THE IMPERIAL FORCES IN NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume X, Issue 1193, 3 September 1866, Page 3

THE IMPERIAL FORCES IN NEW ZEALAND.

The following despatch and correspondence, which are taken from despatches recently laid on the table of the House, explain the terms on which the Home Government propose to allow a single regiment to remain in this colony :— [Copy of a Despatch from the Eight Hon. Edward Cardwell, M.P., to Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B.] Downing street, 25th June, 186(3. (Received at Wellington, 22nd August, 1866.) : Sir,—l transmit to you for your information a copy of a letter from the War Office, with a copy of a despatch fromV* ilajor-General Chute, having reference to the amount of force to be stationed in New Zealand, together with a copy of the letter addressed to the War Office in reply by my desire. I have, &c, Edwabd Cabdwell. Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B.

[Copy of a letter from Sir Edward „ Lugard to Sir Frederic Rogers.] War Office, 16th June, 1866. Sir, —With reference to your letter of the sth instant, on the subject of the retention, under certain conditions, of one battalion of infantry in New Zealand, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit to you, for the information of Mr Secretary Cardwell, the accompanying copy of a despatch which, with its enclosures, has been received from MajorGeneral Chute on the subject of t the withdrawal of the troops from that colony. The Marquis of Hartington presumes* that Major-General Chute may be informed, in reply to the enquiry contained in his despatch, that he is right in assuming that he will be acting in accordance with the intention of her Majesty's Government in retaining on© battalion of infantry, irrespective of any provision being made by the colony for the prescribed payment on account of troops, but contingent upon the contribution for Native purposes alluded to in your I am to add that Lord Hartington

would be glad to learn from Mr. Cardwell whether it is to be understood that the arrangement above referred to is intended to include the retention of a battery of artillery in New Zealand, in order that the necessary instructions may be sent to Major-General Chute on the subject. I have, &c, Edwabd Lugabd. Sir Frederic Bogers, Bart. [Copy of a Letter from Major-G-eneral Chute to the Secretary of State for War.] Head Quarters, Auckland, 7th April, 1866. My Lord, —With reference to your Lordship's despatch No. 090-909, of the 26th January, 1866, and also with reference to a letter received from Governor Sir George Grey, dated 17th January last, a copy of which was forwarded for your Lordship's information, in my letter of 7th March, No. 51-66, to the Under Secretary of State, I have the honor to state that on the 17th ultimo I addressed a letter to His Excellency (copy enclosed) for information as to whether the withdrawal of her Majesty's forces might now proceed more rapidly than at the rate of one regiment in every two months. Not having yet received any answer from his Excellency, I have now addressed a letter to him stating that in the absence of a reply, I intend making arrangements for the withdrawal of all the troops remaining in ' the country, after the embarkation of the first five regiments, at the rate of one in every two months ; but that I shall be glad to receive his Excellency's opinion as to whether the reduction may be made more rapidly. From your Lordship's despatch of the 27th February, 1865,1 gather that j it is the intention of her Majesty's Government to leave in New Zealand, ( one battalion, irrespective of any pro- , vision being made by the colony for the prescribed payment on account of troops; but as no reference to this point has been made in recent instruc- . tions, I 1 halve to request that I may be informed whether I shall be acting in • accordance with your Lordship's wishes in retaining the 2-18 th regiment, which is the last on the roster ; ] and also whether any portion of the Eoyal Artillery or Royal Engineers are to be left in New Zealand. With regard to the Military Train, their departure at present would entail a serious expenditure for Civil Transport, which it would be difficult, if not impossible, to obtain for the supply of some of the distant posts ; but on receiving from his Excellency the Governor permission to withdraw . the troops from the outposts, I shall be enabled at once to arrange for the embarkation of this corps. I have, &c\, < T. Chute, Major-General. The Eight Hon. the Secretary of ' State for War; l War Office, London. [Copy of a Letter from Sir F. Eogers to the Under Secretary of State for War.] Downing street, 22nd June, 1866. Sir, —I am directed by Mr Secretary Cardvvell to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th instant, forwarding a copy of a despatch from Major-General Chute, and enquiring, for the Marquis of Hartington's information :— Ist. Whether that officer is right in assuming that it is the intention of her Majesty's Government that one battalion of infantry should be retained in New Zealand, irrespective of any provision being made by the colony for the payment of troops, but contingent upon a contribution for Native purposes. 2nd. Whether one battery of artillery was to be retained irrespective in like manner of provision being made for the payment of troops. I am to state in reply that the instructions conveyed to Sir George Grey by- Mr Cardwell's despatch of the 27th November, No. 97, a copy of which was forwarded to you in my letter of the same date, are to be taken as being in full force; and in order that there may not be any misapprehension on the subject, Mr. Cardvvell desires mc to restate the exact nature; of the arrangement to which those instructions refer > and which have been assented to by Mr Eeader Wood on behalf of the colony. Ist. That in consideration of the many circumstances connected with the presence of a large Native population, one regiment should be retained in the colony at the cost of the Imperial Treasury, provided the colony shall continue to pay out of colonial funds a anm of £50,000 for the especial benefit of that population. 2nd. That any troops beyond the one regiment that might be retained, the colony should contribute a sum of £40 a head for infantry and £55 for artillery. And the number that might be so retained waß not to exceed three battalions of infantry and one battery of artillery. Mr Cardwell thinks it very desirable that Major-General Chute should be informed by the next mail that he must guide himself accordingly, and that it will be his duty to send from the colony as speedily as possible, unless the requked provision has been made, every soldier, whether infantry . or artillery, in excess of the one regi- . ment, and that regiment also, unless . he is informed by the Governor that ; £50,000 per annum is devoted to native purposes. Mr Cardwell thinks that Majorr General Chute should be reminded r that he has instructed the Governor 3 that the troops retained in the colony 3 must be concentrated and not left in . distant and isolated posts. ! As regards the Military Train, Mr Cardwell sees no reason why it should r not be sent home, as it now devolves | upon the colony to provide at its own t charge the entire cost for inland transr P- ortr I have, &c, F. Eogebs. i The Undersecretary of State for War.