A.—No. 15e.

26

PAPERS RELATIVE TO PRISONERS AND

of ground for cultivation for the Maori prisoners from the Natives of the island. I have secured it with the view, at present, for the growth of wheat as food for the prisoners, and, with your approval, would recommend that thirty more bushels of seed wheat, in addition to the fifty already applied for in my letter No. 4, of the 29th January, 1868, should be sent down hj the "St. Kilda." I have included this item in the accompanying requisition for a supply of ploughs and spades and other articles in connection with the preparing the ground for w rheat, and also for a supply of a few tools, &c. The compensation to be allow red to the Natives of the island for the occupation of this ground, who have not sought for any as yet for the ground occupied by cultivations by the prisoners, should, I think, be at the rate of 2s. 6d. per acre per annum, it being in the vicinity of Waitangi Harbour and adjoining the prisoners' camp. This sum I do not think would be in excess, considering that the Europeans arc paying high prices for their land transactions with the Natives. I have, &c, The Hon. the Defence Minister, Wellington. W. E. Thomas, Eesident Magistrate.

No. 54. Copy of a Letter from Captain Thomas to the Hon. the Defence Minister. (No. 19.) Eesident Magistrate's Office, Sic, — Chatham Islands, 11th April, 1868. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter No. 99-5, of the 4th April last, conveying instructions for the enrolling and attesting, under " The Armed Constabulary Act, 1867," , for service in the Chatham Islands, or any part of New Zealand, members as per margin, with a view of and for the purpose of superseding the guard in charge of the Maori prisoners. In reply, I have the honor to inform you that in conformity with these instructions, I have attested and enrolled from the old guard—one senior sergeant, at 7s. fid. a day; one corporal, at ss. (id. a day ; nine constables, at ss. each a day ; and have furnished them each with a copy of " The Armed Constabulary Act, 1867." I beg to enclose forms of oath duly signed by each attested man. The enrolment of this force quite coincides with my views, expressed to you in my letter No. 16, of the 30th ultimo, forwarded by " Despatch " schooner on the 7th instant. I have, subject to further instructions, supplied and armed the men each with a rifle and set of accoutrements complete, and have retained the original twenty rifles, previously supplied for the European population in addition, making altogether thirty-one stand in my charge. According to list enclosed, I forward in charge of Ensign Danvers, who proceeds to Wellington according to your instructions, thirteen rifles and accoutrements; and likewise, in his charge, two quarter-casks of rum containing forty-nine gallons. Mr. Danvers and all the old guard have been paid up to and for the 9th of April, IS6S, being the day on which they were discharged, as per acquittance rolls enclosed. Privates Ashby and Hodges are the only two men entitled to a free passage (steerage) to "Wellington, they having both been sent down by the Government, to the Chatham Islands, from Napier and Wellington. I have allowed to the wife of Private Hodges a free passage, conditionally on the distinct understanding that the cost of her passage will have to bo defrayed by her husband, should you so require it, as I perceive by the chai'ter of the " Storm Bird " that the vessel will not have occasion to convey the stipulated numbers. I have, &c, W. E. Thomas, The Hon. the Defence Minister, Wellington. Eesident Magistrate.

I senior sergeant, 1 corporal, 9 constables.

No. 55. Copy of a Letter from Captain Thomas to the Hon. the Defence Minister. (No. 21.) Resident Magistrate's Office, Sib,— Chatham Islands, 11th April, 1868. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 95-5, of the 3rd April last, directing me to observe the instructions conveyed to me by Mr. Under Secretary Eolleston in his letter to me of the 28th January last. In conformity therewith, therefore, the Native prisoners as per margin,* with their relatives, will embark this day on board the s.s. " Storm Bird," for conveyance to Wellington. The prisoner Tipene, whose name appears in the margin, went up by the last trip of the " St. Kilda " to Wellington, at the time of the departure of and with Mr. Eolleston's sanction. Hohepa Takataka, who now proceeds, refused, when Mr. Eolleston offered him the opportunity, of departing, and 1 have no objection to offer against his going, ho having expresed his desire now to go. Tarnata Patera, who also received a promise from Mr. Eolleston of departure, died, I regret to say, •on the 26th March last. I have, &c, W. E. Thomas, The Hon. the Defence Minister, Wellington. Eesident Magistrate.

No. 56. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Stevens to Captain Thomas. (No. 163-5.) Colonial Defence Office, Sik, — Wellington, 27th June, 186 S. In reply to your letter of the 11th April last, No. 19, I am directed to inform you that '* Horomona Putaki, Hobepa Xakataka, Pirihira (wife of Hohepa), Hiria (mother of Pirihira), Taraipire (girl, and daughter of Tipene) : —2 men, 2 women, 1 girl—s. 2 boys (1 sick).