D.—No. 1.

depredations being committed near their post, he will be obliged to give orders that no Officer or man will bo allowed at any time whatever to quit the vicinity of their respective Redoubts. Every Officer in command of a Redoubt will send in a written report to this office that no dogs are allowed in or near their Redoubts, except they are tied up ; and they will use every endeavour in their power to prevent their men from committing any depredations whatever. If necessary, they will increase the guards, or --cud out patrols in the vicinity of their posts. By command, True copy—G-. Lkach, Capt., D. A. A. G. G. Leach, Cap::., D. A. A. G. Lieutkxant Dawson, 2-18 th Regiment, to the Adjutant. Sin,— Woodall's Redoubt, November 22, 1865. In reference to reports made by certain settlers residing in the neighbourhood of this Redoubt, of sheep having been stolen and destroyed by soldiers of the same, as also their houses being broken into : I have the honor to state, for the information of the Officer commanding 2-18 Royal Irish, that the only instances of sheep stealing that have been brought to my notice are, Firstly, a report made by the canteen-man at this post of his having one evening seen three men with a sheep in their possession, and that when they saw him they made away, and that he did not recognize any of the men. Whether his story is true or not it is impossible for me to say, but it does not appear that he took any steps to identify the men, neither was I informed of the matter until more than a week after, and through another channel. The second instance was committed by two men belonging to my detachment, who had absented themselves without leave, and were apprehended by the civil police near Wanganui, with a live lamb in their possession; they were d^ily convicted by the civil power, and punished for the same. Mr. John Peake made a report to Brigadier-General Waddy, 0.8., on or about the 3rd June last, in the which he stated he had lost upwards of two hundred head of sheep, and attributed his loss to the men under my command. The whole of the correspondence was, however, forwarded to Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron, X.C.8., who, as I am informed, decided that there was not sufficient evidence to prove that my men were in any way implicated. As to the charge of house-breaking laid to my men, I have the honor to state that a Court of Inquiry assembled at Wanganui, of which Lieut.-Colonel Dwj-er, 2-14 Regt., was President, to inquire into statements made by Mr. J. Peake and others, but they failed to convince the Court that the men of this detachment under my command were the culprits. I had heard no more of the matler until a few days ago, when I observed a paragraph in a local paper, which I assert is utterly false. I have, &c, C. Dawsox, Lieut., The Adjutant, 2-18 Royal Irish. 2-18 Royal Irish. Brigadier-Gexebal Waddy to the Deputy-Adjutant Genehal. Sir,— Wanganui, December 31, 1865. With reference to your letter of 11th December, 1865, I have the honor to report, for the information of the Major-General Commanding the Forces in New Zealand, that early in March last a detachment of the 18th Regt., under Lieut. C. Dawson, proceeded to Woodall's Redoubt, which is about one mile from the house of Mr. H. Peake. It appears that these settlers complained to Lieut.Col. Logan, 57th Regt., then commanding at Wanganui (during my absence with the Field Force) that their houses had been robbed about the Bth March. Lieut.-Col. Logan assembled a Court of Inquiry into this complaint. A copy of the opinion of the Court, dated 11th March, 1865, is attached; the proceedings of the Court were forwarded for the information of Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron. I returned to Wanganui at the end of May, and on the Ist June Mr. J. W. Peake made his first complaint to me of depredations having been committed on his property. The correspondence relative to the matter is attached; it will be seen by Mr. J. W. Peake's letter, of the 14th July, that he admits that he did not lose a sheep after the date of his first complaint to me; so that the whole damage said to have been done to his property must have taken place in the months of March, April, and May, 1865, and it appears to me impossible that so many sheep as stated could have been killed during this time without some man being caught and identified. I have carefully examined the Defaulter sheets of the 18th Regt. at Woodall's Redoubt, and I do not find any case (save one) of absence without leave; the general conduct of this party I consider good, if I except cases of drunkenness. I have no reason to think Lieut. Dawson has not exerted himself to prevent destruction of property, and to carry out the orders given him by me and Col. Logan. I beg now to forward a letter, dated the 18th December, from Lieut. Dawson, with regard to the charges brought forward by Mr. Peake. I beg further to state that the only instance of sheep-stealing by men from Woodall's Redoubt that has been detected occurred in September last, the two culprits were handed over to and dealt with by the civil power. I have never reoeived a complaint from any person against the men of the detachment of tha 14th Regt., under Capt. Vivian, stationed at Stewart's Redoubt (Mussen's Farm) since March last. The monthly average strength of the detachment at Woodall's Redoubt in March, April, and May, was—2 officers, 3 Serjeants, 1 drummer, 70 rank and file: at Stewart's Redoubt, it was—3 officers, 3 Serjeants, 2 doctors, and 100 rank and file. I have, &c, R. Waddy, Brigr.-General, The Dep. Adjt. General. Commanding Wongnmti District. True copies. R. Cabby, Colonel, D. A. G.

6

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO.THE PETITION OF J. W. PEAKE, &c.