NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

47

A.—No. $

" the Colonial Government object to the sale on political grounds, such as " apprehending that powder or arms might pass into the bands of the insurgents." 3. Sir Trevor Chute writes to me, with respect to the guns and their appurtenances, that " as these instructions were evidently communicated on the " supposition that tho Imperial Troops were about to be withdrawn from the " Colony, your Excellency, I presume, will agree with me that the matter should " remain in abeyance until the departure of the Troops from New Zealand." I have signified to the Major-General my entire concurrence, and that of the Colonial Government, with this view in regard both to the guns and also to the land and barracks referred to in your Lordship's Despatch No. 88, now under acknowledgment. 1. My Eesponsible Advisers request me to express to your Lordship their sense of the liberal consideration shown to the Colony in this matter, and their hope that there will be no need to take advantage of it at present, as they are confident that a Eegiment will be left here, now that the Legislature has pledged itself by Act to pay whatever military contribution may be required by the Imperial Government. 5. I am further requested to forward the enclosed Ministerial Memorandum concerning the disposal of the " warlike stores," (chiefly powder and ammunition for Enfield rifles,) not expressly included in the above-mentioned transfer of the guns, &c, at Auckland. I beg to recommend this Memorandum (of which I have sent a copy to General Chute,) to the favourable consideration of your Lordship and of the Secretary of State for War, as it appears to be in harmony with the principles laid down by Messrs. Hamilton and Godley, in their Eeport on the Military Defence of the Colonies, published in the Earliamentary Papers of that year,* and quoted in my Despatch No. 19, of the 9th Eebruary, 1869. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. G. E. BOWEN.

Enclosure in No. 26. Memorandum by Mr. McLean. 12th October, 1869. With reference to Major-General Sir Trevor Chute's letter to His Excellency the Governor, dated August 10th, 1869, No. x-923, Ministers request His-Excellency to inform the Major-General that the Colonial Government will always be anxious to meet his views as far as possible; but that in their opinion it would be injudicious, on the political grounds referred to in the War Office letter of the 16th Juno ultimo, (quoted by Sir Trevor Chute,) to offer for public sale, at the present moment, gunpowder or other warlike stores which might possibly fall into the hands of the Maori insurgents. The difficulty of preventing them from being supplied by Europeans with arms and powder is well known. It appears, however, from the later War Office letter of the 18th June ultimo, (of which a copy is enclosed in Sir Trevor Chute's letter to His Excellency of the 13th September ultimo,) that the powder and other stores belonging to the guns in the fort at Auckland are to be transferred, free of charge, to the Colonial Government upon tho final departure of Her Majesty's Troops. Ministers are fully sensible of the liberal consideration thus shown, but hope there will be no need to take advantage of it for the present, as they rely on a regiment being left in the Colony. It is understood that the Commandant has ordered the preparation of a complete list of the Imperial stores of all kinds in New Zealand. When this is done, the Colonial Government will be able to decide on purchasing such portions of them as may be required. As two Commissioners (Dr. Featherston and Mr. Dillon Bell) are about to proceed to England on behalf of the Colonial Government and Parliament to settle finally with the Imperial Government all questions concerning Her Majesty's Troops here, the military contribution, the outstanding accounts, &c, it is hoped that the payment for any gunpowder, ammunition, or other warlike stores not included in the above-mentioned transfer of guns, &c, to the Colony, may stand over until this final settlement in England. A temporary arrangement of this kind would probably be approved in England, as it would obviate much confusion of accounts: looking also to the terms and spirit of the recent communications, and to the strong recommendations of the Imperial Commissioners on this subject contained in Messrs. Hamilton and Godley's Eeport of January 24th, 1860. Meanwhile the Colonial Government has already paid, or will pay forthwith, for all tents, bedding, barrack furniture, &c, and stores of all kinds, not properly warlike stores (i.e., guns, powder, ammunition, &c). Donald McLean.

* See Return to an Address of the House of Commons, April 25, 1860.