NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OE STATE.

69

A.—No. 1

" secure to them the enjoyment of peace and good order," and that, in consideration of that cession, " Her Majesty the Queen of England extends to tho Natives of New Zealand her Royal protection, " and imparts to them all the rights and privileges of British subjects;" that that solemn undertaking precludes, both in spirit and in letter, an Imperial policy of absolute isolation and denial of moral support, while loyal Natives are being massacred because they do not secede from the Sovereign to whom they believe they owo allegiance. Ministers would also recall the fact that, in 1863, when the rebellion was at its height, the Colony accepted the control of Native affairs, "relying," as stated in the Resolutions of the Legislature, " on tho cordial co-operation of the Imperial Government for the future;" that the Colo»y~ha&-jcuat..stin±e.d.its blood or treasure in its efforts' to suppress that rebellion; that ■' during the last three years, while almost reduced to extremity, it has struggled for tho same object without the active intervention of a British soldier, or the expenditure of a shilling from the Imperial Treasury ; that all it asks now, when it has worked its way into less troubled waters, is the temporary continuance, for which it is willing to pay, of the existing Imperial moral support in the Colony, and by that means a reasonable prospect of soon reaching the haven of permanent security. Nowhere more than in New Zealand does there exist a stronger feeling of loyalty to the Crown, and of devotion to Her Majesty, or a higher value attached to its position as an integral part of the Empire; and Ministers feel assured that throughout the Colony there will arise a universal feeling of regret that the tone and purport of Earl Granville's Despatch (written at a time when he must have known the Colony to bo in tho greatest distress), are scarcely susceptible of any other explanation than! a desire to abandon this country, and to sever its connection with the Empire. ' 'Iho other argument advanced by Earl Granville is founded on His Lordship's disapprobation of the New Zealand Native policy, and is, in effect, that the prestige of British Troops in tho Colony would encourage that policy, and that the absence of such prestige would compel the Colony to reverse it, or to adopt the alternative, (a course indefensible if the policy itself bo unjust,) of placing on foot " a force sufficiently formidable to overawe " the discontented Natives. It does not appear that any good result would accrue if Ministers were, on this occasion, to enter into any lengthened defence on the points at issue of Native policy since its conduct was transferred to the Colonial Government. Such a defence must not only be controversial, but even recriminatory, for it would necessarily involve a criticism of the Imperial Native policy before and after the commencement of tho war. But Ministers are by no means desirous of avoiding such an investigation. On the contrary, they ask for an impartial and searching inquiry, and request that Commissioners—one selected by the Imperial and one by the Colonial Governments —be appointed to ascertain on the spot the true state of affairs, and tho duo share of responsibility devolving on all concerned. They will at present only offer a few remarks on the objections made to that policy in Earl Granville's Despatch. Confiscation of part of the land belonging to rebel Natives in arms against the Crown is the principal feature to which His Lordship takes objection. Whatever may be its defects, a reference to official documents will show that the Imperial Government is. equally with the Colonial Government, responsible for it. Governor Sir G. Grey (second to none in his experience of Natives in New Zealand, and in his advocacy of their rights), in his Despatch of 29th of August, 1863, when the Colon $ had not accepted from the Imperial Government responsibility for Native Affairs, recommended such confiscation, and the Duke of Newcastle, in his reply, dated 26th November, 1863, approved of the principle, and only suggested due caution in its application. Mr. Secretary Cardwell, in his Despatch of 26th April, 1864, allowed "The New Zealand Settlements Act, 1863," by which confiscation was authorized, to remain in operation, and addressed the following words to Sir G. Grey: —" It should be clearly understood that " your own concurrence in any forfeiture is not to be considered as a Ministerial act, but that it will "be withheld unless you are personally satisfied that the confiscation is just and...modorate." And again,—" Subject to these cautions and conditions, and in full confidence that you will act on tho " general principles which I have before laid down, (and in which I anticipate your cordial, concur- " rence,) Her Majesty's Government are prepared to leave in your hands the power with which you " have been intrusted by tho Legislature of the Colony." Further, in his Despatch of the 26th December, 1864, Mr. Cardwell stated, —" With reference to the extent of the proposed confiscation, I " have only again to refer you to my Despatch of 26th April. The conditions on which alone Her " Majesty's Government were content to leave the Confiscation Act in operation wore there clearly " stated. It was stated also, that of the application of those conditions to the actual circumstances of " tho case, you were to be the judge. That confidence was reposed in you in the full belief that you " would discharge your trusts with a just regard for the interests of both the Colonists and of the " Maoris." In his Despatch of the 261h January, 1865, Mr. Cardwell also wrote, —" The objects which " Her Majesty's Government have been desirous of effecting for the Colonists are substantially these. " * * * * * They have wished to inflict upon the rebel tribes, or some of them, an exemplary " punishment in tho way of forfeiture of lands, which shall deter them from wanton aggression in " future." The confiscation in the Waikato District, to which Earl Granville specially refers, was made by Governor Sir G. Grey, (see Despatch, 7th January, 1865,) with the advice of his Ministers, and specially after consultation with, and with the concurrence of, Lieut.-General Cameron. That confiscation was approved by Mr. Cardwell in his Despatch of the 27th of March, 1865, in which he stated, " If these promises" (as to restoration of lands to loyal Natives and returned rebels, and amply fulfilled) " arc, as I doubt not they will be, faithfully observed in the spirit of the instructions you have " received from mo, I sec no reason to object to the Proclamation on the score of justice." In his Despatch of 26th October, 1865, Mr. Cardwell wrote in special reference to the New Zealand Settlements Acts, " that so long as any considerable number of British Troops remain in New " Zealand, Her Majesty's Government must continue to retain a reasonable control over that Native " policy on which the employment of those troops will depend;" and in his Despatch of 26th April, 1866, on the same subject, stated,--" under these circumstances Her Majesty's Government have not " thought it right at present to advise that these Acts .should be disallowed, and trust that no circum--18