RETURN TO AN ADDRESS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1865 Session I, A-04a

A.—No. 4a

RETURN TO AN ADDRESS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

"A Copy of all Correspondence, Minutes, and Memoranda (in continuation of Papers previously presented) between the G-overnor and Ministers relative to the employment of ImperiaLTroops on the West Coast; and all other Minutes, Memoranda, and Correspondence between the G-over-nor and Ministers relative to tho employment of Imperial Troops generally in the Colony; also for the production of all Letters, Minutes, and Memoranda relating to the expenditure from the Commissariat Chest on account of the Colonial Government." {Mr. Sewell.) a WELLINGTON: 1865.

(Dated 25th October, 1865,) FOE

A.—No. 4a,

No. 1. Brigadier-General Waddy to His Excellency the Governor. Sir,— Wanganui, 27th September, 1865. I have tlie honor to report, for your Excellency's information, that some rebels near Kakaramca have sent in a letter (received by me yesterday), asking that an officer and an interpreter may be -sent to meet them to talk about the proclamation of peace, and that I have directed Mr. Charles Broughton to proceed to Kaka ra mea to communicate with the rebels, and to ascertain what they have to say. I have, &c, E. Waddy, His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B. Brigadier-General, Commanding Forces. No. 2. Lieut.-Colonel Gorton to the Hon. the Minister for Colonial Defence. Sir, — Militia and Volunteer Orderly-room, Wanganui, 4th October, 1865. 1 regret to report for your information, that news came in from the Patea last evening that it was greatly to be feared that Mr. C. Broughton, a AVanganui settler, and interpreter to the Imperial forces, had been murdered by the Natives at their pa at Kakaramca. Various rumours being in circulation, and feeling it to be my duty to report to you whatever occurs, I went to Mr. Buller, 8.M., for the heads of the reliable information, who of course has reported it fully to the Government. The following, as far as I can gather, appears to be the state of the case: — A letter came in a week ago signed by two or three Natives of no importance, and addressed to ■" The Colonels, Majors, and Captains in the Service," asking them to appoint a day to meet them, for the purpose of discussing the just law, evidently referring to the peace proclamation, which had reached them througli Tariu, a Weraroa prisoner, lately, I am informed, liberated at Wellington. Mr. C. Broughton received, it appears, instructions from Brigadier-General Waddy, C.8., to proceed to Patea at once. He did so, accompanied by Wiremu Pukapuka, a Bangitikei assessor. They reached Patea on Friday evening. On the following day (Saturday), Mr. C. Broughton, accompanied by the Native, proceeded, under an escort of ten men, from the redoubt to a short distance iv front of the Kakaramea pa (where Major Yon Tempsky attacked the rebels). Their flag of truce was immediately answered by a white flag at the pa, and several Natives came out and conversed with Mr. Broughton, and invited him to go into the pa. Mr. Broughton refused, but proposed that they should meet midway, indicating a spot. The proposal being rejected by the Natives, Mr. Broughton returned to the redoubt at Patea with the escort. The next morning he went again to see the Natives, accompanied by Wiremu Pukapuka and an officer from the redoubt. On hoisting the white flag three Natives came out to meet them, one of whom was Buka, who had been a servant of Mr. Broughton for twelve months. They again asked Mr. Broughton to go into the pa, Buka assuring him that he would be safe; but Wiremu Pukapuka strongly recommended him not to go, as he was sure there was treachery at hand. Mr. Broughton went, and Wiremu Pukapuka and the officer returned to the redoubt. Some time afterwards, but I cannot find out exactly when, three shots were distinctly heard, and the red flag was hoisted instead of the white, and although thirty-six hours had elapsed when the news came in from Patea, no tidings had been heard of Mr. Broughton. This morning I felt it my duty to wait upon Brigadier-General Waddy, C.8., to find out if any measures were going to be taken to rescue Mr. Broughton. I offered, if the General wished it, to try and raise a hundred volunteers, Europeans and Maoris, and proceed with them myself at once to the Patea. The Brigadier-General, in reply, certainly led me to suppose that in the present state of affairs lie could not sanction an expedition being formed to act on the aggressive without reference to the Government. When I took upon myself the responsibility of waiting upon the Brigadier-General for the above object, had he accepted my oft'er it was my intention to have called for volunteers. I should not have guaranteed them pay ;at the same time I should have promised to have recommended them to you most strongly for it. I mention this here because I shall feel greatly obliged if you can possibly inform me how far I am justified in acting on an emergency like this. In conclusion, I beg to add, if the Government intend the local forces here to act on the aggressive, I with pleasure await their commands. I have, <fee, Edward Gorton,' Lt.-Colonel commanding Wanganui Militia District. The Hon. the Minister for Colonial Defence, Wellington.

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF IMPERIAL TROOPS IN TIIE COLONY.

