E.—No. 1.
[translation.] Friend Te Tiraratt, — Government House, September 29th, 1864. Salutations. I have seen the letter which Te Otene wrote to you respecting the conversation I had with Paora (Tuhaere) about the prisoners who have run awaj . I see these words in your letter, " The Governor said, ' My whip shall descend upon every place.'" Friend, the man who told you this is altogether wrong; he has tortured my meaning into something altogether foreign. Tiiis is what 1 said to Paora, " This will become (be left) a source of trouble to New Zealand." My meaning was this :—That when the news of these prisoners having run away, when out of kindness to them I had them placed at the Kawau, gets across the sea, I thought the whole world would say: —Of course, it is so! the Maoris are a perfidious people; their words after this cannot be depended upon. It was in reference to this that I said to Paora, "that this would be a trouble to Xew Zealand." I by no means said that "my whip should descend upon every place." 1 did not at all say that '"those without fault should be chastised for the fault of these people." Whenever was such a. principle seen in connection with the law? But those who have done wrong, they only shall be affected. Do not you be under a misapprehension, do not be wavering, my principle is one, the same now as it always was, a principle of only kindness—to those living peaceably. But thus to pervert my words is a matter likely to produce trouble. Do not you pay any attention to people who act in that, way. \ our loving friend, To Tirarau. G. Grey.
No. 11. Copy of a LETTER from Mr. Geo. Graham to His Excellency Sir Geo. GhutY, K.C.B. Sir, — Clift, Hobson Street, Auckland, Bth October, 1864 I have the honor to inform you that some of the Friendly Natives from the Thames called upon me some few days ago. to whom I expressed my regret that the Maori prisoners had left the Kawau ; and from remarks that they made 1 whs induced to make further enquiries on thin subject. I met, on Monday last, some of the prisoners, and as they were in company with the Maori that I before alluded to, and thai had given me the information, I requested him to repeat again what he had before stated, namely, that Mr. Fox, accompanied by Mr. T. A. White, sometime since visited the hulk, and told the prisoners. "That if the Governor allowed them to be put on shore they could go away." That one of the prisoners asked, "What do you mean by this ; do you mean that we can return to Wajkftto." They said to this question, Mr. T. A. White, as interpreter, replied, " Yes, if you thinfc proper." I requested the Natives to furnish me wilh this statement in writing, and 1 have just received the accompanying document, which I enclose for your Excellency's information. I may add that, as they state that nearly the whole of the prisoners were present, and heard wha-t Mr. Fox, through his Interpreter, said to them, they will be able to confirm the above statement. I have, &c., Geo. Grahah. His Excellency Sir George Grey, X.C.8., Governor of New Zealand, &c. Enclosure to No. 11. E hoa c Kkeeama, — Oketopa 7, 1864. Tena koe, tenei te kupu a "VVaikato hereliere, i to taenga ki to rua o nga Kaipuke, ka haere mai a Te Pokiha ki to korero i nga kupu a To Kawana, koia enei, " Kaore he whakainato tangata a Te Kawana — kahore he whare here here — kahore he whakawatanga —heoi ano te whare here here ko te Kaipuke c noho nei koutou, ki to tukua koutou eTe Kawana ki uta —me haere noatu. Heoi ana, Na HUARERENGA. [translation.] Feiend Mr. Ghattau,— October 7th, 18G4. Salutations. This is the word of the Waikato prisoners. When we were put on board the second chip (the " Marion," H.M.S. " Curacoa" being the first), Mr. Fox came on board to speak to us the words of the Governor. These are (ho words. The Governor has no intention of putting any man to death —ihere will be no imprisonment —1 lit re will be no trial; the only prison will be this ship where you now are. In the event of the Governor letting you go on shore you may go where you like. That is all. HUAREHENGA.
No. 12. MEMORANDUM by Mr. Fox respecting Mr. Graham's Statement. Mr. Fox has received from His Excellency the letter of Mr. G. Graham, covering a letter written by a. Native, reporting certain statements said to have been made by Mr. Fox to the prisoners on board the hulk. Mr. Fox does* not understand that the native letter is written by one of the prisoners, or that any of the prisoners has made any such statement to Mr. Graham, or confirmed any such statement made to him by others. Mr. Graham's statement is somewhat confused. Mr. Fox, however, loses not one moment in giving the statement, by whomsoever made, his absolute and unqualified contradiction. 10th October, 1864. Wulliam Fox.
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MEMORANDA AND REPORTS
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