§ MR. ARTHUR MILLSinquired of the Colonial Secretary, Whether he has received by the Mails, which arrived yesterday, any Despatches from the Governor of New Zealand with respect to the war; and whether it is true that any proposition has been made to the Colonial Parliament with a view of withdrawing Her Majesty's forces from the Colony?
§ MR. CARDWELLsaid, it would be known to those who had read the voluminous papers which had already been presented to the House upon the subject of New Zealand, that at the time when these papers were sent home, the Governor was engaged in a controversy with his advisers upon the subject principally of the disposal of the Queen's troops, and of the terms to be offered to the Natives for their submission and return to their allegiance. At that time the Governor had, on his own authority, in obedience to instructions from home, but without the concurrence of his Ministers, offered terms on which the Natives should be permitted to return to their allegiance. He (Mr. Cardwell) had that day received despatches by the mail from New Zealand, the purport of which was that the Governor had formed a new Ministry upon principles which, he assured him, were in conformity with the instructions he had received from home; that the new Ministry confidently expected to enjoy the confidence of a large majority of the Assembly, and that they had recognized the act of the Governor in offering terms of submission to the Natives, without insisting upon that which the Governor believed to be impossible—namely, the condition of the universal surrender of arms. He further held in his hand certain Resolutions of the Assembly of New Zealand, dated on the 6th of December last, which were to the effect—
While the House expresses its deep gratitude for the generous assistance rendered by the mother country to the colony, and while it does 290 not dispute the claim of the Imperial Government to exercise a reasonable control over the policy of the colony, while the colony is receiving the aid of the British troops, it nevertheless is resolved to make every possible effort to place itself in a position of self-defence against internal aggression, with a view to accepting the alternative indicated by the Home Government—namely, the withdrawal of Her Majesty's land forces at the earliest possible period consistent with the maintenance of Imperial interests and the safety of the colony.He had also heard that the principal Native Chief, William Thompson, had applied to the Governor for an extension of the period during which, according to the Proclamation, it was open to the Natives to return to their allegiance, assigning reasons which were not in their nature unsatisfactory, but the Governor had not had time to consult his responsible advisers as to the reception that ought to be given to the proposal.
§ MR. ARTHUR MILLSasked, whether the despatches would be laid upon the table at an early period?
§ MR. CARDWELLsaid, he was always anxious to have all papers laid on the table as soon as possible, and he would take care to do so on the present occasion.