G.-7.

4

wrong." But the fact is, that amongst the prisoners there are half-castes, and also some Maoris, who are well acquainted with the English language. Whenever the prisoners have needed or have asked for them, the services of an Interpreter have been provided in connection with the Visiting Justices ; and, besides this, the Warder or Gaoler in charge in all cases is acquainted with the Maori language. 16. Ministers are of opinion that it would have been well if Mr. Bradlaugh—in his complaints and appeals to the Imperial Government, against the action of the Parliament and the Government of New Zealand—had allowed the two Governments to judge of the value of the authority which he has accepted as credible. As he has not done this, his imputations, which have been shown to be unwarranted, remain anonymous. He has no personal knowledge, so far as Ministers are aware, of New Zealand or of any of its interests. While the name of his correspondent remains undisclosed, neither the authority which is appealed to nor that which is calumniated, can judge between his claim that the stories he has circulated are credible, and the presumption, which now seems unavoidable, that he has spoken and written honestly but ignorantly, having been misled. Wm. Rolleston Wellington, December 24th, 1880, (In the absence of the Premier),

Sub-Enclosure 10* in No. 2. Extracts from a Memorandum for Ministers by His Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson The members next referred to the Confiscated Lands Inquiry and Maori Prisoners' Trials Bill, which had passed their House on the previous evening, and was then on its way to the Legislative Council. They said they wished (1) the prisoners to be tried not later than February The Governor, after hearing all they had to urge on these points, told them that he would not fail to convey their wishes to his Responsible Advisers, and that they would receive careful consideration. There was a good deal of conversation, and the observations on each side had to be conveyed to the other through an interpreter. It is possible, therefore, that the members may have understood his answer, as communicated to them, to mean more than he intended it to convey ; but the Governor is satisfied that he adhered strictly to the determination which he had formed in his own mind before receiving the deputation, namely, to promise nothing more than to be the medium of conveying their sentiments to his Ministers. If, therefore, the Governor had, as stated by Sir George Grey, given "the word of the Crown" to the Native members that the prisoners should be tried in January or February, he would have been making a promise as to the course to be pursued under a measure which was still under the consideration of Parliament, and might possibly never become law Eventually the Act was assented to on the 19th December, and on the 23rd December an order in Council was passed, postponing the date of trial from the sth January to the sth April, so that, if any promise, such as that alleged, were given, it was broken within a few days of its having been made : yet no representation was addressed to the Governor at the time when this supposed " violation of the word of the Crown " first took place ; and the subsequent postponements to the sth July, and to the 26th July, by succeeding Orders in Council, were allowed to pass without remonstrance. The Governor has no hesitation in affirming that no such promise as that alleged was given by him, and that the construction placed by Sir George Grey upon the conversation that took place between the Governor and the Native members is erroneous.

Sub-Enclosure 11 in No. 2. Letter from the Hon. the Native Minister to Wirehu Kingi Matakatea. Friend Wiremu Kingi,— Native Office, Wellington, 4th October, 1880. Greeting. The time is now come for me to say a few words to you. When you and your companions were sent to Dunedin, you refused to accept my offer to be separated from your comrades, and said that you preferred that the Government should show kindness to your people in the settlement of their grievances on the West Coast, rather than to yourself personally I then told you that the desire of the Government was to deal justly, and that I would use every effort to promote peace between the two races. Ten months have passed since that day, and the promise of the Government which I gave you has been kept. The Governor appointed Commissioners in accordance with the will of Parliament, and of the whole European people, to inquire into the causes of the discontent of the Natives, "in order," as he said in his Proclamation, "that any just ground of complaint which might exist might be removed, and peace be firmly established between both races." Those Commissioners have now made their inquiry, and have reported to the Governor what they think would be a fair settlement of the differences which have existed, and have pointed out what lands they consider should be set apart for the Maoris who desire to live in peace. Since that report was sent to the Governor the Parliament has met, and an Act has been passed which enables the Governor, "as he may think fit, to make a final settlement of every claim or grievance of any nature arising out of any award, promise, or engagement howsoever made, by or on behalf of the Government of the colony in respect of land situate within the confiscated territory, and, so far as it may be expedient to do so, in accordance with the reports of the Commissioners ;" and the law also authorizes him to set apart reserves for the Natives in such ways as may secure their perma-

* For Sub-Enclosure No. 1, see Act, No. 3, 1879, Session I. „ No. 2, see Act, No. 25, 1879, Session 11. ~ Nos. 3 and 4, see Supplement to Gazette, 15th January, 1880. „ No. 5, see Act, No. 4, 1880. „ No. 6, see Act, No. 6, 1880. „ No. 7 see G-.-2, 1880, and Appendices. No. 8, see Act, No. 39, 1880. ~ No. 9, see Hansard, Vol. 36, pp. 558-560.