A.—No. 9.

10

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE

for the Troops. Her Majesty's Ministers, as shown by Earl Granville in his Despatch No. 115, 17th October, 1869, are apprehensive of the responsibilities which might result from a continued connection with the Colony, altogether forgetting those which they have incurred, and which they cannot shake off. Some idea of tho enormous gravity of the step taken by Her Majesty's Ministers may be conceived when it is remembered, that though the removal of the Troops was opposed to the advice of the Imperial officers who had a personal knowledge of the Colony, the orders were so unconditional that the removal must have taken place, no matter what condition existed when the orders arrived, and what sacrifice of life might have ensued. It is true, that in the Despatch already referred to, theoretical objection was taken to responsibility ; but seeing that such theories apply to all Colonies, as long as there is an Imperial Bepresentative or ship of war in any Colony, we may accept them as a plausible introduction to the new policy decided on towards New Zealand. Ministers freely admit that the Colony has from time to time asked for authority to manage its own affairs, but it has always done so subject to the condition of its still remaining a part of the Empire. If it had failed to endeavour to do justice to the responsibilities it sought, no doubt it might be taunted with such failure ; but even then Ministers urge that the Imperial country could not have released itself from the supreme responsibility which, as the head of the Empire, attaches to it. It is not pretended that the Colony showed itself indifferent to its self-sought responsibility. It has contracted an expenditure which, as compared with its revenue, would, if contracted by the United Kingdom in proportion to its revenue, amount to nearly three hundred million sterling, or, on the basis of population, it would amount to about five hundred million sterling. It has lost a very large number of colonists as compared with its population. When it asked for a regiment to remain, it did not abandon its aspirations; it was still willing to persevere in the arduous duty it undertook; it requested only what quite recently back it was advised to consent to —to pay for a regiment to remain in the country. The request was nothing more than that one Power might address to another, —paid assistance to repress or guard against the outrages of fanatic savages. If a Colony in time of peril may not seek such a boon, no matter what it has previously undertaken, —and for the sake of argument let it be said no matter what errors or mistakes it may have committed, —then Ministers are at a loss to understand the position which the Colonies occupy. Indeed it might be laid down as a principle, that whilst a colony remains a part of the Empire, and is governed by a nominee of the Crown, it has tho right to look for assistance to the Imperial country in any emergency with which it is beyond its own power to cope. To satisfy the theories of Lord Granville as to responsibility, New Zealand must cease to be a part of the Empire, and that is one reason why the Despatch in question may bo regarded, as urged by Sir George Grey as a hint to that effect. The circumstances all corroborate this view. As has been already said, the removal of the Troops is notoriously opposed to the opinions of those who in ordinary cases would advise the Colonial Office. Long ago as it was since the removal of the Troops was spoken of, it was always understood that the removal would be conducted in such a manner as to be least injurious to public safety, —certainly that it would not be completely effected in the midst of active hostilities. This was the case when the Colony decided not to ask for the retention of the Troops, but to try to do without them; but with an inconsistency specially affronting to the Colony, when the Colonial Legislature resolved that it was desirable one regiment should be retained, and made provision to pay for it, unconditional orders were sent for its immediate removal, no matter what disasters might follow; this too at a time known to be particularly critical, and when delegates were on their way to confer with the Home Government on the subject. Only extreme necessity could explain such a denial of ordinary courtesy as that imperative orders to remove the Troops should cross the Commissioners on their road to execute the mission with which, within Lord Granville's knowledge, they were to be intrusted. No military necessity explains the course pursued. The regiment has proceeded to the neighbouring Colonies, to remain there in comparative idleness. Those Colonies would be glad, even though they paid the usual contribution, that New Zealand in its need should have the use of the Troops. Again, heedless of all the mischief it might produce, Lord Granville published his Despatch, although he must have been aware that the terms in which he spoke of the Native Eobels, and the encouragements he held out to them, were calculated to seriously embarrass the Colony. As a fact, it may be stated that the Despatch has been translated into Maori, and has given great satisfaction to those Natives who are in arms against and otherwise opposed to us. Whilst Ministers deem it their duty to place on record their opinions of the present position, they desire it to be understood that they do not commit themselves to an indication of what course the Colony will take. It may be that the Assembly will consider that so important a matter as the severance of a Colony from the Empire is one about which the Imperial Legislature should express an opinion. It may be that the force of public opinion, already in measure expressed, will induce Her Majesty's Government to regret the invitation to New Zealand to leave the Empire, which Lord Granville's Despatch implied; and it may be that the Assembly will consider that there is another question first to be decided, namely, the liability of the Imperial Government to the Colony, if there is indeed to be a complete release of Imperial responsibility. New Zealand is sparingly peopled, but it is possessed of resources adequate to a large population. It is strictly, in every sense, now being colonized for tho people of Great Britain. To every citizen of that country all its advantages are open. He may, a few months after his landing, attain to political power, or in his private and industrial capacity he enjoys equal privileges with the veteran colonists who found the country a wilderness. Thousands of persons in Great Britain, without even having visited the Colony, are interested in it, in business or in property. It has been the pride of the Colonists to consider themselves subjects of Great Britain, and to believe that they are rearing up a home for those of their fellow-subjects who are crowded out of the Mother Country. It is a glory to them to know that in this new Britain there is no pauperism, and that the benefits of education are