RETURN OF THE INSTRUCTIONS AND AUTHORITIES UNDER WHICH THE NATIVE PRISONERS WERE SENT TO THE CHATHAM ISLANDS.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1868 Session I, A-15a

A.—No. 15a,

RETURN OF THE INSTRUCTIONS AND AUTHORITIES UNDER WHICH THE NATIVE PRISONERS WERE SENT TO THE CHATHAM ISLANDS.

Beturn to an Order of the Souse of Representatives of the 23rd July, 1868,

That there be laid upon the Table of this House —" Copies of the Instructions and Authorities under which the Native Prisoners were sent to the Chatham Islands."

{Mr. Tr avers.)

WELLINGTON.

1868.

A.—No. 15a,

INSTRUCTIONS AND AUTHORITIES UNDER WHICH THE NATIVE PRISONERS WERE SENT TO THE CHATHAM ISLANDS.

No. 1. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. Colonel Eussell to the Eesidekt Magistbate, Chatham Islands. (No. 176.) Native Secretary's Office, Sir,— Wellington, February, 1866. You will be pleased to proceed per " Lord Ashley " steamer to Napier, and on arrival report yourself to Donald McLean, Esq., Agent for the General Government, to whom you will show these instructions. You will proceed under his directions on board the Colonial Government steamer " St. Kilda," to receive about one hundred Native prisoners taken in arms against us, and will sail with them to the Chatham Islands, of which you are Eesident Magistrate. You will be accompanied by an officer's guard, who will be entirely under your orders ; and to prevent your authority being questioned, you will be appointed captain in the Colonial Militia. You may allow such number of the prisoners' wives and children as you may have room for to accompany them ; and those who cannot be accommodated will be allowed to follow as arrangements can be made for that purpose. On arrival at the Chatham Islands you will cause the prisoners to land forthwith, and proceed to hut themselves in the manner they are accustomed to do, so as to procure immediate shelter from the weather. It is understood that material for the purpose is plentiful, and that they may therefore be temporarily hutted before night, and that such temporary shelter may suffice until better can be procured by themselves. It is also understood that no want of either animal or vegetable food will exist, and you will be at liberty to provide them with rations upon the.,annexed scale until they are able to raise food for themselves. With this view you will provide them with sufficient land to cultivate for their own support, probably half an acre to each person will be found sufficient. You will be furnished with tools for that purpose, also with seed potatoes, wheat, &c. You will place the guard in a defensible position at a safe distance from the prisoners. A few of the prisoners may be employed to build their stockade and store, which should be surrounded by an outer fence. Within this stockade the arms and ammunition should be always kept, and where a large proportion of the guard must constantly remain on the alert. It is the wish of the Government that the prisoners should be treated with all kindness consistent with safe keeping, nor is it desired to detain them longer than may be necessary. They should be informed, therefore, that their return will depend upon their own good conduct and the termination of rebellion. A few of the best-behaved will be allowed to return periodically, and it is to be hoped that none of them need be kept prisoners for any lengthened period. You will detain the " St. Kilda " for a week, so as to enable you to report that the first party has been fully established. You will then direct the captain to return to Napier for a second party, under such instructions as you may receive from Mr. McLean. You will direct half the guard to return with her under the officer in command. You will have ascertained from Mr. McLean whilst in Napier what number the second party of prisoners will consist of, and you will make due arrangements for their reception with the means at your disposal. It may be necessary to make some small compensation to the present occupants of some particular piece of land upon which you may desire to locate the prisoners or guard, but you are aware the title to land in the Chatham Islands is undetermined, and you will therefore bo careful in making any such compensation that no recognition of permanent title is thereby implied by the Government in favour of either Europeans, Maoris, or Morioris. The Government simply desire to leave the. question as it stands until it can be more carefully dealt with. It is desirable that the prisoners should be occupied in some healthy and useful manner; they will therefore be supplied with vegetable food only until they have had due time to raise it for themselves. They may also be employed in such light labour as may be useful to those now living on the islands. They may be rewarded for such work by a promise of earlier release and small indulgences such as an allowance of tobacco, leave to fish, &c. A copy of the information which you have furnished to the Native Minister is appended, in order that you may understand upon what ground he proceeds, and what are the expectations which he entertains as to supplies, &c, for the prisoners. Upon the completion of the second voyage of the " St. Kilda," you will, after detaining her for a week at the Chatham Islands, direct the captain to proceed to Wellington, unless he should have received orders from Mr. McLean to return for a third party of prisoners. You will afterwards be visited by a steamer or other vessel once in three months. You will receive on board at Napier two months' provisions for 200 men, so as to make you independent of the supplies of the islands ; but it is desired that these should not be used except as a check upon any attempt at extortion or in case of emergency. You will report fully by every opportunity. I have, &c, The Eesident Magistrate, Chatham Islands. A. H. Eussell.

