CONTRADICTION OF SCANDAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 17 July 1866, Page 5

CONTRADICTION OF SCANDAL.

To the Editor of the New Zealand Herald. Bib, —I ehall bo exceedingly obliged to any of your readers who will give such information as may lead to tLe exposure of those persona who are bo industriously manufacturing lies, which they miscall " facts," to bolster up a piece of scandal set afloat by some very malicious persons, connecting myself with a paragraph which appeared in the Southern Cross of 2ith May laet. There being not the slightest evidence to support tho story, which betrayed an utter ignorance of my movements, I contented myself with contradicting it privately. Many persons not having heard of my contradiction are under the impression that it is true, may I trespass on your space to say:—lst. That Iwas not staying at the placenamed during any portion of April last. 2nd. That I never at any time changed my name, or went by the name of Sounders. 3rd. That if I had ■wanted to change, I should have taken some name k«s suggestive of that of»-youre, truly, _, . Chas. S.AKDE3?9Jf, ¥pper Smonfa'tiUtol, 17th July, isse.

PAELTAMENTRY PAPERS. We take the following from tlio Blue I3ook lately to hand. No. 27Copy of a Despatch from Governor Sir George Gi-y, K. 0.8.; to tho Right Hon. Edward Cardwcll, M.I 5 . (Xo. 13.) Government House, Wellington, 13th January, 18G6. Siu,—ln your Despatch No. 86, of tho 2Cth of October last, you instruct mo as follows : — "Her Majesty's Government requiro you therefore " immediately upon tliQ receipt of this Despatch to '' place at onco nt the disposal of tho Officer coui- " manding Her Majesty's Forces in the Colony, with " a view to their early romoval from New Zealand, " all the Troope for whom no such appropriation "shillhwe been made by the Assembly of Now " Zealand, 03 was contemplated in the correspondence between this Department and tho lato " Colonial Treasurer, laid bofof o Parliament in June, " 1864. In order however that full opportunity " may bo afforded to your Ministers to take such " steps as in their epinion may bo required by tho " state of tbo Colony, and that the duo responsibility " may rest upon them, I add the following qualifi- " cation, viz.:—That if when you receive this in- " struction no such appropriation shall have been " made, raid you or your Ministers consider that the " troops, or any portion of them, cannot safely bo " sent away, and are desirons forthwith to convene " tho Asssmbly and to obtain the appropriation, you " are at liberty to allow sufficient time for this pur"pose, and no more." 2. In reply, I havo tho honour to stato that my Responsible Advisers >re of opinion that in the proeent financial state of New Zealand, it would be impossiblo f>r th« Colony to pay the contribution of £40 per man for tho troops, and that thereforo it would b useless to convene tbo General Assembly of Now Zealand with a Tiew to obtaining tho appropriation asked for. 3. Under those circumstancos, as no discretion is left me by your Despatch, nothing remains for mo but to plico at the disposal of Major-General Chute, Her Majesty's Forces in New Zenlnd, with a view to their early removal fro_u*tbis Colony, which I shall do ; but with a view to p event any serious difficulties from arising here which I know it would bo your earnest wish to avoid, I shall adviso Major-General Chute only to allow Her Majesty's forces to leave the Colony at tho rate of ono Rcgimont ovory two months, which is tho period of time tho military authorities have reported thoy requiro for the convenient embarkation of each reginisnt. I have &C, G. Gkey The Bight Hon. Edward Cardwell, M. r. No. 6. Copy of a despatch from the Right Hon. Edward Cm dwell, M.P., to GoveruorSir George Grey, K. 0.8. (Xo. 85.) Dovrning-strect, 26th October, ISG6, (iveocived at Wellington, 26th December, ISCS ) Sir, —I have tho honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch of August 14th, No. 106, in which you enclose to me a Memorandum of your Minister*! pvoti'Sting against tho possible disallowance of " the New Zealand Settlement Act. 18G3," which was intimated to you in my Despatch No. 21, of tho 21th April. You also transmit to me, by their request, a copy of a Bill which is now before the General Assembly," for altering, amending and continuing that Act. As it is still uncurtain in what shape tho Bill may pnssthe Assembly, I shall not hercexpress any opinion up'-n its provisions. I will only remind joi that before the end of next March, Her Majesty's Government must decide whether the original Act cvn bo allowftd to remain in operation. 'J hero are however two observations in tho Memorandum of your Ministers which requiro notice. They aro — (1.) " ]!ut if the Colony is to bo charged with tho responsibility of its own internal govirnmont and defence, Colonial Ministers claim for themselves tho right of determining tho question as to what land should be roi.iiscated, and subject to what conditions. It will bis otherwi-o impossible for them to undertake tho responsibility of conducting tho Colonial Government." And,

(2.) " The case, however, is ono in -which, with the utmost deference to tlio Imperiiil authorities, Ministers feel it their duty to point out that, under the altered relations between the Colony and the Mother Country, the fullest discretionary power must bo left with the Colonial Government."

