NATIVE INSURRECTION.

E—No. 3

he pleases with his own land, but not with land which is the property of the Queen. And as he is free to do as he pleases with his own land, so was Te Teirafree with respect to his land, and the attempt to interfere admits of no justification. But, let it not be said that the Governor is gone with soldiers to Taranalci for the purpose of fighting. He is gone to prevent, if possible, the necessity for fighting. Peace will continue unless it is broken by William King. But it is necessary, for the sake of preventing future misunderstanding and difficulty that it shall be clearly understood by all—First, that the Governor will make no promise incompatible with the maintenance of the just rights of any of Her Majesty's subjects in New Zealand, Pakeha orMaori; and secondly, that he will break no promise which he has once made. The Officer commanding the Troops was instructed to confine the operations of the Force at Waitara within the bounds of the purchased block. The pahs on the block, with the houses they contain, were not to be interfered with by the Troops, and payment was to be offered for crops consumed or destroyed. Up to the present time these instructions have been adhered to. Two of the pahs have been destroyed, but they were fired by Teira's party, and not by the Troops. The day after the Troops reached Waitara a small pah was erected on the block by the opposing Natives in a situation commanding the road from New Plymouth to the Camp, and some carts carrying supplies for the Troops were stopped ; but on a firm front being shown by the mounted escort the carts reached the Camp in safety. The same day the pah was evacuated on a summons from the Governor. On the 13th and 14th March, the sellers pointed out the boundaries of the block which were duly •urveyed and and the lines cut; the sellers aiding in the work. On the night of the 15th March another pah was built by some of the rebel Natives within the purchased land about a mile from the Camp, and the war dance was performed by the same party. The following day they proceeded to pull up the survey stakes, and made fires along the line. On the 17th March the Officer commanding sent a written summons to the pah ; but the war party refused to receive it, and threatened the messenger. Fire was then opened on the pah and continued during the day, and on the 18th the pah was evacuated and occupiedbbathey a the Troops, with the loss of three men wounded, one of whom is since dead. New Plymouth, March 20th, 1860.

Enclosure 2 in No. 23. COLONEL GOLD TO THE GOVERNOR. Gore Browne Redoubt, Waitara, 20th March, 1860. Sir,— As hostilities have actually commenced, and the Force under my command is far too weak to enable me to protect the various settlements and keep an adequate one in the field, I have the honor to request your Excellency to be pleased strenuously to urge upon the Home Authorities the necessity of an augmentation to the Force here in Artillery, Engineers, and Infantry : which, if done promptly, will, I have little doubt, bring matters to a speedy conclusion, and secure the safety of this fine Colony. I have the honor to enclose a copy of my application to the Horse Guards on this subject. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient, humble servant, (Signed) C. E. Gold, Hi* Excellency the Governor, Colonel Commanding the Forcei. &c, &c, &c.

No 2426.

50th March, 18C0.

Enclosure 3 in No. 23. LIEUT.-COLoNEL MURRAY TO THE GOVERNOR. New Plymouth, 20th March, 1860. Sir,— I deem it my duty most respectfully, but earnestly, to bring under the consideration of Hie Excellency the Goveinor the inadequate Force at my disposal for the proper protection of New Plymouth, threatened as we are with attack from neighbouring tribes, mustering, as is rumoured, some 1200 men well armed. I have already pointed out the most assailable points requiring immediate defence, but a glance at the Garrison state will show how utterly impossible it will be to keep up the duties by day and night, which circumstances render absolutely necessary, and I regret to say that present appearances leave but little hope, of any speedy termination to this state of affaire unless promptly and strongly reinforced. I am sure His Excellency will exonerate me from any wish unnecessarily to magnify evils ; the facts of the case are palpable. We have on three sides of us powerful tribes who, there is reason to believe, would combine, should a favourable opportunity offer, for the purpose of trying to re-establish Native iovereignty. I hope 1 am not travelling out of my proper course in alluding to this question, but I act solely from a sense of duty, and I think I should fail in the proper performance of that duty did I aot strongly urge the necessity for a Force of at least 1200 men in this Province at the present

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