7

H.—29a,

remarking to Major Edwards, when telling him, "This is dangerous, and the Government ought to know it." Major Edwards had seen the draft power of attorney, and did, about the Bth or 9th instant, hear Mr. Worgan make a statement to the effect that he should act as agent of the Ngaruahine, and carry them through. Mr. Booth and Major Edwards on this consulted, conceiving it to be their duty to send to the Government their joint telegram of the 10th instant, after Mr. McDonnell had, at our request, repeated his statement as reported in the presence of both of us. We have, &c, J. T. Edwards, E.M. The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. James Booth, E.M.

No. 13. Interpreter's Certificate Suspended. Native Office, Wellington, 26th July, 1873. His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to order that the certificate held by George Buckland Worgan as interpreter under the Native Lands Acts shall bo suspended; and the same is hereby suspended until further notice. Donald McLean.

No. 14. Mr. 11. T. Clarke to Mr. G. B. Worgan. Sin,— Native Office, Wellington, 31st July, 1873. I am directed by the Hon. Native Minister to inform you that, owing to certain information received by him respecting remarks made by you in Wanganui, Mr. McLean has been compelled to advise His Excellency to suspend your license as interpreter under the Native Lands Act; and it has been suspended accordingly, pending further inquiry. I have, &c, H. T. Clarke, G. B. Worgan, Esq., Wanganui. (for Under Secretary).

No. 15. Mr. G. B. Woegan to the Hon. D. McLean. Sib,— Wellington, Bth August, 1873. Having been furnished with copy of letter dated Wanganui, 19th July, 1873, from Messrs. Edwards and Booth to the Hon. the Native Minister, containing certain statements affecting myself, I have the honor to state, firstly, that in reference to reported private conversation between Mr. Ballance, Mr. Duthie, and myself, that my remarks neither in substance were such as reported, nor could they be twisted by implication to bear any such construction. I have never advocated restoration of confiscated lands, although I have urged their settlement, and I did say " that the condition of the tribes claiming these lands is so unsatisfactory that any disaffected man could bring about a war ;" adding the opinion, that "if we did unfortunately get again involved, that it would bo the bloodiest the Colony had yet seen." My remarks were general, and applied to Waikato as much as the West Coast. I have repeatedly held conversations with Major Edwards on these matters, not in his capacity of Eesident Magistrate but " private gentleman," and could not anticipate that merely private converse would form subject for official report. TnE Powee of Attorney. Having discussed with Major Edwards the propriety of acceding to the much urged request of certain members of the Ngatiruanui Tribe that I would act as their agent, and stated to him, as also to others, that perhaps my doing so would facilitate settlement of difficulties, I submitted a draft of such a document as appeared likely to meet the case to him, who agreed with me, apparently, in opinion. Should I carry into effect the adoption of proposed agency, I should ccrtaiuly feel it my duty to furnish copy of any authority I might receive from Natives at once to Government. I have come to Wellington expressly to ascertain how far any action I might take would bo consonant with the views of the Government; and propose being guided almost entirely by their opinion. Re Mr. McDonnell's statement: Not knowing what it may have been, I can make no reply to it. If, however, the account he furnished mo of his interview with Messrs. Edwards and Booth be correct, I have nothing to reply to. The motives influencing me to make myself master of this question will be at once apparent, and my hope has been throughout to render good service. As a married man with large family I am scarcely one to desire war, and I did think that man)' years' faithful service oil the East Coast in the cause of peace and progress would have protected mo from credence being given to so wholly improbable a charge as " desiring to raise a war," thau which no greater calamity could possibly happen. I have no wish to thrust my services on the Government, or to ask .the Government to attachmore value to my opinions than they deserve; neither do I seek in any way to interfere with whatever