In a private letter written Home at this time,' Sir Bverard Homo, of the North Star, after stating that ho has not lifted anchor for 10 weeks, complains that they are on the eve of a bad peace, the Governor negotiating with the disaffected at a moment when strong reinforcements are arriving and wheu a sound drubbing might be administered. The final scenes of this most interesting chapter of our early history now begin to un fold, and that I may draw your attention to them in a more interesting way I shall ask you to consider for a few moments the aspect of New Zealand affairs as viewed at the time in the Home country. The antagonism between the Government and tho New Zealand Com pany was as great as it had ever been. The company complained of broken faith and disre garded pledges. The settlers, they said, were no better than exiles; millions of fertile acres stood waste and lovely harbours tiore the reflec tion of no sail; a magnificent country suitable in every way for tho expansion of England's greatness was utterly blighted by Home and colonial misrule. So far but little sound of the events I have just described had reached the English shores. The news of the Wairau mas sacre bad, and so had Heke's first exploit in 1844, and it was known that the relations be tween colonists and Natives were rapidly becom ing ominous. Lord John Russell said if war began between the two races Eng land would hear news which would make humanity shudder. So continuous was the outcry that in April 1845 Lord Stanley, the Secretary for the Colonies, wrote a despatch to Governor Fitzroy intimating to him his recall. Tho grounds for this step were the neglect of his instructions as evidenced by the fmanoial

course taken by him, his proceedings with re gard to land, his opposition to tliu enrolment of a militia, and his not having suHicioiit firmness and decision in his proceedings with theNntivos. Tim outcome of this stato of all'airs was tlio celebrated debate, on New Zealand in tins Ilimsu of Commons on the 17th, 18th, and lOlli Jimu 1815, extending over the three days. The widest interest was taken in the question, which was indeed it party one, the voting for the liovuruniunt being against 173, a slemler nmjorilj'. 