Ses Enclosure to . A.-2, No. 6.

As to granting Amnesty, See A.-8.

A.^l

[Colonel Tupman having subsequently written to His Excellency, forwarding an introductory Despatch, and expressing regret that he would reach New Zealand too late to visit Wellington, the Premier requested that Colonel Tupman should be informed—" (1) That instructions will be given, that immediately on his arrival in (Jhristchurch, he shall be communicated with by Dr. Lemon, the Superintendent of Telegraphs. (2) That Dr. Hector and Mr. McKerrow, the Surveyor-General of the Colony, will, without deiay, inform him whai is proposed to be done by local observers of the transit, and will be ready to confer with him generally on the subject."]

No. 8. His Excellency the Administrator to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. (No. 70.) My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 9th September, 1882. I have the honour to enclose, for your Lordship's information, copies of a Bill now before the General Assembly, authorizing the Governor of the Colony, with the advice of the Executive Council, to grant an Amnesty in respect of offences described in the preamble to the Bill, which it will be observed are offences heretofore committed by Maoris when in insurrection and disturbance of the peace on the West Coast. 2. In reference to this measure, and generally on the state of Native affairs, the Prime Minister has submitted to me a memorandum, accompanied by a memorandum by Mr. Bryce. As I believe your Lordship would desire to receive the views of Ministers on the present aspect of .Native affairs in the Colony, I have the honour to transmit herewith copies of those memoranda. I have, &c, JAMES PEENDEEGAST. The Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosure. Memorandum for His Excellency. His Excellency the Administrator of the Government will probably desire to send to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, by the outgoing mail, some information respecting the present condition of Te Whiti and Tohu, the satisfactory state of Native affairs generally, and the advantages which Ministers believe will be secured by a judicious use of the powers sought by means of the Amnesty Bill, which is now before the Assembly. A memorandum has accordingly been prepared by the Native Minister, and it is forwarded herewith, not as a confidential document, but to be used as His Excellency may consider advisable. . Fred, Whitaker. Wellington, September 9th, 1882.

■ Sub-Enclosure. Memceandtjm for His Excellency the Administrator of the Government. Thinking that your Excellency may wish to forward by the outgoing mail a memorandum on the present condition of Native affairs to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, I venture to send you a few remarks on the subject. Every well-wisher to the Colony and the Native race must assuredly be gratified at the greatly-improved condition of matters in connection with the Maori people, which is everywhere visible throughout this Island. Contrasted with the signs of danger and disturbance universally felt to exist a year ago, the present feeling of confidence in the peaceful relations between the two races is very remarkable. A year ago, the country appeared to be on the eve of war. Te Whiti and the large assembly of Natives with him at Parihaka seemed to be forcing matters to a crisis on the West Coast, and his influence was extending- in an alarming manner throughout the colony. Offences against the law were being daily committed near Parihaka, and the culprits felt themselves safe under the protection of the Chief Te Whiti. So urgent was the danger felt to be, that the Assembly passed a war vote of ,£lOO,OOO by common consent, and the general belief was that the colony would shortly be involved in bloodshed and warfare. The contrast now is very great, for so completely lias the danger passed away, that people have almost forgotten that such feelings of apprehension and dismay existed. Te Whiti and Tohu, as your Excellency is aware, were arrested at Parihaka, during the month of November, and are still in custody, although only nominally so. , They have not been brought to trial, as there was no wish on the part of the Government, or indeed of any Europeans, to inflict punishment on them, but they are kept in custody under the authority of the Pence Preserva-

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