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NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OE STATE.
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Ministers gratefully recognize the efforts repeatedly made by His Excellency in his Despatches to induce the Homo Government to reconsider their determination to withdraw all Imperial Troops from New Zealand, and the sense which His Excellency has thus shown of his responsibility for the lives of Her Majesty's subjects, and for the safety of that portion of Her Majesty's Dominions to the government of which he has been appointed, —a responsibility inseparable from his position. There is a paramount consideration when a large sacrifice of human life is imminent; and Ministers respectfully submit that, whatever the orders given several months ago at the distance of half the globe may be, the Imperial Officer to whom such orders were given would be justified, both morally and otherwise, in not carrying those orders into effect if he conscientiously believed that new circumstances had arisen which would cause that sacrifice of life to be the result. It cannot be contended that the Imperial Government could regard otherwise than with horror such a result of literal obedience to their orders given at such a distance of time and place, and in ignorance of those circumstances. Ministers cannot but believe that the Major-General Commanding in Australia has some discretion in the matter. The new circumstances in this case are of a special character, and aggravate the evils likely to ensue. For the first time Te Kooti, the author of the massacre at Poverty Bay, and who for the last twelve months has been constantly engaged in every kind of atrocity on the East Coast, has visited the head-quarters of the Maori King parly. Titokowaru, who has been similarly engaged in ravages and .atrocities on the West Coast, has been asked and is expected to join Te Kooti, in whose immediate vicinity he is at present. The King party have been for some time in an excited state, and the impression already produced by the advent-of Te Kooti has resulted in their making cartridges and filling their cartouch-boxes. It may truly be said that a general rising of the Natives, and a special attack on the settled district of Auckland, is trembling in the balance. At such a moment, and under such critical circumstances, the only Imperial Regiment in the Colony is being massed in Auckland with a view to its immediate removal to Australia. Practically, though of course unintentionally, the very form of tho removal of the regiment is such as to parade ostentatiously in the eyes of the hostile Natives, and most forcibly to impress on their minds, the favourable opportunity thus presented to them of a combined attack. It is inconsistent with common prudence to rely so much on the forbearance, under such great temptatio^, of fanatical enemies, as to think that they will not regard that removal as the tocsin of a general war, and the auspicious omen of their future success. The then disastrous result—for disastrous it must bo under any circumstances—need not be described. It is sufficient to state that all tho Imperial Troops will have been removed to Australia, where they are not urgently required, and that their abandonment of New Zealand will have been the immediate occasion of making this Colony a general scene of misery and bloodshed. It is too late, of course, with a view to meeting the immediate emergency, to appeal to tho Imperial Government for the detention of the 18th Regiment; but Ministers earnestly trust that His Excellency will communicate this Memorandum to General Sir Trevor Chute, and to the Governors of tho Australian Colonies, and, in concert with them, fake such steps as will, until the question can be reconsidered by the Imperial Government, avert the fearful loss of life which the removal of tho Imperial Force, at this perilous juncture, would probably entail. Ministers also strongly urge on His Excellency to represent to Commodore Lambert, C.8., how exceedingly desirable and necessary the presence of one or more of Her Majesty's vessels is at a time of such critical emergency. Eor His Excellency the Governor. "W". Eox.
Sub-Enclosures to Enclosure 1 in No. 12. Mr. Searancke to tho Hon. D. McLean. , ; Sir,— Alexandra, 12th July, 1869. I have tho honor to hand you herewith original letter received by me this day from Tamati Manuhiri, informing me of the arrival of Te Kooti at Te Kuiti. This letter, I may state, though 'dated 30 June, was written on tho 10th July —Saturday last. 1 have ascertained that Te Kooti is accompanied by only sixty of his own followers and his five wives. The former are all mounted, and armed alike with breech-loading rifles, revolvers, and swords. The other Natives accompanying him are from Taupo, principally Te Ngatituwharetoa Tribe, and amongst them Te Heu Heu. At all the settlements visited by Te Kooti at and about Taupo, he •demanded that all the pounamus (greenstones) which had descended to them from their ancestors, whether Patu, Ifciliki, or "Whakakai, be given up to him to be destroyed: in many cases they were, given up. Te Kooti "yesterday made a demand of a similar nature to the King Natives, but I have reason to believe his request will not be complied with ; but should it be, his next demand is to be that his form of religion be adopted by the Hauhaus. I hear that Rewi was willing to consent to all the greenstones being given up, but the Waikatos refused ; the discussion is still going on. I look upon this demand of Te Kooti's as a very bold stroke, and one which, if complied with, would lead me to the conclusion that Waikato had joined him in his policy and views. Te Kooti gives out amongst his followers that his career is to bo similar to that of Jehu, the son of Jchosophat, as written in the 9th and 10th chapters of the Second Book of Kings. The report I heard that Te Kooti is accompanied by six Europeans is, I am glad to say. false. The attitude of the "Waikatos at tho present time is peculiar: they appear to be partially paralyzed by Te Kooti's presence amongst them; they say they have nothing to say to him, but are awaiiing to hear what he has to say ; but at tho same time I am credibly informed that tiny are all quietly filling up their cartridge-boxes. A large party of the Waikatos were anxious that Tawhiao should go away during To Kooti's 7
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