If Ministers desire it, I will of course, Forward these papers to the Secretary of State, but it appears to me a great pity to re-open a question of this nature. If the 18th. Regt, were so unpopular at Whanganui in 1865, how was it that such urgent entreaties were addressed to the Government by the people of that district in 1868, to send back there? And how was it that such bitter complaints were made of the final removal of in 1870? The fact is that the whole Colony bore its testimony to the general conduct of the Officers and men of the 18th. Regt; and at the request of Ministers, several Official Memorandums have been forwarded to me to that effect; - all in direct contradiction to the allegations of the present petitioners. Moreover, it is obvious that no favourable answer can be expected to this application. The War Office will naturally reply that the question should have been referred to me in 1865, while the Imperial Troops were in the Colony, and now after a lapse of seven years, when it is practically impossible for the Imperial authorities to institute enquiries through their own Officers. The Home Government will also probably point out that no evidence is given such as would justify them in applying to the House of Commons for a special vote in this matter; and further, that the accounts between the Imperial Government and the Colonial Government, arising out of the War, were finally settled in 1868 - three years after the date of this claim. (Signed) G.F.S. Government House Wellington July 6th. 1872.