k.—U

8

Sub-Enclosure No. 4. The Hon. Sir G. S. Whitmore to the Hon. Mr. Ballance. The Hon. Mr. Ballance, Defence Minister. I think the commission proposed to be paid to General Harding Steward very large, when it is remembered that, in addition, his travelling expenses and all his plans, &c, are separately paid for. General Steward's time cannot be all devoted to New Zealand work, as he acts for, and is paid by, five other colonies besides. Sir E. Bell, in his letter, proposes to pay General Steward 1| per cent, upon all orders up to £50,000, and 1 per cent, upon all above that amount. I gather that the arrangement hitherto has been to pay the military adviser J per cent, on purchases of small-arm ammunition and the small orders for other military stores sent Home from time to time. This arrangement was probably made when there was no likelihood of the recent large abnormal purchases; and it is in regard to them, I presume, that Sir E. Bell states that no definite arrangement was made with General Steward. As, however, the larger the purchases the more considerable the amount paid to him as a percentage, I think that the ordinary custom of business would suggest a reduction rather than an increase of the percentage in such cases. I beg to recommend to Ministers that His Excellency the Governor may be moved to ascertain from the War Office, through the Colonial Office, what rate of remuneration it is prepared to pay to a Eoyal officer lent in this manner to a colony, either by way of salary—which seems the most desirable—or what percentage he should receive if paid on that principle. Wellington, 30th July, 1885. G. S. Whitmore.

No. 69. (No. 101.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 21st August, 1885. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the despatch from your predecessor, No. 30, dated the 27th May last, with reference to a statement in a letter from Major Te Wheoro to the Aborigines' Protection Society, to the effect that " the New Zealand Government have made a law to prevent the Maoris prospecting or working for gold on their own lands." 2. I forward herewith a report from the Native Minister, Mr. Ballance, from which it appears that what is referred to is a regulation which was made entirely in the interests of the Natives themselves, and that Major Te Wheoro, on the import of the regulation having been explained to him, appears perfectly satisfied. I have, &c, Wm. E. DRUMMOND JERVOIS. The Right Hon. Colonel Stanley, M.P.

A.-2A., No. 55,

Enclosure. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Native Minister presents his respectful compliments to His Excellency, and submits the following remarks upon the letter from Lord Derby respecting a communication from Major Te Wheoro to the Aborigines' Protection Society, in which a statement occurs that the New Zealand Government have made a law to prevent the Maoris prospecting or working for gold on their own lands. The " law " to which Major Te Wheoro refers is a notice published in the New Zealand Gazette by the Minister of Mines, offering rewards for the discovery of new goldfields, section 5 of the conditions published being as follows : " 5. No prospecting is allowed upon Native land without the approval in writing of the Native Minister or of some one appointed by him in that behalf. Prospectors going upon Native land without the consent of the owners are liable to the penalties imposed by the Acts relating to goldfields, and will forfeit all claim to reward." The above condition was inserted entirely in the interests of the Natives themselves, who have always regarded with extreme jealousy the incursions of unauthorized prospectors upon their lands, and have frequently stipulated, when surveyors have been sent to inspect the country for lines of railway, that they should not be allowed to prospect for gold. Major Te Wheoro has been in correspondence with the Government (see copies of letters herewith), and appeared to be perfectly satisfied, stating that had he been aware of the " law" he would not have agreed to the prospector (a half-caste) going. The ownership of the land to which Major Te Wheoro refers not having been determined by the Native Land Court, the Natives would have even stronger objections to any prospecting by their own race than to prospecting by Europeans, as in the former case it would be regarded as an assertion of title. The Native Minister submits this explanation for His Excellency's information, and for transmission to the Secretary of State for the Colonies; but at the same time would respectfully beg to question the desirability of encouraging Natives having a real or fancied grievance appealing outside Her Majesty's Government in the colony to a private society. Wellington, 10th August, 1885. J. Ballance.