E—-No. 3f (Appendix.)

Auckland, July 4th, 1861. The Bishop of New Zealand and other Clergymen to Governor Gore Browne, C. B. Sir, — W T e, the Undersigned, desire to draw Tour Excellency's attention to the following statements: — 1. That at the time of the breaking out of the war at Taranaki, there was no part of Her Majesty's dominions in which life or property was more secure than in the districts bordering on the Waikato river : 2. That the native inhabitants of those districts, and especially those on the Lower Waikato have always maintained friendly relations with the Colonists : 3. That the native inhabitants of those districts have shewn a remarkable aptitude and willingness to receive Er.glish Institutions, under the guidance of Officers appointed by the Government : 4. That Potatou, the so-called native King, was the firm friend of the English Government from the time of Governor Hobson to the day of his death : 5. That neither he nor his son ever encouraged their people to take any part in the war at Taranaki; nor have participated in any plunder from English settlers : C. That the same statement applies to William Thompson Tarapipipi, who is commonly reputed to be the chief supporter of the native King. It will be found on enquiry :— That he has always been a friend to the English people : That he used his best endeavouis to prevent any members of his tribe from going to Taranaki : That he controlled and led back quietly to their own places a party who came to enquire into the death of Erietera at Patumahoe : That he has not participated in the plunder of any English settlers : That by his influence in sending back the fighting parties to their own homes, the Government has been enabled to withdraw its forces from Taranaki : 7. That a Committee of the House of Representatives has investigated with the greatest care and patience the causes and history of the King movement, and recognized its true character " as an effort to obtain Law and Order." (Report of Waikato Committee, F., No. 3.) 8. That the main causes of distrust and irritation are believed to be these :— 1. The uncertainty of the Relations between the two Races, and 2. The System of Land Purchase. 9. On the first point, Mr. Eortescue has admitted in his speech in the House of Commons on the 11th of April, as reported in the Times, that The Governor of New Zealand is " obliged to act under a Constitution which appears to have been framed in forgetfulness of the large native tribes within the dominions to which it was intended to apply." 10. And we observe that Your Excellency has stated in your Memorandum of the 25th May, 1861, § XI, that '' Some of the most populous districts—such as Hokianga and Kaipara—have no Magistrate's resident among them ; and many —such as Taupo, the Ngatiruanui, Taranaki, and the country about the East Cape—have never been visited by an Officer of the Government. The residents in these districts have never felt that they are the subjects of the Queen of England, and have little reason to think that the Government of the Colony cares at all about their welfare." And further, in § XII of the same Memorandum ; — "In New Zealand the Government is, and always has been, unable to perform its duty for want of a sufficient number of agents trained and qualified for the service required of them." And further, that unless the Native Department be " entirely remodelled," " The Government will never be able to take its proper part in establishing institutions for the native race, or obtain any real hold upon their confidence." 11. On the second point, namely, the system of Land Purchase, we observe with satisfaction that Your Excellency, in your Memorandum of the 15th May, 1861, § XVI, has given your opinion that " The system of purchasing land requires alteration." And again, § XVII, No. 13 :— " Alter the system of purchasing land—and for the present, purchase only in districts which remain undisturbed." 12. We have no wish to say more on this subject than to express our opinion that the existing system of land purchasing has been one main cause of suspicion and dissatisfaction in the minds of the natives. 13. We are glad to find also from a letter to your Excellency, of the 9th of May, 1861, that the Judges of the Supreme Court are of opinion " That a competent Tribunal might probably be established by the formation of a Land Jury selected by lot or otherwise from members of the various tribes in previously defined districts, ncminated by such tribes as competent to act in that capacity, to be presided over by a European Officer or Commissioner (not being an agent of the Crown for the purchase of laud) conversant with

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