E.—No. 1.

No. 66. MEMORANDUM of Colostal Secretary requesting copies of any Letters His Excellekci may have sent to Maori Prisoners through ('apt. COOPER. The Colonial Secretary a short time ago asked His Excellency for a copy of any letter he might Lave addressed to the escaped prisoners through Captain Cooper. His Excellency replied that be did not think he had written any such letter, but that if such had been written he would procure a copy. The Colonial Secretary has since been informed that Captain Cooper had a letter of some sort in Maori and in English, which, if not addressed to the escaped prisoners, instructed him to offer certain terms to them, and which letter was understood to be from His Excellency. If His Excellence did give any instructions to Captain Cooper, the Colonial Secretary will be very much obliged if Ili^ Excellency would supply them with a copy. Auckland, sth November, 1864. W. Fox.

No. 67. MEMORANDUM of His Excellency, transmitting Copies of Instructions to ('apt. Coopeb. In conformity with the wishes expressed by the Colonial Secretary upon the sth instant, the Governor transmits to him a copy of the Memorandum of instructions which he gave to Captain < looper upon the Oth ult. The Colonial Secretary, upon the 22nd ult., stated thai he had been informed that Captain Cooper handed to the escaped prisoners a letter or letters from the < l-overnor. The Governor neither addressed or forwarded any letter or letten to the escaped prisoners, or to an} person with them. November 6th, 1864. G. Ghey. Enclosure to ]N*o. 67. DESTRUCTIONS issued to Major Cooper. Major Cooper is requested to communicate, to the native prisoners who have lefl Kuwait, that it' they will return to that Island they shall be treated in all respects as they were before they left it, and that after the war they can go where they like ; in the meantime they must give their word not again to leave Kawau until peace is made. This is all that is required from them. Government House, October (Hh, 18G4. G. Grey.

No. GB. 31 BMORA XI) l T M respecting mode of procedure with respect to the Escaped Prisoners. On the 18th instant Ministers proposed fo offer the escaped prisoners at Mount Hamilton certain terms, in the first instance, and if these were not accepted, that force should be used to dislodge them. His Excellency has not replied to that proposal, and Ministers venture to suggest that, if any steps are to be taken, i: is desirable that no time should be lost. Ministers therefore respectfully requesi his Excellency to answer their memorandum of the 18th. :27th October, isiu. Frederick Whitakkh.

Xo. (59. MEMORANDUM respecting mode of procedure with regard to the Native Prisoners. The Governor begs to acknowledge the receipt of the Ministerial memorandum of yesterday's date, on the subject of the terms they proposed to offer to the escaped native prisoners, us given in their memorandum of the 18th, instant. The Governor believed that, in point of fact, he had answered the question raised by Ministers regarding the terms to be offered to these natives in his memorandum of the 17th ultimo, in which he stated " That he thinks that if Ministers intend to offer to allow the prisoners to return to Waikato, they should do so at once." He gave that opinion before he was aware that no enquiry had been made as to whether or not it vas probable Thai there were amongsi these prisoners some who had been implicated in the murder of Europeans. What the Governor lias heard within the last few days on this subject has rather unsettled the opinions he had previously formed, and he would like to take two or three days to deliberate and to see if any new facts come to light, before now expressing an opinion upon what is jilready a matter of the very greatest importance. Government House, Auckland, October 28th, 1864. G. Grey.

No. 70. MEMORANDUM of Hib Excellency requesting to be informed if Tk Hemaea had been sent to escaped Prisoners. The Governor has just been informed by Walter Kukutai th;it Te Hemara has been sent up to the escaped prisoners with a message from the Government. The Governor would feel much obliged to Ministers if they would tell him if such is the case: and, if so, what was the nature of the message. November 19th, 1864. G. Gkkt.

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