GUARD AT THE CHATHAM ISLANDS.

7

A.—No. 15k.

Under judicious management, I do not apprehend any difficulty either with the guard or the prisoners, more especially as Captain Kennedy will exercise sufficient general control on board of his vessel to ensure order. I have, <fee, J. H. Campbell, Esq., E.M., Donald McLean, Napier. Agent, General Government.

No. 10. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Gisbokne to His Honor D. McLean. (No. 36G.) Colonial Secretary's Office, SiE,— Wellington, 3rd May, 1866. By direction of Mr. Stafford, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th April, .1866, reporting having despatched the second party of Hauhau prisoners to the Chatham Islands. I have, &c, His Honor D. McLean, W. Gisbokne, Government Agent, Hawke's Bay. Under Secretary.

No. 11. Copy of a Letter from Captain Thomas to the Hon. the Native Mixisteb. (No. 10.) Eesident Magistrate's Office, . Sir,— Chatham Islands, 7th May, 1866. I have the honor to aeknowlcgo the receipt of your letter of the number and date as per margin, enclosing an approved estimate for March last of pay required for the military guard here, and acknowledging my letter of the 19th March last, reporting my arrival here with the first party of Native prisoners, with the guard from Hawke's Bay. In reply, I have the honor to state, for the information of yourself and that of the Government — 1. That the second party of prisoners, as per margin,* arrived here on the 27th ultimo from Hawke's Bay, in the " St. Kilda," with a guard, as per margin, f under charge of Mr. Campbell. 2. That the reason I did not send back half the guard for the second party of prisoners was owing to the multifarious duties that had to be performed on our first arrival, more really than my hands singly could get through, owing to Customs and magisterial duties in addition (although I received valuable and every assistance from Mr. Campbell and Lieutenant Tuke) ; neither did I think it prudent to do so. Moreover, before the departure of the " St. Kilda "on her return to Napier, the prisoners felt and began to suffer from a change of climate, and therefore I could not so much depend on their assistance for the erection of the redoubt, which is now nearly completed, and a plan of which I beg herewith to enclose, and which I trust will bo approved of by the Government. As soon as the prisoners' huts are erected I will send a plan of them : their temporary shelter is good. 3. Owing to the cold and inclement weather which has set in, I have been compelled to engage the services of one bullock at 10s. per week and one cart at Bs. a week to hasten on the works in progress, viz., the redoubt and the prisoners' huts, as there have been only, recently, about two days in each week that the prisoners and guard could possibly work. 4. The ground on which the redoubt is erected, and likewise the prisoners' huts, I have obtained from the Natives free of cost. The land which they will cultivate I have obtained a sufficient quantity of at that stated in your instructions, and can obtain more if necessary. The remuneration I have agreed upon is 2s. 6d. per acre, to commence from the time the prisoners begin to cultivate on it; the occupation to bo retained by the Government for the prisoners as long as the Government desire without any further remuneration. As' the Natives have allowed the land for the redoubt and prisoners' huts free of cost, I considered that the rate above specified was not too high a remuneration for them to receive for the use of the land, as it is in close proximity to Waitangi. 5. As the season is now rapidly advancing, a great portion of the land also offered for their cultivation, being old cultivations, and the soil being of a very tenacious clay, I beg urgently to submit that two ploughs, two harrows, with four yokes and chains, may bo forwarded by the return of the " St. Kilda " for the use of the prisoners, as it is impossible for them to get in their wheat with the spade, or grubbing, on such soil. 6. By instructions received from Mr. McLean, the "whole of the members of the Defence Force, six in number, arc returning by the " St. Kilda," being replaced by six of the Hawke's Bay Volunteers, to be retained until further orders. 7. I bog to append copy of Mr. McLean's instructions with reference to the return of the " St. Kilda ;" and as he has not advised me of another party of prisoners to be forwarded, I am not sending back any of the guard, indeed it would not be prudent to do so with the strength of the prisoners (154 all told, two having died since our arrival) ; and I beg earnestly to submit that, if the Government should determine on sending any large increase of prisoners, the guard should strengthened in proportion. 8. I have conferred with some of the Natives here who might be eligible for a guard, but they evince no desire whatever for that duty, nor do I think it would be an advisable step to appoint them. 9. The "St. Kilda" has been detained through stress of weather, having been obliged to proceed to another port in the islands for safety. 10. I beg to enclose an amended requisition for the current quarter for expenditure on account of pay and supplies, and have the honor to request that it may be forwarded to the Treasury, so that the amount may be forwarded by the return of the " St. Kilda," as I am almost without funds. 11. I am forwarding by this mail to Mr. McLean a requisition for a further supply of tools, which are needed owing to the strength of the prisoners. 12. I have furnished the Hon. the Defence Minister with a copy of Mr. Watson's medical reports * Prisoners. —47 men, 30 women, 11 children—total, 88. t Guard. —l corporal, 5 privates —total, 6.

No. 282, April 4, 1866.