E.—No. __.

instance as yet brought under his notice he has found that the statements made by the natives opposed to the sale of the land were correct, although they had been previously contradicted by the Government. Lastly, the Governor would state that the purchase never has been completed, and if the Government admit that there are such difficulties in the way as ought from the first to have prevented the completion of the purchase, he thinks that the intention to do so should be at once abandoned, especially as it is admitted that the attempt to complete it would probably result in a general rising of the natives, and in an attack upon the European settlements of the northern island; several of which the Governor is satisfied are quite unable at present to resist, without terrible loss, an event for which no adequate preparation has been made in them by the Government. In abandoning the intention of purchasing the land for the Crown, no necessity would be involved of immediately withdrawing the troops quartered there, or of ceasing to give protection to Teira and his people, or of in any way relinquishing such sovereign rights as the Queen has over other lands belonging to her subjects. G. Grey. Taranaki, 4th May, 1863.

Enclosure 3 in Despatch (42) No. 2. MINUTE BY HIS EXCELLENCY. The Governor begs to remind Mr. Domett, that about a fortnight since he requested the advice of Ministers regarding the course they would advise him to pursue, in reference to the Natives inhabiting the country to the south of Taranaki—especially in regard to the plunder they took during the late war; and that he then read to Mr. Domett the annexed draft Proclamation, as containing the outline of the course which he thought should be followed. The Governor still thinks the course he then recommended was the most judicious one to adopt; but he begs that Ministers will favour him with their advice on this subject as soon as they conveniently can, for it is a matter which should be dealt with without delay. G. Grey. Taranaki, April 29th, 18G3. DRAFT OF PROPOSED PROCLAMATION. " Her Majesty's Government having now taken peaceable possession of all lands claimed by " Europeans in this Province, and compensation having been provided for the losses sustained by the " Taranaki settlers in the late war, I hereby, in her Majesty's name and on Her Majesty's behalf, " proclaim a general amnesty and pardon for all persons who bore arms against Her Majesty in the " said war, with the exception of the undermentioned persons, who being accused of the crime of " murder, or of treacherously killing unarmed men and children, will be brought to trial before the " Supreme Court whenever they may be apprehended. " The names of the persons excepted for the above-mentioned reason from this general amnesty " and pardon are, &c, &c."

Enclosure 4 in Despatch (42) No. 2. MEMORANDUM addressed to his excellency by ministers as to a general amnesty. Referring to the Governor's Minute of the 29th April (and the preceding one on the same subject), asking the advice of Ministers upon His Excellency's proposal to issue a proclamation of general amnesty, especially with respect to the plunder taken by the Southern natives, the Colonial Secretary forwards a Minute by the Native Minister, embodying his views on this point. The Colonial Secretary concurs in these views. The state of the case appears to be as follows : — Governor Browne on the 21st May, 1861, offered a general pardon to the Waikato Natives on their compliance with certain tei'ms and conditions. On the 30th November, 18C1, the present Governor declared his intention not to carry out at that time the publicly recorded determination of his predecessor, to compel the "Waikato tribes to submit to these terms. The conditions made by Governor Browne were :—Submission to the Queen's authority, restoration of plunder, and compensation for the property of Europeans destroyed. The offences to be condoned were, therefore, resistance to the Queen's authority, the holding of plunder, and the destruction of property. The withdrawal from Governor Browne's determination having been followed by announcements to the natives that they would not be attacked on account of the King movement, the conciliatory tone adopted by the Government on all occasions with respect to it, and the determination to leave it to be undermined by argument with the Natives, and by their experience of the difficulties attending its being carried out, seem to imply at the least a condonation of the past offence of resistance to the Queen's authority on that account. Everything during the last eighteen months

Vide Sub-Enclosure following.

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