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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 8, 22 August 1861, Page 1 (Supplement)

“Times’ Office,

Thursday, 4 j?.m,

By the. Dolphin, just arrived from Auckland, we are enabled to furnish our readers with the following important intelligence:—

RECALL OF GOVERNOR BROWNE. APPOINTMENT OF SIR G. GREY,

The following is a copy of a despatch re ceived by His Excellency the Governor,

Downing street, 25th May, 1861. Sir,— [ have perused with much anxiety the intelligence respecting the progress of the Native war which is contained in your despatches recently arrived.

I cannot but perceive that in spite of some symptoms of a desire on the part of the Natives for the restoration of peace, little effect has really been produced hitherto by the military operations of Taranaki, and that, notwithstanding all the efforts of yourself and your advisers, the disaffection of theMaories is extending itself to those tribes whose amity, or at least whoso neutrality, has hitherto been hoped for, and is assuming a more organized form, and a more definite object. 1 am far indeed from ascribing this untoward course of events to those who are responsible for the conduct of affairs in New Zealand. On the contrary, I recognise with pleasure the sound and impartial judgment, the integrity, intelligence, and anxiety for the public good which have characterized your Government of the Colony for nearly six years. The present conjuncture, however, Venders it necessary for Her Majesty’s Government to leave no expedient untried which is calculated to arrest the course of events now unhappily so unpromising, and at the same lime to provide for the future difficulties, which there is only too much reason to anticipate, even if the war should happily be soon brought to a conclusion 1 Having regard, therefore, to the peculiar qualifications and experience of Sir George Grey, now governing the Cape of Good Hope, I have felt that X should be neglecting a chance of averting a more general and disastrous war, if I omitted to avail myself of the remarkable authority which will attach itself to his name and character as Governor of New Zealand. I trust, therefore, that yon will not feel it as any alight on yourself that I should have determined to place the Government of the Islands in his hands at a moment when your term of office has all hut expired, and you would have no opportunity of -providing against those future difficulties to which 1 have referred. I hope that in doing so I shall not deprive the Crown for any long period of the , Advantage of your services. I have communicated to Sir George Grey my "wish that as the matter is one of urgency, he should lose no time in proceeding to New Zealand for the purpose of assuming the Government. My confidence in your public spirit assures mo that in transferring it to him you will give him every assistance and information which is calculated to facilitate his dealings, whether with the local Governjjaent or with the friendlv or hostile Maories. I

have only to add, that in caso you should bo disposed to accept another Australian Government, lit may bo convenient that, instead of repairing to jthis country, you should remain for a short time ;at Sydney, until I am able to communicate with iyou more definitely upon the subject. I have, &c., Newc.vsxlk. The secret bad been carefully kept, and tbo announcement, if wo may so say upset tbe Assembly. Both Houses adjourned for tbe day. CHANGE IN THE MINISTRY. One or two futile efforts to make tbo extreme men of both parties meet iu a new Cabinet have failed, but since then, finally, a change has been effected; Dr, Featberstou and Mr. 'Williamson, superintendents respectively of tbo Provinces Wellington and Auckland, have made way for Mr. Sewell and Mr. Crosbio Ward. On tbe Ist instant the Ministry was thus re-arranged : —• Mr, Fox, Colonial Secretary Mr, Sewell, Attorney General Mr. Reader Wood, Colonial Treasurer Mr. Mantell, Native Minister Mr. Crosbie Ward, Postmaster General, and-Secretary for Crown Lands Mr. Henderson j iv.,, , Dr. Pollen } Without ofixee. Tbe Attorney General, it is understood, will be summoned to the Legislative Council. “ WANT OF CONFIDENCE” MOTION. On the same day, Mr. Richmond moved bis “want of confidence” resolution. Mr. Ormond and Mr. Colenso voted in favour of tbe motion, which was lost by a majority of one. PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. It has been announced in the House of Representatives that communications of a favorable character had been received from Native Chiefs, and amongst others from William Thompson. There is reason to believe that Thompson himself will shortly come iu for tbe purpose of having an interview with tbe Governor, and tliat that kind of conference with tbe people 1 of Waikato will be bold which His Excellency’s advisers hoped to secure, —a conference at which tbe words of Her Majesty’s Representative will be at least respectfully listened to, at which tbe wants and wishes of tbe Natives may be ascertained, and the often repeated desire of His Excellency to promote tbo welfare of tbo race may receive at length a practical direction with the concurrence of the. people themselves.