Reply of His Excellency to the foregoing Memorial.

It is very gratifying to me to receive so distinct a declaration from a portion of the inhabitants of Auckland and its vicinity that they have not at any time excited the Natives upon the subject of the Crown's right of pre-emption; but it is nevertheless my duty to take this opportunity of publicly reiterating the complaints of my predecessor, by stating that, during the period I have administered the Government of this colony, most improper attempts have been made to induce the Natives to dispose of lands (to which, I believe, their title was doubtful) without any reference to the rights of the Crown-and the present and future interests of the inhabitants of this portion of Her Majesty's possessions.

I am fully satisfied that the great majority of the inhabitants of this portion of New Zealand-will in no way connect themselves with proceedings which, looking to the fearful calamities they must eventually entail upon Her Majesty's subjects of both races, cannot but be viewed with horror by the whole civilized world. I request them to lend me every assistance in their power for the-suppression of such attempts, aud they may rely that I, upon nay part, will omit no means within my reach of promoting their prosperity and happiness.

The terms of the Government notice of which the memorialists complain were prepared with great care, and with the advice and consent of my Executive Council. They are in strict conformity with the Instructions of Her Majesty's Government, and I am aware that that notice afforded the most unqualified satisfaction to the vast majority of the Queen's subjects within this territory. My duty will not, therefore, permit me to depart from, or in any way to vary, its terms; and I can give you no further assurance upon this subject than that I will spare no exertion to arrange your claims in such a-manner as to render the greatest amount of substantial justice to the many and conflicting interests involved in them.