In the first place it must of course bo understood that the Native Affairs are nnt to bo placed in the hands of the local Government in any other sense than that in which the aifairs of the settlers themselves are so placed ; and that in caeca touching the honor or intirests of the Crown, the adherence to treaties entered into by Her Majesty, and other matters of an analogous kind, the Royal power of disallowing Acts is no more abandoned in the one case than in the other. This remark applies not to New Zealand only but to all Colonies. But I have nl?o to observe, that the Imperial control over circumstances calculated to affect the progress, continuince or revival of tho war, was not to cea=o until the Imperial force should have loft tho colony. I have not as yet been informed that a. single reciment has been actually embarked ; and I must distinctly explain, that so long as any considerable number of British troops remain in New Zealand Iler Majesty's Government must continue to reta n a reasonable control over that native policy on which the employment of these troops will depend. I have received with much pleasure your Ministers' assurance of their earnest deairo to adapt their measures so ae to meet the objects which the policy of Her Majesty's Government lias been directed ta secure. I shall await with interest your further report on the Act. In the meantime you may rest assured that I shall not lightly advise Her Majesty to disallow any Act to which the Boyal assent can properly be given, and that nothing will give me greater satisfaction than to see your Ministers, in concert with tho Assembly, pursuing with success a just and independent policy, in Native as well as in other ad'nird.—l have, etc., Kdwaed Caedwell. Governor Sir George Grey, K. 0.8. Sir F. Rogers to the Under Secretary of State for War. Bowning-street, 22nd Nov., 18G5. Sir,—"With reference to your letter of the 2Gth of April, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Cardwell to transmit to you, for tho consideration of Eurl de Grey, copies of two despatches from the Governor of New Zealand ; the first forwarding a letter from Major Hcaphy, praying that his claims for tho Victoria Cross rnuy be again considered ; and the second, enclosing a memorandum by his Ministers relative to Major ifeaphy'a application, and suggesting that the distinction of tho Victoria Cross should bo extended to New Zealand and other colonies. I am to request that, in laying these despatches before Karl do Grey, you will move his lordship to take into consideration tho additional reasons which are submitted in support of Major Ileaphy'fl ap ication. It would give Mr. Cardwell much pleasure if theso reasons should bo found to be such, as would enab o Earl do Grey to comply with the wishes of Major Heapby and of tho Colonial Govommont.—l have, &c, I' , . Rogebb. Tho Under Secretary of State, War Office. Captain Qalton to Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office. "War OJllto, 25th Nov., ISGS. Sir, —I am directed by Karl do Grey and Ripon to aclmowledno the receipt of your letter of the 22nd inet, transmitting copies of two despatches from tho Governor of Now Zealand, the first forwarding a letter from Major fleaphy, praying thathis claims for tho Victoria Cross may be again considered, und tho second enclosing a Memorandum by his Ministors relativo to Major Heaphy's implication, and suggesting that tho distinction of tho Victoria Cross should bo extended to New Zealand and other