E—No. I

MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. tribes living near Taranaki, and they were—First, in reference to criminal offences ; second, in reference to land. He wished these subjects to be considered separately, and as having no sort of reference to each other. The tribes in the vicinity of Taranaki have greater advantages than most others, as they are much intermixed with the Pakeha, and ought to profit by their intercourse with them. If they choose to live peaceably and cultivate their lands they would grow rich and multiply, instead of which they were constantly at war with each other, and their numbers were decreasing-. Their disputes were almost always about matters of little or no importance, or about land which was not worth quarrelling for. Had the Governor been in New Zealand when Katatore slew Rawiri, he would have had him arrested and hi ought before the Judge, and, if the Judge had sentenced him to be hanged, he would have caused him to be hanged ; that he had not thought proper to arrest Ihaia, because though the murders to which he was a party, were horrible and disgraceful, yet they admitted of some extenuation, inasmuch as they were committed in retribution for the murder of Rawiri. All this, however, now belongs to the past; but, for the futuie, he had determined that every man (whether he be Maori or Pakeha) who may commit any violence or outrage within the European boundaries shall be arrested and taken before the Judge, and the sentence of the Judge, whatever it maybe, shall be carried into tffect. He was determined that the peace of the settlers should no longer be disturbed by evil doers, and that those Maories who are not content to live in peace among the Pakehas had bettergo elsewhere. In reference to the second subject, the Governor thought the Maories would be wise to sell the land they cannot use themselves, as it would make what they could use more valuable than the whole ; but that he never would consent to buy land without an undisputed title. He would not peimit any me to interfere in the sale of land unless he owned part of it ; and, on the other hand, he would buy no man's land without his consent.— [('fftcial Statement, 2Cth March, 1860.]

MISCELLANEOUS. Governor's Speech, * March, 1859. f

13.— The Governor's Manifesto to the Natives in February, 1860. [ Translation.] 1. When the Pakehas first came to Taranaki'there were no Natives at the Waitara. The Ngatiawa had been dispossessed by the Waikato. 2. The Waikato transferred their rights to the Government and received a payment for the land. 3. Afterwards the Ngatiawa returned and occupied the land : the Government acquiesced in thi s occupation. 4. In March 1859 some of these occupants, To Teira and others, opely offered to sell to the Government their claims to a portion of the land at the Waitara. 5. William King opposed this offer, and said that no land at the Waitara should be sold. But the "mana" of the land was not with William King, and he had no right to forbid the sale of any land which did not belong to him personally. 6. The Queen has said that all the natives shall be free to sell their lands to Her, or to keep them, as they may think best. None may compel the Maori people to sell their lands, nor may any forbid their doing so. 7. William King sets his word above the Queen's, and says, though the rightful owners of the land may wish to sell, he will not allow them to do so. 8. The Governor cannot allow William King's word to set aside the words of the Queen. 9. The Governor has said that he will not allow land to be bought, the title to which is disputed. He has also said that he will not allow inteiftrence with the rightful owners in the sale of their lands. When land is offered, the title to which is clear, the Governor will use his own discretion in accepting or declining the offer 10. The Governor accepted Te Teira's offer conditionally on its being shewn that he had an indisputable title. 11. Te Teira's title has been carefully investigated and found to be good. It is not disputed by any one. The Governor cannot therefore allow William King to interfere with Te Teira in the sale of his own land. 12. Payment for the land has been received by Te Teira. It now belongs to the Queen. 13. William King has interfered to prevent the survey of the Queen's land by Her own suryeyois. This interference will not be permitted. 14. The Governor has given his word to Te Teira and he will not go back from it. The land has been bought and must be surveyed. The Queen's soldiers will protect the surveyors. If William King interferes again and mischief follow, the evil will be of his own seeking. 15. The Governor desires peace. It depends upon William King whether there shall be peace or not If he ceases to interfere with what is not his own he will be treated as a friend and there will peace. — [Maori Messenger, February, 1860.]

1 Governor's Manifesto, Fehruxry, 1860.

xiv.— Extract from Letter of Archdeacon Hadfield, to the Duke of Newcastle dcted29th Mag 1860. An official document put forth by the Governor, entitled " Statement relative to the purchase A by the I'ritish Government of Teira's land at Waitara, Taranaki," contains, I presume, all that can be advanced in justification of his own proceedings. It is fortunate that the merits of the question

Archdeacon Hadfidd's Letter. 29 May, 1860.