A.—No. 1.

34

DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR OF

Zealand, the other leading men of all political parties, and the overwhelming majority of the Colonial Legislature, (including Mr. McLean, Mr. Eenton, and all those who are intimately acquainted with the language and feelings of the Natives, together with the Maori representatives themselves,) believe that the presence in this country of a portion of Her Majesty's Naval and Military Eorces, though they are precluded from taking an active part in warlike operations, is requisite for a peaceful solution of the existing difficulties, on account of the moral impression thereby made on both the friendly and the hostile clans. As I have reported elsewhere, the Colonial Earliament has, with this view, made legal provision for the payment of whatever sum may be demanded by the Imperial Government for a garrison of one regiment of the line. 5. The positive instructions of the Admiralty have, of course, precluded Commodore Lambert from following the example of Sir William Wiseman, Captain Beauchamp Seymour, and others of his predecessors on this station, by landing parties of seamen and marines in support of the operations of the Colonial Eorces against the rebels ; but it is considered by all competent judges that the presence of two of Her Majesty's ships in the waters of this Colony has produced a most salutary effect; and, in particular, that their occasional visits to the harbour of Tauranga, in the Bay of Plenty, (often threatened by Te Kooti, and other insurgent leaders,) has probably prevented a repetition at that settlement of the horrors of the recent massacre at Poverty Bay (Turanganui). 6. At the instance of my Eesponsible Advisers, I would request your Lordship to cause copies of the enclosed votes of thanks to General Chute and Commodore Lambert to be forwarded to the Secretary of State for War and to the Lords of the Admiralty respectively. I have, fee, The Eight Hon. Earl Granville, K.G- G. E. BOWEN.

See Governor of teiy of°st_.te,eNo' 103, of sth Aug., 3rdSept°,iB_b"

No. 16. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Eight Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. (No. 110.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord, — New Zealand, 3rd September, 1869. In continuation of my Despatches Nos. 103 and 109, of the sth and 28th ultimo, I have the honor, at the request of my Eesponsible Advisers, to transmit herewith, and to recommend to your Lordship's early and favourable consideration, a Ministerial Memorandum by Mr. Eox, respecting the Military Defence of New Zealand, covering copies of the Besolutions agreed to on the subject by the Earliament of this Colony, and also of the following Acts, viz., — (a) "An Act to make provision by Law for the payment of Imperial Troops" (32 and 33 Victoria, No. 17); and (b) "An Act to authorize the appointment of Commissioners to enter into agreement with the Imperial Government for the employment of an Imperial Eorce in New Zealand; and also to enter into arrangements for organizing a Eorcc for Service under the Colonial Government, and to make provision for payment of the cost of such Imperial and Colonial Eorces" (32 and 33 Victoria, No. 25). 2. At the same time I forward the usual monthly Eeport by Mr. McLean, the Minister for Native Affairs and Defence, and solict attention to its contents. 3. I further transmit a copy of a Telegram, which I have this day, at the request of my Ministers, forwarded to your Lordship. 1. My Ministers are anxious that I should request particular attention to that part of Mr. Eox's Memorandum (Enclosure No. 1) from which it will be seen that the Commissioners (Dr. Ecatherston and Mr. Dillon Bell) deputed by the Colonial Legislature to confer with the Imperial Authorities " will proceed " to England as early as possible, probably by the October mail via Suez, so as to " reach England before the usual period of the meeting of Parliament; and "it is hoped that, with reference to the temporary detention of the 18th " Eegiment by General Chute, as well as to the questions of further detention