A.—No. 4a

No. 3. Major-General Chute to His Excellency the Governor. Sic— Wellington, 9th October, 18G5. In forwarding for your Excellency's information the enclosed copy of a communication received from Brigadier-General Waddy, C.8., I have the honor to request that I may be favored with instructions relative to the future employment of the troops in the Wanganui District. I have, Ac, J. Chute, His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B. Major-General. Enclosure to No. 3. Brigadier-General Waddy to the Deputy Quarter master-General. Sic,— Wanganui, 30th September, 1865. I have the honor to request I may be furnished with instructions from the Major-General Commanding the Forces with regard to the employment of the troops under my command in this district. As I suppose our relations with the rebel Maoris are altered since the proclamation of peace, I wish to be_ informed if I am to undertake any operation against them if they do not (within a short time) come in and make submission. There are several villages in the bush all the way from Weraroa to Waimate occupied by Maoris, but not in any considerable numbers at each place ; and as far as I can ascertain at present they aro not inclined to accept peace. In the event of any convoy being attacked or our mounted orderlies fired at, does the Major-General think it advisable I should endeavour to punish the rebels by attacking their villages near the place at which they might attack a convoy or orderlies, or are we to remain on the defensive in the posts now occupied between this and Waingongoro and up the Wanganui Biver. I have, &c, The Deputy Quartermaster-General, R. Waddy, Wellington. Brigadier-General, commanding AVanganui District. No. 4. Major-General Chute to His Excellency the Governor. Sic,— Head Quarters, Wellington, 9th October, 1865. I have the honor to forward for your Excellency's information the copy of a letter received from Brigadier-General Waddy, C.8., relative to the supposed murder by the rebels of Mr. Broughton, interpreter to the forces in the AVanganui District. I have, &c, J. Chute, His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B. Major-General. Enclosure to No. 4. Brigadier-General Waddy to the Deputy Quartermaster-General. Sic,— Wanganui, sth October, 1865. I have the honor to report, for the information of the Major-General Commanding th i Forces, that Mr. Charles Broughton, interpreter, left this, by my direction, on 29th September, to communicate with the rebel Natives near Kakaramea, who had hoisted a white flag, and had written a letter asking for an interpreter to be sent to them to talk about the proclamation of peace. On 80th September, Mr. Broughton had an interview with a few Maoris, and another meeting was appointed for next day. Mr. Broughton left the redoubt with an officer and a friendly chief; only a few rebels met him, and they said he must go on to their village to speak to the people. One of the rebels was a man intimately known to Mr. Broughton, and by him he was persuaded to go on. The friendly chief declined to accompany him. I regret to say fears are entertained for Mr. Broughton's safety, as up to noon on Tuesday last, 3rd instant, he had not returned j and the rebels had hoisted a red flag iv place of the white one. The rebels are at or near the place where the Bushrangers, under Major Yon Tempsky, attacked them. I have, &c, The Deputy Quartermaster-General, R. AVaddy, Wellington. Brigadier-General, Commanding AVanganui District. No. 5. MEMORANDUM from Ministers to His Excellency the Governor. AVellington, 10th October, 1865. A perusal of the letters from the Major-General commanding to the Governor, with their enclosures, which have this day been submitted to Ministers by His Excellency, confirms them in the opinion which Ministers have repeatedly expressed to His Excellency, that the removal of Her Majesty's Imperial troops is absolutely necessary, in order that the Governor may exercise that full and undivided authority over the whole of the military power employed within the Colony which is essential to its safety. Feed. A. Weld. No. 6. His Excellency the Governor to Major-General Chute. Sic, — Government House, Wellington, 11th October, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 9th instant, enclosing letters from Brigadier-General Waddy, C.8., dated the 30th ultimo and the Sth instant.

