A.—No. U

ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OE STATE.

7

8. But this at least must be conceded, that a man governs a country under great disadvantages when officers in that country can write direct to Her Majesty's Government, without informing him that they have done so, and on a most important subject, regarding which they have differed with him in opinion, and have their own views peremptorily confirmed and his set aside without any report from him on the subject having been sent to Her Majesty's Government or having been asked for, and this especially when one portion of the Press in this country has been informed of the purport of the letters written to Her Majesty's Government. 9. The fact of Editors of papers having been informed of the steps taken by the Military Authorities here, shows that some of these authorities regarded it as a party or personal question. If persons who act thus can have then wishes pressed on the Secretary of State for War Avithout the Governor knowing that this has been done, and the Secretary of State for War moves the Colonial Minister to issue orders in conformity with their wishes, and in direct opposition to the views of the Governor, who has had no warning that the question has been referred home, then these gentlemen become reaUy the hidden and irresponsible rulers of the country. 10. In reference to the statement made in the letter from General Chute herewith enclosed, that military operations against the disaffected Natives in the Wanganui District have been placed in the hands of an Officer of the Colonial Eorces without any reference to the General's control or authority, I would state that we are in the field here a small mixed force of Her Majesty's Imperial Troops, Her Majesty's Colonial Eorces, and Natives, trying our utmost to extinguish a local rebellion which was rapidly spreading. How can we, in moments of immediate peril, appeal to the control or authority of a General more than fifteen days' distance from us in time ? The operations are under the direction of Major Rocke, of the Eighteenth Royal Irish, a good and promising officer, and are not under the direction of a Colonial officer. 11. The fact is that the operations of the Military Eorces of all kinds are paralyzed by the absence of the General. Events of urgency occur from day to day, which render necessary constantly varying instructions to officers commanding chfferent posts. These instructions the Governor can only give through the General: it is useless to attempt to do sc through an officer at such a distance as it is proposed the General should be kept from me. lam certain your Lordship and the Secretary of State for War will feel this as strongly as I do, when this Despatch and its enclosures have reached England. I also am sure that if the instructions I asked for are issued to the General, no more such difficulties will take place. A great peril has again arisen in this country. I believe that it has probably taken General Chute by surprise, and I feel confident that he will now see how necessary it is his Head Quarters should be near me, and that with the assistance I know he will give myself and the Colonial Government, the existing difficulties will be got through. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon. G. GREY.

Enclosure 1 in No. 8. Major-General Ctiute to Governor Sir George Gret, K.C.B. Sir, — Head Quarters, Auckland, 21th October, 1866. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 15th instant, stating that in your opinion it is essential with reference to the state of affairs now prevailing near Wanganui, that the Officer Commanding the Troops in New Zealand should be present at the Seat of Government, or in the vicinity of the disturbed country, and in reply I beg to inform your Excellency that lam proceeding to Wanganui by the first opportunity. I think it right however to state very decidedly my opinion, that except your Excellency has really any instructions to give me with regard to any special employment of Her Majesty's Troops, it is very inconvenient to the Military Service that I should for any lengthened period be absent from Auckland, where the Military Establishments are located, and where Her Majesty's Government have already decided that the Military Head Quarters should be stationed. As I understood from your Excellency that the Wanganui country would in your belief settle down, and as the conduct of military operations against the disaffected Natives in that district has