A.—No. 8b

No 2. THE HONORABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY TO TnE HONORABLE JIB. MANTEL!. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 16th September, 18G3. Me. Mantell, — In reference to your Minute of the 21st August, I am glad to inform you that it has been agreed upon by Ministers that an additional number of Military Settlers should be raised to serve in the Province of "Wellington, or elsewhere in the Southern part of the Northern Island, whercever they may be most required for its defence—the laud to be given to such settlers wherever it might be at the disposal of the Government for that purpose. The other conditions to be the same as those under which the Volunteers are being enrolled in Otago and Australia. His Excellency having approved of this proposal, regulations have accordingly been published suitable to the altered conditions. I enclose you the Gazette containing them. We wish, however, not to impede the raising of the full number of two thousand men for the Province of Auckland, which stands in most immediate need of this aid. Instructions will accordingly be given to the Government agents in Australia and Otago to enrol under these last conditions, a thousand men, as soon as the two thousand for Auckland shall have been raised, or if it is clear that sufficient men for both can be obtained, to commence enrolment of the thousand immediately. The latter could be stationed about Wellington or Wanganui or wherever their services may be most required. The officer in command of the Militia will be authorised to enlist men under these conditions in Wellington. There is no doubt it would be better to engage them as ultimate settlers in their own Province, but if as you suppose, they are unwilling to enlist on that condition, they can enrol themselves to serve in Wellington, leaving it open to Government to give them the land in such part of the Island as may be afterwards determined upon. I think, however, it is scarcely desirable to offer temptations to them to leave their own Province, which may possibly require their active service. Alfred Domett.

No. 3. THE HONORABLE MR. MANTELL TO THE HONORABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETART. October 14th, 18G3. Mr. Domett, — With reference to my Minute of 6th October, acknowledging yours of 16th September, on the raising of one thousand Military Settlers for the Southern part of the North Island, I have now to inform you that, having referred your minute to the Superintendent of this Province for his information, his Honor protests so strongly against the proposal, and so urgently requests me to postpone taking any steps in the matter until he shall have had an opportunity of laying his objections before you, that I do not propose to take any steps or to issue any instructions beyond such as are clearly necessary to prevent confusion should the proposed enlistments in Australia have proved successful, and the men arrive here before the issue of instructions from head-quarters to the Major commanding Militia and Volunteers. In mv opinion (if I may be allowed to express one) the introduction of these men would be beneficial, if proper care were exercised in their selection. But if such care be not exercised, or even if it be exercised bv persons unskilled in the selection of men, it would but result in the addition to our population, and at our expense, of a thousand men, of a class of which the Mother country would gladly supply an unlimited number, free of cost to the Colony, and even accompany them with troops at Imperial expense. Walter Mantell.

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INTRODUCTION OF MILITARY SETTLERS.