No. 1. copy or a DESPATCH from his grace the duke or Newcastle to governor sir georse GREY, K.C.B. 4th December, 1862. Downing Street, Sin,With reference to my Despatch No. 31 of the 25th March, I have the honor to inform you vide my attention has been again drawn by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to the statements Apr" of Commodore Seymour respecting desertions from Her Majesty's ships, and ihe romissness of the Colonial Authorities in New Zealand in checking this practice. I have therefore to request you to impress upon the Superintendents of the different Provinces the necessity of their actively exerting themselves to stop a practice, which, unless it is effectually arrested, may render it impossible for Officers in command of Her Majesty's ships to give the Colony that assistance which lias hitherto been so fieely afforded. I have, &c, Governor Sir George Grey, X.C.8., Newcastle. &c., &c, &c.

■■IT HAIAND. No. 113. ! Blue Book, IMH, endix D, No. :>, p. 6.

No. 2. COPY OF A DESPATCH FROM HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE TO GOVERNOR SIR GEORGE GREY, K.C.B. Downing Street, 20th January, 1862. Sir— With reference to my Despatch No. 113 of the 4th ultimo, I have the honor to trnnsmit to)4th you a copy of a letter from Commodore Seymour reporting that more active measures have been taken by the Police in Auckland to apprehend Deserters from Her Majesty's ships. I have, &c, Newcastle. Govrenor Sir George Grey, X.C.8., &c, &c.

SEW ZEALAXH. No. 2. October. 18SJ.

Enclosure 1 in No. 2. Extract from a Letter Jrom Commodore Seymour, dated from Auckland, \Oth October, 1861. " I am happy to say that in consequence of my repeated remonstrances, the Police of Auckland " have exerted themselves somewhat of late and several deserters have been recovered, from one of " whom — a man formerly of excellent character, wearing two good-con duct badges, and having four " years' pay due at the time of his desertion—information was obtained by aid of which we succeeded " in convicting a farmer in the bush of harbouring deserters from Her Majesty's Service, who was "sentenced in consequence to six months' imprisonment with hard labour." " The evidence in this case tendeil to prove that deserters could actually work within six " miles of Auckland unmolested by the Police."

No. 3. COMMODORE SEYMOOE TO SIE GEORGE GEET. " Pelorus," at Sydney, 18th April, 1862. Sir,— I have been furnished with a copy of a letter which was addressed to yonr Excellency by Captain Jenkins of the " Miranda" on the 30t!i ultimo, respecting the enormous amount of desertion which has taken place from Her Majesty's ships stationed in ihe Province of Auckland, and in

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO DESEETIOIS FROM SHIPS OF WAX.

D-No. 5