2

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE EMPLOYMENT

A.—No. 4a,

In the first of these letters he asks whether Her Majesty's forces are to remain on the defensive in the posts they now occupy, even in the event of the rebels attacking our convoys, or firing on our mounted orderlies. This letter was written subsequently to the barbarous and treacherous murder by the rebel Natives, on the 22nd ultimo, clo.se to a redoubt in the occupation of a body of Her Majesty's forces, under Brigadier-General AVaddy's command, of a Native messenger who he had himself sent to convey a message of peace to the Natives, of which they knew he was the bearer, and with which they had invited him to meet them. In the second letter Brigadier-General Waddy reports the supposed murder of Mr. Charles Broughton by the rebel Natives. The Brigadier-General states that on the 29th of September, in compliance with a letter from the rebel Natives, asking that nn interpreter might be sent to them to talk about peac«, he had sent Mr. Broughton to them ; that nothing had been heard of that gentleman up to the date of the Brigadier-General's letter. There is much reason to fear he has been most treacherously made away with. I cannot say how shocked I was to learn these particulars, and my concern has been increased byfinding that the Brigadier-General, who had a large force at his command, has allowed so long a time to elapse without taking prompt and energetic means to ascertain the fate of his own messenger, who he had despatched on a message of peace, and if necessary, either to have rescued him, or to have inflicted punishment on his treacherous murderers. The whole circumstances connected with this case appear at present at once to be so sad, and to reflect such discredit on the authorities, that I think the Brigadier-General should be called on to furnish an explanation in relation to them. I cannot but wonder that the Brigadier-General, two of whose messengers on errands of peace have been treacherously murdered close to his posts, whilst obeying the orders of a British General, should remain on the defensive in the posts he occupies, until he receives your instructions whether lie is to continue to do so or not. _ It appears to me that his duty under such circumstances was obvious, that his having failed to do it, is greatly to be lamented, and must produce most unfortunate results, and that he should be instructed to explain what has taken place, and not to lose an hour in attempting to punish or bring to justice the murderers of his messengers. I have, &c, The Hon. Major-General Chute. G. Grey. No. 7. Major-General CnuTE to His Excellency the Governor. Sir,— AVellington, 11th October, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of this date, relative to Brigadier-General AVaddy's communications of the 30th ultimo and sth instant, and beg to inform your Excellency that I am now sending instructions in conformity therewith to the Brigadier-General by special messenger overland to AVanganui. I have, &c, J. Chute, His Excellency Sir G. Grey, K.C.B. Major-General. No. 8. Major-General Chute to His Excellency the Governor. Sir, — Head Quarters, AVellington, 11th October, 1865. Referring to the conversation which I had the honor of having with your Excellency on the 9th instant and yesterday, and also to my letter of the 9th instant, respecting the employment of the troops in the AVanganui District, it is my desire in ease of any subsequent misapprehension, to place on record the substance of what I have already verbally stated to your Excellency with regard to the supposed murder of Mr. Broughton, viz., that I concur with your Excellency in the desirability of inflicting all possible punishment on the offenders, and that I am prepared to carry out, as far as the force at my disposal for operations may admit, any instructions your Excellency may be pleased to give mo; but until your Excellency favours me with full and explicit instructions, I feel that under present circumstances, and pending the receipt of your Excellency's decision relative to the embarkation of troops for England, I am not justified in undertaking on my own authority any movement or operation which may be attended with uncertain results, and which might interfere with any plans your Excellency may have in view for the immediate removal of troops to England, and the re-distribution of the force which may still be left in the country. I am therefore still waiting for the letter of instructions which I understood your Excellency purposed sending me yesterday. I have, &c, J. Chute, His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B. Major-General. No. 9. His Excellency the Governor to Major-General CnuTE. Sir, — Government House, AVellington, 17th October, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, expressing your readiness to carry out any plans for the punishment of the murderers of Brigadier-General AVaddy's messengers. I entirety concur with y rou in the necessity of steps being taken with the least possible delay for this purpose, and thank you for the expression of your readiness to do so; but I think the details of these operations must necessarily be devised by yourself. To aid you in carrying them out, I will request the local Government as soon as possible to enrol a small Native Force, at Wanganui, to be placed with proper officers under your command. I have, &c, The Hon. Major-General J. Chute. _. Gbey.

3

OF IMPERIAL TROOPS IN THE COLONY.

