A.—No. la.
14
DESPATCHES EEOM THE GOVEENOE OE NEW
Major Gray, A.D.C., to Assist ant. Military Sec. August 81, 1860.
Kxlmol IVom letter of Major Eooke, Oct. 6. ISIiC.
cultural and pastoral pursuits, upon whom a small body of armed rebels, unless immediately checked, might have inflicted the most ruinous injury. This body of Natives, composed of Hau Hau fanatics, it now appears, intended to have attacked the Town of Napier. 4. Your Lordship will however find that His Honor Mr. McLean, the Superintendent of the Province, ordered operations to be undertaken by the Local Eorces, under the command of Lieut.-Col. Whitmore, which were most ably and gallantly carried out by that officer, and the officers and men under his command, and resulted in the most complete success, and that the Province of Napier is conseqently again in a state of security. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon. G. GREY.
No. 11. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.8., to the Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon. (No. 108.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord, — 28th November, 1866. I have the honor to transmit for your information a copy of a letter I have received from Major-General Chute, which he addressed to the Secretary of State for War, on the Ist instant, but which did not reach me until the English mail had left. 2. Major-General Chute informs the Secretary of State for War, in reference to proceedings I have ordered to be taken, as follows: —" I need not invite " attention to its being against all the dictates of common sense, military " precedent, and prudence, that two forces acting under different heads, should at " the same time undertake the same service in the same locality." 3. I cannot explain how Major-General Chute could have fallen into this error. The enclosed copy of a letter from Major Gray, A.D.C. to the Assistant Military Secretary, written on the 21st of August last, will show that MajorGeneral Chute was distinctly informed in reference to Major McDonnell, that " It was never intended that he should be made independent of the Officer " commanding the district in which he might be employed." 4. The enclosed extract from the report of the Officer commanding the district will show, that when the military did enter on active operations, all acted under the orders of the Officer of Her Majesty's Eorces who was in command, and to his entire satisfaction. 5. With regard to the Ministerial Memorandum of which Major-General Chute complains, I should state that having visited the district and been able to form my own opinion upon the matter, I think it was very difficult for the Officers commanding posts to act energetically and usefully, without having been put in possession of more precise information than they had regarding the nature of the country, and the positions occupied by the hostile Natives. They also required instructions more detailed in nature, and more frequently issued (according to varying circumstances), than the very general ones which they received. I am convinced from Avhat I have seen of them, that they were intelligent and gallant men most anxious to do then duty. The real error is that the Major-General resides at a distance of fifteen days from the Seat of Government, where all intelligence is received. Hence the Governor cannot consult with him on emergencies that arise, and it becomes impossible to issue orders suited to the exigencies of the moment. 6. Major-General Chute appears not to appreciate fully one difficulty. Great Britain is now doing here that which ancient Rome formerly did in regard to Britain. England now withdraws all its forces, and leaves a distant possession to hold its own against the Native inhabitants of the country. 7. If England withdraws each military post in such a manner, that as the troops march off they leave the country quiet, and the Natives convinced that they have been subdued, a fair chance is afforded to New Zealand for the future; but if before the post is withdrawn, outrages and murders are committed close to