A.—No. 1

been fully established, will probably support a flourishing settlement. I also held a korero with the small neighbouring tribes of the Ngaitai and Ngatiwhakatohea. G. On my voyage from Opotiki round the East Cape I landed on the curious volcanic cone, which rises in the centre of the Bay of Plenty. In the middle of the huge crater there is a lake of hot sulphureous water, and clouds of steam (whence the name of White Island) are constantly sent up from a number of boiling springs. There is no animal life whatsoever, and scarcely any vegetable life, on this lone and gloomy islet. 7. I visited next Turanganui, named Poverty Bay by Captain Cook, apparently because the hostility of the Natives prevented him from procuring supplies there. But a fertile plain extends behind the township, situated near the mouth of the river which here falls into the sea, and several enterprising settlers occupy farms upon it. The local volunteer troop of Cavalry quickly assembled, and escorted me ten miles inland to the ruins of the Mission Station, so long presided over by the Bishop of Waiapu (Dr. William Williams), but from which that prelate and his family were driven by the Hauhaus during the recent war. These fanatics were afterwards defeated and dispersed by a party of the Colonial Forces, but they succeeded in destroying the mission buildings, and in laying waste the once flourishing gardens and orchards. The Bishop of Waiapu now resides at Napier. The few Maoris living near Turanganui assembled to welcome me. They belong chiefly to a hecpu or section of the Ngatiporu tribe. 8. My next stage was Napier, the capital of the Province of llawke's Bay, where I received a hearty welcome from all classes of the community. I enclose ] copies of the address of the Provincial Council and of my reply, which will serve' as specimens of the numerous addresses recently presented to me and of my acknowledgments of them. During my residence at Napier I was the guest of the Superintendent, Mr. Donald McLean, and was entertained by the settlers at a public dinner. I annex reports of my speeches at the koreros held with the ] Ngatikahungunu tribe, the owners of a large territory in the south-eastern part of the North Island. As was mentioned in a former Despatch, a sum of £26,000 is ] annually paid as rent by the pastoral settlers to about 200 families of this tribe. * Tareha, Karaitiana, and the other principal chiefs are thus enabled to live in comfortable houses built in the English fashion, and to drive in English carriages about their well-cultivated farms. They have erected a Maori Club at Napier as their place of meeting when they visit that town. Instead of the national dances with which I was greeted elsewhere, I was received by the Ngatikahungunus with guards of honor, comprised of the Native militia, all well armed and well drilled in the English fashion, and commanded by chiefs wearing the uniform of English staff officers. It will be remembered that when the Hauhaus advanced in 1860 to the attack and plunder of Napier, they were routed in a sharp and decisive action by the Colonial forces combined with these loyal Native allies. 9. It had been my intention to ride overland from Napier to Wellington, a journey of five or six days, with the object of visiting several of the principal pastoral stations in the intervening country; but the flooded state of the rivers rendered it impossible to cany out this intention at present, and I was obliged to proceed by sea. 10. It will be seen that during the first five months of my administration I have visited all the principal European settlements and Native tribes in the North Island, with the exception of those at Taranaki and Wanganui, both of which places I hope to visit in the early part of next year. I shall of course remain at the Seat of the General Government at Wellington during the annual session, which I shall open on the 9th instant. At the close of the session I intend to proceed on an official tour to Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury, Westland, Otago, and Southland, the principal districts of the South or Middle Island of New Zealand. I thus expect to make myself personally acquainted during the first twelve months of my administration with all the chief centres of population in this Colony. I have, &c, His Grace the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos. G. F. BOWEN. 21

Enclosures Nos. 2 and 3.

Enclosure No. 4,

No. 49 of 30th June, 1868.

81

ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.