DESPATCH FROM THE RIGHT HON. THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND, RESPECTING THE PAYMENT OF COLONIAL ALLOWANCES TO SHIPS OF WAR.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1864 Session I, D-05b

D.—No. Sb (

DESPATCH FROM THE RIGHT HON. THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND, RESPECTING THE PAYMENT OF COLONIAL ALLOWANCES TO SHIPS OF WAR.

PBBSESTBD TO BOTH HOUSES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY COMMAND OF HIS EXCELLENCY.

AUCKLAND:

1864.

D.—No. Sb,

COPT OF DESPATCH FROM THE EIGIIT HON. EDWARD CAEDWELL, U.V., TO GOYEEXOE SIE GEORGE GEET, K.C.B. Downing Street, 26th September, 18G1-. Sir, I have the honor to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, in. which they suggest that the Colonial Government of New Zealand should grant to the Naval Forces employed in New Zealand some pecuniary allowance to meet the increased cost of their messes. I have to request that'you will submit this letter for the consideration of your Ecsponsible Advisers. Edward Caedwell. Governor Sie Geoege Geet, K.C.B., &c, &c, &c.

Enclosure. Me. Eomaixe to tiie Under Seceetaey of State foe the Colonies. Admiralty, 23rd September, 1861. Sir — I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request you will inform Mr. Cardwell that they have, by the last Mail, received applications from the Officers of Her Majesty's ships employed in Now Zealand, for some pecuniary allowance to enable them to meet the increased expenses of their messes. They state that the price of all provisions has been much enhanced by the war, and that in consequence additional allowance had been granted both to the Officers of the Army, and to the Officers of the Colonial Government. My Lords believe that the statement of the Officers is correct, and that they have undoubtedly, while taking part in the operations against the Natives, been put to expenses, which the ordinary subscription to their messes is insufficient to meet. Mr. Cardwell will remember that previous to 1862 the various Legislatures of the Australian and New Zealand Colonies had frequently voted Colonial allowances to the Officers and Crews of the ships serving in their respective Colonies. Disputes had arisen between the senior Naval Officer and the Colonial Authorities of New Zealand relative to these allowances, and on the 3rd June, 1862, my Lords wrote to the Colonial Office, and after stating what had been done by the different Colonies, and pointing out the obvious objections to the system then prevailing, recommended that the allowance should be discontinued, and that it should in future only be given " when the Legislatures of those Colonies might vote it as a reward for some special services, such as those in the late war in New Zealand." My Lords consider that the active part taken by the Navy in the present war, and the circumstances stated by the Officers, constitute a fair claim to such an allowance; and they would suggest that their case, and that of the seamen and marines of the Squadron, should be brought under the consideration of the Colonial Government, with the view to their obtaining such a sum to meet their past expenses, and such an allowance during the continuance of the war, as the Legislature might think right to grant. My Lords, in their letter of the 3rd June already alluded to, pointed out the objections to granting higher rates of pay to the crews of Her Majesty's ships employed on one station, without extending the same rates to other stations equally expensive, and they believe that where extraordinary circumstances have led, as in this instance, to extraordinary expenses, the allowauce to meet those expenses should rather be made by the Colonial Authorities than from Naval Funds. I am, &c., "W. G. EOMAINE. The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office.

DESPATCH BESPECTHfO THE PAYMENT OF COLONIAL ALLOWANCES TO SHIPS OF WAR.