ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OP STATE.

5

A.—No. la.

Gen. Chute to Sir G. Grey, Oct. 24, 1866.

No. 7. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.8., to the Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon. (Separate.) My Lord, — Te Whenuku, 2nd November, 1866. I have the honor to enclose for your information a copy of a letter which has, by direction of the Major-General Commanding, been addressed to my Private Secretary, in relation to a Memorandum I received from my Responsible Advisers regarding the inaction maintained by Her Majesty's Imperial Troops in a disturbed district. 2. In transmitting this Memorandum to the Major-General, which I thought it right he should see, I made no remark upon it because I was unwilling to raise any discussion regarding it, but my opinion must have been known to the MajorGeneral. 3. I believe Her Majesty has no more gallant officers and men than those now serving in New Zealand, but the operations of the Military Forces of all kinds are paralyzed by the absence of the Head Quarters from the Seat of Government. Events of urgency occur from day to day which may render necessary constantly varying instructions to Officers commanding different posts, which instructions can only be given through the General. 4. Having seen this country I believe that if vigorous measures had been followed up, after General Chute's march through it, the entire country would have submitted in a period of two or three months or less; and that the subsequent great expenditure entailed upon the Colony and Great Britain has been unnecessarily spent. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon. G. GREY.

Enclosure in No. 7. Sib,— Head Quarters, Auckland, 24th October, 186G. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th instant, forwarding, by desire of the Governor, and without any remark from His Excellency, for the information of the MajorGeneral Commanding, the copy of a Despatch addressed by Major McDonnell to the Minister for Colonial Defence, and also a Memorandum of the Colonial Ministers', dated the 12th October, 1866, commenting on the conduct of Her Majesty's Troops in respect to the subject of Major McDonnell's Eeport. In reply, I am desired by the Major-General to request you will be good enough to inform His Excellency that, although he is at all times most glad to receive and to attend to any communication of His Excellency's own directions, wishes, or opinions, on any subject, he has no desire to be made acquainted with any opinions which the Colonial Ministers may entertain with respect to Her Majesty's Troops which he has the honor to command. As, however, His Excellency has thought proper to make him acquainted with their opinion in this instance, the Major-General will submit to Her Majesty's Government, through the Secretary of State for War, a full explanation of the circumstances which have led to the Officer Commanding Her Majesty's Troops being subjected to the receipt of such a communication. I have, &c, The Private Secretary, Geo. Deau Pitt, Lieut.-Colonel, Government House, Wellington. Assistant Military Secretary.

No. 8. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir George Grey, X.C.8., to the Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon. (Separate.) My Lord,— Te Whenuku, 3rd November, 1866. I have the honor to transmit for your information the copy of a letter I have received from Major-General Chute, on the subject of his Head Quarters remaining at Auckland. 2. General Chute informs me that he has transmitted a copy of this letter to the Secretary of State for War, remarking, in reference to my request that he would, under the serious aspect of affairs now prevailing in this country, reside near me, " that he is unable to gather from my letter what useful object to the " Public Service will be attained by his absenting himself from the place where " the usual and regular duties of his command can be best conducted." 2