A.—No. 1

30

DESPATCHES EROM THE SECRETARY OE STATE

7. In the case under consideration the matter of 7. The fact of my having referred home the the place where the General's Head Quarters were question of the location of my Head Quarters has to be located was referred to the Secretary of State been already disposed of in paragraph 5. Tho for War, without my having been informed that imputation that my views on the subject were this had been done. But the editors of Auckland communicated either by me or Officers of the Staff newspapers knew it, as also some of the reasons to editors of papers, I, on my own and their behalf, on which tho General justified his non-compliance indignantly repel. On the remainder of the parawith my orders, and this knowledge was used for graph it is not for me to make any remark. the purpose of attacks in the press here; and ultimately the Home Government came to a decision upon General Chute's letter to them, before they had received any report from me on the subject, and entirely under a misapprehension that I had asked something to be done which had never entered into my imagination, and upon other grounds, some of which, after the difficulties which have arisen, it is painful to those acquainted with the country to read, such as that Wellington is unfitted to be Head Quarters from the dangerous navigation of Cook Strait, and from the inexperience of Wellington merchants in taking military contracts. It is more disadvantageous than might be at first supposed, that the Home Government should bo hurried into a wrong decision on such questions, for I have generally found that the Departments at home, before coming to a decision, will carefully consider the evidence they then have before them, but that it is very difficult to get them to reconsider a subject, or to reverse a decision once taken, however erroneous that decision may have been. 8. But this, at least, must be conceded, that a 8. Has been already answered, so far as I am man governs a country under great disadvantages concerned, in paragraphs 5 and 7. when officers in that country can write direct to Her Majesty's Government, without informing him that they have done so, on a most important subject, regarding which they have differed with him in opinion, and have their own views peremptorily confirmed, and his set aside, without any report from him on the subject having been sent to Her Majesty's Government, or having been asked for, and this especially when one portion of the press in the Colony has been informed of the purport of the letters written to Her Majesty's Government. 9. The fact of editors of papers having been 9. I have already denied that the steps taken informed of the steps taken by the Military Au- by the Military Authorities were communicated thorities, shows that some of these authorities by them to the press, and I appeal to the Secretary regarded it as a party or personal question. If of State for protection against such insinuations, persons who act thus can have their wishes pressed I may inform him at the same time that the on the Secretary of State for War without the question of the change of Head Quarters to Governor knowing that this has been done, and Wellington was freely discussed at that place by the Secretary of State for War moves the Colonial civilians, before I received any communication Minister to issue orders in conformity with their from His Excellency on the subject. It was, I wishes, and in direct opposition to the wishes of believe, a matter of general conversation, and did the Governor, who has had no warning that the not appear to be an official secret, and, in a small question has been referred home, then these gen- community like this, might readily find its way to tlemen become the hidden and irresponsible rulers the press. I regret, in common with His Exof the country. cellency, that it should have found its way there, and that he should have been so annoyed at it; but I repudiate the imputation now made against myself and Staff. 10. In reference to tho statement made in 10. My Despatch of the Ist instant, No. the letter from General Chute, herewith en- 342-66, answers this paragraph. The Secretary of closed, that military operations against the dis- State will have seen that my statement about tho affected Natives in the Wanganui District had employment of a Colonial Force in the Wanganui been placed in the hands of an Officer of tho District irrespective of my authority, is indisColonial Forces, without any reference to the putable, and entirely unaffected by tho circumGeneral's control or authority, I would state that stance that His Excellency subsequently called we are in tho field hero a small mixed force of on tho Officer commanding Her Majesty's Troops Her Majesty's Imperial Troops, Her Majesty's in that district, to " adopt means to subdue the Colonial Forces, and Natives, trying our utmost armed Natives," in combination with the Local to extinguish a local rebellion which was rapidly Forces. (See Governor's letter, of the 24th spreading. How can we, in moments of imme- October, in my Despatch of the 30th instant, No. diate peril, appeal to the control or authority of a 361-66. This Officer (Major Eocke, 2-18th EegiGeneral more than fifteen days from us in point ment), cordially complied with His Excellency's