E.—No. 3 .

DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE. No. l. ■corr or a DESPATCH from his orace the duke or Newcastle, k.u., to govebkor sic geobc-e GRET, E.C.B. Downing Street, 26th December, 1863. Sir,— I have to acknowledge the receipt of the despatches of the numbers and dates noted in the margin forwarding copies of despatches addressed to you by Lieut.-General Cameron, reporting several encounters that had taken place between the forces under his command and the natives. I have much pleasure in conveying to you an expression of my satisfaction of the uniform good conduct of Her Majesty's troops in this harassing description of warfare; and also at the steadiness and efficiency shown by the Militia and Volunteers under Major Lyon. And I cannot omit to notico especially the cool intelligence and energy displayed by Color-Sergeant MacKenna, upon whom the •command of a detachment devolved, after Captain Swift had been killed and Lieut. Butler severely wounded. I have, <fee, Governor Sir George Grey. X.C.13. Newcastie &c., &c, &c. No. 2. Copt of a DESPATCH feom his (.race the dv:ke of Newcastle, k.g., to governor sik George GRET, E.C.B. Downing Street, 26th December, 1863. Sic, — I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatches of the numbers and dates noted in the margin. It is with deep concern that I have read accounts of the several murders committed by Natives ou unoffending settlers, especially as showing the mode in which it appears too probable that the war will be carried on by the Natives. I am fully aware how great a loss the Government will have sustained in Mr. Armitage, who was qualified by his intelligence, determination, and his relations to the Natives, to render such valuable services to New Zealand at the present juncture. The singular account of Native feeling which is given by Mr. Stewart, in his letters forwarded in your Despatch, No. 129, afford some ground for hoping that a decisive defeat may have a considerable Effect in breaking up the present confederacy of the Waikatos. I have, &c, Governor Sir George Grey, X.C.8., Newcastle. &c., &c, * &c. No. a. copy or a DESPATCH from his grace the duke of Newcastle, k.g., to governor sir oeoju.e GREY, K.C.B. '(No. 21.) Downing Street, February 18th, 1864. Sic,— 1 have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. IGI, of the 21st of November, transmitting for my information a copy of the evidence taken at the Coroner's inquest held on the body of James Dromgool, who was killed by the natives near the Mauku stockade in the Province of Auckland. I have, &c, Governor Sir George Grey, iv.C.B., Newcastle. &c, &c, &c.

No. 4. copy of a DESPATCH from his grace the duke of Newcastle, k.g., to governor sir geor«-e GREY, K.C.B. (No. 22.) Downing Street, February 21st, 1864. Sir,— I have received the series of despatches, noted in the margin, describing the feelings of the natives in various parts of New Zealand, and the operation of the war up to the occupation of the residence of the Maori king. I need not tell you that I have read these papers with the most lively interest. The sacrifice of valuable lives, by which the recent successes have been obtained over an active and resolute enemy, is very lamentable ; but it lias not been fruitless. I collect that the most powerful and intelligent, though by no means the most culpable, of the tribes which have taken arms against us, have been entirely defeated and broken, and that those who have as yet given no indication of submission are little able to offer a protracted resistance to Her Majesty's Forces. I hope, therefore, that the difficulties before you, though doubtless formidable, will be of a peaceful kind. o

3rd Oct. 1863, X 0.120 » .. i, 121 ~ „ „ 122 .. ~ „ 123 „ „ 125 .. ■> •■ IM> sthOct.lB«3,Ko. 127 6th, „ „ 132

2nd Oct. IStKJ, X0.12:i 3rd ~ ~ 124 .. ii ~ „ 128 H I. -, ~ 129

14thNov.lS03,Ko.l5!i 17th ~ „ „ ltjO 23th „ „ „ 162 :Soth „ „ 16;! Oth Dec. 1803, „ 177 „ „ „ ~ 178 SthDec. ~ ~ 179 „ >, „ „ 180 9th Dec. „ „ IS2

85

THE NATIVE INSURRECTION.