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ease. . . Eangihiwenui declared that he would not have joined the local forces if he had thought them capable of such acts. He earned thereby the hatred of Bryce, who long afterwards, when Native Minister, dismissed him from office. . . . Bryce earned among the Maoris a title which clung to him. They called him ' Kohuru ' (the Murderer)." It will be observed that Sir Arthur Gordon in his letters gives Bishop Hadfield as his informant. Now, that prelate was perfectly well known to Mr. Eusden, who was as well able to form an opinion as to his reliability as the Governor himself was. Yet Sir Arthur Gordon, on his own account, gives the emphatic assurance that the statements made against me might be relied on by Mr. Eusden, and it was doubtless this assurance which encouraged Mr. Eusden to publish them. These statements were absolutely concealed from me at the time : indeed, until the appearance of Mr. Eusden's book, I had no idea that such imputations had been made against me at any time or by any person. In the present communication I give the bare uncoloured facts of the case, and I purposely refrain, in this letter at all events, from offering any comment on them. I will only further remark that Sir Arthur Gordon knew that the Government of which I was a member had an unsparing Opposition Press against us in the colony, and bitter political opponents in Parliament and elsewhere. He knew also that I had gone through many contested elections without a whisper of such imputations on my character being made. In these circumstances it is. difficult to conceive that he could have believed the atrocious charges to be true; but, even if he had believed them true, the method he adopted for my punishment admits of no defence. I appeal to you to consider what your servant Sir Arthur Gordon has done, and to judge between us. I know that he is a great man belonging to one of Britain's ruling families, and I know also that lam but a humble colonist; but, great as he is, and humble as I am, I appeal to you in the fullest confidence that in your high office you will do justice, because you are the Minister of a great and just Sovereign. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Edward Stanhope, Secretary of State for John Bbyce. the Colonies, London.

Sub -Enclosures. Sir Aethub Gobdon to Mr. Eusden. (Private.) My deab Me. Eusden, — Wellington, 23rd January, 1882. By next week's steamer I shall, I hope, be able to send you copies of the papers I promised you. Meanwhile I enclose a note with respect to Bryce's antecedents which will I hope interest you, and on which you can rely. My informant was Bishop Hadfield. Have you noticed how completely the telegraphic agencies have been got hold of, and how completely the English Press has been humbugged in all that relates to West Coast matters ? One would suppose from the paragraphs in the Times, Daily News, &c, that there was every symptom of a formidable armed insurrection, and that the utmost alarm prevailed in the colony. Yours ever sincerely, ■ A. il. Gobdon.

Enclosure in above Letter. On the Ist December, 1868, the -Pa of Taurangaika, four miles north of Waitotara, was being besieged. A number of women and children and young children came out of the pa and began to gather food. No men at all were with them. A party of mounted men from among the b.esiegers, headed by Mr. Bryce and Sergeant Maxwell, rode among them, and, on their flying, pursued them and cut them down. Dr. Featherston, then Superintendent of Wellington, expressed his horror to the Bishop in the strongest terms. Major Kemp, who was fighting on our side, was greatly disgusted, and said he would not have joined us had he supposed we were capable of doing such things. Hence the strong antipathy between Bryce and Kemp. The pa was taken the following day, and Maxwell was killed in the attack, which the Bishop supposes was the cause why the matter was never gone into. Bryce's name amongst the Maoris is " Bryce the Murderer."

Enclosube iii a Letter (not produced) from Sir Abthuk Goedon to Mr. Eusden. My deab Sib Aethub, — Eangitikei, 27th February, 1882. Your note did not reach me until the 25th. I accidentally this morning met a person who belonged to the Wanganui Cavalry in 1869. I ascertained from him without difficulty that the killing of the children (he 'would not admit that there were women among them, but did not positively deny it) took place (to use his own worui) three or four weeks before Maxwell's death. This would agree with my information as to the'first event, and with what you learnt as to the date of the last. He said Taurangaika was taken some weeks afterwards. I mentioned no name but Maxwell's. He said the Hon. J. B. (!) commanded the party who killed the children hunting pigs outside the pa. All I professed to know was what Dr. Featherston told me. I certainly confused the dates if ever I heard them correctly, but, as to the main fact, I am clear, as I have a distinct recollection of Dr. Featherstou's indignation, which he made no effort to conceal, when relating his facts to me. I wrote on Saturday to a friend who ought to know the dates, but, as he is a Government officer, he may perhaps be reticent. I ought to have said that Major Kemp, a Maori, was reported two years ago to have spoken freely on the subject. I am returning to Wellington in a day or two. Yours very truly, O. Wellington.