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New Zealand. Auckland, 14th December, 1854. Sir, — It having been found from the great rise in the price of provisions, and other articles of Consumption absolutely necessary to increase the Pay or wages of Public Servants in this Province, and as the Pay of the day labourer is now equal to and the Pay of the Mechanic, beyond the Pay of the Subaltern Officer, I feel it my botinden duty to submit for special, and serious consideration, the pecuniary, and particular position in which the Troops under my Command are placed, in the hope your Excellency may be induced to support and recommend the issue of a Colonel Allowance for the Forces in New Zealand, as is sanctioned in neighbouring Colonies, where the prices of the necessaries of life do not exceed in any case, and in some instances arc less, than the rates in this Colony. The Beef and Mutton for instance is 9d. per lb in Auckland, in Sydney the wages of a day laborer, are from ss. to 6s. and those of an ordinary mechanic Bs. to 9s. per diem, a a sawyer may earn as much as 12s. or 15s. a day. So long as 1 considered the market price was in any way within the range of the pay of the Troops. I abstained from intruding this question on your Excellency's notice, but it has now arrived at such a pitch, that with the strictest economy, the Soldier can barely secure a sufficiency of food on a charge of more than half his daily pay, and the expence of the Officers Mess leaves an Ensign little more than a moiety of his pay for breakfast, washing and wages, and other expenses, irrespective of clothing, or the uniform incidental to his position. It has been argued and erroniously argued, as a set off that an Officer receives allowances for Fuel and Lodging, but during the late winter extra fuel had to be bought at a cost of 15s. and 18s. a ton, and house rent has risen so much that small cottages formerly letting at 2s. 6d a week, are now readily taken at 14s. with every prospect of a further rise as the population increases, all of which renders it impossible to keep the soldiers messing within the terms of the Warrant, or for a junior Officer to keep his expenses within his means. Should your Excellency deem the resources of this young, but rising Colony unable to meet such expenditure as I have proposed I trust you will recommend it for the favourable consideration of the Authorities at Home, and have the troops in this Command placed on the same footing the Troops are in Van Dieman's Land, where it appears the allowance of ss. per day for the Officers, and free Eations for the men, is found by the Imperial Government I have, &c., (Signed) R,. H. Wynyard, Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding the Troops in New Zealand. Sir George Grey, K.C.B. Governor, &c., &c., &c., New Zealand.

Government House, Auckland, January 6th, 1854. Sir, — As pressure of business prevented His Excellency from answering your communication of the 14th ultimo. I have the honour to communicate to you the substance of His Excellency s note made at the time on the correspondence, and to suggest that a reference to the effect be made to the General Officer Commanding at Sydney. 2. The following is a copy of the memorandum to which I allude. "I recommend Colonel Wyny&rd to refer this to the General—the Colonial funds will not at present admit of a Colonial allowance being paid from the revenue, but I will do my best to support any steps the military authorities may be compelled to take to meet such an emergency. (Signed) George Grey, December 31st, 1854. I have, &c., K. H. Wynyard, The Honorall Officer Administering the Government. The Officer Commanding the Forces, &c., &c., &c , New Zealand. ' '