§ LORD ALFRED CHURCHILLsaid, he would beg to ask the Under Secretary of 882 State for the Colonies, Whether any authentic intelligence has been received with respect to the disturbances reported to have occurred between certain Native tribes in the province of Taranaki, in New Zealand, through a disputed land claim connected with the movement in favour of a Native King, and in consequence of which Captain Murray, commanding a detachment of the 65th Regiment, had proclaimed Martial Law, and that Her Majesty's Ship Niger had left Auckland for the scene of action with considerable reinforcements; and whether there is reason to believe that these disturbances would not spread beyond the province?
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUEreplied that no disturbances had taken place in the province of Taranaki in the sense of any armed insurrection by the natives, nor had there been any disputed land claim connected with a movement in favour of a Native King. What had taken place was, that a piece of land had been bought by the Government from the native owner, a Chief who was willing and desirous to sell it, and the authorities were proceeding to survey it, when they were interrupted by another chief, who, however, did not pretend to have any claim to the land. The question was one of great importance, both to the natives and European inhabitants of New Zealand, inasmuch as it concerned the maintenance of the original treaty with the native chiefs. The Governor proceeded himself in the Niger to New Plymouth with a strong detachment of troops. He (Mr. C. Fortescue) had that day received a letter, from which it appeared that the Governor was meeting the difficulty with great prudence and firmness, and there was reason to hope that no collision would take place with the natives; but if unfortunately there should be a disturbance, it would not, it was believed, extend to the province of Auckland.