FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO

A—No. 6a

8

No. 7

NAVAL.

COPY OF A DESPATCH FROM GOVERNOR SIR GEORGE GREY TO HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE. New Zealand, Auckland, 30th January, 1862. My Lord Duke, — Adverting to your Grace's Despatch No. 104, of tho 22nd of November last, pointing out the difficulties which must arise from tho existence of irregularities in the advantages granted to Regiments called upon to serve in different parts of the Empire, I have now the honor to transmit for your information the enclosed copies of correspondence relating to irregularities existing in the allowances granted to Her Majesty's Vessels serving on the Coasts of these Colonies, which subject appears to require the immediate consideration of Her Majesty's Government. I have, &c, His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, K.G., G. Grey. &c, &c, &c.

No. 9,

Enclosure 1 in No. 7

COMMODORE SEYMOUR TO THE HONORABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

H. M. Ship "Pelorus," at Auckland, September 11th, 1861. Sir,— His Excellency the Governor having communicated to me by letter, dated the 9th inst., that the House of Representatives has voted the sum of five thousand pounds as a Colonial allowance to the Crows of Her Majesty's Ships under my command on the New Zealand Station, I beg you will be pleased to inform me how or from whom the money is to be obtained. I have, &c, The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, F. Beuchamp Seymour. Auckland, New Zealand.

Enclosure 2 in No. 7. COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE HONORABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETART TO COMMODORE SEYMOUR. Coloaial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 16 th September, 1861. Sib,— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, stating that His Excellency the Governor had communicated to you that the House of Kepreseutatives had voted the sum of five thousand pounds as a Colonial allowance to the Crews of Her Majesty's Ships under your command on the New Zealand Station, and requesting to be informed how that money is to be obtained. In reply, I have to inform you that the Resolution of the House of Representatives was, that " the requisition of Commodore Seymour for a continuance of the Colonial allowance to the Ships now on service in New Zealand waters ought to be assented to, provided that an amount not exceeding (£5,000) five thousand pounds can be obtained for the purpose by advances from the Commissariat chest, under guarantee of the Colonial Government." The precise amount required to "continue the Colonial allowance" was not stated in your requisition, and hence arose the uncertainty as to the terms of the Resolution (" not exceeding £5,000"). But it was the understanding of the House and that of Ministers in proposing the vote, that the same scale of allowance would be adhered to, as the vote of last year was estimated upon. Last year's vote included the Colonial Steamer " Victoria," which is not now on this station ; but lam informed that her place is supplied by one of Her Majesty's Ships, This, however, would apparently only bring up the Force to the same total as last year, when the sum was (£4,000) four thousand pounds. I have accordingly to request you to be good enough to furnish such data, as may enable the Colonial Government to decide whether any and what addition ought to be made to the (£4,000) four thousand pounds of last year. I have, also, to point out that last year's vote was to cover the year ended the Ist of July, 1861, and that the present vote is to cover the year ending Ist July, 1862. As it would be prema ture and irregular to pay the whole amount in the first quarter of the year, I would submit as the most convenient course, that you should at the end of each quarter transmit a requisition for the amount due in respect of the Naval Force actually on this Station during that quarter. I have, &c, Commodore Seymour, R. N., William Fox. H. M. S. "Pelorus."