The Ho the Colonial Secretary to Lieutenant-Colonel Murray, New Plymouth.

Referring to instructions which you will receive from the Officer Commanding the Troops in New Zealand, relative to the employment of a military force, if necessary, in maintaining occupation, on behalf of the Crown, of a block of land at the mouth of the Waitara, purchased by the Crown from Te Teira, and ordered to be surveyed, I have the honour to forward to you herewith a Proclamation by His Excellency the Governor, proclaiming that martial law will be exercised throughout the Province of Taranaki from the date of the publication in that province of the said Proclamation. I also transmit an instrument appointing you to be the Governor's deputy, for the purpose of directing the Officer Commanding the Militia in the District of Taranaki to draw out for actual service the Taranaki Militia, or such number thereof as you may judge necessary.

It will be obvious to you that this Proclamation should only be published by you, and the operative effect given to the other instrument, under such circumstances as in your opinion render it impossible to carry out the wishes of the Government without resorting to the powers conferred by these documents.