ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE

A.—No. 1.

13

*' the rebellious Maoris, and to discourage those friendly to Her Majesty's " Government. " That the Colony has for many years past constantly fulfilled, and is " virtually fulfilling, the conditions on which the retention of an Imperial " regiment in New Zealand was sanctioned in the Despatch of Lord Carnarvon "of the Ist December, 1866; that this House, therefore, respectfully prays His " Excellency the Governor to take steps for delaying the departure of the 18th " Regiment, until the subject shall be referred to the Imperial Government. " That Mr. Speaker do forward a copy of the above Resolutions to His " Excellency the Governor, and pray that His Excellency do transmit the same " to Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies." 3. These Resolutions were moved by Mr. Stafford, the head of the present Ministry; seconded by Mr. Eox, the head of the Opposition; and strenuously supported by Mr. McLean, the Superintendent of Hawke's Bay (who is generally recognised as the highest authority on Native affairs) ; by the chief Mete Kingi Paetahi, on behalf of the Maori members ; and by most of the leading men of all parties. I annex a Memorandum submitted to me by Mr. Stafford, on behalf of my Responsible Advisers, and solicit your Grace's attention to it, as well as to my Despatch No. 99, by this mail, with its enclosures, showing the present condition of affairs in the disturbed districts. 4. I have expressed myself fully on this question, so vitally important to the Colony at this crisis of its history, in my Despatch No. 80, and on other occasions; and I beg permission to recommend it earnestly once more to the favourable consideration of Her Majesty's Government. Major-General Sir Trevor Chute has informed me that the "Himalaya" transport is expected here in Eebruary next, to remove the only battalion now left in New Zealand, so I trust that General Chute and I will receive further instructions by the first opportunity, certainly not later than by the mail which will leave England in December. I have, &c, His Grace the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos. G. E. BOWEN.

Enclosure in No. 5. Memorandum by Mr. Stafford. "Wellington, 7th October, 1868. Mr. Stafford presents his respectful compliments to His Excellency, and desires to make the following observations with reference to the subject of .the Resolution adopted by the House of Representatives on the 2nd instant, praying His Excellency to take steps for delaying the departure of the 18th Regiment until the subject shall be referred to the Imperial Government. This Resolution was moved by Mr. Stafford; was seconded by Mr. Fox, the leader of the Opposition, and formerly Prime Minister of New Zealand; and was supported by leading men of all parties in the House. The Resolution embodies the main argument on which the detention of the IStli Regiment is recommended. The idea that the Queen's authority and countenance are, by the removal of the regular troops, withdrawn from the Colony, has beyond doubt operated to encourage the disaffected Natives to combine for aggression ; and it is equally certain that the movement of a detachment of the Imperial troops nearer to the scone of war on the "West Coast, although only for garrison duty, "will tend to confirm doubtful allies, to give confidence to our sure Native friends, and to damp the hopes of the enemy. The statement that the Colony has long fulfilled, and is now virtually fulfilling, the condition on which a single regiment waa to be retained in the Colony, in terms of Lord Carnarvon's Despatch of the Ist December, 1866, requires explanation. During the six years last past, as already stated in the enclosure to His Excellency's Despatch No. 58, of the 7th July last, a gross sum of £296,035 has been appropriated to purposes expressly within the meaning of the condition above referred to. The funds available on the Estimates for the current year are as follows : — Ordinary Appropriations ... ... ... ... £12,384 Civil List Act ' ... ... ... ... ... 7,000 Ditto, Accumulations ... ... ... ... 12,000 Native Schools Act ... ... ... ... ... 4,000 Ditto, Accumulations ... ... ... ... 4,000 Native Lands Act ... ... ... ... ... 10,000 £49,384 Ministers are unwilling to press these statements, because they are very sensible that the condition required by Lord Carnarvon implied a doubt injurious to the Colonial Legislature, to the effect that it was likely to fail in its duty to the Maori race ; and Ministers are not disposed to reiterate continually denials of the imputation. If the letter of the condition be required, they remark that not only has 4