A. —No. la.

2

DESPATCHES EROM THE SECRETARY OE STATE

No. 3. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Bight Hon. Earl Granville, K,G., to Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 83.) Sir, — Downing Street, 12th July, 1869. With reference to your Despatch No. 19, of the 9th February, I have to inform you that the Secretary of State for War has, on my recommendation, directed two thousand Snider rifles, with the usual proportion of ammunition, to be handed over immediately to the Crown Agents, for shipment to New Zealand, with a view to their issue to the Colonial Volunteers, on the conditions hitherto in force. I annex for your information copies of the correspondence which has passed on the subject with the War Office. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. GRANVILLE.

Enclosure 1 in No. 3. The Undek Seceetaey of State for the Colonies to the Undee Seceetaey of State for Wae. Sic, — Downing Street, 27th April, 1869. I am directed by Earl Granville to transmit to you, to be laid before Mr. Secretary Cardwell, a copy of a Despatch from the Governor of New Zealand, with a memorandum from his Responsible Advisers, referring to a paper oh tho defence of the Colony, which was submitted by Mr. Fitzherbert, when he was in this country, to the Duke of Buckingham, in November last. A copy of Mr. Fitzherbert's paper was forwarded to the War Office, in the letter from this office of 11th December. Lord Granville would be glad to be able to communicate to the Governor the decision of the War Office as to the transfer of the sites of barracks to the Colony, which formed tho subject of the letter from this department of the 17th ultimo. His Lordship would also be glad to learn that Mr. Cardwell feels justified in handing over to the Colony the old guns and war material referred to by the Governor. He leaves for Mr. Cardwell's consideration whether, and on what terms, the 2,000 rifles mentioned by Sir George Bowen can be given or lent to the Colony. I have, &c, The Under Secretary of State for War. Feedeeio Eogees.

Enclosure 2 in No. 3. Sir 11. K. Stocks to tho Undee Seceetaey of State for the Colonies. Sib,— War Office, 23rd June, 1869. In reply to the latter portion of your letter dated 27th April, 1869, respecting handing over to the Government of New Zealand the old guns and war material referred to in Sir G. F. Bowen's Despatch of 9th February, 1869, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Cardwell to acquaint you, for the information of Earl Granville, that tho Lords Commissioners of the Treasury have signified their ■concurrence with Mr. Cardwell in the propriety, under the circumstances of the Colony, of these guns, together with the ammunition, &c, belonging to them, being handed over to the Colony free of charge, and tho General Officer Commanding at the station has been instructed accordingly. With reference to tho further application of Sir G. F. Bowen for tho grant, on the final withdrawal of the Queen's troops, of 2,000 Snider rifles, with a supply of ammunition for them, for the use of the Colonial forces, I am to acquaint you that tho present store of breech-loaders is considerably below what, under ordinary circumstances, the War Department would wish to maintain, and unless Lord Granville considers the necessity for sending to New Zealand the full number of breech-loaders demanded to be urgent, Mr. Cardwell would prefer to limit the quantity to 1,000, to be issued on loan— in accordance with tho existing regulations for the Colonial Militia and Volunteers —and the ammunition on payment. The number of breech-loaders in store at New Zealand by the last returns was 168, with about 250,000 rounds of ammunition. Mr. Cardwell will, on being favoured with Lord Granville's reply, give orders for the supply of rifles to make up the 1,000 to be thus issued on loan. He proposes these rifles should be shipped by the Agent of the Colony, at the cost and risk of the New Zealand Government; and should any supply of ammunition be required to be sent from England, in addition to the quantity which is now iv the Colony, the shipment will also bo made by the Agent. I have, &c, The Under Secretary of State for the Colonies. 11. K. Stocks.