A.—No. Ib,

AND THE GOVERNOR OE NEW ZEALAND.

47

6. My visit to the North is stated to have been opportune, for Hauhau emissaries have lately endeavoured to persuade or terrify into joining the rebellion the hitherto loyal or neutral clans, Avhich had begun to feel themselves neglected. During the present summer, as I have already informed your Lordship, I intend to make extended journeys, in company Avith Mr. McLean and other Officers of the Government, through the Native Districts. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. G. E. BOWEN. P.S.—27th October. —I annex a paragraph Avhich has this morning appeared in the leading article of the Haiti/ Southern Cross, of Auckland, respecting my tour in the Kaipara district. _________ G. E. B.

No. 22. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. (No. 138.) Government House, Auckland, My Lord,— New Zealand, 26th October, 1869. I have the honor to submit most respectfully that I learned with much concern from your Lordship's Despatch No. 82, of the 10th July ultimo, that " Commodore Lambert has incurred the censure of the Lords Commissioners of " the Admiralty for having ordered Captain Piers, commanding the ' Himalaya,' "to return empty from Australia to New Zealand, without having first consulted " with you, or the principal Military Officer in the Colony, as to the practicability "of removing the 2-18 th Regiment." Moreover, a number of copies of the Parliamentary Papers on NeAV Zealand, presented to the Imperial Parliament in last July, have reached the Colony, and the letter of the 17th June ultimo (published therein at page 503), from the Admiralty to Commodore Lambert, has been largely reprinted here, and strongly commented upon in the Press and otherwise. It has been generally observed, —■ (1.) That the only action taken by Commodore Lambert Avas, in his capacity of Senior Naval Officer on this station, to direct Captain Piers, of the " Himalaya," to obey and carry out the express orders of the Admiralty. It will be recollected that Captain Piers had received a telegram from the Admiralty, ordering him not to come to NeAV Zealand; and that, in tho words of Commodore Lambert, "as the instructions contained in the telegram received at Galle by Captain " Piers cancelled all former orders to him, he therefore ought not to have come "here (to New Zealand). I yesterday sent H.M.S. 'Himalaya' direct to " Brisbane, with orders to proceed from thence, in pursuance of the instructions " received in the telegram above referred to." (2.) That the position of Imperial functionaries, whether Civil, Naval, or Military, placed (as in New Zealand) at the distance of half the circumference of the globe from England, will be rendered still more difficult than ever if they are censured instead of supported when they enforce on their subordinate officers obedience to the orders of the Imperial departments under which they serve. (3.) That as Commodore Lambert simply enforced naval discipline, he was not called upon to consult either the Governor, the General, or the principal " Military Officer " in NeAV Zealand as to the movements of the " Himalaya." (4.) That it was physically impossible, without serious delay and expense, wholly inconsistent with the general instructions of the Admiralty, for Commodore Lambert, while at Wellington, to consult the General at Melbourne, distant, in point of time, about a month, or the Commandant at Auckland, distant, in point of time, about a fortnight. (5.) That it appears, from the Admiralty letter of 17th June ultimo, that General Chute was furnished with instructions " giving him discretionary power "as to the detention of the 18th Eoot in New Zealand ;" but that this fact could not be knoAvn to Commodore Lambert, for no notice of it whatsoever had been sent from England either to him or to the Governor of New Zealand.