A.—l

1882. NEW ZEALAND.

DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

Presented to loth Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. (No. 35.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord, —■ New Zealand, 16th June, 1881. I have the honor to enclose the copy of a memorandum addressed to me by the Premier, Mr. Hall, giving cover to copies of a report by Mr. PitzGerald, the Controller and Auditor-General, on the management of the finances of some of the Australian Colonies and of New Zealand. I have, &c, ARTHUR GORDON. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 2. (No. 41.) Government House, Wellington, Mv Lord, — New Zealand, 16th July, 1881. I have the honor to report, for your Lordship's information, thatTawhiao, the Maori " King," has, for the first time for many years, crossed the boundaries of what is known as the King country, and visited the white settlements in the Waikato. Major Mair, Native Commissioner, by direction of the Government met the Native chief at Alexandra, where an interview took place, in the course of which Tawhiao came forward and laid his gun at the feet of Major Mair. In this action he was followed by his retainers, to the number of about seventy, and it was at the same time explained by Wakanui, another chief of considerable influence who has hitherto held aloof from any communication with whites, that they intended this to express their friendly feeling towards the Europeans. 2. Major Mair is now, at Tawhiao's invitation, accompanying him on his tour through the Waikato District, and it is intended to repeat the same ceremony at various centres of population. 3. This visit of TaAvhiao is of considerable significance, as indicating his desire to break through the barrier which has of late years isolated the " King country " from the rest of New Zealand. I have, &c, ARTHUR GORDON. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Reply. A-2, No. 3.

No. 3. (No. 47.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord, — New Zealand, 10th August, 1881. I have the honor to enclose copies of a report lately made to me by Sir William Pox, the Commissioner appointed under " The West Coast Settlement (North Island) Act, 1880." I have, &c, ARTHUR GORDON. ,The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies.