A.—No. 1.

DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR OF

58

" importance of securing his neutrality during the existing crisis can scarcely "bo over-estimated." It will be recollected that, on my first visit to the Waikato, I caused the tomb of his father, Botatau te Whero Whcro, the first King of the Maoris, at Ngaruawahia, the old Maori capital, to be repaired;* and I have been assured that this act produced a very favourable impression on the mind of Tawhiao. Subsequent friendly overtures and negotiations, the success of the Colonial Eorces against Te Kooti and Titokowaru in the field, and the moral support afforded to the Colony by the small Imperial garrison which still holds the principal towns in the disturbed districts, and by twoQueen's ships on tho coast, have combined to keep the " Maori King" and the clans that adhere to him from open hostility ; though (as it has been truly said) " they have long been hanging on the central mountains of this Island, " like a thunder cloud, ready to burst at any moment on the English settle- " ments." 1. The general policy recommended by me in the above-mentioned Despatches was pronounced to be " clearly judicious," and was formally approved and sanctioned by your Lordship.f It was also adopted (as we have seen) by the Colonial Government. At the beginning of the present month (as will be perceived from the enclosed papers), Mr. McLean, as Minister for Native Affairs, w Tas permitted to cross the aukath or "pale," and held a very satisfactory conference with the principal chiefs, who have persisted during many years past in active or sullen hostility; —in particular, with Tamati Ngapora Manuhiri, the uncle and chief councillor of King Tawhiao, and with Eewi Maniapoto, the formidable warrior who commanded the Maoris against the British Troops under General Cameron at Eangariri, Orakau, and throughout the Waikato campaigns of 1863 and 1861. 5. Mr. McLean is convinced that Eewi was sincere when he said that their recent interview was the " streak of light before the dawm, which would " soon spread;" and that ere long King Tawhiao himself will consent to meet the Governor at a formal conference, when the foundations of permanent peace and tranquillity will be laid. Meanwhile, there is little doubt that we need be no longer apprehensive of a general rising of the hostile Maoris. The only favour which Tamati Ngapora and Eewi asked was, that their relative, Te Hura, and a few other Natives still confined at Auckland, under a sentence of the Supreme Court, for their participation in the outbreak on the East Coast in 1865, should be released and given up to them ; and to this request I readily consented, on the advice of Mr. McLean. In return, the chiefs of the " King party " undertook to be answerable for the future good conduct of these men, and to assist the Government and the loyal clans in putting down murder and brigandage. The Maoris rarely fail to perform promises made at their public koreros or meetings. 6. I concur with Mr. McLean and the other leading men of all parties in the Colonial Legislature, and with the loyal Maori chiefs, in deeming it desirable to retain for the present the moral support of the 2-18 th Eegiment, which has held the towns of Auckland, Taranaki, Wanganui, and Napier for the last two years, and for the services of which the New Zealand Parliament has pledged itself by Act to pay whatever the Imperial Government may demand. The terms will probably be arranged with the Commissioners, Mr. Dillon Bell and Dr. Eeatherston, who have been deputed by the Colonial Ministry and Legislature (of which bodies they are prominent and influential members) to proceed to England this month, for the purpose of conferring with Her Majesty's Government. I have already J transmitted a Memorandum from Mr. Fox, stating the heads of the instructions given to the Commissioners, and concluding with these words, —" One " great object, the accomplishment of which is hoped for from the action of " the Commissioners, is the re-establishment of cordial relations between the " Imperial and Colonial Governments, which appear to have been more or less

* See Governor of New Zealand to Secretary of State, No. 49, of 30th June, 1868. t Secretary of State to Governor of New Zealand, " Confidential," of 26th .February, 18C9, No. 62, 21st May, 1869. X Governor of New Zealand to Secretary of State, No. 128, of 17th September, 1869.