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large a force as possible should be at the disposal of the Government here, as the presence of such a force at that date may go far to bring the disturbances which have prevailed here to a final and satisfactory conclusion. I have, &c, Captain Jenkins, G. Grey. H. M. S. Miranda, Senior Officer.

No. 4. CArTAIN JENKINS, R.N., TO GOVERNOR SIR GEORGE GREY. 11..M.5. "Miranda," at Auckland, Ist April, 18G2. Sir,— With reference to orders from Commodore Seymour, C.8., directing me to proceed to Auckland, in compliance with the wishes expressed in your Excellency's letter to me of tiie 2Uth January, 1862, and to send Her Majesty's Ship Fawn to Sydney as soon as possible after the meeting of tho Natives, w'llch was to have been held on the 25th March, and, short cf hostilities breaking out, to return in Her Majesty's Ship under my command, which orders I communicated to your Excellency on my arrival, I have now the honor to inform you that I purpose sending Her Majesty's Ship " Fawn " this evening and following her in Her Majesty's Ship ''Miranda" in a day or two, leaving Sir Malcolm MacGregor, Bart., Commander of Her Majesty's Ship "Harrier," seuior Officer in New Zealand. I have &c, His Excellency Sir George Grey, X.C.8., Robert Jenkins, Governor of New Zealand. Captain and Senior Officer.

No. 5. GOVERNOR SIR GEORGE GREY TO CAFTAIN JENKINS, R.N. Government House, Auckland, Ist April, 18G2. SIR, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day's date, acquainting- me with the orders you have received from Commodore Seymour, relating to the movements of Her Ma'estv's Ships now in New Zealand. ' J J As I have not in any way been consulted by Commodore Seymour regarding the exigencies of the Service here previously to the issue of the orders to which you allude, and as no'discretion whatever has in this or other important instances been left to me by the Commodore, I am quite unaware for ■what purpose these and similar orders are communicated to me, as the only effect of such communication is to make me feel that I am and have been placed in a position which, looking to the important interests entrusted to my care, I ought not to occupy. I have, &c, Captain Jenkins, R.N., p «.„_ H.M.S. "Miranda." V* EEY'.

No. 6. COMMODORE SEYMOUR TO GOVERNOR SIR G. GREY. " Pelorus," Sydney, 15th March, 1862. Sir,— I have the honor to inform your Excellency that in compliance with the wishes expressed in your letter of the 20th January, 1862, to Captain Jenkins of the " Miranda," I have directed that officer to proceed to Auckland with all despatch, and to take under his orders H.M. Ships " Harrier" and " Fawn." ' By the mail which arrived here this afternoon, I have received instructions from my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, to send a vessel forthwith to the Fijis, on urgent duty, and other demands have been made upon me which will make it necessary to reduce the force in New Zealand to one Ship. I have therefore directed Captain Jenkins to send the " Fawn "to Sydney as soon as possible after the great meeting of Natives, appointed for the 25th of March, has taken place, and that unless hostilities are imminent in the Colony under your Government, he is to return here in the " Miranda" without loss of time. The " Harrier" will remain in New Zealand for the present, and Commander Sir Malcolm Macgregor will be instructed to aiford you all the support it is in his power to give. I have, &c, His Excellency Sir George Grey, X.C.8., F. Beauchamp Seymour, &c -> &c -> &c. Commodore.

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