G.—2.

Crown- gran ted to Europeans. Te Whiti and his people declared that it was done to test the right of confiscation : and, still further, to bring about that aggression against himself (by the Government) which was to end in his apotheosis, in the expulsion of the Europeans, and in the restoration of all the lands possessed by them to the original Native owners. The Government at first treated the matter as if the ploughing were an assertion of right to lands which "had been bought, not confiscated, and which for thirteen years had remained Avithout its being paid for": adding "that, it did not appear that anything but a fair settlement was desired." This vieAV Avas reasserted in the Prime Minister's telegram of the 22nd of June, addressed through Major BroAvn to the settlers at Hawera : " Some of the Natives," said Sir George Grey, "represent that what they are doing is only to call attention to wrongs which they state they have suffered for years in reference to lands promised them as compensation. Others are undoubtedly doing it under the orders of a fanatic; and there is no telling to what length fanaticism will proceed. This is no new thing. Nearly similar circumstances took place in the County of Kent in my youth, and resulted in much loss of life. You should let them [the settlers at Hawera] understand that there are no negotiations going on with Te Whiti, and that Ave are quite free to take any course we may think necessary." Up to this date the Government had resisted all appeals by the settlers to take active steps with the ploughers, and at the same time had repeatedly cautioned the settlers against taking the IaAV into their OAvn hands. In the telegram last referred to, liOAvever, Sir George Grey acquiesced in the propriety of the settlers "removing the ploughers without any unnecessary disturbance." As it happened, they had not Avaited for his acquiescence, but had, early on the very same day on which it Avas written (22nd June 1879), removed the ploughmen and their gear from Mr. Livingstone's land near Hawera, Avhere the lawn was being ploughed up in front of his house. In a telegram dated the previous day, Colonel Whitmore had expressed a hope that the settlers "would not take that course, but leave the matter till the Government should have opportunity to obtain reports from its OAvn officers." On the 23rd June, Sir George Grey, in a telegram replying to one from Major BroAvn reporting the removal of the ploughmen, said, "The OAvners of the lands are quite justified in putting the Natives off with the assistance of their friends; but arrests under Avarrants should be made by the Police or Armed Constabulary." Two days after, Sir George Grey telegraphed to Major Tuke that "if Natives should frequently return to plough, and a disturbance of the public peace be likely to take place, it would be his duty to have such Natives arrested, and a charge of disturbance brought against them at once." Erom this date the ploughmen, up to the number of nearly 200, were folloAved up by the police, arrested at various places, and sent for trial to Carlyle and Wellington. It is unnecessary here to continue the story of events so far as the ploughing is concerned. It entirely ceased at the end of August. The detention of the ploughmen, and the postponement of their trials under authority of an Act passed by the General Assembly, do not appear to come Avithin the scope of the investigation avc Avere commissioned to make. We will merely add that they submitted to arrest AAdthout resistance, acting under Te Whiti's orders, and that they were told to remain in custody aAvaiting the final demonstration of his power, which he prophesies Avill release them and bring about the revolution he predicts. IX.—lncidental Causes which impeded the Government. Among incidental causes which no doubt more or less impeded the progress of the negotiations with the Natives, it would be unfair to Major BroAAm not to allude to a complaint Avhich he makes on more than one occasion. We refer to obstructions placed in the way of the Commissioner by a class of persons who were professedly acting as his assistants, and Avho, either in the shape of salary or of largesse, were receiving for their imaginary services no small sums of public money. Europeans or half-castes of questionable antecedents, habitually living beyond the frontier of decent society in connubial or cra<m-connubial relationship with Native women, have been taken into Government pay, and entrusted

1879.

Hon. Sir G. Grey, Telegram to Ministers, 10th June 1879.

Hon. Sir G. Grey, Telegram to Civil Commissioner, 22nd June 1879.

Ibid.

Hon. Colonel Whitroore, Telegram, 21st June 1879. Hon. Sir G. Grey, Telegram, 23rd June 1879.

Hon. Sir G. Grey, Telegram, 25th June 1879.

XXXIII