colonies, and in reply, I am dosired by his Lordship to roquest that you will inform Sir. Secretary Cardwell, that as tho oxieting regulations of the Victoria Cross do not admit of the grant of that distinction to Major Heaphy, and as the alteration of those regulations could not bo undertaken without full and careful consideration, Lord do Grey is unable, before tho doparturo of tho next mail to New Zealand, to give a definite reply to Mr. Cardwell upon that point. His Lordship, will, however, givo his immediate attention to this subject, which concerns tho whole of her Majesty's colonial possessions, as well as New Zealand, and a further communication will be made to you on tho bubject. Hut Lord do Grey crinnot permit any time to be icefc In oxproibicg hia »incsfe regret that the letter tiom this dopßrtrtenti drti&tki 2ilb ef April Uei,

should have been understood bv the Colonial Ministers in the sense implioi by their memorandum of the 11th of August last. . Tho alluvion to a grant of land made in Sir Edward Lu!j'ird : s letter, was intended to suggest, to Mr. Cardwell a morto in which it might bo possible for tho Governor of Now Zealand, to mark his sense of Mnj.n- Hoaphy'e eorricm, although the regulations laid down in tho Royal Warrant, instituting the Victoria Cross, precluded Lori do Uroy from Piibrailtiug the namo of that officer to tier Majesty for the grant of this high distinction ; but nothing could hare been further from his Lordship's intention than to havo even the appearanco of speaking in disparaging torms of tho gallantry displayed by Major Kc'jphy, at tho eKirmiah on the banks of the Mangapiki, or of the valuable services rendured on many occasions by her Majesty's colonial forces, both in Now Zealand and in other colonies. —I have, &c, Douglas Galton. The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Oflice. Ho. 42. Copy of a Despatch from Governor PifGeoTge Grey, K. 0.8., to the Bight Hon. Edward Cnrdwell, M.P. (No. -12 ) Government House, Wellington, 12th May, 1860. 6ir, —At tho request of my responsible advisers, I havo tho honor to transmit for your information tho enclosed memorandum, and a statement which accompanies it, showing that tho cum of four hundred and five thousand one hundred and forty fix pound* and eleven shillings (£-105,140 11s.) has beefi paid from tho Colonial Treasury on account of tho Iniporial troops and services,—l havo, iXc, G. Giiet. The Eight Hon. Edward Cardwoll, M.P. Copy of a Memorandum to Mr. Stafford. Wellington, 10th April, ISGG. His Excellency's Ministers have given much attention to the question of the claims which havo for BOthe time been preferred by tho Imperial Government against Now Zealand. They believe it to bo most desirablo that these claims"should bo settled as soon as possiblo, and that no misconception with respect to them should continuo to exist; and with that object they have endeavoured to ascertain tho cxtict sum for which the colony was fairly liable. They have however found it impossible to arrive at nuy* definite conclusion on tho subject. Tho claims have "been btntcd in many different ways— soinotimes classed under ono head, sometimes under another, neith'T the classification nor the totuls agreeing in tho different statements ; and in the tibscnco of sufficient vouchers, or references not hitherto supplied, tho Colonial Government has been in a great measure left to conjecture vrhat tho particular services might bo in respect of which payment has been askod irom the colony.

