D.—No. 4.

necessary to meet it, and I am to state that one parade a month should be held for the purpose mentioned iv your letter, for which the men will be paid. I have, &c, W. J. Morpeth, For J. Holt, Captain, Acting Under Secretary. Colonel Haultain, Alexandra, Auckland. No. 7. Copy of a Letter from Mr. T. B. Gillies to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Sir,— Auckland, 2nd June, 186 G. On 22nd February last, I addressed you on behalf of the AVaikato Militiamen, making certain claims for pay and allowances. Up to this date I have received no reply, but merely an ackowledgment and a promise of reply after certain inquiries were made. My clients are suffering great hardships and privations in consequence of the non-settlement of their claims, and delay is to them equivalent to a refusal. Many of them will be driven by their necessities to abandon their settlements, which they are most unwilling to do were their just claims recognized. If tho Government have determined to resist these claims, I trust that you will afford facilities for having the question at issue speedily determined by a Court of Law. Of course these men can only take legal action by a petition of right, but I would suggest that they should not be driven to that tedious mode. By consent, an action to determine the legal liability might be commenced against one of the Ministers, or a special case might be agreed upon, and argued before the Supremo Court. The latter course would be the more convenient one, and the essential facts not being, I believe, in dispute, the whole question resolves itself into one of law. I trust, however, that the Government have ere this, resolved to recognize the claims which appear so well founded, and so the necessity of any legal action may be avoided. I have respectfully to urge an early reply to my former and this letter. I have, &c, To the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Thomas B. Gillies. No. 8. Copy of a Letter from the Undee-Seceetaey to Mr. Gillies. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sib,— Wellington, 10th July, 1866. I have tho honor, by the direction of Mr. Stafford, to acknowlege the receipt of your letter of the 2nd ultimo, referring to your letter of the 22nd of February last, on the subject of certain claims from the AVaikato Military Settlers for alleged arrears of pay. In reply, I am to inform you that the Government proposes to submit the whole question to the consideration of the House of Representatives, now in session. I have, &c., W. Gisboene, T. B. Gillies, Esq., Auckland. Under-Secretary.

12

CLAIMS OE WAIKATO MILITIAMEN EOR ADDITIONAL PAY.