THE WAIKATO COMMITTEE.

F—No. 3

given to the race of Chiefs only, the ancient race. I will not conceal my words, whether right or wrong. From the Assembly of Hoani Papita. j

Appendix A\ Letter from Wiihatt Chiefs. 10 June, 1857,

Enclosure 3 in No. 2. MEMORANDUM BY THE GOVERNOR. 2nd June, 1857. If the report of the recent meeting of Natives (at the Chief Waitere's) is correct, most of the Chiefs, including Potatau, have unsaid what they said to me during my visit to Waikato. On the other hand, many friendly Chiefs have written, assuring me of their friendship, and their disapproval of the election of a King. These last, however, desire to have laws of their own, and seem to claim power similar to that exercised by the Assembly. Should the Waikato Chiefs proceed to elect a King, and Potatau consents to accept the office, the example will be followed elsewhere. It seems clear that the King will not be permitted to enjoy any of the privileges of the office. He will have neither power nor money; nor would he be permitted to sell even the portion of land he occupies, although his joint or tribal right to it might be acknowledged. It would soon appear that except in matters of no import, his power among his own people would be but very little greater than that which any other important Chief now enjoys. In reference to Europeans, however, the case would be different. It is very probable that the King would endeavour to obtain, at their expense, the renown which savages value above all things, and which under present circumstances would be essential to his supremacy. In old times Chieftainship was attained and maintained by prowess in war among themselves, but this road to distinction is no longer open. Natives who may have committed offences against Europeans would, however, naturally look to their King or Chief as their only protector, and the power and renown of the King would be most easily shown and recognised in affording protection at all risks. Such difficulties would secure an otherwise doubtful allegiance. Again, in the event of a crime or offence committed by an European residing on Native land, there can be no doubt the King would judge and punish him according to Native custom, which would probably be very contrary to ours. I assume then that it would not be safe tacitly to permit the election of a King, and the next question is, what steps should be taken to render such an election either unsuccessful or nugatory ? A code of laws, adapted as much as possible to the present want's and condition of the Maories, should be prepared at once, leaving for future consideration those subjects on which serious alteration from the English law is required. This code should be printed in Maori and circulated among the influential Chiefs. A meeting of Chiefs should be then convened, and they should be informed that when any tribe is willing to adopt this code, and at the same time agree to surrender to our Courts all persons accused of capital crimes, and to abolish certain customs repugnant to these laws, Magistrates and paid Assessors shall be appointed and required to hold sessions throughout the district. The possibility of failure in our object requires careful consideration. It is also necessary to remember that our best-laid plans would be endangered if any untoward offence were to be committed by an European during the present excitement. Several of the ( hiefs have avowed their desire to be united under one Chief, in order that they might act energetically in the event of such an occurrence, and others have at various times asserted the right to punish Europeans offending against Maories, on 4he plea that they surrender Maories offending against Europeans, Taking ail these matters into consideration, it appears to me that the time is critical, and that much good or evil must result from the manner in which we now act or neglect to act. T. Gore Browne.

Governor's Minute, 2 June, 1857.

Enclosure 4 in No. 2. MINUTE BY TIIE GOVERNOR. 4th June, 1857. For obvious reasons, which it is unnecessary to detail, the Governor considers it highly important that the European population should not be more than necessarily isolated : he therefore desires that instructions be given to the Land Purchase Commissioners to use their utmost endeavours to connect and consolidate Crown lands, and not to commence negotiations for the. purchase of land not adjacent to and connected with Crown lands, without special reference to himself. Instructions to this effect should be sent by the " Wonga Wonga." T. Gore Browne.

Governor's Minute, 4 June, 1857.

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