D—No. 6

No. 1. COPY OF A DESPATCH FROM SIR CHICHESTER FORTESCUE, TO GOVERNOR SIR GEORGE GREY. Downing Street, 23rd November, 1861. Sib, — I have the honor lo transmit to you a copy of a letter from the War office, enclosing one from the Deputy Commissary General in New Zealand, relative to the advances made from the Treasury chest to the Colonial Government for services connected with the present War. The Deputy Commissary General alludes to a speech in which he is supposed to have been mentioned in a debate as a mere subordinate Commissariat Officer, acting not only without instructions but without the sanction of the Imperial Government. fS*ii)J.;The Government is neither at liberty to assume that speeches in the Legislative Assembly are correctly reported, nor entitled to take any formal notice of them. I need not however tell an Officer of your experience that the Officer at the head of the Comraissiariat in New Zealand, being the representative of the Treasury in a Colony where a vast amount of British funds is at this very moment in course of expenditure, is a functionary whjse position it would be equally unjust and inconsistent with ilie fact to represent as one of insignificance. He is fairly cn fitled to the respect of thise for whose benefit the most costly employment of Imperial resources is in progress, and I consider it an object of public importance that the use and authority of the more immediate guardian of the pecuniary interest! of Great Britain in the Colony should not be undervalued. I rely therefore upon your exerting your influence, if the necessity should arise, to prevent an improper depreciation of the authority of the Officer at the head of the Commissariat in New Zealand. I have, &c, C. Fortescue, In absence of the Duke of Newcastle. Governor Sir George Grey, K. C. 8., &c, &c, &c.

M-'W ZEALAND. No. 105.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1. SIR E. LTJGARD, To MR. ELLIOTT. War Office, 28th October, 1861. Sir,— I am directed by Secretary Sir George Lewis to transmit to you for the information of the Duks of Newcastle the accompanying copy of a letter with its enclosures from the Deputy Commissary General in New Zealand, relative to advauces made from the Treasury chest to the Colonial Government of New Zealand for Militia and other services connected with the war, and the disinclination ot the Colonial Authorities to consider the claims which he made for repayment of these advances. Sir Geor»e Lewis requests to be informed whether auy report has been received at the Colonial Office bearing on this subject. I have, &c, Edward Lizard. T. F. Elliott, Esq., &c, &c, etc.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1. MR. DEPUTY COMMISSARY GENERAL JONES TO THE UNDER SECRETARY OP STATE FOR WAS. Commissariat, Auckland, sth August, 1861. Sir, — I do myself the honor to hand you herewith a copy of a communication addressed by me to the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury relative to the advances made from the Treasury Chest to the Colonial Government and the disclination of the Colonial authorities to consider the claims which I made on account of these advances, I have, &c, H. S. Jones, D.C.G. The Under Secretary of State for War.