10

A.—No. 1

DESPATCHES PROM THE SECRETARY OP STATE

Government, which, as you will have seen, has been enforced by later Despatches. But I think it my duty to take every means in my power to prevent any further delays either in the concentration or in the embarkation of Her Majesty's troops. That there is at present delay is indisputable, and the papers before me appear to show that it is due partly to a want of hearty co-operation between the Civil and Military Authorities in giving effect to the instructions of the Home Government, and partly to a misapprehension on your part of the view with which the troops are retained in the Colony. You observe that if withdrawn from the outposts they would be useless to the Colonists. But it is not with the object of being useful that they are now in New Zealand. The Colony has long since adopted the duty of protecting itself, and Her Majesty's troops are no longer there for the purpose of protecting it, but merely remain, or ought merely to remain, in default of the transports necessary for sending them away. Under these circumstances I see no escape from the chances of further misconceptions and delays, but by placing Her Majesty's troops under an undivided control. While the troops are merely awaiting embarkation there is no reason why the Governor of the Colony should have any greater authority over them than if they had merely touched at WeUington in their passage from one part of the Empire to another. You wiU accordingly understand that (with one exception hereafter to be noticed) you are not at liberty to exercise any control over the movements or disposition of Her Majesty's troops. And I shaU request the Secretary of State for War to inform Major-Gcneral Chute, that (with the same exception) the disposition of all those troops will hereafter rest exclusively with him; —that it is not his duty to seek your authority for moving them, but is at once to concentrate them in such a manner as wiU be most economical and most convenient for embarkation, and then to embark them as speedily as he can obtain transport. Your duty will be confined to that of providing to the utmost of your power that General Chute receives every facility that your Government can afford him in giving effect to his instructions. It wiU rest with the Colonial Government to be prepared for the consequences of a withdrawal of troops, on the propriety of which the Imperial and Colonial Governments are agreed, and on the faith of which Her Majesty's Government has entirely ceased to interfere with their Native policy. The exception to which I have adverted is that of the single regiment which you wul be at liberty to retain in the Colony in case the grant of £50,000 per annum for Native purposes shall be continued. With regard to this regiment, if it remains in New Zealand, I do not wish to interfere with the ordinary authority which you are free to exercise as a Colonial Governor. I wish to hear from you as soon as possible whether it wiH remain under the above conditions. But I think it necessary clearly to point out that it must remain under the conditions indicated in Mr. CardweU's Despatch of the 27th of November, as well as others which though usually well understood it may be advisable to express. The troops must not be placed in distant and isolated parts, or employed virtuaUy as a Erontier or Native Police. They must be concentrated in places of easy access where adequate barrack accommodation exists, and subject to the conditions usually required for the maintenance of discipline and other military necessities-. The Officer in Command would not be at liberty to consent to their location at posts where these conditions are wanting. I shaU communicate a copy of this Despatch to the War Office, in order that corresponding instructions may be given to General Chute. I have, &c, Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B. CARNARVON.

Enclosure 1 in No. 15. Sir E. Lugaed to Sir F. Eogees. Sie— War Office, Bth October, 1866. I am directed by Secretary Lieutenant-General Peel, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant, with its enclosed Despatch from the Governor of Tasmania, respecting the continued absence of troops from that Colony.