A.—No. 1a

No. 10. Major-General Chute to His Excellency the Governor. Sic,— Head Quarters, AVellington, 14th October, 1865. I have the honor to forward for your Excellency's information the accompanying copy of a letter, with its enclosure, received from Brigadier- General AVaddy, C.8., commanding troops in the Wanganui District. I have, &c, His Excellency Sir G. Grey, K.C.B. J. Chute, Major-General. Enclosure 1 to No. 10.' Brigadier-General AVaddy to the Deputy A d.iutant-General. Sic,— Wanganui, 10th October, 1865. I have the honor to forward fer the information of tlie Major-General Commanding the forces in New Zealand, the enclosed letter received from Major Hassard, 57th Regiment, commanding troops, Manawaupo, relative to a man and two horses belonging to the Military Train being killed by the rebel Natives on the road between that post and Waingongoro. I have, Sbe., The Deputy Adjutant-General, R. AVaddy, Head Quarters, Auckland. Brigadier-General, Commanding AVanganui District. Enclosure 2 to No. 10. Major Hassard to the Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General. Sir,— Camp Manawapou, sth October, 1865. AVith much regret I have the honor to report the death of a soldier at this station, who was killed by the Natives, yesterday, under the following circumstances : Yesterday, at 930 a.m., lhe usual escort of Infantry started to meet the return convoy from Waingongoro. Five troopers of the Military Train having been detailed to accompany them, but owing to the spring tide they were unable to cross over so as to accompany the Infantry, and I directed that they were to hurry on and join the escort when the tide went down a little ; they were delayed about an hour and a quarter, and then proceeded on their way, about five miles in the direction of Waingongoro. AVhen passing a perfectly open part of the road, affording scarcely any cover for an enemy, except two or three flax bushes, they were fired upon by a party of the Natives 'as far as I can ascertain of from twelve to twenty, the volley killing the horses of troopers Abraham Smith and AVright, —the latter although actually in the hands of tlie Natives, two of whom he states he knocked down with his list, escaped unhurt, with the loss of his carbine, and after running some considerabledistance was taken up by trooper AVoods on his horse ; but the horse of Abraham Smith having fallen on his log, prevented his getting up, and he was tomahawked in eight places about the head and face. The remaining two troopers galloped on and having shortly met the escort, Lieutenant Waller with his party hastened to the spot, and although tlie gullies and every place in the vicinity of the attack waa searched carefully no traces of the enemy were found except a letter in Maori lying near the dead man, which Lieutenant Waller handed to Mr. Fisk, (meat contractor,) who has, doubtless through inadvertence, taken it away with him. I have further to state that two carbines, as well as the swords, saddle, and all the appointments of trooper Smith fell into the hands of the enemy, but they had not plundered his person. On trooper AVoods coming into camp, I hastened ou with Lieutenant Loir and three troopers of the Military Train, and twenty of my own men, and met the convoy about three miles and a half from camp. I have, &c, The Deputy Assistant J. Hassard, Adjutant-General. Bt.-Major, 57th Regiment, Commanding Troops, Manawaupo. No. 11. Major-General Chute to His Excellency the Governor. Sir,— Head Quarters, Wellington, 15th October, 1865. AVith. reference to your Excellency's letter of the 11th instant, respecting the murder of the Native Kercti, and the supposed murder of Mr. Charles Broughton, and to my letter addressed to your Excellency in reply, on the same day, No. 326-65, I have now the honor to forward, for your Excellency's information, the enclosed copy of a letter, of the 13th instant, from Brigadier-General AVaddy. containing his reasons for not undertaking operations against the Natives immediately after the murders above referred to. I feel sure that no officer would be more ready to undertake aggressive operations against the disaffected tribes by whom these atrocities have been committed, than Brigadier-General Waddy, it" lie Felt he was clearly justified or expected to do so; and I trust, after perusal of this explanation, your Excellency will be satisfied that nothing prevented his commencing these operations but the belief that, after the recent proclamation announcing the termination of the war, he had no authority to enter on any new military operation, and that, in the absence of such explicit authority, he could not legally act otherwise than in aid of tho civil power, if called upon. This impression may, perhaps, have been strengthened by tho fact of the Government having, I believe, offered a reward for the apprehension of Kereti's murderers, who were named. Your Excellency will perceive that, in conformity with the wishes expressed in your letter of tho 11th instant, to attempt to punish or bring to justice the murderers of his messengers, BrigadierGeneral AVaddy is moving against the Natives near Kakaramea, where Mr. Broughton was last seen

4

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE EMPLOYMENT

A.—No. 4a,

and that he has directed Lieut.-Colonel Trevor to move against the Natives at AVaitotara, where Kerei i was murdered. I shall feel obliged by your Excellency communicating to me your wishes (with reference to my letter of the 11th instant, and the late proclamation of peace) as to whether you desire the operations, now being undertaken, to be limited to the localities specified. I have, &c, J. Chute, His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B. Major-General. Enclosure to No. 11. Brigadier-General AVaddy to the Deputy Quartermaster-General. Sir,— Wanganui, 13th October, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 11th instant, together with copy of a letter addressed to the Major-General commanding the forces by His Excellency the Governor, dated 11 th instant, relative to tho murder of Kcreti (a Native policeman), and the supposed murder of Mr. (lharlea Broughton; and with regard to these matters, I beg to state that after the proclamation of peace had been issued, I did not feel justified in undertaking any operations against the rebel Maoris without instructions to do so, and, for that reason, I wrote to you on 30th September for the orders of the Major-General commanding the forces with regard to the employment of the troops under my command. Had I attacked the Maoris since the proclamation of peace, it might have been •said my act was calculated to exasperate them, and to plunge the Colony into another war —all past offences were pardoned, and I might have attacked and killed men who had every intention of submitting to the Queen's authority. My private feelings would have led me to inflict punishment at once on the late rebels after the murder of Kereti, and the supposed murder of Mr. Charles Broughton; aud I trust the Major-General commanding will do me the justice to believe I would have employed the troops under my command in active operations at once, had I thought it would have been right to do so. I beg further to say I shall proceed to-morrow, if possible, or the next dayr, to the Patea, to commence operations against the Natives near Kakaramea, where Mr. Charles Broughton was last seen, and I shall direct Lieut.-Colonel Trevor, 14th Regiment, to move from the AVereroa to attack those who are on the AVaitotara. I have, &c, The Deputy Quartermaster-General, R. AVaddy, AVellington. Brigadier-General, commanding AVanganui District. No. 12. Major-General Chute to His Excellency the Governor. Sir,— AVellington, 10th October, 1865. I have the honor to submit for your Excellency's consideration, the copy of a communication I have received from Commissary-General Jones, C.B. As I find that Mr. Jones had, previous to my arrival in the Colony, forwarded a copy of this letter to the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, I feel that your Excellency should be made acquainted with its contents. I have, &c, J. Chute, His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B. Major-General. Enclosure to No. 12. Commissary-General Jones, C.8., to the Assistant Military Secretary. Sir, — Commissariat, New Zealand, Auckland, 20th August, 1865. Having become acquainted with the correspondence recently published by the Colonial Ministers as parliamentary papers by seeing them reprinted in the local newspapers of this place, it occurs to mc that I should bo wanting in my duty as Controller of Army Expenditure were I to omit placing upon record and submitting my opinion of the same, as far as regards expenditure (in connection with existing circumstances) for the information of Major-General Chute, as soon as he assumes the command of Her Majesty's forces serving in this Colony. Several despatches of Mr. Cardwcll, distinctly convey the repeated directions of Her Majesty's Government to the effect that the Imperial troops are not to be employed either in conquering new territory, or in defending that already conquered, and leaves the General Officer Commanding wide discretionary power in the employment of the troops. The local portion of this correspondence shows that the employment of Her Majesty's troops in the Wanganui campaign, was forced upon Lieut.-General Cameron, X.C.8., in opposition to his remonstrances and better judgment, and further, he did not concur in the expediency of occupying the upper portions of the AVanganui River; but, within a very few days after his leaving the command, Her Majesty's troops are ordered to occupy a line of eighty miles along the banks of that river. I presume it is scarcely necessary for me to remark that these operations are enormously costly, but the Major-General should, I think, be informed that the whole of that cost has hitherto fallen mainly upon Imperial funds ; that the AVanganui and Taranaki Militia are now paid out of funds advanced from the Imperial Treasury, and rations of provisions, forage, fuel, and light, are issued by the Commissariat out of army funds for the Colonial Militia and Military Settlers in Auckland, Taranaki, AVanganui, Napier, and Tauranga. Nearly the whole cost of the war is thus borne in the first instance by the Home Government, but under existing arrangements, these advances to Militia and Military Settlers are added to the debt due by the Colony to the Imperial Treasury, thus incurring new liabilities to the extent of about £16,000 per month.

