THE WAR.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 329, 14 December 1860, Page 3

THE WAR.

DESPATCHES PROM ENGLAND. The following important despatches from England will be read with the greatest interest and satisfaction by all who desire to see a speedy termination put to the war in Taranaki. They are extracted from a General Government Gazette of November 28,18G0. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 28fch November, 1860. The following Despatches from her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonieß are published for general information. E. W. Stafford. Copy of a Despatch from Mr. C. Fobtescue to Governor Gore Browne, 0. B. Downing-street, 27th August, iB6O. Sib—l received your Despatch, No. 42, of the 28th April, 1860, reporting that a Petition had reached you addressed to the Queen from certain Natives residing at Otaki, praying that her Majesty would remove you from your Government. I have also received your Despatch, No. 52, of the 25th May last, forwarding the Petition which you had until then detained, in order that you might institute enquiries with regard to the manner in which it had been prepared and the authenticity of the signatures attached to it. You will acquaint the persons from whom the Petition purports to proceed, that it has been laid before the Queen.—l have, &c, 0. Fortesoue, In the absence of the Secretary of State. Governor Gore Browne, C. 8., &c. Copy of a Despatchfrom Sir George CobnewaHi Lewis, Bart., U Governor Gore Browne, C. B. Downing-street, 28th August, 1860. Sir—l have received your Despatch, No. 55, of the 28th May, forwarding an address to the Queen signed by a large number of persons who are residents in the Province of Auckland, praying that measures may be taken for the general welfare of the European and Native community. I request that you will inform the memorialists that their address has been laid before the Queen, and that her Majesty was pleased to receive the same very graciously.—l have, &c, ; G. C. Lewis. Governor Gore Browne, 0. B, &c. Copy of a Despatchfrom Sir Gkorgk Cornewall Lewis, Bart., to Governor Gore Browne, C. B. Downing-street, Bth September, 1860. Sir—l have to acknowledge the receipt of your Dospatch, No. 53, of the 26 th May, forwarding a mat which some influential Natives residing at Wanganui were desirous should be presented to the Queen as a token of the loyalty of the tribes in that district. I request that you will cause the Natives from whom the mat proceeded to be informed that her Majesty has received with much satisfaction this proof of their loyalty and devotion. Her Majesty has also been pleased to express her entjre approval of the course which you adopted on this occasion.—l have, &c, G. 0. Lewis, Governor Gore Browne, C.8., &c. Copy of a Despatchfrom Sir George Cornewall Lewis, Bart., to Governor Gore Browne, C. B. Downing-street, 23rd September. 1860. Sir—l have the honor to acknowledge your Despatch, No. 66, of the 6th of July, accompanied by a copy of a speech which you propose to deliver to the Native chiefs whom you have invited to assemble from all parts of the Island. The topics of the intended speech appear well calculated to allay excitement, and I confide in your judgment as to the opportunity which you have created for making this communication to the chiefs. I have, &c, G. C. Lewis. Governor Gore Browne, C. 8., &c. Copy of a Despatch from Mr. Chichester Fortescde to Governor Gorb: Browne, C.B. Downing-street, 27th September, 1860. Sm—Although the arrangements are not yet sufficiently advanced to admit of conveying to you particu- ! lars, the Secretary of State is unwilling to allow the present mail to depart without apprizing you that he has communicated with his colleagues on the expediency of furnishing reinforcements to New Zealand, and that early measures will be taken to send an additional regiment to the colony, either from this country or from India, as may be found to be most consistent with the convenience of the service and with despatch in effecting the arrival of troops at their destination. It in not improbable that a small portion of artillery will also be sent out.—l have, &c, C. FORTESCUE. Governor Gore Browne, &c, New Zealand. Copy of a Despatch from Mr. Chiciiesteb Fortesoue to Governor Gore Brownk, C.B. Downing-street, 2Gth September, 1860. Sir.—l am directed by the Secretary ot State to acknowledge your despatoh, No. 63, of the 27th June, accompanied by a report from the Native Secretary, Mr. M'Lean, of the great meeting of natives outhe Waikato, as well as by a letter from, Mr. Turtoa to Mr. M'Lcan on the same subject,

The Secretary of State has perused with much interest the important information contained in these reports. The conduct of Mr. Jl'Lean appears to have been prudent and firm.—l have, &c. C. FoiiTEScrjE. Governor Gore Browne, &c. : Copy of a Despatch from Mr. Chiche3ter Foetescce to Governor Gore Bbowne, G.JB. Downing-street, 26th September, 18G0. Sir—l am directed by the Secretary of State to acquaint you that he has before him your despatch No. 64, of the 28th of June, accompanied by a letter from the Right Rev. the Bishop of''Wellington and the Venerable Archdeacon Hadfield.on the origin and nature of the pending hostilities with the natives. The sacred office held by the Bishop and the Archdeacon must command attention to any representation which they deem it their duty to make to the Government. Nor does the Secretary of State willingly differ from such authorities. But considering that their statements on the present occasion question the justice of the war in which their countrymen have unhappily become engaged, and gravely impugn the propriety lof the course adopted by yourself and your Government under the trying circumstances in which you have been placed, the Secretary of State has felt it incumbent on him to do his best to'form a correct judgment on the subject, and to express the conclusion at which he arrives. lam desired to state therefore that, so far as his information extends, he thinks that you have shown that the Bishop and Archdeacon have been inaccurately informed on some points,.and that they have taken an incomplete view of others, and he finds no reason to withdraw the confidence of her Majesty's Government in your administration. In answer to the letter of the Bishop of Wellington and Archdeacon Hadfield you will communicate to them a copy of the present despatch for their information.—l have, &c., C. Fortbscub. . Governor Gore Browne, C.8., &c.