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SIR B. LUGARD TO ME. MKRIVALE. War Office, 7th January, 1860. Sir,— I am directed by Mr. Secretary Herbert to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of the 12th ultimo, and its enclosed requisition from the Colony of New Zealand for the grant of certain Guns . of the number and calibre specified in the margin. In reply, lam to request that you will inform the Duke of Newcastle that Mr. Herbert would gladly have complied with the wish of the Colony, but that the f!8-pounder and 32-pounder Guns cannot be supplied from store, and would have to be purchased. The 24-pounder Guns can be furnished and shall be supplied, should His Grace see fit, but Mr. Herbert thinks that only such a number of Guns should be presented as the Colony can raise men sufficient to man. I have, &c, H. Merivale, Esq., (Signed) E. Lugard. &c, &c, &c. MB. MERIVALE TO THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR WAR. Downing Stieaf, 3rd February, 1860. Sir,— I have laid before the Duke of Newcastle your Letter of the 7th ultimo, relative to the application which was made by the Government of New Zealand for Guns for the Armament of the Port of Auckland. His Grace desires me to enclose, in reference to this subject, the copy of a Despatch received from the Governor by the December Mail stating that the New Zealand Government had decided to erect a Battery at the mouth of Auckland Harbour. Since the arrival of that Despatch, however, a further one has been received of which I am to annex a copy, by which it will be seen that, in consequence of the pacific news from Europe, the Governor's Responsible Advisers had determined no longer to incur the responsibility of defraying the cost of erecting Military Defences not authorised by the General Assembly. lam to request that you will move Mr. Secretary Herbert to state what Instructions he would suggest should be sent to the Colony in answer to those Desnatches. I have, &c, The Under Secretary of State for War, (Signed) H. Merivale. &c, &c, &c. SIX E. LUGARD TO MR. MERIVALE. War Office, 22nd February, 1860. Sir,— I have laid before the Secretary of State for War your Letter of the 3rd instant, together with its enclosures, from the Governor of New Zealand, from which it appears that his Advisers in the present state of affairs decline to take upon themselves the responsibility of proceeding with Works of Defence at Auckland previously agreed upon, until the question shall have been submitted for the sanction of the General Assembly. In reply to your enquiry what Instructions Mr. Sidney Herbert would suggest should be sent to the Governor in reference to these Despatches, I am to request that you will acquaint the Duke of Newcastle that Mr. Herbert has no observations to offer on the subject beyond that the recent application to Her Majesty's Government for Guns for the armament of these Defences is one which under present circumstances, it would be superfluous to comply with, and may be regarded as withdrawn. I have, &c, 11. Merivale, Esq., (Signed) Edward Luoakd. &c, &c, &c.

(Enclosure.) Ouns. Prs, Cwt. ■2J (!8 95 SH 32 58 \t 24 50

(Enclosure,)

No. 73. Sept. ], 1859.

No. 89. Oct. 18, 1859;

(Enclosure,)