5

OF IMPERIAL TEOOPS IN THE COLONY.

A.—No. 4a.

By communications from the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, dated Bth October, 1861, and from the War Office, dated 26th November, 1861, it is specially ordered that no addition to the liabilities of the Colonial to Her Majesty's Government is to be permitted. The debt as rendered by me on 28th July, 1865, amounted to £741,161 14s. 7d.j against which the Colonial Government appears to have remitted to their Lordships of Her Majesty's Treasury, debentures to the nominal amount of £500,000, and, I understand, propose further similar remittances to meet the remaining sums due and the liabilities which are month by month accruing, but so far as 1 am aware, this point is not finally- settled. Having thus concisely alluded to "the existing relations between the Imperial and Colonial Governments, so far as relates to this department, I would, with all deference, submit that after a full ■and careful consideration of Mr. Cardwell's despatches, and the local circumstances alluded to, I can only arrive at the conclusion that the position which the Home Government will assume is, that the Colony must bear all the extraordinary expenses attending aggressive operations, and the employment ■of Her Majesty's troops in any other way than in the defence of positions settled and occupied by troops previous to the arrival of Mr. Cardwell's first despatch to that effect. In addition to which, the capitation contribution of £10 per man yearly, will, I presume, be exacted. In order that no misunderstanding may hereafter exist regarding the term "extraordinary expenditure," I would explain that I refer to all expenses connected with {'he army beyond that which would have occurred had the troops remained in quarters. As an example, the extraordinary expenditure in the AVanganui campaign may be comprised under the following four heads:— Ist. —The entire cost of all sea transport, in moving troops, horses, baggage, supplies, and stores of all kinds from Auckland to Wanganui, and from Wanganui to the several posts on the coast northwards towards Taranaki. 2nd.—All engineer expenditure upon field works, the erection of huts, stables, offices, storehouses, quarters, &c, &c. 3rd.- —The hire of all land as camping or grazing ground, for building purposes, as yards or paddocks; and all wharves, and all sums paid as compensation for damages, <&c, done to any property in the district by Her Majesty's troops. 4th.—The value of all stores lost in transit or otherwise, tho whole cost of all additional establishments in the Commissariat, including all hired land transport and compensation to owners of animals lost; the purchase or hire, and all other expense of river steamers, boats, coalhulks, &c, as well as the entire cost of that portion of the Commissariat Transport Corps serving in that district, as it may be taken for granted, had this campaign not taken place, the whole cost of that portion of the corps might havo been saved to the Home Government by the discharge of an equal portion of the corps. Referring to the Colonial troops, I would strongly recommend that advances, both of money and supplies, be continued only upon the fact that debentures are remitted as above stated periodically, in sufficient amount to cover these advances. In addition to the £500,000 already sent, £200,000 should now be remitted, if the Colony desires the continuance of this assistance. As it may be further inferred that many of the posts in conquered territory will shortly be abandoned by Her Majesty's troops, and occupied by those of the Colony, I beg to urgently press upon the Major-General that this department should not be called upon to supply- any Colonial troops so posted; and in no case should the assistance of the department be required in supplying Colonial troops, except where they are actually stationed with and under the orders of officers of the Imperial army. Should these principles not bo conceded, I see no prospect of reducing the Commissariat establishment when Her Majesty's troops leave the Colony, and I know that the Secretary of State for AVar anxiously contemplates a large reduction in the department now under my orders. I have ventured to enter into the above questions, even at the risk of being considered as going beyond my legitimate province, in the full conviction that in doing so I am acting for the best interests of Her Majesty's service generally; and if the Major-General Commanding concurs in the views I have above expressed, I would recommend that they should be submitted for the consideration of the Home Government, soliciting at the same time lull instructions ; and in order that the Colonial Government may not be taken at a disadvantage, that tho several points which he deems worthy of consideration bo sent to His Excellency the Governor, in order that the Colony may at the same time have an opportunity of communicating to the Home Government their views regarding the same. I would also beg to inform the Major-General that I am sending by the first mail a copy of this communication for the information of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury. I should have drawn the attention of the Major-General to the circumstance, that were the troops concentrated in the positions occupied by them before the present war, that the whole cost of the existing expensive Transport Service would be avoided, and the Commissariat Transport Corps disbanded, a saving of about £15,000 per month would thus have been effected. I have, &c, H. Stanley Jones, Tlie Assistant Military Secretary. Commissary-General. No. 13. His Excellency the Governor to Major-General Chute. Sib, — Government House, Wellington, 11th October, 1865. I beg to thank you for your letter of the 10th instant, forwarding me a copy of a letter which Commissary-General Jones, C.B , wrote to the Assistant Military Secretary, upon the 20th of August last, informing him that he was sending a copy of it by the first mail for the information of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury.

