The following letters were published in the Daily Southern Cross, Auckland, Saturday, November 16, 1867:—

"(To the Editor of the Daily Southern Cross.)

"Sir,—

"A letter appeared a few days back in your newspaper relative to mercy being extended to the Maori prisoners. This induces me to send you a letter that I received from William Thompson while he was on a visit to the Governor at Wellington. William Thompson correctly thought that the native character was not properly known by the Europeans, and he wrote me several letters relating to his own life and that of his ancestors, to show that they (the Maoris), when even cannibals, could be merciful.

"William Thompson tells, in the enclosed letter, how that he tried to prevent crime and prevent war, that he made peace at Taranaki, and that he endeavoured to establish schools, &c.

"War, unjust war, has brought ruin to many Natives and Europeans, and left a debt on the Colony that our grand-children will scarcely live to see paid. It is seven years, on the 20th of this month, since the Taranaki war was begun. My friend's letter page 70 may be interesting to some who, like myself, were always opposed to war, and to strangers it will show that the Maori is not the savage some represent. If you can afford space, I would like the Maori as well as the English translation to be printed.

"Yours, &c.,

"Geogre Graham.

"Cliff, Hobson-street, "Auckland,

November 14, 1867."