AGAINST MR. C. W. RICHMOND.

19

F—No. S

Jelay his leaving. Upon this decision being conveyed to him, it was moved by Mr. Creyke that this Committee adjourn until Thursday at 10 - 30 to receive a further statement from Mr. Richmond. Committee adjourned accordingly.

Thursday, Bth August, 1861. Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present:— Hon. Mr. Crosbie Ward, Mr. Cracroft Wilson, C.B Mr. Chairman of Committees, Mr. Weld in the Chair. Minutes of the last meeting read and oonfirmed. Mr. C. W. Richmond resumed his statement. At first sight the concluding paragraph in my letter of the 27th August, 1859, to Mr. Parris, seems somewhat at variance with my assertion that throughout the transactions to which this investigation refers, I confined myself strictly to giving an opinion, when called upon to do so, and to the execution of the Governor's directions. It can, indeed, scarcely be thought that the few words of the paragraph in question, written more than five months after Teira's offer, betray any undue urgency ; and as regards what I say in that passage of my letter, about the Governor's firm determination to proceed with the purchase, my words express no more than what had already been communicated to •Mr. Parris through Mr. Smith's letter to Teira of 19th July, 1859, [1860, E—No. B,page 3.] But it may be asked why did I interfere at all ? Why did 1 step in between the Governor and the Officer of the Land Purchase Department. The explanation will be found in thee orrespondence which I now produce. Here Mr. Richmond put in copy of a letter from himself to His Excellency Governor Browne, dated 18th July, 1861 ; Also, copy of the Governor's reply thereto, dated 19th July, 1861. PameD, July 18th, 1861. Dear Sir,—The House of Representatives having agreed on Mr. Weld's motion to appoint a Select Committee to investigate the charge preferred against me by Dr. Featherston, I intend to produce to the Committee the whole of my private correspondence with Mr. Parris. Your Excellency is aware that the correspondence relates almost exclusively to the proposed road fiom Auckland to Taranaki, via Mokau and the White Cliffs, and to the management of the Native Reserves at New Plymouth In only a single instance is the Waitara purchase mentioned by me, and it is to this that I wish to invite your Excellency's attention. On the 27th August, 1859, about five months after Teira's offer, I replied to a letter from Mr. Parris, on some questions respecting which in his capacity of a Commissioner of Native Reserves, he desired my opinion for his private guidance. At the conclusion of my letter I referred to the Waitara question in the following terms : — " The Governor is very anxious about the completion of the purchase from Teira. I am sure you •will press the matter as fast as appears prudent. It would satisfy His Excellency if, without writing officially, you would let me hear privately how things stand. I have been in hope that Mr. McLean's visit would effect something, but he delays so long. The Governor feels he is pledged to effect the purchase." I wish to ask your Excellency to be good enough to state what is your recollection of the circumttances under which I wrote the paragraph I have cited ; particularly whether it was written with your Excellency's cognizance ; and whether or not it was written in lieu of an official instruction which your Excellency had proposed to the Assistant Native Secretary, Mr. Smith, to convey to Mr. Parris. I remain, &c, C. W. Richmond. To His Excellency Colonel Thomas Gore Browne, C.B. Government House, July 19th, 1861. Dear Mr. Richmond, —In reply to your letter of yesterday's date, I must commence by observing, that when I went to Taranaki in March, 1859, I was determined at all riskis to put an end to the bloody feuds at that place which had so long disgraced the Government. I considered the acceptance of Teira's offer (on behalf of his people) likely to effect this object, and was therefore anxious that the title should be investigated with as little delay as possible. Five months having elapsed without my receiving any conclusive report on the subject, I instructed Mr. Smith to write to Mr. Parris, desiring him to hasten the negotiations as much as was compatible with proper care and due caution. I remember your then telling me you thought it scarcely prudent to write officially to Mr. Parris, lest he should be induced to hurry more than

Mr. C. W. Rithmond. Bth Aug,. 1861.