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that my last public act here should be a mark of respect to the memory of the Maori chief who was mainly instrumental in procuring the cession of the sovereignty of these Islands to the British Crowm. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. G. E. BOWEN.

No. 9. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand to the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. (No. 31.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord,— New Zealand, 10th April, 1873. I have the honor to inform your Lordship that I left Auckland, via the the port of Onehunga, for this, the Seat of Government, on Monday morning, the 31st ultimo, per p.s. "Luna," accompanied by the Hon. Mr. Vogel (Colonial Treasurer), and the Hon. Mr. McLean (Native Minister). On the evening of that day we were driven by stress of weather to take shelter under a projecting headland called Albatross Point. On the following morning, it being evident that a heavy and confused sea was still running outside, it was not deemed prudent to put the " Luna" to sea ; and as our anchorage lay near to the harbour of Kawhia, we weighed anchor, crossed the bar, and entered that port. This unexpected visit led to interviews with the Natives who inhabit the shores of the harbour, including several influential chiefs—among them the chief Tapihana and Tv Tawhiao, the eldest son of Tawhiao, known as the Maori King. 2. The Hon. the Native Minister has sent to me a Memorandum narrating the leading incidents which occurred at those interviews, which Memorandum I beg to enclose for your Lordship's information. 3. In so doing, I desire to convey to your Lordship my appreciation of the tact and discretion evinced by Mr. McLean on that occasion. While a proper firmness was shown in discouraging all unreasonable expectations in the Natives, the utmost care was taken that no act should be done or expression uttered which could awaken suspicion or wound their smallest susceptibility. And if beneficial results should arise out of our visit to Kawhia, and our interesting interview with the young chief Tv Tawhiao, I shall attribute those results in no small degree to the personal influence of the Native Minister, and to the judicious manner in which that influence was applied. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. G. A. AENEY.

Enclosure in No. 9. Memorandum by the Hon. Donald McLean, C.M.G., Native Minister. The Native Minister begs to submit, for His Excellency's information, a Memorandum respecting the late visit to Kawhia and interviews with the Natives of that place, including Tv Tawhiao, the eldest of the King's sons. The chief interest connected with this event arises from the fact that the port of Kawhia had been closed to shipping for the last twelve or thirteen years ; Europeans had been strictly prohibited from visiting the place by land ; and the Natives, all of whom were of tho Hauhau faith, were particularly sensitive of any infringement of the laws of isolation which they had for many years so rigorously maintained. On the morning of the 31st ultimo, His Excellency, accompanied by the Hon. Mr. Vogel, Colonial Treasurer, and by the Native Minister, leit Manukau Harbour for Wellington, encountering a heavy gale, which rendered it necessary to seek shelter at Albatross Point. The following morning, as the gale continued, the harbour of Kawhia was entered, and notice sent to the chiefs that His Excellency had been compelled by stress of weather to run into their port. The Natives readily accepted this explanation, and the deck of the " Luna" was soon crowded with visitors from different parts of the harbour. Several of the Natives who came on board were personally acquainted with the Native Minister, and expressed much satisfaction at seeing him after a lapse of so many years. Past incidents and events were freely discussed ; but most of the speakers frankly intimated that no other vessel but the " Luna" would be permitted to anchor in Kawhia, the only harbour in the North Island not open to shipping, and where no vessel had been seen since the visit of Sir George Grey in Her Majesty's ship " Eclipse," in the year 18C5,