A.—No. 1.

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DESPATCHES EROM THE GOVERNOR OE

considered presumptuous in Colonial Ministries generally to criticise Imperial Policy ; so, in conclusion, they confine themselves to stating their conviction that the removal of the troops, in the face of the offer of the Colony to pay for a regiment, and all the surrounding circumstances which have been referred to, must leave in the minds of the Colonists, and by them, if this new policy be persisted in, be handed down to the future inhabitants of New Zealand, a rankling feeling of alienation from the Mother Country, which, in the plenitude of power, has shown so little care for their feelings or their just claims. Wellington, 28th March, 1870. "W. Eox.

Enclosure 2 in No. 51. Memoeandum by Mr. McLean. Ministees attach a letter received from a settler at Eaglan, in which he informs the Government that a meeting of Natives is to be held to consider Lord Granville's Despatch. The writer of the letter, evidently not acquainted with the Despatch, has obtained his information concerning it from Native sources ; and it would be well that Lord Granville's attention should be called to the fact, and that he should be informed that tho Despatch, which was supposed to convoy his ultimatum, is understood by the Natives to mean encouragement to them to make extravagant demands on the Colony. Donald McLean. Auckland,

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 2 in No. 51. Letter from Mr. D. McDonald to the Native Ministee. Sic,— Eaglan, 22nd March, 1870. In accordance with your request, I have the honor to inform you that there is to be another meeting of tho Hauhau Natives at Aotea, when Tawhiao is expected to bo present, Tho ostensible object is a tangi, but one of the Ngatimaru people told me that it was to discuss a Despatch that had been received from England some short time since, of which the following is the gist; — Ist. That under no circumstances whatever are any more British soldiers to be sent to this " Colony. 2nd. That the New Zealand Government have done wrong in confiscating Maori lands. 3rd. That the Waikato ought to be returned to the Natives ; and, 4th. That Tawhiao's Government ought to be acknowledged. Ido not know whether this is a fabrication of the Native's own. I merely tell the story as it was told to me. Hemi Matine told me yesterday, when speaking on the same subject, that the Hauhaus had decided on Maungatawhiri Creek as the European boundary. Should anything of importance happen at the Hui on Eriday, I will endeavour to send you an account of it. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, Auckland. D. B. McDonald.

No 52. Copy of a DESBATCH from Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Eight Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. (No. 12.) Government House, Auckland, My Lord, — New Zealand, 6th April, 1870. I lost no time in directing the attention of my Eesponsible Advisers to your Lordship's Circular Despatch, of the 11th September ultimo, with the enclosed Order of Her Majesty in Council with reference to the flags to be used by the different branches of Her Majesty's service. 2. I am requested to state that the Colonial Government have adopted as the badge of New Zealand the four stars composing the constellation of the " Southern Cross." The following is the description contained in the notification published din the Government Gazette :—" The seal or badge in future to be worn, in accord- " ance with the Queen's Eegulations, as the distinctive badge of the Colony, by " all vessels belonging to or permanently employed in the service of the Colonial " Government of New Zealand, shall be the Southern Cross, as represented in the " blue ensign by four fine-pointed red stars in the flag, with white borders to " correspond to the colouring of the jack; in the jack by four fine-pointed white " stars on the red ground of St. George's Cross; and in the pendant, by four stars " near the staff similar to those in the ensign." 3. I have consulted Commodore Lambert on this subject, and he considers that the Despatch now under acknowledgment refers not to the flag of the Colony, but only to the flag to be flown by the Governor personally. It is stated that " Governors of all ranks and denominations administering the Governments of

See New Zealan Gazette, No. 61, of 23rd October, 18G9.