6

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE EMPLOYMENT

A.—No. U,

lam much obliged to you for transmitting to me a copy of this letter. It was clearly just to the • Colonial Government that it should have an opportunity of replying to the statements which it contains. But I do not understand by what rule of the public service the Assistant Military Secretary was: justified in retaining this letter in his possession until your arrival in the Colony. The Governor and Commander-in-Chief were here, and so was the Officer in Command of Her Majesty's forces in NewZealand. If the allegations contained in the letter were correct, and the inferences drawn from these were just, not a moment should have been lost in communicating this letter to the officer commanding the forces here, that he might have communicated with the Governor, so that immediate steps might have been taken to remedy the matters complained of. The interests of the public service required this, and I consider that some explanation of this matter is necessary. I beg to call your attention to the statement made in Commissary-General Jones's letter, that the General Officer commanding here has a wide discretionary power in the employment of the troops. Such opinions at a crisis like the present, being promulgated by an officer in the position of the Commissary-General at the head of a most important department, and other opinions expressed in his letter, cannot but have a very bad moral effect, and tend to the disorganization of the forces and the detriment of the service. I would again remark in reference to the heads of extraordinary expenses which it is the opinion of Commissary-General Jones must be paid by the Colony, that, with a view to my exercising some control over tho military expenditure, the Commissary-General was directed by the Home Government to submit the estimates for such expenditure to me for any remarks that I might have to make, and that for'two years he has failed to do so ; that I am of opinion that the expenditure incurred by the military authorities was in many respects wasteful aud unnecessary. I therefore think it unreasonable that I should in the first place be prevented from exercising that control over this expenditure which, by direction of Her Majesty's Government, I was authorized to exercise over it; and then that the Colony should be called on to pay for an expenditure which its Government neither desired nor approved of, and which I believe was in many respects extravagant and unnecessary. Whether Commissary-General Jones had or had not been instructed to submit his estimates tome, I think if he intended to expend such vast sums of Colonial money-, it would have been his duty to. havo given the Colonial Government some control in the matter. I can only say that if he had the power of spending the Colonial money as he pleased on the various items of extraordinary expenditure he has named, and of making the Colony answerable for every act of extravagance, carelessness, or worse, of every individual in his large department, then the Colony has been placed in a most unusual position. I have, &c.,. The Hon. Major-General Chute. G. Gbey. No. 14. Major-General Chute to His Excellency the Governor. Sic,— Head Quarters, AVellington, 13th October, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 11th instant,, in reply to mine of the 10th instant, with enclosures from Commissary-General Jones, C.B. I regret that your Excellency should have thought it necessary to animadvert so strongly on the conduct of my Assistant Military Secretary, in reference to the communication addressed" to him i by the Commissary-General for my information on arrival; but when I inform you that Major Pitt did not receive this letter until the Bth September—after the departure of the Supplementary English mail —and at a time when my arrival was daily expected in Auckland, I trust your Excellency win agree with me that this officer has not only acted strictly in conformity with his duty in the matter but that he would have erred had he on his own responsibility taken any other course. Should your Excellency, however, still consider any further explanation of this matter necessary, I will assemble a Court of Inquiry to report on the subject. In forwarding the enclosed copy of an explanation from the Commissary-General, I have to acquaint your Excellency, that previous to transmitting his letter of 20th August, I reproved this officer for the impropriety of some of the expressions contained in it, and I only regret that the fact of its having been already sent home to the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, rendered it necessary to submit it to your Excellency without any alteration in its form. I have, &c, His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B. J. Chute, Major-General. Enclosure to No. 14. Commissary-General Jones to the Assistant Militaey Seceetaey. Sir, — Commissariat, New Zealand, AVellington, 12th October, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this date, giving cover to the copy of one from His Excellency the Governor, on the subject of my communication to you, dated the 20th August last. It is with deep concern that I find that His Excellency considers my letter deserving of such grave censure. I can only state that in writing it I was actuated by an anxious desire to conduct my duties for the best interests of Her Majesty's Government. The duties devolving upon me in my position of Controller of Army Expenditure, an arduous and anxious, heavy responsibility rests upon my acts, and it behoves me in every possible way to carry out the views of Her Majesty's Government to the best of my ability and judgment. My letter was

