NATIVE INSURRECTION.

E—No. 3.

movement. Tribes heretofore at deadly enmity with each other, and who would have gladly joined us to be revenged on their opponents, have buried their tribal quarrels, and are ready to uuite to arrest the progress of the Europeans and throw off their dominion. Had Her Majesty's Government thought it expedient to maintain a larger Military force in this Colony, it is probable that any local opposition (like the present one, which even the Maories cannot justify) might have been stamped out before it had time to spread; but though I denuded Auckland and Wellington of protection, and brought every soldier I could collect, embodying in a Militia every able-bodied man in this Province, the Maories entertain but small respect for our numbers, and believe that they cannot or will not be increased. A Pah which they erected in one night, and which was garrisoned only by about seventy Maories —occupied our Troops two days to capture and destroy ; a «torm of shot and shell did scarcely any execution, and finally it was evacuated with trifling loss. Meantime strong apprehensions have been entertained for the safety of the town, which is crowded by the families of settlers, who, with about one hundred and twenty of Her Majesty's 65tli Kegiment, form the Garrison, In making these statements, I beg to disclaim any doubt as to the superiority of Her Majesty's Troops, when able to induce their opponents to meet them in fair field, even with a great inequality of numbers. The Maories too are perfectly aware of this superiority, and will never meet us in the field; but their knowledge and ability to avail themselves of the fastnesses of the country, enable them to inflict severe loss on us and escape scathless themselves. Indeed it is not generally known that during the war in the North of New Zealand, the Maories were always far inferior in numbers to Her Majesty's Troops, but their deficiency in this respect was made up for, by the strength of the country in which they fought. Their skill in forming traverses and covered earthworks in their Pahs is also surprising and most admirable. In fact, lam inclined to believe that shot and shell are thrown away on these defences, and that nothing but an approach by earthwork will be found efficient. In the same way, the broken nature of the ground, the fern swamps and forest which surround the town, would enable them to pass our outposts unobserved, and to penetrate the town itself before they would be discovered. I have placed all these difficulties before your Grace—not as considering them as in any way insuperable-—but in the hope of convincing you that unless matters take a more favorable turn than m have any right to expect, a much larger number of troops than has hitherto been asked for, will be necessary to maintain possession of the Colony at all. I have written to the Governors of the Australian Colonies requesting them to send me such support as they are able, and they will inform your Grace how far they have been able to comply with my request. Finally, I transmit to your Grace the opinions of the two Military Officers in command, of the, Minister for Native Affairs, and the Native Secretary (Mr. McLean); and I submit respectfully that the peace of the Colony can only be ensured by the presence of a considerable Military force. Failing this protection, the Colony may be engaged in -war at any moment; immigration to the' Northern Island will then cease; many will abandon their homes, and their places will be supplied by bands of lawless men reproducing that state of anarchy ■vyhich existed prior to 1840, and to put an end ( to which, New Zealand was declared a British Colony. It is needless to say that such a contest would terminate only in the extinction of the Native race. I have some diffidence in expressing any opinion as to the number of troops required ; hitherto I ] have considered that 2000 men, with a strong Company of Artillery, would have enabled me to bring such a force into the field suddenly as would extinguish the first sparks of rebellion: now I am reluctantly compelled to say that I believe 3000 men, a Steam Gun Boat, and a Steamer of War, will be necessary for some time to come to ensure the maintenance of peace. I have, &c., (Signed) T. Goke BitowKi. His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, &c, &c, &c.

No. 2. Col. Gold, 20th March, ; 1860. NOT Col. Murray, 20th March, ; iB6O. No. 4. C. W. Richmond, 20th March, 1860. No. 5. D. McLean, 17lh March, lacii.

Enclosure 1 in No. 23. STATEMENT RELATIVE TO THE PURCHASE BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT OF TE TElRa's LAND AT WAITARA, TARANAKI. What took place upon the original offer of Te Teira's land to the Governor is reported in the following article extracted from the Taranaki Herald of 12th March, 1859. On Tuesday a meeting of the Mpturoa, Town, Waiwakaiho, Puketapu, and Waitara Natives, was held in a paddock adjoining the residence of the Laud Purchase Commissioner. It was less numerously attended than many former ones, the muster of the YVaitara Natives being particularly small. Shortly after 11 o'clock His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by his Private Secretary and the Chief Land Purchase Commissioner, arrived on the ground and was welcomed by the assembled Natives, the ■whole rising up to receive him, with the exception of William King and some few of his followers. The principal Chiefs then paid their respects to the Governor. Tahana, a Native Assessor, opened the proceedings by acknowledging the benefits conferred on the Natives by the introduction of Christianity and European customs, and expressed the desire of himself and his tribe to have British law established amongst them.

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