Copy of a DESPATCH from Lord John Russell to Governor Hobson.

Sir,   Downing-street, 3 August 1841.

I received a despatch from the Governor of New South Wales, dated the 5th of March last, No. 62 transmitting copies of a correspondence which had passed between that officer and yourself on the subject of a practice recently established by Europeans in New Zealand of taking land on lease from the natives, for the purpose of evading the enactments of the Act of Council for the investigation of titles to land in that colony.

In order to put a stop to such proceedings, you will immediately introduce to the local Legislature an Act, declaring the invalidity of those leases from the natives, and of every other alienation of their lands (in whatever form, or subject to whatever conditions. or for whatever time such alienation may have liven made by them) in favour of any individuals since the proclamation of Her Majesty's sovereignty in New Zealand.

I am, &e.

(signed) J.Russel

— No. 17. —

(No. 63.)

COPY of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir George Gips to
Lord John Roswell.

Government House, Sydney,

My Lord,   5 March 1841.

I HAVE the honour herewith to forward a copy of a despatch from the Lieutenant-governor of New Zealand, dated the 16th February lot (received the 4th instant), in which the Lieutenant-governor announces the removal of the seat of his Government from the Bay of Islands to the Town of Auckland, on the River Waitemata, which falls into the frith of the Thames.

The Lieutenant-governor in this despatch alludes also to some rumours of disagreements with the natives, which your Lordship will be happy to find are altogether unfounded.

I have, &c.

(signed)   George Gipps.

COLONY OF NEW ZEALAND,   93

It might or   ' to your Excellency that these alarms having taken place no nearly simul-

taneously, some grounds. I feel assured they have not ; that the natives gene-

rally are not to us; but that disaffected white men, who as yet I have failed to detect, are endeavouring to

sow discord in the country, and part of their scheme is to create suspicion in the minds both of the natives and of the settlers.

I greatly regretly that I have it not in my power to place competent garrisons at the principal points where Europeans and established ; their presence alone would lie quite sufficient to restore confidence to all parties.

I have, &c.

His Excellency Sir George Gipps,   

(signed) IV. Hobson. Governor, Ate. &c.

— No. 18.

(No. 65.)

COPY of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir George Gipps to Lord John Russell.

Government House, Sydney,

My Lord,   7 March 1841.

I NAVE the honour to forward herewith a copy of a report made by Mr. Clarke, Protector of Aborigines in New Zealand, to the Lieutenant-governor of that colony, containing an account of a visit made by Mr. Clarke to the natives of the districts of time Thames and Waikatoo.

These districts comprehend, I believe, by far the largest block of land in New Zealand, that is in its whole extent fit for cultivation. Its length is said to be 100 miles, its breadth from 10 to 30, and its content is roughly estimated at about a million of acres. The existence of this large extent of available land was, I believe, one of the principal reasons which induced Captain Hobson to fix the seat of his Government in the estuary of the Thames.

I lament to find by the report of Mr. Clarke, that the minds of the natives in these districts have been worked upon by some designing and dissatisfied Europeans, so as to induce in them a distrust of the intentions of Her Majesty's Government. I concur with the Lieutenant-governor in thinking that means should be taken to counteras their machinations; and I have signified to him that I shall readily sanctieon whatever expenditure be may consider necessary for the purpose.

I have, &c.

(signed)   Geo. Gipps.

NEW
ZEALAND.

No. 18.

Governer Sir

George Gipps Lord John

7 March 1841

Report,

NEWZELAND.

No. 16.

John Russell

to Gov. Hobson.

3 August 1841.

NO. 17.

Governor Sir

George Gips to

Lord John Russell

5 March 1841.

16th Feb.1841

   NO 17

Enclosure in No. 17.

sir,   Government House, Russell, In February 1841,

I have    the honour to inform your Exellencey that on the 3d instant I returned from
Auchland, where during three weeks, I found ample. employment in hastening the prepares

for the reception of the Government offers,    and in establishing temporary offices

for carrying on the duties of Government. On the 13th instant I despatched by the the colonial secretary and the clerks of his department, and nearly all the Government stores that remained at this place. In a week, or at farthest in ten days, I will send up the colonial treasurer and his department, and in a fortnight after was

hope to be myself finaly established at the future capital of this colony

I was much gratified at the progress made by the workmen; the frame of Government-

as completed before I left, and the offices On one wing were then ready for occupstion

by my family, being_ just, sufficent to afford them shelter until some of the rooms of Government-house are completed, and fit for their reception. A very considerable body of prisons bail then collected, and every day has been adding to their numbers; all to establish themselves thew, and are apparently much pleased with the position.

to my arrival considerable exeitement had prevailed, in consequence of a most absurd and unfounded report, that a large body of natives, of the Nga-te-pa-wa tribe had collected in the Island of Waikeke, with the intention of attacking the settlement ; that the had blok kaded themselves in their barracks, and the settlers and mechanics were formed into squads muder the Goverenment officers, for the purpose of defence. Before I reached Auckland it was discovered that the reports which caused the agitation had no foundatoin In fact, all the ferment had subsided. Soon after my arrival, a deputation from the suspted tribe walted on me, and denying any intention of molesting us, only seemed to recommuend themselves to my favourable consideration. A similar sensation had prevenled here,in my absencer, but not to the same extent.

Enclosure in No. 18.

PROTECTOR of ABORIGIN ES' REPORT of his Visit to the Thames and Waihato.

On the lath December I embarked in the 'Victoria brig, proceeding to the Thames, for the purpose of visiting the chiefs of that district, and as far as possible to counteract that ill feelings of the natives towards the Government, arising from their natural jealousy. and strengthened and encouraged by designing mens to describe the state of the country through which I might pass; and to treat with the natives for such portions of their land as they may be disposed to part with, and can conveniently spure.

On the 19th December, having received my instructions from his Excellency the Lieutenant-governor, I left Auckland, and proceeded to examine a small river called Wairoa, which forms the western boundary of Mr. Fairburn's land.

The river takes a southern direction, and is entered by the passage to the eastward of Waiheke, leaving the islands of Paheke and Motu Nau (islands purchased by the New Zealand Company) on the eastern side.

The river is navigable for small craft drawing six feet water for about eight or ten miles, for boats anti canoes about six or eight miles higher up. The land on the banks of the river in good, but confined, the back ground well wooded, on either side of which neat little farms of flow ea to too acres might be laid out.

A day's journey from where it is oacigable for boats, is a tract of good country offered by the natives to the f iovernment ; but it appears to me it would he some time before this

mace could be nettle available for the porpo,:es of Clovernment ; other positions or a ,wee Important and more inviting nature will no doubt first he occupied; yet in the course of a My few years this may he taken up ao n position with /Idea nbere ; it is coae.-ed with timber, and the land very good. The oily olueetions are the present difficulty or acve::::, 569.   and

Encl. in 18.