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OP IMPERIAL TROOPS IN THE COLONY.

A.—No. 4a,

dictated under a sense of this responsible duty, and when it is considered that that letter was addressed for tho information of Major-General Chute, suggesting, " should he coincide in my views, that the several points which he deems worthy of consideration be sent to His Excellency the Governor," I think that some consideration should be extended to me, and allowances made if I have in any way exceeded my duty. I would further state that my object in writing that letter was to convey to Major-General Chute personally and immediately on his arrival in the command some idea of the financial duties with which he would have to deal, and although dated 20th of August, (as the Major-General had not arrived) that that letter was not sent from my office for some time afterwards. I am doubtful whether His Excellency intends to impute " extravagant and unnecessary expenditure" to the military authorities for the manner in which military operations were conducted, or to me and my department, for the way in which the details of that expenditure had been carried out, — should the former be the case, the question is beyond my province ; but if the latter, I think it would be advisable that the Major-General commanding should institute an inquiry upon the charges without delay. I should be personally most anxious to court the fullest investigation into such grave charges. His Excellency appears to be under the impression that the usual annual Army Estimates include all items of " extraordinary expenditure," but that is not tho case, they are all expressly excluded except the one item of the Commissariat Transport Corps, and in fact it would be utterly impossible to foresee when preparing those Estimates the nature of war operations, even could it be known that war would exist, from six to eighteen months subsequently. Had these Estimates, therefore, for the past two years been submitted to His Excellency, they could not have afforded him an opportunity of exercising any control over extraordinary expenditure, except in the one item of Commissariat Transport Corps. 1 may state, that to the best of my belief not one farthing of the past extraordinary expenditure lias ever been included in my accounts against the Colonial Government. I can therefore only presume His Excellency refers to the future, when he states " I think if he (myself) intended to expend such vast sums of Colonial money it would have been his duty to have given the Colonial Government some control in the matter." lamat a loss to see how this could be effected, as each service is considered and specially sanctioned by the General Officer commanding before any extraordinary expenditure is made, unless indeed the Colonial Government, through His Excellency, would agree with tho Major-General that all such expenditure should, under the General Officer's warrant, be paid in the first instance direct from Colonial funds by Colonial officers; this arrangement would at once relieve me from serious anxiety and responsibility, and I believe be satisfactory to Her Majesty's Government. It is with much pain that I see His Excellency considers that " extravagance, carelessness, or worse," existed to a large extent in the department of which Her Majesty's Government has honored me by entrusting me with the charge. I can only state that every possible precaution has been adopted to prevent such acts, but in wartime circumstances will arise which cannot wholly prevent them. If His Excellency refers to the AVaikato campaign, I quite admit that large losses occurred, but I maintain that they were unavoidable; and I believe were liis Excellency aware of the actual per eentage of loss upon the quantities conveyed up that river, as ascertained upon the closing of the accounts for that campaign, he would have hesitated before placing upon record the opinion he has now expressed. Should His Excellency refer to the more recent AVanganui operations, I regret that I am unable to speak so confidently, as the accounts arc not yet closed; but I have no doubt whatever that the per eentage of losses upon whole quantities will hereafter be found smaller than on the AVaikato. The nature of the country and the larger proportion of steam transport employed, coupled with the more experienced and larger establishment available should ensure such a result, and I am decidedly of opinion that these services have been more economically and faithfully performed than they could have possibly been in any other way whatever. Should it hereafter appear that my anticipations regarding the intention of Her Majesty's Government prove correct, and the extraordinary expenditure be ordered to be included in the charges against the Colony, it will, I presume, rest with His Excellency to decide whether that expenditure be conducted by the Colony, or as hitherto by this department. I can only say that, if desired, I and my department will be willing, as hitherto, to render every assistance possible to further the interests of the Government, and, in conclusion, would state that 1 and my officers have for years past willingly and faithfully worked on behalf of the Colony in supplying their troops with rations and money, and in laboriously accounting for tho same in the smallest detail, without either seeking or desiring any Colonial remuneration whatever ; and I would again repeat my deep concern that His Excellency should consider it necessary to have made such serious accusations against me and my department. It will of course be my duty to forward a copy of this communication to the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury. I have, &c, H. Stanley Jones, The Military Secretary, AVellington. Commissary-General. No. 15. His Excellency the Governor to Major-General Chute. Sib — Government House, AVellington, 16th October, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th instant, upon the subject of a letter which Commissary-General Jones addressed to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury on the 20th of August last, a copy of which was not communicated to me until the 10th instant, and I am much obliged to you for the trouble you have taken in this matter.

