A*—No.4.

The resolutions passed by the House of Assembly on 6th December, point to a gradual reduction of force still greater than that which has now been decided upon, and if you should learn from Sir George Grey that it is the desire of the Colonial Government that the amount of Her Majesty's regular forces serving in the Colony should be yet further diminished, you will take measures to carry out the wishes of the Local Government in this respect, as it is the expectation of Her Majesty's Government that the Colony will provide for the payment of the contribution prescribed by the despatches of the Secretary of State for the Colonies on account of such troops in excess of one battalion as may be retained in New Zealand. I have, Ac, Lieutenant-General Sir D. A. Cameron, K.C.B. De Grey and Etpon. No. 93. Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron to His Excellency the Governor. Sib, — Head Quarters, Auckland, 9th May, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of this date in reply to mine of the 3rd instant, and I shall feel obliged if your Excellency will acquaint me with the object for which you wish an additional reinforcement of 150 men sent to Colonel Warre, in order that I may inform that officer of it, and give him whatever instructions may be necessary. I have hitherto received no report from Colonel AVarre of his having established posts at Te Namu and the White Cliffs, of the strength of those posts, by whose orders he established them, or of any particulars regarding them; and am therefore unable to judge of the strength of the reinforcements which ought to be sent to him. Your Excellency may have some information on those subjects of which lam not in possession. If so, I should feel obliged if your Excellency would communicate it to me. I have, Ac, D. A. Cameron, His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B. Lieut.-General. No. 94. The Assistant Military Secretary to His Excellency's Private Secretary. Sir, — Head Quarters, Auckland, 11th May, 1565. With reference to former letters of the 21st x\pril and 16th March, addressed to His Excellency the Governor by the Lieut.-General Commanding, I have the honor by direction to forward for His Excellency's .information the enclosed copy of a communication received from Colonel Greer relative to the rebel prisoners in military custody at Tauranga. I have, Ac, The Private Secretary, Geo. Dean Pitt, Government House, Auckland. Major, A.M.S. Enclosure to No. 91. Colonel Greer to the Assistant Military Secretary. Bin, — Camp te Papa, Tauranga, 3rd May, 1865. I have the honor to report for the information of the Lieut.-General Commanding that Mr. Smith, Civil Commissioner at Maketu, and Mr. Eice, Interpreter at this station, having returned to their posts during the past month, I wrote to Mr. Clarke, Civil Commissioner of this district, on the 29th ultimo, asking him whether the instructions furnished me by His Excellency the Governor, that he in conjunction with those gentlemen should collect evidence against the Pai Mairirc prisoners now in confinement at this station (a copy of which instructions I had the honor of forwarding to you with my letter No. 87, of the 6th March last) had been complied with, and received in reply the letter a copy of which I now enclose, and the purport of which Mr. Smith, Civil Commisioner, also mentioned to me in the course of conversation. I beg to add with reference to my letter No. 87, of the 6th March last, that I have as yet received no instructions as to how I am to act with regard to these prisoners. I have, Ac, H. H. Greer, Assistant Military Secretary, Head Quarters. Colonel Commanding Tauranga District. Snb-Enclosure to No. 94. Civil Commissioner, Tauranga, to Colonel Greer. Sir, — Civil Commissioner's Office, Tauranga, Ist May, 1865. In reply to your letter of the 29th ultimo, No. 144, in which you draw my attention to certain instructions you have received from His Excellency the Governor (which I have seen) relative to Native prisoners named below* in which His Excellency states that I, in conjunction with Mr. Smith, Civil Commissioner, and Mir. Eice, Interpreter, would collect evidence regarding them, I have the honor to inform you that, understanding that the prisoners above mentioned are to be brought to trial by court martial, it will be necessary that I first receive the commands of the Hon. the Native Minister before I can proceed in the matter. To do so without his authority might draw on me severe censure, for a breach of official discipline. I have referred your letter to him, together with a copy of this, with a view to obtain the necessary instructions. I have, Ac, Colonel Greer, C.8., H. T. Clarke, Commanding Tauranga District. Civil Commissioner. * Tamihauua (Tiu), Pimoti (Tiu), Tc Paoara (Tauaro), Honi Makarauri, Te Peka, Sepia, Hipirini, Petcroe Kingi.

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CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE