NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETABT OF STATE

3

A.—No. 1.

from internal warfare, to the steady development and organization of the vast resources of this country. 6. It is, of course, impossible to form more than an approximate estimate of the Maori population of New Zealand. It is believed by the Native Department not to exceed, at present, thirty-seven thousand five hundred (37,500), all of whom dwell in the North Island with the exception of from fifteen hundred (1,500) to two thousand (2,000) souls, scattered over the other Islands. 7. I hope to be, before long, in a position to address your Lordship more fully on the subject of this Despatch. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. G. P. BOWEN.

No. 3. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. P. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. (No. 77.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord, New Zealand, 31st August, 1871. I have the honor to report that I have referred to my Eesponsible Advisers your Lordship's Circular Despatches of the 20th and 29th April ultimo, directing me to ascertain whether the Colonial Government would be prepared to defray the cost of prosecutions, in the Supreme Court of the Colony, of persons accused of kidnapping Natives from islands in the Pacific. 2. I now enclose a Ministerial Memorandum, showing the views held on this subject by the Government of New Zealand. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. G. P. BOWEN.

Memo, by Mr, Fox, Aug. 30, 1871.

Enclosure in No. 3. Memokandttm by Mr. Fox. Ministers beg respectfully to acknowledge the receipt of two Circular Despatches from the Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated respectively the 20th and 29th of April last, upon the subject of a project of law which it is proposed to submit to the British Parliament, for the purpose of checking acts of violence and barbarity which have been from time to time committed by British subjects in various Islands of the Pacific, and which are chiefly perpetrated by persons proceeding from Australian ports. These Despatches His Excellency has done Ministers the honor to forward for an expression ot their opinion thereon, and to ascertain whether they will be prepared to defray the necessary expenses connected with the procuring of evidence, the remuneration of witnesses, and their occasional conveyance to Australia and reconveyance to their own country, in cases brought (with the concurrence of Ministers) before the Supreme Court of New Zealand. ■■■~■,■, Ministers are in doubt whether the word " Australia " in these Despatches was used advisedly or not as that word neither in common understanding nor literally includes New Zealand. If the word was used advisedly, the Despatches would appear to Ministers to have been sent to New Zealand by If,however,the Despatches have been sent advisedly, and the word " Australia" has been used by inadvertence, Ministers have to remark that, assuming that persons did set out from New Zealand on such expeditions as those alluded to by the Earl of Kimberley, such persons ought, m the opinion of Ministers to be tried and, if guilty, punished in New Zealand, and that New Zealand should bear the expenses necessarily attaching to such trials ; and Ministers would be prepared to advise your Exceilencv to recommend that provision should be made by the General Government for the purpose. J William Fox. ■Wellington, 30th August, 1871.

No. 4 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. P. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. (No. 80.) Government House, Wellington, My Loud,—- ■ New Zealand, Ist September, 1871. In continuation of my Despatch No. 68, of the Bth August ultimo, and of previous correspondence respecting the claims and counter-claims of the