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No. 63. (New Zealand, No. 39.) Sir, — Downing Street, 23rd June, 1885. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 39, of the 28th of March, transmitting a memorandum from your Ministers in reference to the memorial of the Maori chiefs which was presented on the occasion of the interview which took place at this office on the 23rd of July, 1884. 2. I request that you will inform Tawhiao and the other chiefs who signed the memorial that, as stated in the letter to them of the 13th of August last, the attention of the Government of New Zealand was called to the representations which it contains, and that the reply of your Advisers —a copy of which I request you to transmit to them at the same time—has been received and considered by Her Majesty's Government. 3. The questions to which the memorial relates have also been discussed in tho House of Commons with many expressions of sympathy for the Maori race, and of belief that their interests and their customs would be guarded and respected by the Government of New Zealand. The feeling, at the same time, appeared to be general that, Avhile the Government of the Queen in this country has no longer its former power and responsibility in regard to the internal affairs of New Zealand, it should use its good offices with the Colonial Government with the view of obtaining for the Natives all the consideration which can be given to them. 4. I trust that all who sympathize with and wish well to the Maoris will agree that it is most important for them to understand clearly that under the present constitution of New Zealand the government of all Her Majesty's subjects in the Islands is controlled by Ministers responsible to the General Assembly, in which the Natives are efficiently represented by persons of their own race, and that it is no longer possible to advise the Queen to interfere actively in the administration of Native affairs any more than in connection with other questions of internal Government. I observe, however, with satisfaction that it is in contemplation to increase the number of the Native representatives. 5. Although, therefore, Her Majesty's Government cannot undertake to give you specific instructions as to the applicability at the present time of any particular stipulations of a treaty which it no longer rests with them to carry into effect, they are confident —as I request that you will intimate to your Ministers—■ that the Government of New Zealand will not: fail to protect and to promote the welfare of the Natives by a just administration of the law, and by a generous consideration of all their reasonable representations. I cannot doubt that means will be found of maintaining to a sufficient extent the rights and institutions of the Maoris without injury to those other great interests which have grown up in the land, and of securing to them a fair share of that prosperity which has of necessity affected in many ways the conditions of their existence. I have, &c., Governor Sir W. E. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G, C.8., &c. DERBY.

1&..-1, No. 33

No. 64. (New Zealand, No. 42.) Sir, — Downing Street, 29th June, 1885. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 68, of the 12th of May, reporting the commutation of the sentence of death passed on one Robert Prendergast for the murder of his wife. I have, &c, ERED. STANLEY. Governor Sir W. E. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G,, C.8., &o.

A.-l, No, 47.