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aware that we shall be met by the argument
that it is not for us to prejudge the case, or to
decide upon the legality of what has passed, or
to determine the offence of which any one has
been guilty; such questions belonging to the
courts of law, and for their consideration alone.
But your Excellency will allow us to suggest,
that there are cases of such a nature, and
evidence often of such a kind, that the public
mind comes at once to a decision, without
waiting for the more formal conclusions of the
law. The case before us is one of these; and
while every one would most heartily deprecate
any active step taken upon such a decision, and
be contented that law and justice should take
their course, still we should be imperfectly ful-
filling the mission with which we are entrusted,
did we not make known to your Excellency the
light in which the conduct of the aborigines, on
this occasion, is viewed by the settlers of Nel-
son, who feel that the enormity of their crime
is so distinct that the vengeance of the law
should certainly overtake them, and confidently
expect that they will be brought before its tri-
bunal as soon as a sufficient force shall be
collected to render its mandates irresistible.

The settlers of Nelson look forward with
great anxiety to the steps which the local
Government shall adopt. They have observed
with indignation an attempt on the part of the
Government representative at Port Nicholson
to screen the Aborigines, at the same time that
he threw blame upon the British, by a public
statement at variance with the facts of the case,
and directly opposed to the evidence of one of
our most respectable settlers at Nelson, (Mr.
Tuckett), which had been taken by him before
his public statement was made.

We hope, however, to be enabled to convey
to them, on the part of your Excellency, an
assurance that the case shall not be prejudged,
that impartial justice shall be done, and that
the penalties of the law shall certainly over-
take those whom its verdicts shall pronounce
to be guilty.

Another object of our deputation is, to repre-
sent to your Excellency the unprotected state
of our settlement; but we are spared the neces-
sity of enlarging upon this point by the promp-
titude with which your Excellency has dispatch-
ed the half of the troops at your disposal, to
Cook's Straits. We trust, however, that con-
sidering how much the settlers of Nelson are
dispersed, some in the Waimea, others at the
the Motuaka, others again in Massacre Bay,
engaged in agricultural pursuits and otherwise,
Major Richmond will consider it expedient to
station a certain portion of the force under his
direction at Nelson.

We have but one other subject to bring before
the notice of your Excellency; -several of the
constables who lost their lives at the Wairau,
have left behind them wives and children now
utterly destitute-these men were acting under
the orders of the Police Magistrate, and of
course in no wise responsible. It is confidently
trusted that the Government will make some

provision for the widows and children of those
who lost their lives in its service.

We have the honor to remain,
Your Excellency's
Obedient humble servants,

(Signed) D. MONRO, J. P.
ALFRED DOMETT.

To His Excellency the
Officer Administering the Governinent.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, 9th August, 1843.

GENTLEMEN,

I am directed by the Officer administer-
ing the Government, to acknowledge the
receipt of your statement, dated the 7th instant,
of the reasons of your being deputed by your
fellow settlers at Nelson to proceed to Auck-
land, of their opinions upon the lamentable oc-
currence at Wairan, the light in which it is
viewed by them, and of the subjects upon which
it would be satisfactory to them to receive an
assurance of the views and intentions of Govern-
ment relative to the deplorable calamity which
has befallen that settlement.

His Excellency received with deep concern
the intelligence of an outrage not only attended
by a fearful loss of human life, but calculated to
impair the confidence which has hitherto sub-
sisted between the two races, and indirectly to
retard the prosperity of the Colony. For the
irreparable loss the settlers of Nelson have sus-
tained, in so many, so highly and so justly
valued lives, His Excellency desires to convey
to them his deep and heartfelt sympathy.

For the recent bloodshed, I am to observe, an
awful responsibility has been incurred; what is
the degree of criminality of those concerned in
the fatal conflict, and on whom that criminality
chiefly rests, are questions on which no opinion
can be expressed, as the transaction may become
the subject of judicial enquiry-but whatever
may be the crime, and who may be the crimi-
nals, it is but too clear that the event, we must
all deplore, has arisen from several parties of
surveyors, without the knowledge or concurrence
of the Local Government, proceeding to take
possession of and to survey a tract of land, in
opposition to the original native owners, who
have uniformly denied the sale of it.

With a view to prevent the recurrence of such
an evil, and that no reason may be given to the
New Zealanders to doubt the good faith of Her
Majesty's solemn assurance that their territorial
rights as owners of the soil should be recognized
and respected, His Excellency has caused a
proclamation to be issued warning all persons
claiming land in this Colony, where the
claim is denied or disputed by the original native
owners, from exercising acts of ownership on,
or otherwise prejudicing the question of title to
the same, until the question of ownership shall
have been heard and determined by one of Her
Majesty's Commissioners appointed to investi-
gate claims to land in this Colony.

For the information of the settlers at Nelson,
I am desired to state, that one of Her Majesty's