The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-17 00:00:00

The War in New Zealand,

Some time ago an address was presented to the
Governor of New Zealand, which was signed by
several peers and members of Parliament, and other
influential persons, praying his excellency to termi-
nate the war by negotiation if an opening should
present itself, and furtier proteslicg against the
threatened confiscation of native lands. The gover-
nor has addressed the following reply to the secre-
tary of the Aborigines Protection Society :
Government-house, Auckland, April 7.
Sir,—l have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter of the 26th of January, transmitting me an ad-
dress which had been very numerously and influentially
signed, in which a hope was expressed that I would
avail myself of the most favourable opportunity which
presented itself of endeavouring to terminate by negotia-
tion the war unhappily existing in New Zealand, and
especially that I would listen to any overtures of peace
which any of the natives who had taken up arms may
make. Your letter and the address which it encloses shall
be forwarded to my responsible advisers for their con-
sideration, but in the meantime I can have no hesitation in
saying that the wishes and instructions of his Grace the
Duke of Newcastle impose on me as a duty that which is
entirely in consonance with my own feelings and with yours,
viz, that I should instantly listen to any reasonable level•
tures that the natives in:arms may make, and that I should
avail myself of any opportunity that offers of obtaining
permanent peace for the colony. lam quite confident that
general public opinion in this country will support me in
taking this course, and would expect me to do so. With
regard to the confiscation cf portions of the lands of natives
now in arms, this point has to be considered, that mercy
requires that future contests between the two races should,
in as far as practicable, be prevented, and that there are
many tribes in New Zealand who have taken no part in the
present lamentable conflict, yet who might hereafter be led
into similar acts ; whilst nothing woud more certainly lead
to the extermination of the native race than a series of
contests such as that which is now being carried on. The
object of the local. government therefore has been to secure
to that numerous part of the native population who have
taken no active part in the present war the whole of their
landed possessions, and also by laws passed expressly for
this object to give to the lands held by such natives a value
greater than they have previously had for their owners, by
in all respects giving them equal rights in their landed
possessions with those enjoyed by their European fellow-
subjects, the intention in this respect being to show that
the rights of peaceable citizens, of whatever race, are care•
fully respected, and to give the natives so valuable a stake
in the country that they are not likely hereafter to hazard
it lightly. On the other hand it was thought necessary by
an example to show that those who rose in arms against
their fellow-subjects of another race suffered such a
punishment for doing so as might deter others from
embarking in a similar ca-eer. It is therefore proposed
to deprive such persons of their landed properties, and
to provide for the future safety of the colony by occupying
such lands with a European population. But even in
the case of these persons it is intended that sufficient
lands shall be reserved for themselves and their descend-
ants, to he held on the same tenure as lands are hence-
furth to be secured to the rest of the native population.
That these measures will be carried out in a spirit of liberal
generosity and of mercy I earnestly hope, and will do my
best to ensure, and in my efforts for this end I believe that
I shall be supported by a large majority in this colony. You
will much oblige me by returning this answer to those
noblemen and gentlemen who have signed the address which
you forwarded to me.--I have the honour to be, sir, your
most obedient humble servant,

(Signed) G. GRET.
F. W. Chesson, Esq,,
Secretary to the-Aborigines Protection Society.

_
ICE IN THE ATLANTIC.—By the arrival of the
Allan steamer Peruvian wo hear of the lose of two
vessels belonging to this port—the Philanthropist and
Highlander. The former was on a voyage from Liverpool
to Quebec, and was lost in the ice on the banks of Newfound-
land on the 11th of May. The crew were picked off the
wreck by the barque Wolfville, and taken to Quebec. She
was a ship of 805 tons, and was built in St. John's, Now
Brunswick, in 1852. Her present owners we have been
unable to ascertain, es she very recently changed hands.
The second vessel, the Highlander,was bound from Quebec
to Fleetwood, and was, says the telegram, " lost near St.
George's Bay," but it is supposed through contact with
ice. She was a perfectly new ship, having only been built
this season at Quebec, and was, when lost, on her voyage
coming over to England, we believe, for sale. Both vessels
had valuable cargoes, and were fully covered by insurances,
partially, if not wholly effdcted in London.—Liverpesi
Courier.

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