. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. G. E. BOWEN.

No. 30. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Eight Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. (No. 153.) Government House, Auckland, My Lord,— ' New Zealand, 21th November, 1869. In continuation of my Despatch No. 111, of the 28th ultimo, respecting the trials of the Hauhau prisoners, I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of the Minute of the Executive Council, showing the final decision arrived at on the cases of the principal criminals. 2. It will be seen that, for the reasons stated at length in the enclosure, it