E.—No. 3 .

I trust that the efforts to explain to this tribe the intentions of the British Government, and thus to dissuade them from joining the insurgents, may have proved successful. I have, &c, Governor Sir George Grey, X.C.8., Edwabd Cardwell. Sic, Ac, Ac. No. 13. copy oe a DESPATCH FEOM the bight honourable edward cardwell, m.p., to governor. SIR GEOBGE GBEY, K.C.B. (No. 64.) Sir,— Downing Street, May 26, 1864. I transmit to you, for your information, copy of a paper which has been drawn up by Mr. .1. E. Gorst, entitled *; Observations on the native inhabitants of Bangiaowhia and Kihikihi." I have already expressed my hope that the present war would not be made the occasion of throwing back into savage life any portions of tribes which appeared likely to emerge from it, and to attain that material prosperity which is tho best guarantee against turbulent innovation ; and I forward to you this representation of Mr. Gorst, in the fullest confidence that, sharing in this view, you will give to any case which comes before you, a just and dispassionate consideration, and decide it upon grounds of equity and sound policy. I have, &c, Governor Sir George Grey, X.C.8., . Edward Cardwell. &c., Ac, &c. Enclosure in No. 13. OBSERVATIONS ON THE NATIVE INHABITANTS OF RANGIAOWHIA AND KIHIKIHI. The land around Bangiaowhia and Te Awamutu, extending to aud including part of Kihikihi, belongs to natives of the great Waikato tribe. The territory of Ngatimaniopoto begins at Kihikihi, and extends thence to the south-west. This country is not a barren waste. Besides the great villages of Eangiaowhia, Kihikihi, and Kuakotari, numerous little hamlets are dotted about the country, consisting of three or four native houses surrounded by their patches of cultivated land. Even those parts of the country which appear to be only a barren waste of heavy fern land would be found, on enquiry, to have been once under cultivation, and to be now used as a pasturage for horses, cattle, or pigs; in a few years these parts would be again brought into cultivation in tlieir turn, according to the sort of nomadic agriculture practised by tlie Maoris. The whole district is occupied and used ; it bears marks of having been enriched and improved by the labour of the inhabitants. Good fences have been erected ; Eangiaowhia, for instance, is surrounded by a fence many miles in circuit; roads are made in various directions ; bridges have been thrown over impassible swamps; and a good many mill-dams have been constructed. A considerable part of the land was covered, a generation ago, with ancient forest, which the industry of the "Waikatos has cleared. The inhabitants of this district have been since 1857 adherents of the H\laori King. In opposition to their wishes I was in December ISO! stationed in the midst of them as magistrate. An attempt was promptly made by their neighbours the Maniapotos to expel me by violence. It was entirely due to the opposition of the Waikatos, backed by Wi Tamihana, that the attempt was abandoned, and that I was enabled to remain peaceably in the district until March, 1868. During this period 1 was frequently indebted to tlie friendship and support of the Waikatos for protection against the hostility of Eewi and Maniopoto. I believe the leading chiefs of Eaugaowahia would have joined Sir George Grey's plans had they thought it safe to do so, but they dared not risk a quarrel with Maniapoto, against whose hostility the English Government could have afforded them no protection. Short of actually joining the Government, they did many acts in its support: they furnished timber in spite of Eewi for the Goveanment buildings at Te Awamutu, and they supported in his various efforts to get the Waitara affair settled, and in writing to recommend the quiet surrender of Tataraimaka. On the occasion of Bewi's attack upon Te Awamutu in March, 1863, the Waikatos openly arrayed themselves against him and threatened to resist force with force. It was through the interference of these men, and the firmness they displayed, that the Europeans employed at Te Awamutu owed their preservation from violence. The Waikatos afterwards in conjunction with Tamihana, compelled Eewi to restore the government property which he had seized, and from April, 1863, to February, ISO 4, they protected the government buildings at Te -Awamutu from destruction. The message sent down to Taranaki to instigate an attack upon the troops, which occasioned tho massacre of Lieut. Trageft and his men. was the act of Eewi alone. The Waikatos had no share in it. When war broke out at Taranaki, they united with Tamihana aud Ngatihaua in preventing Eewi from carrying out his design of attacking Te Ia and Auckland. There is no evidence of their having joined in any hostile schemes, until the dread of an invasion drove Waikato and Ngatihaua once more into an alliance with Maniapoto. I believe that in resisting the progress of General Cameron the two former tribes imagined themselves to be carrying on a defensive war.

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