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I beg to enclose the latest state of the strength of the Forces in New Zealand. I have. &c, (Signed) C. E. Gold, Colonel Commanding the Forces. His Excellency the Governor, &c, &c, &c, New Zealand. COPY OF A DESPATCH FROM THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE TO GOVERNOR GORE BROWNE, C.B. Downing Street, 17th January, 1860. Sir,— r , I have to acknowledge your Despatches of the numbers and dates noted in the margin, upon the subject of the Defences of New Zealand. '' As regards the application of the Officer Commanding the Troops, for an increase of Force under ! his Command, contained in your Despatch, No. 64, of the 14th August, I transmit to you the copy ' of a letter from the War Office, from which you will learn that, though Mr. Secretary Herbert is 7 unable to accede to' Lieutenant-Colonel Gold's application for a Company of Artillery aud an additional Battalion of Infantry, it was his intention to take steps for raising the 65th Regiment to its full strength of 1200 Rank and File. By a subsequent Letter from the War Office, of which I annex a copy, you will perceive that in pursuance of J\lr. Herbert's intention, 167 men will be immediately sent to the Colony. That portion of your Despatch, No. 61, of the 27th of July, which relates to the supply of Guns, &c, for arming the Batteries, is still under the consideration of the War Office, and will form the subject of a further communication. Your Despatch, No. 64, of the 14th of August, also urged the want of additional Naval protection. The Letter which I caused to be addressed to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, of which I ' enclose a copy, will put you in possession of my views upon this subject, and the answer, of which I also forward a copy, conveys the intimation that my suggestion with regard to the employment of a Gun Boat on the shores of New Zealand, will be taken into consideration, with a view to a complianco therewith at an early period. I have, &c, (Signed) Newcastle. Governor Gore Browne, C.8., &c, &c, &c, New Zealand. SIR E. LUGARD TO MR. MERIVALE. War Office, 22nd December, 1859. Sir,— I am directed by Mr. Secretary Herbert to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of the 12th instant, and its enclosure, relative to an application from the Officer Commanding the Troops in New Zealand for an increase to the Forces under his Command. In reply, lam to request that you will inform the Duke of Newcastle that although Mr. Herbert cannot accede to Colonel Gold's application for a Company of Artillery, and another Battalion of Infantry, yet that the attention of Ilis Royal Highness the General Commanding-in-Chief has been drawn to the fact that the 05th Regiment now doing duty in New Zealand, is considerably below the strength at which it was decided that it should for the present be maintained, viz., 1200 rank aud file. Mr. Herbert has desired that steps should at once be taken for raising- the Regiment to the strength agreed upon. I have, &c, (Signed) Edward Lugard. 11. Merivale, Esq., C.8., &c, &c, &c. ■ SIR E. LUGARD TO MR. MERIVALE. War Office, Cth January, 1860. Sib,— With reference to my Letter of the 22nd ultimo, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Herbert to request that you will inform the Duke of Newcastle that a communication has been received from the Military Secretary to His Royal Highness the General Commanding-in-Chief, stating that every

(No. 5.) No. 61. July 27, IBM. No. 63. Aug. 9, 1&39. No. 64, AugTu, 1859. 22nd Dec., 185!). lilh Jan., 1860.

12lh Dec., 1859. ]3th Dec, 1859.

(Enclosure,)

■ i;rc,)