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INSTRUCTIONS AND AUTHORITIES UNDER WHICH

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No. 2. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. Colonel Etjssell to His Honor D. McLean. (No. 117.) Native Secretary's Office, Sib, — Wellington, 24th February, 1806. I have the honor to inform you that Captain Thomas, the Eesidont Magistrate of the Chatham Islands, has been directed to proceed by the " Lord Ashley " to Napier, and to report himself to you for further instructions. I transmit a copy of those with which he has been already furnished, directing him to proceed by the " St. Kilda " to the Chatham Islands with such of the prisoners taken in arms upon the East Coast as you may place under his charge (about 100 in number), to be detained there until the suppression of the rebellion may admit of their return. It is desired that after he has landed and located the prisoners, the " St. Kilda " should return for a second party ; the wives and children in both cases to be allowed to accompany them. Eations will be issued until they have had time to raise food for themselves ; and to guard against any difficulty which may arise in procuring supplies on the island, you are requested to put provisions for two months (as annexed) on board the " St. Kilda " at Napier, where it is understood they can bo obtained at the same rate as in Wellington. It is necessary that the prisoners should be accompanied by a guard, and you are hereby authorized to obtain one, of one officer, two non-commissioned officers, and twenty-five men, from the Officer Commanding the Colonial Forces in Hawke's Bay. Europeans of good character would be preferred if available ; otherwise a Native guard under a European subaltern officer, carefully selected from those at present in the Colonial Service, will be necessary. I am informed by the Minister for Colonial Defence that you will be prepared to furnish such a guard, which may be instructed either to remain at the Chatham Islands or to hand the prisoners over to a guard composed of the Natives of the place, at the discretion of the Eesident Magistrate ; their pay will be, in the former case, 3s. 6d. a day, as serving away from their usual abode ; in the latter case, 2s. 6d. In case of a guard of the Chatham Island Natives being employed, a portion of that which proceeds with the prisoners may be employed to take charge of any subsequent parties. I have, &c, His Honor D. McLean, Napier. A. H. Eussell.

No. 3. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. Colonel Eussell to His Honor D. McLean. (No. 158.) Native Secretary's Office, Sib,— Wellington, 24th March, 1866. With reference to your letter of 6th March reporting that you have despatched forty-two prisoners, forty-eight women and children, to the Chatham Islands, by the " St. Kilda," I have the honor to request that should the Eesideut Magistrate's report show no reason to the contrary, you will be pleased, on her second voyage, to send a larger proportion of prisoners. In reference to my letter of 24th February, and the enclosed instructions to Captain Thomas, you will observe it was desired that the first party should consist of 100 prisoners, such women and children as there might be room for to be allowed to accompany them, and those who could not be accommodated then to be allowed to follow, as arrangements could bo made for that purpose. It is desired, by removing as rapidly as possible from association with the less guilty prisoners all those who have been foremost in exciting them to fanaticism and bloodshed, to obtain power to release the remainder upon their taking the oath of allegiance, and thus to enable them at once to resume their peaceful avocations, and to relieve the Government from the very heavy cost of their support. I have, &c, His Honor D. McLean, Napier. A. 11. Eussell.

No. 4. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Eolleston to Captain Thomas. (No. 282.) Native Secretary's Office, Sib,— Wellington, 3rd April, 1866. I have the honor by direction of the Hon. the Native Minister, to acknowledge the receipt ofyour letter of the 19th March, in which you report your arrival at the Chatham Islands with the first party of Native prisoners with the guard from Hawke's Bay. Colonel Eussell instructs me to express his satisfaction with the arrangements you have made as reported by you, and his approval of the course you have taken in adhering to your instructions as regards the location of the prisoners. For your future guidance, he desires me to add his wish that you should in all cases abide by your instructions, unless some clear and decided advantage is to be gained by departing from them; in which case you should immediately report, and ask authority for the action taken by you. As regards reports generally, Colonel Eussell wishes me to repeat his previous instructions, that no opportunity should be lost of reporting upon all matters deserving of attention, and of giving the fullest information on every point touched upon in his instructions, which you should carefully consult when reporting. With respect to the pay of the guard, I am directed to inform you that no departure can be allowed from the rates authorized, viz. : —3s. 6d. per diem to those serving away from their usual abode, and 2s. 6d. to those of the Chatham Islands. One sergeant, however, at 4s. 6d., and one corporal at 45., may be estimated for. I enclose an approved estimate for the past month. In case any of the Europeans of the guard desire to return, you are authorized to permit them to

PRISONERS WERE SENT TO CHATHAM ISLANDS.

