A.r-:'NO. 6,

8

DESPATCHES FROM THE RIG BT HON. E. CAKDWEIiL, I ?.,

I have also received your Despatch. No 138, of th« same date, forwarding the usual Monthly Return of Troops serving in New Zealand for the month of September. I have, &c, Governor Sir George Grey, X.C.8., Edward Cariiwejll. &c, &c, &c.

No. 14, (No. 134,) Downing Street, December 24, 1864. Sir, — I have to acknowledge the receipt of yoar Despatch No. 126, of the :30th August last, enclosing a Memorandum from your responsible advisers in answer to the paper drawn up by Mr Gcrst, entitled " Obseivations on tho Native Inhabitants of Rangiaowhia and Kihikihi." Mr. Gorst having requested to be furnished with a copy of this Memorandum, I directed a copy of it to bd forwarded to him in a letter, of which I euclose a copy herewith for your infora3*tioi), and of his reply. I have, &c, Governor Sir George Grey, X.C.8., Edward Cardwhll. &c, &c, &c.

Enclosure 1 in No. 14. SIR 1\ ROGERS TO ME. GORST. Downing Street, Doceraber 17, 1864. Sir, — I am directed by Mr. Secretary Cardwell to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, requesting that you may be allowed to receive a Copy )f a Memorandum by the Colonial Ministers of New Zealand in answer to the remarks contained in the paper which you forwarded to this office entitled " Observations on the Native Inhabitants of Rangiaowhia and Kvhikihi.'' I am to explain that Mr. Cardwell OQHHot consent to be directly or indirectly the medium of carrying on a controversy between a private individual and tho Government ofNew Zealand respecting the Native question, but that as the Memorandum in question, which has been officially trensmit'ed to him, contains allegations affecting your political character, he does not feel at liberty to withhold it from you, aud a copy is accordingly enclosed for your information. I have, &c, J. E. Gorst, Esq. Frederic Rogers.

Enclosure 2 in No. 14. lIH. GORST TO BIE T. ROGEBS. Oxford and Cambridge Club, December 20, 1864. !SIR, I have to thank you for your letter of the 17th instant, enclosing a Copy of a Memorandum by .ho Colouial Ministers of New Zealand, dated August 29, ISO-!. Iv compliance with the Secretary ul Slate's expressed wishes, 1 will not attempt (o enter into controversy respecting the affairs of New Zealand. I therefore refrain from adducing further proof of tho accuracy of my " Observations on the Native Inhabitants of Rangiiiowhiu and Kilnkihi," and from following the Colonial Ministers into the false issue they have raised. In those observations I stated fucts within my personal ktiowledge, not opinions on the general subject. The Secretary of Stale himself, however, will be the best judge whether the devotion exclusively to Native affairs of three years, of vhich the greater part was spent in almost daily discussions with the Maoiies themselves about thosa affairs, or the devotion of twenty years to business in colonial towns, without even a knowledge of the Maori language, affords the better (itle to be an authority on Native matters. But as the Colonial Ministers have thought it necessary to try to impugn my testimony by putting on record a charge against my political character, 1 ask the Secretary of Stale's permis"sion to put also on record my reply. I regret to have to trouble yon with any part of my personal history, but I cannot fully meet what is implied as well as what is expressed iv the Memorandum without mentioning the following particulars. When I went out to New Zealand in January, 1660, I wes a Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, possessed a private fortune, and had shortly before refused a position in Englaui