A.—No. 1b

(6.) That it would have been superfluous for Commodore Lambert to consult afresh either the Governor or the General, respecting the expediency of the removal of the last British soldier at the grave crisis in the Maori rebellion which existed in last Eebruary, for he knew that both the Governor and the General had reported on several occasions to the Imperial authorities that such AvithdraAval would probably cause a more extensive rising; that it would, in short, naturally produce results similar to those which Avould have folloAved the removal of the last British soldier from Ireland in 1798, or from India in 1857. Moreover, Commodore Lambert knew that a fresh massacre had been perpetrated, a few days before the arrival of the " Himalaya," at the White Cliffs, near Taranaki, of which fact Sir Tre\ ror Chute was necessarily ignorant Avhen he proposed to remoA re the detachment of Regular troops from that town. It will be remembered that General Chute did not, as is erroneously stated in the Admiralty letter of the 17th June ultimo, desire to remove the entire battalion from New Zealand, but only one wing, including the detachment at Taranaki. (7.) That (as Commodore Lambert knew) there is noAV little, if any, difference of opinion as to the necessity of the moral support of a small Imperial garrison in New Zealand among all those best qualified to form an opinion on this subject; such as the Governors of New Zealand, past and present; the Military officers personally or officially acquainted with this country —beginning with His Royal Highness the Eield Marshal Commanding in Chief; the officers of Her Majesty's Navy who have served on this station; both Houses of the Colonial Parliament; the friendly Native chiefs and clans; and the leading Colonists of all political parties, especially those who, like Mr. McLean, Mr. Eenton, and others, are thoroughly conversant with the language and customs of the Maoris. 2. I venture to hope that Commodore Lambert's conduct with regard to the " Himalaya" will be approved by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, Avhen further information respecting the facts of the case shall have been laid before their Lordships. I trust also that Her Majesty's Government will confirm the action of General Chute in detaining, pending further instructions from home, the 2-18 th Regiment, at the earnest request of the Ministry and Parliament of New Zealand, and after the Colonial Legislature had pledged itself by Act to pay whatever military contribution the Imperial authorities may require. I beg leave to enclose a copy of a letter Avhich I recently felt it to be my duty to address to Sir Trevor Chute on this question. 3. General Chute and Commodore Lambert were not aAvare of my intention to write this Despatch; but I feel that, under the peculiar circumstances of this case, it Avould be unjust and ungenerous in any man holding my present office to avoid submitting his opinion and testimony for the information of Her Majesty's Government. Perhaps your Lordship will direct copies or extracts of this Despatch to be forwarded to the War Office and Admiralty. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. G. E. BOWEN.

Enclosure in No. 22. Governor Sir G. E. Bowen to Major-General Sir Teevoe Chute, K.C.B. Sic, — Government House, Auckland, New Zealand, Bth October, 1869. I have the honor to inform you that I arrived in Auckland on the 4th instant, after a journey and voyage of a fortnight from Wellington, during which period I spent some days at "Wanganui and Taranaki, and rodo overland from Wanganui to Patea, I think it right to acquaint you with the testimony borne to tho excellent conduct of the 2-18 th Regiment in all the towns in which they are quartered. Moreover, all classes of the people of this Island, and especially those who are best acquainted with the Maoris, or live in the disturbed districts, concur in the belief that your action in detaining this regiment, pending further instructions from England, has been productive of great advantages to both Imperial and Colonial interests. It is generally stated that the removal of the moral support of the Imperial garrison, under the present circumstances of this community, and after the Colonial Parliament had pledged itself to pay whatever military contribution may be demanded by the Imperial authorities, would have alienated from the Crown and the Mother Country the affections of the Colonists ; while it would have probably led to a general rising of the hostile, and to the abondonment of our cause by the friendly, Maoris ; in other words, to a cruel and lingering war of races —a disgrace alike to common humanity and to British colonization. On the other hand, it is confidently hoped that, if the moral support of a garrison of

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DESPATCHES EROM THE SECRETARY OE STATE