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do so, and to replace them, if you think it safe, with Natives of the Chatham Islands. In this you will be guided by your own judgment, and must act on your own responsibility. It does not appear from your report what action you took as to sending back half the guard for the second party of prisoners in accordance with your instructions. I have, &c, The Resident Magistrate, Chatham Islands. W. Rollestow, Under Secretary.

No. 5. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. Colonel Russell to Captain Thomas. (No. 472.) Sib,— Napier, 13th May, 1860. In reply to your report of the 7th instant, which has reached me here, I beg to inform you that it is considered the number of prisoners under your charge is eighty-six men. The women and children are not to be considered as prisoners, unless you should see sjiecial cause for placing them under restraint. 2. Tour reasons for not sending back the half of the guard, in obedience to your instructions, are not satisfactory. You had upon the return of the " St. Kilda " from her first trip but thirty-nine men, and, under proper arrangements, twelve men should have been an ample guard for that number; by failing to obey your instructions, you have incurred a large expenditure which the Hon. the Defence Minister has not authorized, and for which you must be prepared to be surcharged. 3. I beg to refer you to your instructions as to the construction of a stockade. I had understood small round timber to be available, and had pointed out to you that a stockade might be constructed in three days. I perceive you have thrown up a redoubt with sides of fifty-two feet, with ditches of nine feet depth and ten feet width. I have no doubt you saw goed reasons for attempting so much more considerable a work, but I fear you will find twenty-five men out of proportion to its defence, and I still recommend you to erect a stockade (possibly within the redoubt) which shall give you perfect defence against any force that can assail you. It is by proportioning your work to your garrison that you obtain strength ; at present, with a number of prisoners which will not exceed 150 men, you ask for an additional guard. 4. It will be within your recollection that you applied to me personally in Wellington for leave to employ bullock-drays and carts, and to be provided with ploughs, &c, which I refused on the ground that the Natives were to be made useful in building their own wharcs, and in cultivating their own ground; that they were not to be kept in idleness, but to live as far as possible in the manner which they had been accustomed to when free. You will therefore incur no further expense in this direction. In the summary of information obtained from you by Mr. liaise, a copy of which was furnished to you, you will perceive it is stated you could buy the necessary land upon which to locate the prisoners at 2s. 6d. per acre, or could rent it at from Id. to 3d. per acre. You state yourself to have nowrented it at 2s. 6d. per acre. The amount will no doubt be small, as the whole area will not equal 100 acres, but I think it necessary to draw your attention to the discrepancy. I observe, also, that the price paid for potatoes is about £3 per ton. This is much above the usual selling price of late years at the Chatham islands. You will take care that the Government in no case pays more than private individuals. 5. The half of the guard should have accompanied Mr. Campbell back on this occasion. Tour instructions stated that you were to cause the " St. Kilda " to return to Wellington, unless the captain should have received orders from Mr. McLean to return for a third party of prisoners. When therefore you received orders that she was to return to Napier, it must have been evident that a third party of prisoners was to be sent. G. Toenga has requested of Mr. McLean that lie might be allowed to take charge of the prisoners. I am therefore surprised to find from your letter that you have conferred with some of the Natives who evince no desire whatever for that duty. No alteration will however be made without your concurrence. Your amended requisition for expenditure for pay and supplies shall, as you request, be forwarded to the Treasury. I have addressed a separate letter to you on this subject. As regards supplies, you have not forwarded any return of receipt or expenditure ; you will be pleased to do so by the first opportunity, showing all receipts whatever of supplies from the date of your arrival at Napier, and also of the daily expenditure of each article issued as rations, or for any other purpose. You will show the daily number of men, women, and children drawing rations, and the proportion drawn by each, which when computed must agree with the total daily quantities issued. 8. I am not aware what quantity of tools has already been furnished to you but will ascertain from Mr. McLean. You will keep a careful account of those tools, as well as of all Government property which passes into your hands, as you will bo chargeable with any deficiencies which may exist at periodical inspections. 9. I am not aware why the medical report of prisoners has been furnished to the Hon. the Defence Minister. All reports connected with the prisoners should (unless otherwise instructed) be rendered to the Native Minister. I observe you mention incidentally that two of the prisoners have died since their arrival; you will be pleased to furnish a report of the name, age, sex, disease, date of death, and such other information as you may think necessary. To be furnished, in the first place, to you by the medical officer, and forwarded by you to the Native Office. This is to be done in all cases of death. I will consult with Mr. McLean and Mr. Campbell as to the amount of warm clothing in your possession, and that which it may be necessary to add to it. 10. Having now replied to the several paragraphs of your letter, I have to express my regret that I have had to point out cases in which you have departed from instructions. lam aware that cases will sometimes arise when it may be impossible or unwise to adhere to them, and for such cases due 2

