A—No. 6c

No. 6. MEMORANDUM RY MINISTERS FOR HIS EXCELLENCY. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 24th January, 1862. His Excellency's Responsible Advisers respectfully submit for his consideration, the following suggestion:— In the letter, a copy of which is enclosed, proposed to be written to Mr. F. A. Carrington with reference to his appointment as Engineering Surveyor in Taranaki, it is contemplated that the works to be constructed should be determined on in consultation between the Superintendent of Taranaki, the Engineering Surveyor, and the Officer Commanding the Garrison there. His Excellency's Advisers would suggest, with that object, that the approval of the Lieut.General should be obtained to this proposal, and in that event, that the General should request Colonel Warre to be kind enough to lend his valuable aid in the determination of the particular works to be constructed in Taranaki. William Fox, Colonial Secretary.

No. 1134,

No. 7. MAJOR WIIITMOKE TO THE UNDER SECRETARY. Head Quarters, Drury, 6th February, 1862. Sir, — With reference to the Minute of the Colonial Secretary giving cover to the instructions furnished to Mr. F. A. Carrington, whicli was forwarded to me by you for the consideration of the Lieut.-General Commanding, I am by him directed to inform you that Colonel Warre has been directed to co-operate with His Honor the Superintendent and Mr. Carrington, in determining on the roads and other works to be constructed in the Province of Taranaki. A copy of Mr. Carrington's instructions has been forwarded to Colonel Warre by this mail. I have, &c., 'The Private Secretary, Government House, G. S. Whitmore, Major, Auckland. Assistant Military Secretary.

No. 8. MEMORIAL FROM TARANAKI SETTLERS TO HIS EXCELLENCY SIR GEORGE GREY, GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND, &C, &C, &C. The Memorial of the undersigned Settlers in the Province of Taranaki humbly shcwctli :— That your Memorialists are most sincerely desirous to co-operate with the Colonial Government in any plan they may think fit to adopt for reducing the expenditure on the Militia and Volunteer Forces in this Province, provided that it shall satisfy the following conditions :— 1. Every Settler rendered destitute by the late war should be placed in a position to earn an amount of pay or wages, sufficient to provide him with the ordinary necessaries of life, iv the way of food, clothing, and lodging, until enabled by the Government to return and occupy his home in safety. 2. Without fixing the rate of pay at an amount such as to make it attractive to those who would otherwise find employment for themselves in other ways, provision should be made for giving special assistance to destitute Settlers who have wives and families to support. 3. The greatest economy consistent with the above objects should be used in the expenditure of the public funds ; and all who avail themselves of the assistance offered, should be placed under regulations calculated to eusure a fair equivalent in the way of work for the pay received. 4. Provision should be made for allowing men receiving such assistance, to devote a portion of their time, if they desire it, to the work of keeping down weeds, cutting hedges, or other farm operations, their pay being stopped whilst they are so employed. Your Memorialists respectfully submit that the new arrangements proposed in the letter of Lieutenant-Colonel Balneavis to Major Herbert, dated January 24th, 1862, and in that from Mr. Gisborne to Mr. F. Carrington, of the same date, do not, as far as they can understand them, satisfy the above conditions. They fail of meeting tho seconel condition, inasmuch as the pay, 4s. per diem, without rations, is inadequate for the support of a man with a wife and family ; even assuming that it is intended that pay at this rate should be issued for every clay in the week, wet or dry, including Sundays. They do not fulfil the third condition for the following reasons :— Firstly,—The organization provided is neither Military nor Civil, but a mixture of both; the powers entrusted to the Government Surveyor being of so peculiar and indefinite a nature, that even the most able man in such a position would find it impossible to perform his duties in a satisfactory manner.

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REORGANIZATION OF THE TARANAKI MILITIA.