A.—No. 1

to the bush, where they would be ready to take advantage of any opportunity of surprising and harrassing the enemy, and whence by a well arranged system of patrolling in small bodies (for small bodies only can act with advantage in the bush) to keep up such an apprehension of danger, that they will at last fall back permanently into the interior. I explained to your Excellency that I considered it inexpedient that the regular troops should occupy a greater number of posts than they do at present, and I am further of opinion (as I mentioned to your Excellency some time since) that armed and equipped as they are at present, they arc not so well adapted for this peculiar kind of warfare as companies of Bushrangers carefully selected, and suitably armed and equipped for the service, and who, to these advantages, should have added the strong incentive of a direct interest in the land which they are posted to defend. Bearing in mind however the large extent of territory already in our possession, without any population to occupy it, it appears to me, as I stated in my letter of the 7th ultimo, that unless there be some reasonable prospect of providing within an early period an adequate number of settlers for the occupation of the open country m these districts, no object would be gained commensurate with the labor, expense, and probable loss of life involved in undertaking a guerilla warfare of this description. In regard to the Wereroa Pa, I could not collect a force sufficient to attack that position without abandoning some of the posts we now occupy, and the season is rather far advanced for an operation of that kind. It might be advisable, however, to add to the security of the settlement of Wanganui by constructing a post in the vicinity of Nukumaru. I have thought it right to enter into these details, in order that your Excellency may be fully informed of my opinion on the subjects to which they refer, and I need not say that I am ready to carry out whatever instructions you may think proper to give me regarding them, to the utmost of my ability. I have, Ac, D. A. Cameron, His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B. Lieut-General. No. 83. His Excellency the Governor to Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron. Sir, — Government House, Auckland, Ist May, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day's date, informing me of your arrival in Auckland, for the purpose of receiving such further instructions as I may think it necessary to give, and to be at hand to famish me with any information I may require. I will lose no time in consulting my Eesponsible Advisers on the questions you have raised, when I will again communicate with you. Our impression however was that the instructions already issued were sufficient, and I am aware that they participate with me in an earnest wish that the Colonyshould for the future, in as far as possible, carry on active operations from its own resources, as we believe that if it can only have such operations carried on by being at the same time subjected to such imputations as those contained in some of your recent letters, it would be for many reasons better that it should attempt to extricate itself from its difficulties by relying on its own resources, energies, and courage. This is however a subject which requires the gravest consideration, and regarding which I wish, after due consideration, again to communicate with you. I have, Ac, Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron, K.C.B. G. Grey. No. 84. His Excellency the Governor to Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron. Sir, — Government House, Auckland, Ist May, 1865. Adverting to your letter of the 9th ultimo, in which you inform me that you have transmitted copies of certain correspondence to the Secretary of State for War, I have the honor, in compliance with the regulations of the service, to transmit for your information, copies of the covering despatches, which will enclose copies pf the same correspondence to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. I have, Ac, Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron, K.C.B. G. Grey. No. 85. Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron to His Excellency the Governor. Sir, — Head Quarters, Auckland, 3rd May, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the Ist instant, enclosing for my information copies of two despatches from you to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. I have, Ac, D. A. Cameron, His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B. Lieut-General. No. 86. Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron to His Excellency the Governor. Sir, — Head Quarters, Auckland, 3rd May, 1865. I was much surprised at seeing in one of the local newspapers a Memorandum by your Excellency to Ministers, dated 4th March, in which you thought proper to quote certain expressions contained in a private letter from me to your Excellency, of the 28th January last.

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GOVERNOR AND LIEUT-GENERAL CAMERON.