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INSTRUCTIONS AND AUTHORITIES UNDER WHICH

allowance shall be made; but I must request that when the wishes of the Government are clearly indicated, there may be no unnecessary departure from them. I have therefore again to call your attention to the instructions and accompanying papers with which you were furnished at Wellington, which were intended to convey to you not only directions for your guidance in a particular instance, but with the general views of the Government in sending prisoners to the Chatham Islands. 11. This trip of the " St. Kilda" will complete the number of prisoners intended to be sent at present. Tou will, upon their disembarkation, cause the captain to take her direct to Wellington, where she is anxiously expected by the lion, the Defence Minister, to whom he will rejiort his arrival. Yon will transmit by her to the Under Secretary, Native Office, a return showing the name and age of the prisoners who have been landed at the Chatham Islands from the beginning, with the names, sex, and ages of those who have accompanied them. 12. There will be no special vessel sent to you for three months, but advantage will be taken of all casual opportunities to communicate with you. 13. I must again impress upon you the necessity for constant vigilance, for leaving neither tools nor implements of any kind in possession of the prisoners at night, and for keeping one-half of the guard always in the stockade and on the alert. Mr. Tuke is understood to have applied with your concurrence for leave of absence. I cannot however approve of the guard being left without an officer. I have, &c, The Eesidcnt Magistrate, Chatham Islands. 11. E. Ef/ssell.

No. 0. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Eolleston to Captain Thomas. (No. 522.) Native Secretary's Office, Sib,— Wellington, 25th June, 1866. I have the honor, by direction of the Hon. Colonel Haultain, to inform you that the Government have decided to withdraw the military guard from the Chatham Islands, with the exception of four men of the Napier Military Settlers, one corporal and three privates, who will remain for the present under your orders. Toenga and other Natives from the Chatham Islands now in Wellington have signified their willingness to take charge of the prisoners ; and you will be good enough to make arrangements to carry out this proposal, and to issue the usual provisions till such time as they are able to supply themselves. Your requisition for the September quarter will therefore be approved for the payment of one corporal and three privates, and for supplies according to the usual scale to prisoners. The remainder of the the guard is to return to Napier by the " St. Kilda." I have, &(■., W. Eollestox, The Resident Magistrate, Chatham Islands. Under Secretary.

No. 7. Copy of a Letter from Captain Holt to Captain Thomas. (No. 137-3.) Colonial Defence Office, Slß,— Wellington, 27th September, 18GG. I have the honor to inform you that the schooner " Flying Cloud " lias been chartered by the Government to proceed to the Chatham Islands and back to Wellington. By her a sum of £300 is being sent to you for payment of departmental expenses, pay of the guard (one corporal and three privates), and for the rations of Native prisoners ; a further sum of £22G 10s. will be placed to your public account in the Bank of New Zealand here. There is an item of £22 17s. 6d. in reference to the disposal of which I refer you to my letter of this day's date, No. 436-3. The Government are also sending by this opportunity one breech-loading carbine with 300 rounds of ammunition, and twenty rifles with 2,000 rounds of ammunition, as well as six suits of clothing for the guard. The breech-loading carbine is for your own use, in place of the one you returned by the " St. Kilda ;" the remainder (viz., the rifles) I am directed by the Defence Minister to instruct you are to be issued to such adult Europeans as wish to receive them, but only on the condition that they will meet for inspection at such times and places as you may direct. Tou should appoint a place of rendezvous for them in case of alarm, and a day once in each month for the inspection of their arms. I am also to request you to send a full report respecting the Native prisoners, showing how they are distributed through the island, and what is their present principal occupation. I have, &c, J. Holt, Captain Thomas, E.M., Chatham Islands. Under Secretary.

No. 8. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Stevens to Captain Thomas. Sib — Colonel Haultain lias instructed me again to remind you of the instructions conveyed in Defence Office letter No. 98-5, of the 4th April, and previous communications, and to state that you are held responsible that sufficient food for the whole of the prisoners is raised by themselves. I have, &c, Ekas. Stevens (in the absence of the Under Secretary).

