R—y O . 4.

No. 18. Copy of a LETTER from Undee Seceetaey for Defence to the Compteollee of Militia Pay, Auckland. Sib, — Colonial Defence Office, Auckland, 18th October, 1864. I am directed by the Minister for Colonial Defence to request you to reduce all Militia expenditure in the Auckland District to the amount authorized before Ist June, 1863, excepting in the departments of Military Secretary, Deputy Adjutant General, Comptroller of Militia Pay, Superintendent of Militia Stores, and to give notice at once to all persons who will be affected by this order that their pay and allowances will be discontinued after the 25th instant. The Comptroller of Militia Pay, Auckland. I have, &c. William Seed.

No. 19. MEMORANDUM for Major-General Galloway. The Comptroller of Militia Pay has been instructed to reduce the Militia expenditure in the Auckland district to the amount authorized before the Ist June, 1863, excepting in the departments named in the margin. The pay and allowances of all persons affected by this order is to cease after the 25th instant. Major-General Galloway is requested to be good enough to issue such directions, and take such steps as may be necessary for carrying out this arrangement. October 18, 1864. T. Russell.

No. 20. MEMORANDUM for Major-General Galloway. The Major-General commanding the Local Forces is requested to be good enough to issue the necessary orders for forthwith reducing the Colonial Defence Force in the province of Auckland to the strength named in the margin (viz., two officers and twenty-five men). In thus dispensing with the services of so many officers and men of the Colonial Defence Force, the Government desires that the Major-General will express to them its sense of the valuable aid they have rendered to the Colony since they were first enrolled, and particularly while they were engaged in actual service along with the Imperial troops. Major Walmsley is especially entitled to the thanks of the Government for the zealous and efficient manner in which he has always discharged his duties, and for the high state of efficiency which has characterised the Force ever since he has been associated with it. Colonial Defence Office, Auckland, 18th October, 1864. T. Russell.

No. 21. Copy of a LETTER from Undeb Secretary fob Defence to Lieutenant-Colonel Whitmobe. Sib, — Colonial Defence Office, Auckland, 18th October, 1864. I am directed by the Minister for Colonial Defence to request you, immediately on receipt of this letter, to take the necessary steps for forthwith reducing the strength of the Colonial Defence Force at Napier to two officers and twenty-five men. You will be good enough to select the two officers whose services you may consider it most desirable to retain, and report their names to this office for confirmation. I have, &c, Lieutenant-Colonel Whitmore, Napier. William Seed.

No. 22. Copy of a LETTER from the Hon. T. Russell to His Honor the Supeetntendent of Wellington. Sic, — Colonial Defence Office, Auckland, 17th October, 1564. I have the honor to request that your Honor would be good enough, immediately on receipt of this letter, to instruct Commandant Edwards to take the necessary steps for reducing the strength of the Colonial Defence Force in the Province of Wellington to two officers and twenty-five men in the whole. This arrangement is to be carried out, if possible, from the 30th instant. The selection of the two officers to be retained will rest with yourself. Such of the horses as are the property of the Government may be sold by auction, and the proceeds paid into the Sub-Treasury ; but it would be unadvisable, I think, to force them all on to the market ac once. I have, Ac, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. T. Russell.

No. 23. MEMORANDUM for His Excellency. Referring to the Memorandum addressed to His Excellency on the 12th instant, on the subject of certain reductions in the Colonial War Expenditure which were under consideration, Ministers now beg respectfully to inform His Excellency that directions have been given for effecting the whole of the reductions specified in that Memorandum, with the exception of laying up the Colonial steamer, " Sandfly." There is one other item of expenditure, however, which Ministers omitted to specify, and which they think, under present circumstances, should also be discontinued—viz., the extra pay which has been allowed to the Mounted Artillery Corps ; and they beg, therefore, that His Excellency will be good enough to inform the Lieutenant-General commanding that thra allowance will be discontinued after the end of the present month. Colonial Defence Office, Auckland, 25th October, 1864. T. Russell.

11

REDUCTION OE MILITIA EXPENDITURE.