ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

115

A.—No. 1a

Messrs. Coombes and Daldy to the Besident Teanspoet Officer. Sie,— Auckland, 31st May, 1867. In reference to conveying the Troops, &e, from Whanganui to Taranaki and Manukau, we have arranged for the steamer " Ahuriri" to leave Manukau about the 7th or Bth June, so as to convey the Major-General to Taranaki or Whanganui, as he may require ; after which no time will be lost in completing the contract for the conveyance of the troops, &c, as it is intended to put on the " Bangitira," in conjunction with the " Ahuriri," so as to carry out the service with the least possible delay. We have, &c, The Besident Transport Officer, Auckland. Coombes and Daldt. Deputt Quaeteemastee-Genebal to the Bestdent Teanspoet Officer. (No. 262-1867.) Deputy Quartermaster-General's Office, Sib, — Head Quarters, Auckland, Ist June, 1867. His Excellency tho Governor having intimated to the Major-General Commanding his desire that the 2-18th Begiment should be detained at Whanganui until he has communicated with his Responsible Advisers, I am directed by the Major-General to request you will be good enough to state whether any and what expense will result to the public if, instead of the distribution of the above corps being carried out in manner explained in my letter No. 253-1867, of the 22nd ultimo, the following movement only take place, viz., 150 men, with proportion of officers, &c, from Whanganui to Manukau (for Auckland), for the performance of garrison duty. I have, &c, The Besident Transport Officer, Auckland. D. J. Gamble, Colonel, Deputy Quartermaster-General. Tho Besident Teanspoet Officee to the Deputt Quaeteemaster-General. Sie, — Transport Office, Auckland, Ist June, 1867. In reply to your letter of this date respecting the movement of tho 18th Begiment from Whanganui, I beg you will acquaint tho Major-General Commanding that with regard to expense no immediate answer can be given, but that if it is the Major-General's wish that only part of the regiment (150 men) should now be brought to Auckland, and such wish is at once communicated to me, I will endeavour to postpone the arrangements already made for the conveyance of troops from Whanganui to Taranaki and Auckland. I have, &e., David Spain, The Deputy Quartermaster-General, New Zealand. Besident Transport Officer.

Tho Deputy Quaeteemastee-Genebal to Mr. Amphlett. My Deae Amphlett,— At the General's, Ist June, 1867. Captain Spain requested I would communicate to you this evening the General's decision regarding the removal of the 18th Begiment from Whanganui. He now wishes that all arrangements should be stopped, except for the removal from Whanganui to Auckland of 150 men, or thereabouts, with proportion of officers, women, and children, &e. These men will be ready for removal in the vessel that brings back the General, about the 11th instant. I have, &c, D. J. Gamble. The General is aware from Captain Spain that the vessel which takes him is not likely to be here before the 7th, and he does not want the men to be brought away till after his inspection of the whole regiment at Whanganui.

The Deputy Quaeteemastee-Genebal to the Besident Teanspoet Officee. (No. 268-1867.) Deputy Quartermaster-General's Office, Sie, — Head Quarters, Auckland, 4th June, 1867. In reply to your letter of the Ist instant respecting the removal of the Detachments 2-18th Begiment from Whanganui, I am desired by the Major-General Commanding to inform you that he wishes you would be good enough (as already semi-officially communicated to you) to stop all arrangements for the conveyance of the detachments of that corps, with the exception of about 150 men, with the proportion of officers, women, &c, with their baggage, whom he is desirous of having conveyed from Whanganui to Manauau for Auckland. I have, &c., D. J. Gamble, Colonel, The Besident Transport Officer, Auckland. Deputy Quartermaster-General.

Manager New Zealand Steam Navigation Company, to the Resident Transport Officer. Dear Sir, — Auckland, 3rd June, 1867. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of Ist instant, which I regret to say I only received as I was leaving church yesterday morning. With respect to the conveyance of troops from Whanganui to Taranaki and Manukau, and the wish you express of the s.s. " Ahuriri " bringing only one half of the number agreed upon, I have the honor in reply to state that I did not make any tender for the transport of the troops referred to, but from the information given me by Mr. Coombes, that you had instructed him to prepare for the conveyance of 300 men and officers from Whanganui to Manukau, and 150 men, &c, from Whanganui to Taranaki. To carry out this in the most expeditious manner, and as I understood, at yaur particular request, I sent directions by the " Ahuriri " for her return at once from Whanganui to Manukau, and forwarded a telegram to Wellington for transmission to Nelson, for the " Eangatira" to proceed on to Whanganui in time to commence the service as per advertisement. The " Ahuriri" was coaled at Manukau at considerable expense, and I waived a cattle charter for this vessel in addition. All done especially on account of the troops.