Ministers aro a ware that considerable sums have been issued fr m the Imperial chest, nnd rations and stores supplied by tlio Coinniu-sarint to tho coloninl forces. Tho Coloninl Government has always desired to repay those ndvuuccs, and with tliat object, notwithstanding tho bcvere pressure on its finance, remitted some time since half a million of debentures to tho Imperial Government. But tho advances which tho Color i'il Government has a knowledge of fall far short of tho total claims now made by the Imperial Government; aid Ministers respectfully aubir.it, that without further information those claims (except such as comprise (ho advances made at tho request of tl e Colonial Government), are cither unintelligible, or, so far as they can be understood, appear to include charges for which tho colony Iris never rendered itself liable The Colonial Government has always admitted and taken eteps to discharge tho liabilities inclined by it, mid is now desirous that menus may bo afforded tu it of determining the amount of its liabilities. In connection with this subject, Ministers have to submit that tho colony has a largo claim nqainet the Imperial Government for advances made from the Coloniul Treasury to defray tho cost of charges incurred on account of her Majesty's regular forces. A statement is enclosed, showing approximately the amount of those advances, which, with a few exemptions, were mado on tho express requisitions of the officers commanding tho regular troops. The Colonial Government was inducod to mako these advances from an earnest desire to meet tho wishes of the Imperial authorities to the fuUcst extent ; and when it is considered that at tho same time the colony was also raising and maintaining large numbers of men at its solo cost to co-oponito with the regular troops, and latterly to ennblo tho troops to be withdrawn, it is submitted that the acts of tho colonists iu tho past, and the engagements they have entered into for tho future, aro without parallel for bo small a community, and may fairly entitle it to tho utmost consideration. It is probable that the statement now furnished may, in like manner as tho claims made by the Imperial Government, require detailed explanation. Ministers beliovo that it would be difficult and cause much delay to attempt to supply by correspondence such explanations aa would finally sottlo the questions at issue, and would therefore .submit that, with a view to full explanations being given, tho claims of tho Imperial Government on tho colony, and those of the colony on tho mother country, should bo subjected to a thorough examination, which it is believed could best tako plnco in Now Zealand, whero the evideneo in connection with them can bo supplied. Such an examination would cnablo tho respective claims to be sottled without that delay and dissatisfaction which must otherwise ensuo. In tho meantime it may bo observod that the I amount of the claim of tho colony, four hundred and five thousand ono hundred and forty-six pounds cloven shillings (6-10j,1 1G 11s), when deducted from the claim of the Imperial Government —oven assuming tho total amount claimed by tha latter to bo admitted—reduces the sum duo to tho Imperial Treasury considerably below tho value of the hilf-niillion debentures already remitted, even if tho hitter wer eold without tho Imperial guarantee which was offerod to b<) given to them by tho Duke of Newcastle and Mr. Cardwoll. It is requested that this memorandum nnd tho accompanying- statement may be transmitted to tho Secretary of Stuto for tho ColonicsJi. W. Stafjokd. No. 43. Copy of a Despatch from Governor Sir George Giey, K.C.B , to tho Itight lion. Edward Cardwell, M.P. Government House, "Wellington, 12th May, 1866. Sir, —I have the honour to transmit, for your information, tho copy of a memorandum I havo received from my rrsponsiblo advisor?, in relation to tho claims made by tho Imporial Government against this colony upon account of military expenditure.— I havo, Ac-, G. Gmet. The Bight Hon. Edward Card well, M.P. Copy of a Memorandum by Mr. Stafford. Wellington, May. 5, 1866. Koferring to the subject of their memorandum of the lOthApril last, Ministers have to state that on an examination of the accounts, it appears that tho sum of eighty-fivo thoiisaml oight hundred and ninety-ono pounds ten shillings and fourpence, which has been frequently alluded to in tho correspondence on this subject as an " admitted error," comprisos in part tho cost of sending out and locating, tho New Zealand Fencibles in tho years 1817 to 1819 ; and in part thn cost of tho hiro by tho military authorities of tho steamers Tasmanian Maid and Wonga "Wonga, employed by them in convoying supplies to Her Majesty's regular forces in the yoars 1860 and 1861. In somo of tho statements furnished, tho cost of tho fenciblcs is (although included in this sum of eighty-fivo thoneand eight hundred and ninety-one pounds ten shillings and four ponce (£85,59 l 10.-i 4d) iildo stated under a uoparato head as sixty-seven thousand nine hundred and t'.vonty-seven pounds (£07,927), thus apparently swelling the total of tho claims by that sura twico reckonod. Irrespective, however, of this error, tho chargo in question is one an to which tho colony was novor consulted, and which was never at tho time or sinco submitted to, much lees approved by tho New Zealand Legislature, tho military pensioners composing the fenoiblo force having boen sent out by Earl Grey when Secretary of State, long hoforo the New Zealand Constitution Act was passed, or any represontativo or responsible government existod in the colony, and when the Imperial Government was solely rcsponoiblo for tho peace of the country, and tllo cost of its defence r?ai entirely borne by Qtent Britnin. Miuiefcorn *w ef oplatou ibrtS lilt Km Zm?.n& Legislature

