A,—2

1882. NEW ZEALAND.

DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of Sis Excellency.

No. 1.

(Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 26th July, 1881. With reference to my predecessor's circular despatches of the 27th of November, 1878, and 26th of April, 1880, I have the honor to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the War Office, stating that under the revised organization of the Army, which takes effect from the Ist of July, it will no longer be possible to continue to make provision from Army Funds for the regimental pay of officers holding appointments on the personal staff of Colonial Governors ; and expressing a hope that the colonies will provide the regimental pay of those officers who were appointed prior to the Ist of July, and who must shortly be seconded and succeeded in their regiments. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government of KIMBERLEY. New Zealand.

Seply. A.-1, No. 10.

Enclosure in No. 1. The "War Office to the Colonial Office. Financial Secretary's Department, War Office, Sir,— 15th July, 1881. With reference to the correspondence that took place between the two departments, during the early part of the year 1880, as to the provision from Army Funds of the regimental pay of those officers holding appointments on the personal staff of Colonial Governors, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to request you will acquaint the Earl of Kimberley that under the revised organization of the Army, which takes effect from Ist instant, it will no longer be possible to continue the above arrangement. The decision in 1880 was rendered possible only by the consent of His Eoyal Highness the Field-Marshal Commanding in Chief that the officers in question should continue to be borne on the establishment of their regiments or corps and then not be seconded. In the new organization, and with a reduced number of officers, the requirements of the service will no longer permit of the officers being exempted from the seconding rules ; and I am therefore desired by Mr. Childers to state that from this time, if any officer is permitted to accept an appointment on the personal staff of the Governor of a colony, it must be coupled with the condition that his regimental pay ceases to be issued from Army Funds from the date on which he is seconded. As previously to 1880 many of the colonies had intimated that they were prepared to bear the charge for the regimental pay, Mr. Childers believes that the reversal of the arrangement of 1880 will not be a matter of much moment; indeed, he is not without hope that the colonies will provide the regimental pay of those officers who were appointed prior to the Ist instant, and who must shortly be seconded and succeeded in their regiments. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. H. Campbell-Bannebman,

No. 2. (No. 35.) Sib, — Downing Street, 6th September, 1881. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 41, of the 16th of August, reporting the visit of Tawhiao, the Maori " King," to the white settlements on the Waikato. I have, &c, Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, G.C.M.G., KIMBERLEY. &c, &c, &c. I—A. 2.