MR. GORSTasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether any reply has been received from the Government of New Zealand in answer to the Despatch which transmitted the Memorial of certain Maori chiefs alleging breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi; whether he has any reason to think that the Government of New Zealand declined to reply to this Despatch, and if he knows on what grounds they have adopted such a course; whether the Treaty of Waitangi is still regarded as binding upon the British Government; and, what steps will be taken to ascertain whether the Treaty is observed?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYNo reply has yet been received from the Government of New Zealand; but a telegram 1771 has recently gone to the Governor, requesting that it may be sent. We have no reason to think that the Government of New Zealand decline to send a reply to our despatch of August last, and are only waiting for its arrival in order to place the Papers on the Table. With regard to the last part of the Question, Her Majesty's Government have long ceased to superintend actively the Native affairs of New Zealand, and so grave a step as would be involved in any direct interference in the internal affairs of the Colony could only be justified by circumstances very different from those of the present case as at present understood.
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYNo doubt, the Treaty of Waitangi is in force so far as lapse of time or change of circumstances may not have made any parts of it obsolete.