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No. 9. Copy of a Letter from Captain Holt to Captain Thomas. (No. 473-3.) Colonial Defence Office, Sin.— Wellington, 19th October, 1866. By direction of the Hon. the Defence Minister, I have the honor to inform you that a further body of Native prisoners, numbering about fifty men, are being sent in the " St. Kilda" for safe custody at the Chatham Islands, under the charge of two officers and twenty non-commissioned officers and men of the Napier Military Settlers, whom the Government purpose to retain at the Chatham Islands for some months. The officer of the guard has been directed to report himself to you on arrival, and place himself under your orders. The guard will receive, while on this duty, the same rates of pay as when authorized on a previous occasion, viz., 1 lieutenant, 14s. 6d. per diem; 1 ensign, 12s. 6d. per diem; 1 sergeant, 4s. 6d. per diem ; 1 corporal, 4s. per diem; 18 privates, 3s. 6d. per diem. The whole will be paid at Napier at the end of the present month. The " St. Kilda " will also take the supplies (including rum for the guard) noted in the margin,* which are calculated, in respect to the guard, in accordance with the usual allowance to men of the Colonial Forces, and for the prisoners, according to the scale furnished to you by the late Native Minister, Colonel Eussell, and should be sufficient for six months, receipt of which, in detail, you will please acknowledge. These stores do not include meat and potatoes, excepting one month's supply of Bait meat, to be issued occasionally, or in cases of emergency. As a general rule, it is understood that you will have no difficulty in procuring fresh meat and potatoes on reasonable terms on the island. The disposition of the prisoners, Colonel Haultain desires me to say, must be left to your discretion ; but the guard must be kept together, and in such a position as will enable them to keep a vigilant watch. Two officers are being sent on this occasion, as Colonel Haultain considers that one should always be on duty. The guard is sufficiently strong to furnish one sentry by day and night; and I am to request you will give such instructions to the officer commanding as will ensure these sentries being carefully posted and regularly visited, night and day, by the officer on duty, who will send in reports daily to you. You will be good enough to send to this office reports by each opportunity that may offer, both as to condition, behaviour, occupation, health, &c, of the prisoners, and of the discipline and conduct of the guard ; and I am further to request you will, by the " St. Kilda," inform the Defence Minister what arrangements you have made with regard to the housing of the prisoners and guard, and if you are deficient of anything which should be supplied by the Government. I have, &c, J. Holt, Captain Thomas, 8.M., Chatham Islands. Under Secretary. P.S. —Haifa ton less biscuit than mentioned, but a like quantity of flour in lieu thereof, has been -shipped, as no more than, 5,300 lbs. of biscuit can be obtained. J. Holt.

No. 10. Copy of a Letter from Captain Holt to Captain Thomas. (No. 537-3.) Colonial Defence Office, Sib, — Wellington, 18th December, 1866. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Bth ultimo, No. 55, acknowledging receipt of money and supplies sent to you per " Flying Cloud " and " St. Kilda," and forwarding estimates of further sums required, requisitions for provisions, clothing, &c, and adverting to various other subjects relating to the Native prisoners and their guard. In reply, I am directed to state that the sum of £430 is now being remitted to you in charge of Captain Johnson of the " St. Kilda," for payment of officers and men comprising the military guard to the 31st instant; and that by the same vessel are forwarded the various articles of provisions, clothing, &c, noted in the accompanying schedule, of all of which please acknowledge receipt. The sergeant and corporal named in the margin were paid off and discharged on arrival at Wellington, this being the only course possible under the circumstances; but, at the same time, I am to observe that you placed the Government in some difficulty how to deal with these cases, from the fact of your sending up men under arrest from a distant and inaccessible place, without any evidence whatever of their offences, or pointing out how proof of their guilt could bo obtained. I may add, that both of the men emphatically denied the charges of which they were accused. As only a small number (about twenty-two) of prisoners will by this opportunity be added to your present number, it is not thought necessary to send any addition to your present guard, further than one sergeant and one private in place of the two above referred to. According to your request, you are authorized to expend a sum of £10 in erecting suitable quarters for the officers of the guard, and the timber for the magazine to be erected inside the redoubt is now forwarded in the " St. Kilda." Tour arrangements with regard to the housing of the guard and prisoners are approved — the latter may be allowed to receive payment, on good behaviour, for any work done for settlers on the island ; and I am again to impress upon you that they are to be induced to work for their livelihood, as it is not the intention of the Government to maintain them in idleness. * Biscuits, 6,300 lbs. ; flour, 6,300 lbs.; sugar, 1,575 lbs. ; coffee, 75 lbs.; tea, 130 lbs. ; salt, 395 lbs.; pepper, 22 ibß.; nee, 4,500 Iba.; salt meat, 1,350 lbs.; rum, 120 gallons. — Fide Postscript.

Sergt. Wreford, L.-Corpl. Murray.

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PRISONERS WERE SENT TO CHATHAM ISLANDS

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8

INSTRUCTIONS AND AUTHORITIES UNDER WHICH

Your request to be allowed to have carried, in a Government vessel, 20,000 feet of timber, will bo acceded to in as far as practicable ; but I fear that the " St. Kilda" will by this trip, in consequence of the provisions, Government stores, and freight carried on payment for Mr. Beamish, be able to take little more than what is required for the magazine. Captain Johnson has been directed to place as much on board as possible. You require about 5,000 feet for the gaol, and this, I presume, will be supplied by the Native Department. The Government approve of the steps you have taken with regard to the twenty rifles forwarded on the last occasion in the " St. Kilda;" but if you are of opinion that their retention on the island will be attended with danger, rather than serve as a protection to the settlers, I am to request you to return them, and such ammunition as you have not the means of keeping in safe custody, bj the return of the steamer. You will be good enough to pay the Native portion of the guard any arrears of pay due to them. I have, &c, J. Holt, Captain Thomas, E.M., Chatham Islands. Under Secretary. P.S.—I am to request you to send, by return steamer, a full report of the nature and position of the redoubt, with a tracing showing the encampment of the prisoners, the redoubt, the site of the magazine, and the quarters you are preparing for the officers. You will bo good enough to have this report and tracing very carefully prepared. J. Holt.

