NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OE STATE.

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P.S. — April 2. —Since the above was written, Mr. McLean has received a despatch from Colonel St. John, commanding the Colonial Eorces at Opotiki, stating that on the 25th ultimo Major Ropata and the Ngatiporos attacked a pa held by Te Kooti and his allies, at a place called Maraetai. After an hour's firing the pa was abandoned, the fugitives from it falling into the hands of Major Kemp (Te Kepa) and the Wanganuis, who were marching down to the coast after an expedition in which they had taken a number of rebels. Colonel St. John further reports, that while the loss on the side of the " Queen Natives " was trifling, the number of killed on the side of the rebels was nineteen (19), besides above three hundred (300) prisoners. Among the latter are twenty (20) of Te Kooti's immediate followers. Te Kooti appears to have again escaped, with only about twenty (20) men; but the fanatical Hauhau prophet, Ilakaria, is said to have been killed. It is, moreover, rumoured that the Ureweras have abandoned Te Kooti. Eurther details are expected shortly, but cannot arrive before the departure of this day's mail. G. E. B.

Enclosure in No. 50. Memoeandt/m by Mr. McLean. General Government Offices, 26th March, 1870. Dubing the past month Te Kooti made a raid upon Opape, a Native settlement on the East Coast, and took about 150 men, women, and children, prisoners. Their fate is as yet unknown, but it is expected that most of the men will be massacred. Most of the able-bodied monbeionging to the settlement were absent on an expedition under Major Kemp. A force of 370 Ngatiporous under Major Eopata returned a few days ago from the Urewera country at Waikare-Moana, where they took a pa and fifty prisoners. The exaggerated reports in some of the local papers of massacres of men, women, and children at Opotiki, are without foundation. The Government have promised a subsidy in money to Major Eopata and other chiefs for the capture of Te Kooti Donald McLean.

No. 51. Copy of a DESBATCH from Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Eight Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. (No. 39.) Government House, Auckland, My Lord, — New Zealand, 2nd April, 1870. With reference to the Enclosure in my Despatch No. 7, of the 13th January ultimo, I am requested by my Constitutional Advisers to transmit by this day's mail the accompanying Ministerial Memorandum, which I have just received, from them. 2. Mr. McLean, the Minister for Defence and Native Affairs, requests me to annex a brief Memorandum from. him. I have, &c., The Eight Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. G. E. BOWEN.

Enclosure 1 in No. 5.1. Memoeanditm by Mr. Eox. The departure of the last regiment of British troops, marking as it does an epoch in the history of New Zealand, should not in any case be passed over without remark; but more especially is it necessary that Ministers should state their views concerning it, inasmuch as it is exciting considerable discussion in England, and statements are being made with which the Colony may be identified, in the absence of any distinct official utterance. It would be impossible within reasonable limits, even if it were desirable, to discuss the many phases of the Colonial question which have appeared in connection with the policy which the Imperial Government is pursuing towards New Zealand. Ministers acknowledge with thanks on behalf of the Colony the efforts which have been made by a number of independent persons to represent to tho Imperial Authorities the unpatriotic harshness which they have shown in their special treatment of New Zealand. Though not prepared to indorse in every particular all the steps taken by those persons, Ministers fully appreciate the friendly spirit towards New Zealand which has characterized their proceedings. Those proceedings have been the more valuable because, as they have not been prompted by any official action on the part of the Colony, they stand prominent as an unmistakable reflex of independent public opinion. Had they owed their source to official suggestion, they would have been less serviceable. It may be here observed, that Ministers have already declined to authorize tho representation of the Colony at the proposed Colonial Conference. 22