could not be expected to entertain a proposition to tako on itself retrospectively charges which at the time when they were incurred were obligations of the eropno, even if the circumstances of the colony would 1 1l Vir' WI " not, e,mble do so ; nnd they bolieve that Mr. Card well, on a consideration of these facts, will recogMzo that Ruch a charge should not now be preferred against New inland, especially in tho present state of its finances, and hnvin- r.-g.wd to the Te w-*i rS ° on S*e c »> o, i (s f '• which it has to provide. With r.-snpcfc to the liiro of the Tasmanian Maid anclWonga Won»a, employed in tho fiouimissariit service, tho ColoniU Government has never had anything to do with that sorvico, which, whether by sea or land, has been at all times outirely controlled and provided for by tho militui-y aulhoriiiee, w.thout the Colonial Government bein:? consulted, or having any right to interfere with respect to it. No euch chargo has over before or subsequently been mado with respect to similur servicos, either as regards the conveyance of supplies to tho troop 3 by land or by the different vessels engaged by tho Commissariat, and Ministers are unablo to discover how this charge camo to be included amongst tho claims madon"ninst the colony. Ministers would also observe generally on tho subject of these el'iims, that tho sum of sixty-nine thousand and twelve pounds (£G9,01?) on account of the contribution of fivo pounda (£5) per man for the regular troops stationed in New Zealand, has not been deducted by tho Imperial authorities from the amount claimed by them, notwithstanding tho agreement to that effect mado with tho late Duke of Newcastle, and which was confirmed by the Imperial Treasury instructions of tho 13th July, ISG2. Tho above-montionocl instances, amongst many others which might be adduced, eufliciently evidence tho advisability of a commission being appointed to investigate the wholo question of the accounts betwoon tho Imperial Government aud New Zealand. E. W. Staitoud. No. 22. Copy of a despat. h from the Eight Honorablo Kdward Onrdwoll. M.P., to Governor «r Georgo Groy, K.C.Ii. (N T o. l-'J.) Downing-strcet, 20th January, 18GG. (Beceivcd at Wellington, 23rd April, 186G ) fir,—l havo received your Despatches Nos. 136, 13!), 110, of tho 10th November. 1 have road with gnat pleasure, in the Speech with which you prorogued the General .'Assembly, your refcirfinco to the gallantry of Her Majesty's Colonial and Native Fo.-«r3; and the expression of your belief that the ineiisureß recently adopted all'eeting Her-Majesty's subjects of tho Native race are such a% if well administered, to ensure that their interests will bo zealously guarded by tho Legislature of New Zenland. In considering the nddrcss of tho Legislative Council, together with the Kcsolution of tho House of Representatives, and tho Memoran la of yourVMinisters, I havo no wish t-) revive the di<cussion with respect to tho Weraroa Pa; and to tho detention of the five regiments until after the fall of that fortress. But you will lake cure that there is no misunderstanding with your Ministers, or with either branch of the Legislature, as regards tho intentions of Her Majesty's Government so positively conveyed to you in former despatches. Wo cannot consent that the execution of those intontions should wi ,: t for or in any way depend upon tho decisions of tho next Parliament of New Zealand. We entirely adhoro to tho policy embodied in tho resolutions of tho New Zealand Assembly in December, 186!,, and we entertain no doubt that you will havo acted upon our express directions for the immediate removal of i,ho troops, with the single reservation of an option to yourself and your Government of retaining three battalione and one buttery, on the terms c.\presscd in my despatch of tho 27th of November. Whatever measures, therefore, your advisers may recommend to you for tho dofenco of the country must bo taken under a thorough sense, of the responsibility which attaches to their decisions. The New Z'?alund Government havo occupied largo tracts in the AVaikato and at Taranaki, with ample notice tint tho permanent defenco of those occupations will not bo maintained by an Imperial force. They havo now tho power of retoining in the colony a portion of Her Majesty's Imperial troops equal to the largest number of rebels who havo ever been stated to be in arms against them. And this option is otl'ercd upon terms proposed in conforenco with a formor Colonial Tieasurer, and adopted by tho Imperial Parliament. If the Government and Legislature cf Keir Zealand do not nvai , . themselves of tho opportunity thus afF rded them, tho responsibility must rest with them.—l havo, A.0., Edward Cabd-well. Governor Sir G. Grey, K.C.B.