No. 11. Copy of a Letter from Captain Holt to Captain Thomas. (No. 60-5.) Colonial Defence Office, Sib,— Wellington, 22nd March, 1867. In accordance with the estimates and requisitions forwarded in your letter of 13th January, No. 10, atid Bth February, No. 15, I have the honor to inform you that the sum of £700, and the clothing and provisions enumerated in the accompanying schedule, are now being sent in the Government steamer " St. Kilda." You will perceive that the supplies of tea, sugar, and rice indented for by you have been, reduced by one-half, as, for reasons which will be more fully explained in another letter, the Government do not consider it necessary, without further information, to continue to so large an extent as heretofore the issue of these articles to the prisoners. A_nd so also with regard to meat: they ought not to receive a full ration, having a plentiful supply of potatoes; for in their homes neither moat, tea, sugar, nor rice are amongst the articles of their daily consumption, and there is no reason why they should be better fed as prisoners than those who have all along remained loyal to the Queen. In your estimates and requisition, I am to request you to distinguish invariably for the future all articles required for the prisoners as against those for the guard, in order that the Government may know exactly what supplies are issued to the prisoners. You will be pleased to send me separate receipts in duplicate for the money, provisions, and clothing now forwarded. I have, &c, J. Holt, Captain Thomas, K.M., Chatham Islands. Under Secretary.

No. 12. Copy of a Letter from Captain Holt to Captain Thomas. (No. 159-5.) Colonial Defence Office, Sib,— "Wellington, 24th June, 1867. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letters noted in the margin, and am directed in reply to inform you that the sum of £95-1 15s. 9d. will by this opportunity be remitted to you from the Treasury to enable you to make the following payments, viz. : — £ s. d. Pay to guard for March ... ... ... ... 174 7 (> Meat rations supplied to guard and prisoners for March ... 53 10 0 Pay to guard for months of April, May, and June... ... 55G 17 G Meat rations to prisoners for Juno quarter ... ... 134 4 0 Meat rations to guard for June quarter ... ... 35 16 3 £954 15 9 —£500 cash, and £454 15s. 9d. to your credit, Public Account, Bank of New Zealand, Wellington. The stores enumerated in the accompanying schedule are also forwarded, and in reference thereto I am to instruct you that for the future the Native prisoners are only to receive rations according to thefollowing scale, for, as stated in a former letter, neither meat, tea, nor rice are amongst the articles of their daily consumption when at their own homes, and there is no reason whatever why they should bo better fed as prisoners than their fellow countrymen who have remained loyal to the Queen. Scale: —Males, 2 lbs. flour, 4 oz. sugar, per diem, -J- lb. tobacco per month ; females, two-thirds of the daily rations, but no tobacco ; children, one-third of the daily rations, but no tobacco ; and as a special favour, the whole may receive a ration of meat each once a week. It is not the desire of the Government that the prisoners should be kept under such strict surveillance as appears hitherto to have been maintained. They are to be employed in raising food for

No. 22, April 10, 1867. No. 26, April 17,1867.

PRISONERS WERE SENT TO CHATHAM ISLANDS.

