THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 169

You also enclose a copy of your reply,
authorizing the immediate raising of 2,000
men for active service, pending the meeting
of the General Assembly, together with
copies of the conditions under which they
are to be enrolled.

I do not disapprove of the principle of
this measure. I think that any body of
Natives which takes up arms against Her
Majesty on such grounds as these which are
alleged by the Waikatos, may properly be
punished by a confiscation of a large part of
their common property. I think that the
lands thus acquired may properly be employed
in meeting the expenses of carrying on the
war, nor do I see any objection to using
them as the sites for military settlements,
which, moreover, must soon lose their dis-
tinctive character, since it is probable that
the Natives of these districts, unlike those
in the Cape Colony and Kaffraria, will soon
become an unimportant minority of the
inhabitants.

But while I acquiesce generally in the
principles which you have adopted, I must
add that the application of these principles is
a matter of great danger and delicacy, for
which the Colonial Government must remain
responsible. It will be evidently very diffi-
cult to control within wise and just limits
that eagerness for the acquisition of land
which the announcement of an extended con-
fiscation is likely to stimulate among old and
new settlers, and which, if uncontrolled, may
lead to great injustice and oppression. Still
more evidently is it possible that the Natives
who still remain friendly to the Govern-
ment may view this measure, not as a
punishment for rebellion and murder, but as
a new and flagrant proof of the determination
of the colonists to possess themselves of land
at all risks to themselves and at any cost,
and as thus furnishing the true explanation
of the past and present policy of the Govern-
ment.

Such belief would obviously tend to make
the Maories desperate, and aid the efforts of
the King party to effect a general rising
throughout the Northern Island.

Your Ministry do not notice this danger
in their memorandum, but they cannot have
been blind to it, and I do not doubt (though
you do not so inform me) that they feel their
power to control the application of the prin-
ciple which they have introduced, and have
taken sufficient means to persuade the
Maories in general that the property of
innocent persons and tribes will be strictly
respected, and that a different measure of
severity will be administered to those who
have taken a lead in the war and those who,
though in some degree accessories to what
has passed, have, as far as circumstances
would allow, favoured the cause of order.

Whether due caution has been used in these
respects is a question of which the Home
Government can only judge by the result.
And I must not disguise from you that if
this important determination of your Govern-
ment should have the effect of extending,
and intensifying the spirit of disaffection, and
of thus enlarging the sphere or prolonging the
period of military operations, these conse-
quences will be viewed by Her Majesty's
Government with the gravest concern and
reprehension.

I have, &c., &c.
NEWCASTLE.

Governor Sir George Grey, K.С.В.
&c.,
&c.
&c.

MILITIA AND VOLUNTEERS.

Colonial Defence Office.
Auckland, 23rd April, 1864.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been
pleased to make the following appoint-
ments, viz. :-

In the Auckland Militia.
Major Paul Frederick de Quincey to be
Lieutenant-Colonel. Date of Commission
--20th April, 1864.

Major William Moule to be Lieutenant-
Colonel. Date of Commission—April
21st, 1864.

Phillip Harington, Esquire, to Lieutenant-
Colonel. Date of Commission—22nd
April, 1864.

Printed and published by ROBERT J. CREIGHTON and ALFRED SCALES, for the New Zealand Govern-
ment, at the Printing Office, O'Connell-street.