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CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE EMPLOYMENT

A. -No. 4a.

The question of who is to blame for the non-transmission to me of a copy of that letter at an earlier date is one with the adjustment of which I am not concerned, and I shall be quite satisfied with your decision regarding it. The object of Commissary-General Jones' letter of the 20th of August was to complain that I was employing the Queen's forces in a manner which was in violation of the instructions issued to me by Her Majesty's Government. That a wide discretionary power was left to the General Officer commanding in regard to the employment of these forces. That, notwithstanding this, I had forced General Cameron into certain operations, in opposition to his remonstrances, and against his better judgment. That these operations had been enormously costly, and that consequently large claims, past and prospective, ought to be made against the Colony, upon account of military expenditure already incurred, or about to be incurred. 1 think I ought to have had instant notice that such a statement was about to be forwarded to Her Majesty's Government, and that the representations of the Colonial Government on these subjects should have been laid before the Home Government at the same time as Commissary-General Jones* letter, that a fair judgment might have been arrived at on the subject. If it was intended to subject the Colonial Government to such large financial liabilities, they should also, in justice, have been at once warned of this, that they might have made the requisite preparations to have met them, or, if they had thought proper, at once have brought to a close an expenditure which they could not have met. There were additional reasons why a copj' of Commissary-General Jones' letter should have been immediately communicated to me. I believe an inquiry would have shown that every one of his most important allegations was contrary to fact. Nothing has tended more to injure the interests of this Colony, and of the Empire, than the communications which have been made to the Home Government, regarding the management of affairs here, without having, at the same time, been communicated to me. Hence, unnecessary orders have been issued in a manner which must create bitterness of feeling in the Colony. Hence, also, has originated a bitterness of feeling in the minds of a portion of the public of Great "Britain against the Colony and the Colonists, which has most seriously injured its interests and jeopardized its future. I am not, as Commissary-General Jones thinks, under the impression that the annual Army Estimates include all items of extraordinary expenditure ; but I am under the impression that an individual's extraordinary expenditure depends a good deal upon the size of his house, and the extent of his establishment, and that if I can regulate these latter items, I can in a great degree indirectly regulate the former ones : and I think no valid excuse has been offered for withholding from me that control over the expenditure which I had a right to exercise over it. My belief is that Her Majesty's Government determine whether or not a campaign is necessary, and that my views and conduct in advising and originating it are questions that they decide ; and that the duties of Controller of Army Expenditure are not to make incorrect reports to Her Majesty's Government on these points, but carefully to watch and control the military expenditure which is being carried on upon such objects. I regret that I must adhere to the opinion I have expressed—that the military expenditure in this Colony has been in many respects wasteful and unnecessary,—and that had I been allowed to exercise that control over it which by right belonged to me, I could have saved very large sums to Great Britain and the Colony. I feel it my duty to state this because no circumstance has more tended to damage the Colony of New Zealand and myself with the Government and public of Great Britain than this expenditure to which I so much object, and which has brought such evils on this Government and Colony. Commissary-General Jones is wrong in stating that I said that I considered that extravagance, carelessness, or worse, existed in the Commissariat Department. I have always regarded the officers of that department as a body, as being in their own branch amongst the ablest of Her Majesty's servants. Commissary-General Jones proposed to the Home Government that the Colony shouldbe made to pay " the value of all stores lost in transit or otherwise." On this I remarked what is undoubtedly the case, that this would be to "make the Colony answerable for every act of extravagance, carelessness, or worse of every individual in his large department," over which it exercised no control whatever. I wish to observe for your information that Commissary-General Jones informs Her Majesty's Government that within a few days after General Cameron's leaving the command, Her Majesty's troops were ordered to occupy a line of eighty miles along the banks of the Wanganui Eiver. What took place was this —Her Majesty's Colonial Forces held certain posts on the "Wanganui Eiver : the murder of Mr. Fulloon and other circumstances rendered it necessary that an expeditionary force should be sent to the East Coast. To save Her Majesty's Government from the- cost of another campaign of the regular forces, that campaign was, by my orders, entered upon by Her Majesty's Colonial forces, the Colony paying the whole cost of it. I could only use Her Majesty's Colonial Forces on this service and save Great Britain the cost of a new campaign by taking up with the regular forces posts, we could not abandon. I have, <&c, The Hor. Major-General J. Chute. G. Geet.

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OF IMPERIAL TIIOOPS IN THE COLONY.