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themselves, and it is expected that by the next harvest they will have sufficient wheat and potatoes for their own consumption. With this object lam to instruct you to make arrangements with the Native owners for the lease of such land as may be required. You will receive by the " St. Kilda " twenty bushels of seed wheat; the prisoners should commence to prepare the land for it at once. They should also be encouraged to procure for themselves their other ordinary food, such as fish and eels ; hooks and lines are being provided for this purpose. The Native portion of the guard, and the man Clibbornc who fired at one of the prisoners, are to be sent back to Napier in the " St. Kilda," being relieved by eleven Europeans who have been enrolled here under the conditions attached. Mr. llamlin will also return in the " St. Kilda," and take charge of the Native guard. You should pay them up to the 30th instant, and send certificate of the same to the officer commanding at Napier. The relief will be paid here up to the 30th instant, as shown by acquittance which will be furnished to you by Captain and Adjutant Ivirwan. They have also received a full supply of clothing and three blankets each. They will take over the arms and accoutrements of the men they relieve. Mr. Danvers has been selected to relieve Mr. Hamlin as junior subaltern ; this officer is also to act as Quartermaster (but without additional pay), and you must hold him responsible for all Government stores, and direct him to superintend personally the issue of all rations. It is hoped that this appointment will prevent any recurrence of the irregularity as to the receipt and issue of stores, to which your attention was called in my letter No. 134-5, of the 20th ultimo. Lieutenant Tuke returns to his duty by this opportunity; and although you will probably find it convenient to give him the practical command of the guard, yet you will understand that the Government look to you as the commanding officer, and Mr. Tuke has been instructed accordingly. He has drawn pay here up to the 31st ultimo. You may inform the prisoners that it is the intention of the Government to release a proportion of them as soon as arrangements have been concluded with the friendly tribes with regard to the confiscated lands on the East Coast. A small corrugated iron house is forwarded to be used as a store ; it should be erected outside the redoubt, and near the officers' quarters. The guard should be employed in putting the redoubt in a proper state of defence; if desirable, the present redoubt may be levelled, and another thrown up in some more suitable place. I have, &c., J. Holt, Captain Thomas, E.M., Chatham Islands. Under Secretary. P.S. —Mr. Danvers will draw pay from the 17th instant.

No. 13. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Stevens to Captain Thomas. (No. 319-5.) Colonial Defence Office, Sin,— Wellington, 23rd December, 18G7. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter No 58, of the 28th ultimo, reportingthe course adopted by you in regard to the employment of Native prisoners by settlers at the Chatham Islands. You will find, on reference to the letter from this office No. 537-3, of the 18th December 1866, that you were directed "to induce the prisoners to work for their own livelihood, as it was not the intention of the Government to maintain them in idleness." lam directed by the Defence Minister to point O ut, that this manifestly implied that they should be employed in raising food for their own consumption, so that the Government should have been relieved from the expense of supplying them. This was still further expressed in Defence Office letter No. 159-5, of the 24th June last, and to enable you to carry out your instructions a supply of seed wheat and fishing lines was sent in the " St. Kilda " on that occasion. Colonel Haultain now directs me to say, that until the object the Government had in view had been attained, you should not have permitted a single man to bo employed by private parties, and ho considers that you have failed to carry out both the letter and spirit of the instructions you have received in this matter; and you must distinctly understand, that in future, no Maori prisoner is to be privately employed until a breadth of ground sufficient for the support of the whole party has been prepared and planted. I have, &c, Captain Thomas, E.M., Chatham Islands. Feas. Stevens (for the Under Secretary).

No. 14. Copy of a Letter from Captain Holt to Captain Thomas. (No. IG-G.) Colonial Defence Office, Sib, — Wellington, 20th January, 1868. The Government having considered it desirable to release a few of the best-behaved prisoners now at the Chatham Islands, I am directed by the Defence Minister to instruct you to send back by the " St, Kilda " the Natives named in the margin,* provided Mr. Under Secretary liolleston feela satisfied that they are deserving of this indulgence, after receiving your report as to the manner in which they have conducted themselves while under your charge. Any women and children connected with them may return also. ' I have, &c, J. Holt, Captain Thomas, E.M., Chatham Islands. Under Secretary. * Wi. Mahuika, Epenika Tupana, Rawiri Noti, Holiopa Tahataha, To Wiriliana Tupeka, Metana Puka, Horomana Tutaki, Xipcno Tutaki, Heta Kani, Holiepa Waikore. 3

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INSTRUCTIONS AND AUTHORITIES UNDER WHICH

No. 15. Copy of a Letter from Captain Holt to Captain Thomas. (No. 98-5.) Colonial Defence Office, Sic,— Wellington, 4th April, 1868. Eeferring to your letter noted in the margin, and to previous correspondence on th& subject of provisioning the Maori, prisoners, and of their contributing, by their labour, to supply themselves with food, I have the honor, by direction of the Defence Minister to inform you that by this opportunity you will receive 100 bushels of seed wheat; and lam to request that you will notify to the prisoners that they must sow and plant sufficient ground with wheat and potatoes to supply themselves entirely with those articles after next harvest; and then, if they have surplus stock, they may dispose of it. You, the Defence Minster instructs me to say, will be held responsible that the prisoners engage in no private work whatever, until a sufficient breadth of land has been prepared and planted or sown. You are authorized to incur, if necessary, an expense of not more than £50 for ploughing and harrowing this land ; but all manual labour, such as clearing, sowing, weeding, reaping, threshing, &c., &c, is to be performed by the prisoners themselves. From another letter, you will learn that a large sized flour mill is being sent by this steamer, to enable the prisoners to grind their own wheat. I have, &c, Captain Thomas, E.M., Chatham Islands. J. Holt, Under Secretary.

