A.—No. la.

DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR OP NEW

94

Major Bocke also says: "It has come to my knowledge even that Captain Noblett, 2-lSth " Begiment, has upon more than one occasion urged Major McDonnell to apply to him to co-operate with him." Up to the attack and capture of Pungarehu, and for some months afterwards, Captain Noblett never urged me to apply to him as mentioned in Major Bocke's letter. The evening I marched to attack Pungarehu, passing through the redoubts and the mouth of the Waingongoro Biver, Captain Noblett offered to proceed the next morning with as large a force as he could muster to the margin of the bush, if I could indicate where my force would be found, but that not under any circumstances could he accompany our men into the bush unless he received instructions to that effect from Major Bocke. Under these circumstances, and knowing nothing of the nature of the position I was going to attack, I declined Captain Noblett's offer, especially as it was my intention to attack at daylight. Assistance in the open plain would not have been required, as my force was more than equal to any number the enemy could have brought against me in that neighbourhood. It would also have taken two or three days at this time to communicate with Major Bocke, or before any force could have been mustered. The whole country was heavy with the rains that had fallen. Major Bocke states again that "Major McDonnell would of course not have applied except " under very urgent circumstances, as it was contrary to the instructions." I can only say that I received no instructions not to apply for aid, that was left to my own discretion. I have, &c., Thos. McDonnell, The Hon. Colonel Haultain, Defence Minister. Lieut.-Colonel, Colonial Forces.

Sub-Enclosure 1 to Enclosure in No. 38. Sie,— War Office, 16th January, 1861. I have laid before the Secretary of State for War your letter of the 28th ultimo, together with the correspondence enclosed in reference to a question which had arisen as to the relative rank of Major Cooper, commanding the Wanganui Eegiment of Militia, in New Zealand, and the Officer in command of the Begular Troops at that station. In reply I am to request that you will acquaint tho General Commanding-in-Chief that Lord Herbert believes that there are no regulations in force in New Zealand which would give an officer of the Queen's Service the right to command an officer of higher rank in the Local Militia, and he agrees, therefore, with His Boyal Highness in opinion, that Major Cooper ought not to have been placed under the command of Captain Blewitt. It does not appear there is any reason for supposing that Major Cooper was unequal to the command of the troops at the station in question, and Lord Herbert conceives that to deprive him of a position which he is entitled to fill, without strong grounds for doing so, would give rise to just dissatisfaction in the Colony, and tend to discourage tho efforts now being made to organize an efficient Militia Force. In the event, however, of cases arising in which evident inconvenience would result from the troops being placed under the command of an officer of the Local Militia, Lord Herbert would not object to the Major-General being authorized to select a well-qualified officer of Her Majesty's Service to whom temporary rank should be given, with a view to enabling him to assume the command. The Major-General should, however, be cautioned to use this power very sparingly, as Her Majesty's Government are most anxious to promote, by every means in their power, a spirit of selfreliance among the inhabitants of New Zealand. I have, &c, To the Military Secretary. Edwaed Lugaed.

No. 39. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.8., to the Right Hon. the Duke of Buckingham. (No. 56.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord Duke, — 7th July, 1867. I have the honor to report that the General Assembly of New Zealand will meet to-morrow for the despatch of business. 2. In the draft of the Speech prepared for me by my Responsible Advisers, they have requested me to state to the Assembly, in reference to my recent journey through New Zealand, that " I could not but be gratified by the rapid " progress which it was evident the Colony generally had made; while in the " settlements which have sprung into existence during the last few years in the " interior and on the West Coast of the Middle Island, I was struck both by their " extent and importance, and gratified by the presence, notwithstanding the " circumstances under which they were formed, of that regard for law and order " which is the characteristic of our race. I can say with confidence, that security " for life and property and respect for the law exist in as marked a degree in those " thickly and recently populated districts as in any part of Her Majesty's " dominions. I congratulate you on the re-establishment of peace generally " throughout the North Island, in no part of which do I anticipate in future any " systematic or sustained hostilities.