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A.—2

"Weite according to the above minute.—A. H. Horse Guards, War Office, 16th July, 1872. The Adjutant-General has to acquaint Mr. Andrew Trainor, in reply to his letter of the Bth of January last, respecting a claim to a medal for service in New Zealand, that his name cannot be traced in the pay lists of the Commissariat Transport Corps for the period 1863-64-65, and that some further information must be furnished before his claim can be entertained. Mr. Andrew Trainor. R. H. Sic, — Grahamstown, New Zealand, 11th October, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th July last, in answer to mine of Bth January, 1872, respecting a claim to a medal for service in New Zealand made by me, and in which I am informed that my name cannot be traced in the pay lists of the Commissariat Transport Corps for the period 1863-64-65, and that some further information must be furnished before my claim can be entertained. In reply, I beg to state that I served in Captain Ruck's, No. 13, Company Commissariat Transport Corps, at Maungatawhiri Creek, Waikato, for a period of three months, or thereabouts, in the middle of the year 1864, and drew pay from that company during the period. Marked by Andeew Teainoe, Adjutant-General. Late Private, Ist Waikato Regiment. I ceetify that the applicant served in the Ist Waikato Regiment, and was attached to the Imperial Transport Corps in the company commanded by Captain Ruck at Maungatawhiri Creek. James Skene, J. P., Grahamstown, Bth February, 1872. Late Captain, Ist Waikato Regiment.

t No. 2. Copy of DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor the Right Hon. Sir J. Eergusson, Bart. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 15th May, 1873. With reference to my Circular Despatch of the 9th instant, I transmit to. you a copy of a letter from the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, agreeing to contribute the sum of £1,000 for the year ending 31st of March, 1874, towards the establishment at Somerset. In order to preclude any danger of the settlement not being maintained during the further period which would be occupied in obtaining the information asked for in the circular, Her Majesty's Government have determined to make this contribution for one year only. It is, however, to be distinctly understood that this sum will not be payable in the year 1874-75, or subsequent years, as the arrangement agreed to by the Conference for a pro rata contribution, according to the number and tonnage of ships clearing from each Colony for ports to which the route is through Torres Straits, will then, it is presumed, have come into force. I have to request that I may be informed, as soon as possible, as to the progress which has been effected in obtaining contributions from the Colonies interested in the settlement, so that I may be enabled to communicate upon the point with their Lordships, as requested in the concluding paragraph of the letter of the 17th April. I have, &c, KIMBERLEY. Governor the Right Hon. Sir J. Eergusson, Bart.

April 17, 1873.

Enclosure in No. 1. Mr. Law to Mr. Heebeet. Sic, — Treasury Chambers, 17th April, 1873. The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury have had before them your letters of the 28th ultimo and the 4th instant, respecting the Imperial contribution towards the maintenance of the settlement of Somerset, in the Torres Straits. My Lords desire me to acquaint you, for the information of the Earl of Kimberley, that, after fully considering the circumstances represented in your letters, they agree that the Imperial contribu-