A.—No. 1

Should, however, the Colonial authorities be able to show that they have claims on the buildings in question, the Major-General will be happy, on hearing further on the subject, to reconsider the decision he has arrived at on the correspondence at present before him. I have, &c., G. W. Dean Pitt, The Private Secretary, Lieutenant-Colonel, Government House, Wellington. Assistant Military Secretary.

Enclosure 6 in No. 13. Mr. H. T. Claeke to the Hon. J. C. Richmond. (D. 450.) Civil Commissioner's Office, Sir,— Tauranga, 28th October, 1867. In accordance with the request contained in your letter of the 7th instant (384-2), I have the honor to enclose the evidence in proof of the ownership of the two buildings, the property of the Colonial Government, sold by the Imperial authorities in April and May last. With regard to the sale of the building used by the 68th Regiment, and afterwards by the l-12th Regiment, as a mess-room, I would observe that it was well known by the officers of both regiments that that building was the property of the Colonial Government, and this fact was made the subject of general remark at tho sale. I have, &c, 11. T. Claekb, The Hon. the Nativo Minister, Wellington. Civil Commissioner.

Kotos of evidence.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure G in No. 13. Notes oe Evidence. Two Buildings sold oy the Imperial Authorities at Tauranga, the property of the Colonial Government. Edward Purvis, saith: I have resided in Tauranga since 1861; I was here when the Imperial troops landed at the commencement of the outbreak. I knew a building standing on a Native Reserve (Ririiti); I saw that building removed by the Imperial troops ; the building was originally put up by the Colonial Government, and was used as the Resident Magistrate's Court of Tauranga; the building was re-erected in the camp, and was used as a mess-room by the officers of the 68th Regiment. After the 68th Regiment left Tauranga it was used by the officers of the 12th Regiment as their mess-room. At the time the 12th Regiment left Tauranga it was sold by auction, one of the officers of that regiment acting as auctioneer. I had, on one occasion, a conversation with Lieutenant Phillips, of the 12th Regiment, about this building, and I then told him that the building was the property of the Colonial Government. I also know a small building used by Mr. Warburton, of the Royal Engineers. I know it to have been the property of Mr. H. T. Clarke, Resident Magistrate ; it was an outhouse of his ; it was removed from Ririiti to the camp, and was used as an Engineer's office, &c. I remember it being sold, with other buildings, as belonging to the Imperial Government. At the time of sale, before it was sold, I heard Mr. Clarke, Civil Commissioner, protest against its sale, as being the property of the Colonial Government. Henry Tacy Clarke, saith: lam Civil Commissioner of the Tauranga District. In April, 1863, I was authorized by the Colonial Government to erect a building for an office and Resident Magistrate's Court House. I engaged a carpenter to do the work, and paid him the sum of forty-eight pounds two shillings and two pence*; this money was refunded to me by the Colonial Government. I left Tauranga at the breaking out of the Native disturbances; when I returned, in the latter part of 1864, 1 found that the Court House had been removed from Te Ririiti (a Native Reserve) to the camp, and was used by the officers of the 68th Regiment as a mess-room; when the 68th Regiment left, it was used for a like purpose by the officers of the l-12th Regiment. On that regiment leaving Tauranga, in my absence at Rotorua on public service, the building was sold by the order of the Commanding Officer of the Regiment. I was never aware of the intention of the officer commanding that regiment to sell the building, or I should have protested against the sale. The building used as an Engineer's Office was originally my private property, but is now the property of the Colonial Government. This building cost me seventeen pounds ten shillings; this building was sold with other buildings belonging to the Imperial Government, on the 2nd May, 1867. I protested against the sale. I could not do it sooner as I was not aware that the building was to be sold; the notice given was a general one, and no buildings particularized. Statements of Edward Purvis, and Henry Tacy Clarke, taken before me at Tauranga, this, twenty-second day of October, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven. w. a. Maie, j.p.

No. 14. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir George Grey, X.C.8., to His Grace the Duke of Buckingham. (No. 128.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord Duke, — 16th November, 1867. I have the honor to transmit, at the request of my Responsible Advisers, * Timber, £30; carpenter's account, £16 103.; shingles for lean-to, £1 2a.; zinc, 6s. Bd.; hinges, 3a. 6d.; total, £48 2s. 2d.

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DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR OF NEW