B.~JSb. 4.

lives, but small parties of Bushrangers will be more likely to meet parties of hostile natives, and suffer loss, than they were before they were struck off duty. May I beg the earliest consideration and reply of the General Government to the latter portion of my letter ? I have, &c., The Hon. Colonial Secretary. • CnAS. Brown, Superintendent. Enclosure 1 to No. 12. MESSAGE No. 109. Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, Ist November, 1864. The Superintendent has the honor to transmit a copy of correspondence between himself and the Hon. the Colonial Secretary on the subject of the Taranaki Militia and Volunteers being struck off duty, pay, and rations ; and to recommend to the consideration of the Provincial Council in what manner and under what conditions the amount of £5,000 shall be expended, which the General Government has guaranteed the advance of by the Bank of New Zealand to the Province, for the employment in public works of the Militiamen now off pay and rations. Tee Superintendent is of opinion, that the most desirable course to adopt is, after deducting the amount to be expended in clearing the Bush which is required by the General Government, — 1. To convene meetings of the ratepayers for the districts in which public works can be carried on without danger to the men employed. 2. As far as practicable, to carry out such works as may be concurred in by the Commissioners of the various districts at a pro rata expenditure, according to the rat cable value of each district. 3. The work to be let off in small lots by piece-work, that may give fair wages to the men employed, and save the expense of overlooking small gangs. Speaker of Provincial Council, New Plymouth. Cuas. Brown, Superintendent. Enclosure 2 to No. 12. REPORT of a Select Committee appointed to Consider and Report upon His Honor the Superintendent's Message No. 109. In considering the Message referred to, it appears to your Committee that the object of the Provincial Government should be twofold, — Ist, To find useful employment by which settlers who are unable to obtain other work may be enabled to subsist. 2nd, To provide means by which they and other settlers working in the country may be protected from the hostile natives. And therefore the question to which your Committee gave their attention was, 3rd, How best to expend the £5,000 so as to combine these two objects. Ist, Tour Committee is of opinion that, as far as practicable, the money should be spent in districts which are least benefited by the Great North and South Road, and spent principally or wholly on works of a psrmanenfly useful character. That all works should be recommended by the Superintendent and approved by the Provincial Council, and be done by the piece only. That all settlers who cannot occupy their land by reason of the Maoris, and who are not able to work, should receive a pecuniary allowance in proportion to their need. But your Committee think that some useful work should be laid out near the town, and offered in the first instance to the Third-class Militiamen. 2nd, As to the second point, your Committee is of opinion that the only way of securing comparative safety to men scattered, as will now be inevitable, through the Bush and about the country, will be by maintaining at least one company of Bushrangers of 60 men, with proportion of officers and non-commissioned officers, composed of men who are thoroughly acquainted with the country and the duties required of thtm. If this is not done, and the country constantly scoured, your Committee is confident, from their past experience, that the block-houses upon the edge of the forest will be comparatively useless, and many valuable lives sacrificed ; whereas, if the Bush is constantly patrolled, the whole country will be rendered comparatively safe, and many settlers enabled to support themselves as heretofore, —though, of course, other means will be required to make it absolutely safe or fit for permanent occupation. This point, your Committee cons;ders, should be most strongly urged upon the General Government, more especially as no Defeuce Force has ever been raised in this province. 3rd, Should the General Government refuse, which your Committee hardly think likely, to embody a Bush Company upon any other conditions, your Committee would recommend that £1,000 of the £5,000 should be devoted to this purpose. This sum would maintain one company of the abovenamed strength for six weeks, by which time the General Assembly would have met and been enabled to consider the position of this province. A certain sum, which your Committee is unable to estimate at present, must also be set apart for the relief of persons unable to work, as already stated ; another sum to pay for the felling of the Bush at Manutahi, as required by the General Government; and the remainder devoted to the road work already spoken of. New Plymouth, 2d JNovember, 1864. William Noethcroft, Chairman. Enclosure 3 to No. 12. EXTRACT from Minutes of Council, New Plymouth, 2nd November, 1864. Resolved. — That a copy of the Report of the Committee on Message 109 be transmitted to His Honor the Superintendent, with a respectful addrcps requesting him to carry out, as far as practicable, the suggestions therein contained, and to communicate with the General Government on the urgent necessity of reorganizing the Corps of Bushrangers.

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