A. —No. 15e.

14

PAPERS RELATIVE TO PRISONERS AND

1. "With regard to the issue of the twenty rifles, I have the honor to state, for the information of the Hon. the Defence Minister, that I have not issued them to the adult Europeans for whom you informed me they were sent down, as they have not applied to me for them, neither did I think it advisable, as such a course might excite the prisoners, whom I am happy to bo able to report are remaining perfectly well behaved, and moreover, with the population so scattered as it is here, I should find great difficulty in assembling the possessors of them for the necessary inspection of them. 2. "With regard to the pay of the new guard, the rates of which you have furnished me with in your second letter, Lieutenant Tnke informs me that the ten Natives were paid in Napier only to the 22nd ultimo; there is therefore nine days' pay due to them for last month, tho amount of which you will perceive I have included in the accompanying requisition. I regret to add that I am compelled to send back by the " St. Kilda " one sergeant and lancecorporal of the new guard for continual drunkenness, as I have no power to reduce a sergeant or hold a court-martial, and as they were perfectly useless. A copy of their crimes I beg to enclose. I have forwarded a similar copy to tho Officer Commanding the Militia and Volunteers in Hawke's Bay, expressing my desire that by the first opportunity another sergeant and private may be sent in lieu of tho two men now returning. In the event of the Government thinking it advisable to send an additional number of prisoners here, I trust that the guard may be strengthened in proportion to the number sent. 8, With regard to the housing of the prisoners and guard, tho latter I have placed in the redoubt and the former under good temporary shelter, adjoining the other prisoners. The redoubt being small I have been obliged to arrange for the officers erection of quarters close by, and have the honor to request that I may be allowed to incur an expenditure of £10 in aid of the building. Also, in my accompanying requisition I have embodied materials for making a small magazine, which will be inside the redoubt, and owing to the increased supply of ammunition is necessary. 4. With regard to the disposition of the prisoners, I have thought it advisable to retain them all in one place, and they are therefore here under my immediate surveillance. They are employed now in getting in their potato crops, their early crop finished ; their health is good. The last batch brought no blankets, and but little clothing with them. I have therefore enclosed in my requisition the necessary articles for them, as well as the former prisoners, and I would here observe that in mv requisition now enclosed that I have only included such things as are absolutely necessary, being under the impression that from instructions received from the late Native Minister, Colonel Eussell, the prisoners and those accompanying them would bo supplied with constant clothing and with vegetable food also, until they could raise potatoes for themselves. I should feel much obliged by your informing me whether it is the wish and intention of the Government that the prisoners should be allowed to receive payment for any work done for settlers on the island, although the few settlers that are here would not be sufficient to enable the prisoners to earn their livelihood, independent of assistance from the Government. 5. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of, per " St. Kilda," the supplies as per margin ;* and I begto forward an enclosed requisition for supplies for the former prisoners for three months, as I am now using for them a portion of the supplies forwarded as six months' provisions for the last batch. The salt forwarded, 395 lbs., I beg to return, as I have plenty in store, and it wastes with the damp. 6. The " St. Kilda" has been to Waingaroa, and returned with a sufficient quantity of potatoes to prevent my being obliged to purchase any more, as I have already reported on a previous occasion that I have been enabled to make arrangements whereby the prisoners can have sufficient quantity of land, free of cost, for cultivation. 7. I beg to enclose requisition for supply of clothing for the new guard; requisition for clothing and supplies, with tools, &c.; and requisition for the payment of tho new guard, and supplies for the last batch of prisoners and guard, for the two months ending 31st December next. 8. May x beg that you will present to the Hon. the Defence Minister my request that he will grant permission for me to receive about 20,000 feet of timber, to come down in the " St. Kilda," for the purpose of erecting a lock-up, authorized to bo built, and for a house for myself, as I am incurring tho expense since my arrival here of renting a house, and as there are no materials on the Islands suitable for building a permanent dwelling. Ido not expect that the timber could all come down in one trip. I beg you will assure the Hon. the Defence Minister that his instructions conveyed respecting the guard shall be fully carried out, and that I will lose no opportunity of reporting by every opportunity of their conduct and discipline, and likewise of the behaviour, condition, and occupations of the prisoners. I have, &c, The Under Secretary for Defence, W. E. Thomas, Wellington. Eesident Magistrate.

No. 24. Copy of a Letter from Lieut.-Colonel Wiiitmore to tho Hon. tho Defence Ministeb. (No. 280-2.) Snt, — Napier, 21st December, 1866. In reply to your letter No. 2259-2, of the 17th instant, I Lave the honor to inform you that I have directed Sergeant Fynmore to proceed, with one man of the Military Settlers, to the Chatham Islands. I have informed these men that they will be under Captain Johnson's orders while on board the " St. Kilda." I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Colonial Defence, G. 8. Whitmore, Lieut.-Colonel, Wellington. Commanding District. * Biscuits, 5,1001b5. ; flour, 7,3001b5.; sugar, 1,6101b5. j coffee, 75 lbs.; tea, 1301b5.; pepper, 221b5.; rice, 4,5001b5.; salt, 395 lbs.; salt moat, 1,350 lbs.; rum, 120 gallons ; soap, G cwt.; tobacco, 1 cwt.; pipes, 6 gross ; arrowroot, 10 lbs.; sago, 10 lbs.; port wine, 1 dozen ; fish hooks, 200 ; fishing lines, 24.