DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR OF

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No. 78. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. (No. 61.) Government House, Wellington, My Loud New Zealand, sth July, 1872. I have the honor to transmit herewith a Memorandum from Mr. Eox, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, forwarding a Congratulatory Address to the Queen from the Independent Order of Rechabites in the Province of Hawke's Bay, on the recovery of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. G. E. BOWEN.

Enclosure in No. 78. Memoeandtjm by Mr. Fox. Me Fox respectfully forwards to your Excellency an Address from the Officers and Members of the Independent Order of Eechabites 'in the Province of Hawke's Bay to Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen expressive of the sympathy of that body with Her Majesty under the infliction of the illness of His Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales, and their congratulations on his recovery, which they request may be"forwarded to the Secretary of State to be laid before the Queen. Wellington, 2nd July, 1872. William Eox.

No. 79. Copt of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimbebxey. (No. 62.) Government House, Wellington, My Loud New Zealand, 6th July, 1872. In continuation of my Despatch No. 59, of the 27th June ultimo, I have the honor to report that I left Auckland on the 29th ultimo, in the Colonial Government steamer "Luna," accompanied by Mr. McLean and by several influential Maori chiefs; and that I landed at Wellington on the 4th instant. 2. On our voyage we revisited Napier, the capital of 'the Province of Hawke's Bay, and also the principal Native settlements along the East Coast of this Island. All is now tranquillity and loyalty to the Queen, where there was so much sharp flo-htin"1 a few years ago, as will be seen from the official correspondence of the period from 1865 until 1870.* Here, as elsewhere, there is often difficulty in preventing some of the Maori clans from waging an internecine strife among themselves, now that they are no longer in arms against the Government, In particular, we found that two chiefs near the East Cape were on the point of coming to blows about a piece of land, the ownership of which was disputed between them. Mr. McLean, however, brought them both on board the " Luna," and succeeded in persuading them to make friends, and to leave the matter at issue to his arbitration. Meanwhile, to avoid any possible relapse into hostility, one of the late belligerents was invited to pay a visit of a few weeks to Wellington, and readily came away with us in the steamer. On previous occasions, I have borne my testimony to the great advantage which Mr. McLean enjoys in his dealings with the Maoris from his knowledge of their character, feelings, and language, and, above all, from his proved sympathy with them, which has secured their confidence, I need scarcely say that Ido not make these remarks in the interest of any political party ;— indeed, their truth would be admitted on all sides. 3 I spent the 2nd instant at Poverty Bay, the scene of the cruel massacre by TeKooti, in November, 1868, of above fifty English settlers and loyal Natives. Since the restoration of peace and security, a nourishing township has arisen here, and during the last two years the European population of this district has risen from 200 to about 600. There is much fertile land in the neighbourhood, and settlement is steadily progressing. ~,,.- ~ ~. 4. It was interesting to find at Napier the influential chief Karaitiana Takamoana, the representative in the Colonial Parliament of the Native community on * See also Mr. Fox's " War in New Zealand," chapter 15.