ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OE STATE.

65

A.—No. 1.

No. 29. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. P. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. (No. 38.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord, — New Zealand, 24th March, 1869. In pursuance of the directions contained in Article 407 of the Colonial Regulations, I have the honor to report that, on yesterday, the 23rd instant, Whakamau, a Maori of the Ngatiraukawa Tribe, was executed in Wellington, for the murder, in last November, of a travelling pedlar named Korncrop, a Dane by birth, at Ohau, near Otaki, about fifty miles from this city. 2. The murderer was surrendered to justice, without resistance, by his own tribe, which does not therefore appear to have attached any political significance to his crime. He was tried on the sth instant before the Supreme Court at Wellington, when a verdict of guilty was returned, and sentence of death Avas passed. The learned and able Judge (Mr. Justice Johnston) who tried the case, reported to the Government in Council, in the usual manner, that there was no reason why the law should not take its course. The Judge also furnished me with the corrected report of the proceedings at the trial, which I now enclose. 3. According to the usual practice under similar circumstances, and with a view of impressing the mind of the Native Race with a sense that even-handed justice is dispensed alike to Maori and European, the Colonial Government incurred a large expense in providing the prisoner with able Counsel, with an additional interpreter, and with every other assistance. Mr. Justice Johnston and others present have informed me that nothing could be more calm and dispassionate than the conduct of the jury and the demeanour of the crowded Court. It is very creditable to this community that not a trace should have been exhibited of those feelings exhibited in other parts of the British Empire, when a dark-skinned race has been in open rebellion against the authority of the Crown, and has perpetrated cruel massacres of Englishmen, together with their wives and families. Several Maori chiefs attended the trial and execution of Whakamau, and expressed themselves as thoroughly satisfied that impartial justice had been dealt out to their countryman. 4. The prisoner, both before and after his trial, was assiduously attended by Archdeacon Hadfield, and by the Reverend Arthur Stock, another clergyman of the English Church. They inform me that he died, to all appearance, sincerely penitent, expressing contrition for his crime, and acknowledging the justice of his sentence. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. G. P. BOWEN.

No. 30. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. R Bowes, G.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. (No. 3D.) Government House, "Wellington, My Lord,— New Zealand, 25th March, 1869. I have the honor to forward herewith six copies of the annual volume of the " Statistics of New Zealand for 1867, including the Results of a Census of " the Colony taken in December of that year." The annual Report of the Registrar-General of this Colony is prefixed. 2. The completed volume of statistics was placed in my hands only three days ago. The causes of the delay in its final publication are stated in ihe accompanying Report of the Registrar-General. But it will be seen that the more important returns now republished had already been issued several months ago in the Abstracts of certain principal Results of the Census of New Zealand, taken in December, 1867, of which copies were forwarded with my Despatch No. 56, of the sth July ultimo ; and in the " Statistical Tables in anticipation of the annual 11 volume of Statistics of New Zealand for the year 1867," of which copies were forwarded with my Despatch No. 88, of the Ist Septembei* ultimo. 17