ffering that they were in, (hear hear, Mr. Atkinson,) more than that, he said that he "was very much surprised at what we told him") and this was after his Excellency had been about eighteen months in the country. I repeat it was with a very painful feeling that we of the Southern Island heard a statement which did look like a very strong self-condemnation, and one I should hardly expected to have heard from his Excellency’s own mouth. (hear hear,) I will not attempt to multiply instances, but I must say that the same fatality which appears to have attended his Excellency’s speeches seems also to have been imported into his despatches. (hear,) I have already dealt with the omission to state the true grounds upon which this House supported the late Governor in his actions at Taranaki, but unfortunately there were also, to use the Duke of Newcastle’s words, “arguments put into the mouths of the Natives” quite distinct from those which, in my opinion at least, animated the great body of the native race. We see in these despatches nothing about the letters of W. Thompson, the leader of the King movement with their aspirations after a distinct National Sovereignty. We hear nothing of the declaration made when Sir George Grey met Wi Kiiigi’s natives, the very natives who formerly occupied land at Waitara and now hold Maiuitawa, when Sir G. Grey was distinctly told, as witnesses can prove, “We are not fighting about the land in Waitara,” not for ‘hearths’ and ‘homes,’ “but to uphold the King’s authority against the Queen’s authority.”

I might pursue the subject paragraph by paragraph and page by page, but I do not wish to take up the time of the House unnecessarily, what I have said is sufficient to show that we must not by silence render ourselves liable to misconception. I now will proceed to my second resolution, and here I shall only ask hon. gentlemen to observe, that I merely demand on the part of Teira what Governor Gore Browne had promised him, what Governor Sir G. Grey has promised, and what if we are to believe his Excellency’s despatches, even semi-hostile natives are in some form or other anxious for; I can, however this may be, see no possible reason why the title should not be investigated—no reason why any hon. gentleman should get up and refuse this investigation which has been called for on all sides, and still less can I for a moment imagine that any hon. gentleman could wish that Teira who had suffered much through his adherence to the “Queen’s party” should be allowed to remain unprotected against any kind of illegal aggression. (Hear hear.) I do not at all wish to assume that Teira has rights to the land; the position of the late Governor and those who supported him would not be in the least impugned, could it be proved that Teira had no title to a single acre of the land, though I am as much as ever of opinion that Teira will be shown to have as large and as good a title as I have ever supposed him to have; it is in justice to Teira himself that I press this investigation, not at all in order to gain any party triumph. I have quoted speeches made in this House, now I will refer to a speech made in another place in 1860 by an hon. gentleman then Attorney General, a member of the Stafford ministry and an exponent in that other place, of the policy of the then Government; that hon. gentleman (now the head of the present government) spoke to this effect;—“I absolutely refuse to go into the question of Teira’s title at all, I don’t care whether Teira has land or has not land. I only say that the position taken by the government is that of resisting aggression. I will tell the Council that I believe that Teira has a good title, but I say that is not the point at issue.” Thus I may fairly affirm that it is not to seek any party triumph that I ask for this investigation, but that justice may be done. As to protection I will say; that it would be a wicked and disgraceful thing, unheard-of in any part of the world, (unless possibly in this) that a man depending upon the English crown for support, who has loyally risked his life and property should be thrown into the hands of his enemies. I believe such a course cannot be contemplated by anyone, yet still I ask the House to use all means in their power to prevent the possibility of Teira’s being dispossessed of that land without the investigation of claims, which he has always been willing to forego should they be disproved. (Hear, hear.)

I will now only repeat that the Resolutions do not pledge the House to any sweeping approval of the particular views of any party in former sessions, but merely state the then action of the House, recognising the fact that the Despatch of His Grace the Duke of Newcastle has happily averted a possible controversy with His Excellency the Governor; and secondly, asking a simple act of justice, sanctioned by two Governors, and demanded by all parties; excepting by that of W. King of Waitara. (Hear.)

Major RICHARDSON seconded the motion, which being carried unanimously, the Resolutions were reported to the House, and ordered to be transmitted to His Excellency the Governor, with a request that they might be forwarded to Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Government House,
Auckland, 26th October, 1863.

My Lord DUKE,—I had the honor of receiving on the 22nd instant, your Grace’s despatch No. 88 of the 25th of August last; I thought it my duty to communicate it at once to my responsible advisers, and I have accidentally learned that it has by direction of the Colonial Secretary been published and copies of it distributed to some of the members of the General Assembly. This has been done without my having been consulted on the subject, and I have not yet been informed that it was intended to publish it, nor has a printed copy of it been sent to me.

2. I do not mention this in the way of complaint; for I am sure the Colonial Secretary has—