ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OE STATE.

107

A.—No. 1a

One side alleges conquest as its ground, the other the power to reconquer. Both appeal to Christianity, one to clinch the status quo at the time of its introduction, the other to claim the restoration of territory then newly taken from them. The non-contents are about a tenth of the claimants. After a time their claims may be allowed, and dealt with on some simple arithmetical basis having regard to their relative numbers. No other mode of estimating their claims will approach nearer to justice. "Wellington, 20th July, 1867. J- C. Eichmoitd.

No. 15. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.8., to the Right Hon. the Duke of Buckingham. (No. 77.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord Duke, — 7th August, 1867. I have the honor to transmit to your Grace the copy of a letter I have received from Major-General Chute, informing me that he had transmitted for the information of Her Majesty's Government the Despatch and enclosures noted in the margin, and copies of which are forwarded herewith. 2. I have also the honor to supply copies of other letters connected with this subject, which Major-General Chute omitted to transmit in his Despatch to the Secretary of State for War, but a consideration of which is necessary to enable a correct conclusion to be formed on what transpired here. 3. The circumstances are as follows:— In my Despatch No. 47, of 27th April, I forwarded to your Grace's Department a Memorandum from my Responsible Advisers, urging their belief that in the case of the 18th Eegiment —the one regiment to be left in New Zealand—it was entirely unconstitutional that it should have been moved, within the limits of the Colony, without the orders of the Governor having been previously obtained for such movements, and they went on to show the injury that had resulted to the Colony from this proceeding. 1. In my Despatch " separate," of the 3rd June, I transmitted to your Grace's Department papers showing that instantly after the removal of the troops from Patea to Whanganui renewed disturbances had broken out at the former place, which lies on the south-west coast of this island, and is thirty-five miles distant from Whanganui, which thus became our point of greatest danger in New Zealand. 5. On the 20th of May I arrived at Auckland, hi the north of this Island. Nothing could have been better than my reception there: all political feeling between the North and South of New Zealand appeared to be dying out; no cause of difference between my Ministers and the people of that place appeared likely to arise. The 18th Eegiment, although it had been moved against my wishes at a moment when a few days' delay in its movements might have secured a permanent peace, was still at Whanganui, the nearest town to the point of danger. All things led me to hope for a period of political repose. 6. On the 21st of May, the day after my arrival at Auckland, Major-General Chute, whose head quarters were at that place, warned the resident Transport Officer that early in June five companies, with the head quarters of the 18th Regiment, would be ready for conveyance from Whanganui to Manukau for Auckland. 7. On the 22nd of May the Resident Transport Officer was ordered to make arrangements for the embarkation from Whanganui to the Manukau for Auckland, about the 7th or Bth of June, of the head quarters and five companies of the 18th Regiment, and of two companies of the 18th Regiment from Whanganui to Taranaki. 8. The Resident Transport Officer issued advertisements in the newspapers calling for tenders for the performance of this service. 9. On the 29th of May the Resident Transport Officer informed MajorGeneral Chute that he had made arrangements with the New Zealand Steam Navigation Company for the performance of the several services alluded to.