No. 4, •Jan, 20, 1868,

No. 16. Copy of a Letter from Captain Holt to Captain Thomas. (No. 99-5. Colonial Defence Office, Sic,— Wellington, 4th April, 18G8. I am directed by the Defence Minister to forward herewith twenty copies of "The Armed Constabulary Act, 1867," and I am to request that you will, under its provisions, enrol and attest for service in the Chatham Islands, or any part of .New Zealand, one senior sergeant, one corporal, and nine constables. I enclose form of oath, which you will be good enough to have duly signed by each man, and returned to this office for record ; you will of course retain a duplicate. Each man, upon his being sworn in, must receive a copy of the Armed Constabulary Act, and a sufficient number are sent for that purpose. These constables are to supersede the present guard. Any men, therefore, belonging to the latter who may have been sent by the Government to the Chatham Islands, and who do not wish, or are not required to remain as constables, must be provided with passages to New Zealand in the " Storm Bird." The detachment of Armed Constabulary is to bo under your immediate control and disposal, and will be available for general police purposes, and for any services in connection with the rationing of and maintenance of order amongst the Maori prisoners. In your capacity as captain of Militia, you will have command of the Constabulary, and in that of [Resident Magistrate, you will, under the provisions of the twentieth section of the Act, have full power to enforce proper discipline. If any man should grossly misconduct himself, the Defence Minister authorizes you at once to discharge him, and such discharge will be confirmed upon your report. The Government do not consider it any longer necessary to retain any other commissioned officer on the island but yourself; you will, therefore, at his choice, either at once strike Ensign Danvers off pay, or direct him to return to New Zealand in the " Storm Bird." You will be good enough to forward explicit information as to the dates up to which Mr. Danvers and the men of the old guard, who return to New Zealand, have been paid by you before leaving; this you failed to do on the last occasion when you sent back a number of men in the " St. Kilda." The pay of the Constabulary, while stationed at the Chatham Islands, will be as follows, but will be reduced when, they serve inNNc r Zealand: Senior sergeant, 7s. 6d. a day; corporal, ss. Cd. a day ; constables, ss. a day. Each non-commissioned officer and constable is to receive, upon enrolment, 1 forage cap, 1 blue serge shirt, 1 pair cloth trousers, 1 pair boots, 2 blankets, 1 waterproof sheet, 1 great coat, 1 waterproof havresack; and at the expiration of six months from date of enrolment, he will, if still in the force, be allowed 6s. a month to keep up this equipment. Any man who is discharged for misconduct before the expiration of the first six months, is to be charged at the rates noted in the margin* for the above-mentioned articles. The Constabulary will have to supply themselves with rations, and no allowance will be made for women and children. Should there be any Military Settlers who (if residing on the land allotted to them as such) would be entitled, under their conditions of service, to twelve months' free issue of rations, they must, if they wish to be enrolled in the Armed Constabulary, give up all claim to such rations. You will be careful to see that, before being attested, each man thoroughly understands the above conditions, and has had the opportunity of making himself acquainted with the provisions of the Armed Constabulary Act. In conclusion, I am to instruct you to return to the stores at Wellington any spare arms and accoutrements which are not required for the Europeans on the island. I have, &c., Captain Thomas, E.M., Chatham Islands. J. Holt, Under Secretary. P.S.— Should you encounter any difficulty in obtaining really good steady men for the Constabulary, you must at once report to this office, as any number can be enrolled here, although it will be better if you can get them on the spot. J. Holt. * Forage cap, 35.; blue serge shirt, 75.; trousers, 9s. 3d.; boots, 10s.; blanket, Bs. 6d.; waterproof sheet, 7s. 6d.; great coat, £1 7a. 6d.; waterproof havresack, 2s. 9d.

PRISONERS WERE SENT TO CHATHAM ISLANDS

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No. 17. Copy of a Letter from Captain Holt to Captain Thomas. (No. 139-5.) Colonial Defence Office, . Sic,— Wellington, 19th May, 1868. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter No. 12, of the 21st February last, reporting that the Native prisoners are in the habit of exchanging the flour issued to them for meat, &c, and requesting instructions thereon, and also as to the surplus of their potato crops. In reply, I am directed by the Defence Minister to inform you that the intention of the Government (as expressed in former letters) is to supply the prisoners only with sufficient necessary food to supplement that which they can grow or earn for themselves, and you are at liberty to diminish the quantity issued by the Government if you find that the scale now in use is more than the Natives can themselves consume. The earnings of the prisoners are not to be taken from them; but when employed by private parties they are not to receive any rations from the Government. The prisoners are not to be employed by settlers and others until they have planted a breadth of ground sufficient to furnish all they require for next year ; and I am to request that you will warn the Natives that the Government will not supply them with any food whatever after the next harvest. I have, &c, J. Holt, Captain Thomas, E.M., Chatham Islands. Under Secretary.