A.—No. la.

No. 1. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.8., to the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, M.P. (No. 69.) Government House, "WeUington, Sir,— 10th July, 1866. I have the honor to state that my attention has heen caUed to ( a statement made in a newspaper, aHeged to rest on the authority of General Mete Kingi and another Native, that a Native Policeman of the name of Spain had heen wantonly slain hy Her Majesty's Eorces under General Chute. 2. The statement made was, that this man had been one of the first to enter a captured pa; that he was coming out of one of the houses, where he had heen to look for rebels, when he came upon a party of soldiers, whose officer ordered them to fire upon him; that Spain and others of the Contingent cried out not to fire, and that Spain said " I am Spain," and pointed to the badge on his cap, by which friendly Natives were distinguished; but that, before the order could be countermanded, he was shot dead. 3. I beg to acquaint you that within a few days after this man's death I heard of it, and immediately inquired into the subject, when I was informed by several Natives who were there, some of whom were relatives of Spain, that positive orders had been issued, before the place was taken, that no acts of pillage were to be committed. 4. This Native, however, who was an excellent man, led away by excitement, had, instantly he had got into the place, entered a house with two European troopers in search of booty, and, rushing out of the house, was seen and fired upon by a party of soldiers who were coming up, who took him for one of the enemy: he was thus accidentaUy shot. 5. I have now the honor to enclose a statement made by General Mete Kingi yesterday, which entirely confirms this account of the affair. 6. I have thought it my duty to make this statement to you, in order that you may be made aware that no single case of Natives, not engaged in action against us, being shot by the troops, which has been brought to my notice, has been overlooked by me. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, M.P. G. GREY.

Enclosure in No. 1. Statement by Mete Kingi relative to the death of Te Beina. I came up a very short time after Spain's death. I was about two hundred yards off when he was shot. A Maori, whose name Ido not recollect, called out —" O Mete, Spain is dead." I said —" Was he killed by the Hau Haus." He replied —" No, by the soldiers ; the soldiers made a mistake; they " took him for one of the Hau Haus ; he had been in a house, and when he was coming out at the door " of the house the soldier shot him." I asked—" Was he shot deliberately by the soldiers." The reply was —" No ; they mistook him." He and two troopers (Europeans) went into a house to get loot. While the troopers were busy looting, Spain came out. When the two Europeans came out, the shot had been fired, and Spain was dead. They cried out—" Hallo." After that we (the Maoris) gathered round and looked at the body. We then carried away the body. That is all I have to say about it. He was of the Ngaraura tribe. His relations were all satisfied at the time that his death was accidental. lam not quite sure whether Spain had the white badge on his hat or not. He was a trooper. We (the Kupapas) all had white badges. I never heard a report that Spain pointed to the badge before he was shot. If an opportunity occurred for so doing he would not have been fired upon. W. EOELESTON, This statement of what Mete Kingi said is correct: Under Secretary. E. W. Bucket, Translator.

DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.