G.— 2.

LXIV

the one thing that is really wanted—peace upon the Coast. As Mr. Bright said in the House of Commons in a debate on the Habeas Corpus Suspension Bill for Ireland, " there is no statesmanship merely in acts of force and acts of repression." Such acts can only be justified on grounds of political necessity and in selfdefence : but even then they often stand in the way of the solution of difficulties which wise statesmanship, if left to choose, would have solved in another way. It seems to us that the time has come Avhen, if our suggestions are accepted by Your Excellency, definite intimation can and should be given to Te Whiti of the manner in which it is proposed to deal Avith the disputed districts : and he should be invited to concur in that "sharing" of them with Your Excellency, which he appeared prepared to acquiesce in at the date of his intervieAv with Mr. Mackay. But he should be made to understand that in any case the Government is going to take its share. In what manner he should be approached seems to us a matter for the consideration of Your Excellency's Advisers : we only venture to suggest that no time should be lost in doing it. All which is with great respect submitted to Your Excellency. William Eox. Eeancis Dillon Bell. Parliament House, Wellington, sth August 1880.