E.—No. 1.

No. 34. MEMORANDUM of His Excellency, intimating his willingness to receive the Mahurangi Deputation. If Ministers think it advisable, the Governor will very gladly receive the Mahurangi deputation to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock. But in that case, he ought to be informed if Ministers will give escaped prisoners a safe conduct to the AVaikato district or elsewhere, and assist in their removal. October 11th, 1864. G. Gkey.

No. 35. MEMORANDUM acquiescing in His Excellency's proposal to Remove the Escaped Prisoners to Waikato. Ministers feel so strongly the extreme importance of removing the escaped prisoners from their present position, that they do not feel justified in opposing any feasible plan which will secure that object. Ministers therefore concur in His Excellency's proposal to give them a safe conduct to Waikato or elsewhere, and will assist in their removal. 11th October, 1864. Feed. Whitakee.

No. 36. MEMORANDUM of His Excellency respecting a proposal to send the escaped prisoners to Waikato. The Governor begs it may be understood by Ministers that it is not his proposal that they should give the native prisoners safe conduct to Waikato or elsewhere, and to assist them in their removal. It was a proposal made to the Governor, which he recommended should in the usual way be submitted to Ministers, in order that he might receive their advice upon it. There are several ways in which such an arrangement might be carried out. A pardon might be given to them, and a promise of such portions of land in their own country as Mi tsters may intend to assign to them. The Governor feels very doubtful if they will accept any terms, if they find they can gain assistance in the north, or see a chance of escaping to Waikato, but he thinks that the more thoroughly just the offers to them are, the better position the Government will occupy in these matters, but these are all points on which he wishes for the advice of Ministers. October 12th, 1864. G. Geey.

No. 37. MEMORANDUM of Ministers on the subject of the Escaped Prisoners. Ministers beg to acknowledge the receipt of His Excellency's memorandum of this day's date on the subject of the escaped prisoners. While Ministers are very desirous of contributing any aid they can towards* the solution of the very serious difficulty arising from the escape of the prisoners from Kawau, they feel that the course pursued by His Excellency after their escape has very greatly complicated the matter, and looking at it from that point of view, and especially with reference to Mr. Cardwell's late despatches, they can neither relieve His Excellency from the rcsponsibilily which rests upon him, nor consent to share it with him ; more particularly at this moment, when their resignations have been nearly a fortnight in His Excellency's hands. While therefore their duty to the colony prevents them declining any action which might hold out a prospect of relief for the great peril which overhangs a portion of it, they only consent to do so on the above understanding. Ministers are ready to consider any proposal that His Excellency desires, and to give their advice, and if possible, express their concurrence. His Excellency's statement that the more thoroughly just the offers made to the escaped prisoners are, the better position the Government will stand in the matter, Ministers are wholly at a loss to understand. But if His Excellency wishes that land should be given to them in Waikato, Ministers have only to observe that the Government does not possess any fand in Waikato, nor even if they did would they consider it just to use part of it for this purpose while their pledges to military and other settlers remain unredeemed. . 12th October, ISG4. William Fox.

No. 38. MEMORANDUM of His Excellency on the subject of the Escaped Prisoners. The Governor thanks Ministers for their Memorandum of this day's date, upon the subject of the natives who quitted the Island of Kawau. It will be a cause of great regret to him if 'he has pursued a course which will very greatly complicate this matter. He thinks he has not done anything which will produce this effect, but he will carefully abstain from all action in the matter for the future. He has no power of taking any responsibilities upon himself, but such as the law imposes on him ; and he cannot enter into any arrangement upon the subject. From his own responsibilities he will neither shrink or ask any one to share them; but his Ministers must bear theirs until they are in due course relieved from office. The Governor will afford them every aid in his power in meeting the present difficulties. It is a time when all energies should be united in meeting a. common peril, and the moment Ministers decide on the course they think should be adopted, the Governor will consider it with them, and when it is finally decided on, himself and the military, and home authorities, will co-operate in as far as necessary. October 12th, 1864. ■ G. Geey.

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MEMORANDA AND REPORTS