E.—No. 1.

Xo. 22. MEMOEAXDUM in reply to His Excellency's Memorandum of the 10th of May, respecting Passes to Native Prisoners. Ministers beg respectfully to acknowledge His Excellency's Memorandum of the 10th of May, declining to sign a Pass for certain Natives whom Ministers propose to allow to visit the Bebelss in \\ raikato. The principal object which Ministers have in allowing these Natives to go to Waikato, is to remove impressions which have been alleged by His Excellency to exist in the mind of the Eebel Natives as to the past treatment of the prisoners, and their ultimate disposal. Whether such impressions exist, Ministers very much doubt; but if there be any foundation for believing that they do exist, Ministers desire to prevent the possibility of their continuance ; and they do not see the same objection as His Excellency appears to do to the course proposed being carried out at this moment. What Ministers have requested His Excellency to do, is merely to sign such a Pass as may enable ihe two Natives to go through the Waikato, where, without such a document, it is very probable that they will be detained by the Military authorities. Ministers entirely accept the responsibility of their mission. His Excellency has put in writing both his acquiescence in Ministers carrying out their own proposal in this matter, and his own objections to it. Ministers hoped that His Excellency would not interpose the practical impediment which the want of such a Pass as they request amounts to. They can only regret that he considers it his duty to do so. Auckland, 11th May, 1864. AV'jr. Fox.

Xo. 23. MEMOEANDUM of His Excellency respecting Passes to Native Prisoners. The Governor, in reply to his Eesponsible Advisers' Memorandum regarding a Pass to certain Native Prisoners who they propose to send up the Waikato, has only to state that if they think proper to give such a Pass to the Natives, and wish him to enclose a copy of it to General Carey, for the General's information, he will do so ; and that he is quite satisfied the bearers of the Pass will not be interfered with. 11th May, 1864. G. Ghey.

Xo. 24. MEMOEAXDUM of Ministers respecting Passes to certain Native Prisoners to Waikato. The Colonial Secretary begs to enclose copies of Passes which he proposes to give to the two Native Prisoners, also one for Mr. Monro, who will accompany them as far as Head Quarters, and will be obliged if His Excellency will write to Brigadier General Carey, before he leaves for Tauranga. Auckland, 11th May, 1861. Wit Fox. P.S. It is proposed to send off the Natives to-morrow morning.

Enclosure 1 to Xo. 24. The bearers of this Pass, " Hapimana" and " Beihana," are authorised to travel through Waikato, and to communicate with the Natives now iv arms in that, or adjacent districts. They are authorised also to deliver certain letters of which they are the bearers. All Officers of Her Majesty's Forces are requested, and all Officers of the Colonial Government are instructed hereby, to give every facility to the bearers for passing and re-passing as above. Wh. Fox. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 11th May, 1864. A similar one for Mr. Monro of the Native Office.

Xo. 25. Despatch from the Governor to the Secretary of State, dated 3rd May, 1864. [Publication declined by His Excellency.]

Xo. 26. MEMORANDUM of Ministers as to alleged Statement of Bewi respecting Native Prisoners. Ministers have perused His Excellency's Despatch, Xo. 64, dated 3rd May, 1564, and addressed to His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, relative to an interview reported to have taken place between a friendly native and certain natives in arms, who acted as the medium of communication with Eewi. Ministers respectfully beg to submit that the statements said to have been made by Eewi may, if unexplained, tend to create an erroneous impression on points which have elsewhere formed the subject of discussion between His Excellency and Ministers, and of communication with Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies. They are desirous, therefore, of making the following remarks on two important points. 1. Eewi is reported to have said that the prisoners taken at Bangiriri " were dealt with treacherously, they having been led to believe that in giving up their arms they would have been permitted to go free, and to live without the linen of the soldiers." This allegation of Eewi, if true, would establish a most dishonorable breach of faith on the part of the Military Authorities, to whom the prisoners surrendered, or on the part of the Colonial Government, or of both, and Ministers respectfully expree*

19

RELATIVE TO MAORI PRISONERS.