TO HIS EXCELLENCY SIR GEORGE GREY, K.C.B.

23

A.—No. 6.

Chiefs of New Zealand say, Let the Chiefs of England come to New Zealand to put an end to this foolish war. Do you hearken all of you ? The excellent sentiments expressed in the address you sent hither (i.e. the address of the Aborigines Protection Society to Sir George Grey), do you cause them to be enforced in England where are the houses of Treasure and the houses of Maire (Mira Solicifolia) {i.e. in England, where all that is beautiful in art and sublime in sentiment meet the eye and mind), you cause the points mooted by you to be settled yonder {i.e. in England), then we shall be saved here {i.e. in New Zealand), or if you plead our cause in England and prevail, we Maoris shall be saved from the horrors of war, &c, &c. Let your mission of mercy be hastily executed, so that we may speedily be saved from the works of the Europeans (saved from war), we are waiting to be saved (i.e. friendly intervention), and wondering from what quarter will mediators come. If you are clear about the matter, or if you approve, send a member of your Council hither to us to enquire into the wrongs or errors of this Islaud, for the good things of this Island as well as the bad things are unknown to you. Let our affairs be seen with jour own eyes, and do not suffer intelligence to be carried on to you by the winds, lest there should be any doubts in your minds, and you should conclude that the Pakeba side is right or wrong, or the Maori side is right or wrong. This is the reason why we send you this message ; we have heard of your large brotherly love to the Maoris. It was the European races who brought the Gospel to this barbarous Island, also the sword to kill; these they (i.e. the Missionaries) had instructed, and now they (the Maoris) have no wish to lift up the sword which kills the body, but they wish to have " the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." O, Friends! the chiefs of the Council (ie., the Aborigines Protection Society) be all of you powerful to raise us up, so that we may stand on our own feet or stand erect and come back to Christianity (i.e., war has driven Chrisiiauity far from us) for death, that is to say war, is the work of Satan, but peace is from God; Te Oha Taotao, And all his Tribe. From Katikati, And all his Tribe. From Te Kott, And all his Tribe.

Enclosure 2 in No. 25. MB. CHICHESIEE FOBTESCITE TO THE PBESIDEITT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE ABOEIGINES PEOTECTION SOCIETT. Downing Street, 31st March, 1860. Sir, — I am directed by Mr. Secretary Card well to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th instant, enclosing copies of two letters which had been received by the Aborigines Protection Society from certain Chiefs in New Zealand, and recommending, on behalf of the Society, that Commissioners should be specially sent from this country to enquire and report upon the meaus of ensuring the future tranquility of the Colony. In reply, I am to inform you that it does not appear to Mr. Cardwell that the appointment of a Commission, independent of the Governor and constituted authorities of New Zealand, would be likely to produce any beneficial result. I have, &c, To the President of the Committee of the C. Fortescue. Aborigines Protection Society

No. 26. No. 36. Downing Street, 22nd May, 1865. Sir,- : I have the honor to inform you that I referred, for the favourable consideration of the Secretary of State for War, a copy of your Despatch, with its enclosures No. 169, of the 22nd of November, recommending Major Charles Heaphy, of the Auckland Militia, for the decoration of the Victoria Cross for his conduct at fie skirmish on the Batiks of the Maneaniko River in February, 1864. F ' I am iuformed, however, by Lord de Grey that the Royal Warrant instituting this decoration limits the grant of it to the officers and men of the regular Army and Navy, and that his Lordship is therefore precluded from recommending Her Majesty to confer the Victoria Cross upon Major Heaphy.