A.—No. 1

32

DESPATCHES FBOM THE SECRETABY OF STATE

It does not appear whether the surveyors, for whose protection the Queen's Troops have been sought, are employed on disputed or confiscated land; but I must at once point out to you that the employment of Her Majesty's troops in detached posts at all, and more especially if on disputed or confiscated land, is at direct variance with the instructions you have received as to the future employment of Her Majesty's Troops —particularly in my predecessor's Despatch, of the 27th November, 1865, —and I am compelled to express my decided disapproval of it. The large confiscations which have taken place have been viewed with the greatest apprehension by Her Majesty's Government, and if it is found that any portion of the confiscated lands can only be surveyed or be held with the aid of a military force, that duty cannot be allowed to devolve on Her Majesty's Troops, but must be left entirely to the charge of the Colonial Forces should your Responsible Advisers consider it necessary. I have therefore requested General Peel to inform General Chute by the present mail, that the employment of Her Majesty's Troops in this service cannot be approved, and that, in accordance with former instructions, the force retained in the Colony must be concentrated, and not be placed in distant and isolated posts or employed as a police. I have, &c, Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B. CARNARVON.

No. 30. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B. (No. 20.) Sir, — Downing Street, Ist March, 1867. I enclose copies of a letter which I have received from the War Office respecting a Memorandum in winch your Responsible Advisers expressed their opinion respecting the conduct of certain of Her Majesty's Troops now serving in the Colony. From the various papers which have reached me from yourself and from the War Office, I collect the following facts :— On the 11th of July, you informed General Chute that a Colonial Force would be sent to Ketemarai for the purpose of checking certain West Coast Natives and preventing outrages, and you requested General Chute to give such orders as he deemed best suited to attain the speedy accomplishment of these objects. After some correspondence respecting the authority under which Major McDonnell's operations were to be conducted and. other matters, General Chute, on the sth of August, directed the Officer in command at Wanganui, to keep his officers on the alert, to lose no opportunity of harassing and attacking the enemy, and with particular reference to operations about Ketamarai to " direct a force (if " possible) of 150 men . . . . to be at once formed under the command of " either Major Rocke or Inman, with a view to their co-operating with the " Colonial Troops." These latter directions are stated by Major Rocke to have at once been performed. " I hastened," he writes, "to assure Major McDonnell on " his arrival that he might rely on our cordial co-operation at any moment, " and I further obtained the permission of the Major-General to draw a force of " 250 men instead of 150. Additional transport was sent up from Wanganui " . . . . in fact every preparation was made that a thoroughly efficient Field " Force should be ready at a moment's notice." He adds that one of his officers, on more than once occasion, urged Major McDonnell to apply to him for co-operation. "Major McDonnell," he adds, " could not of course have complied except under very urgent circumstances, as it " was contrary to instructions," meaning, as I understand, those instructions which Major McDonnell had received from yourself or your Government, and under which he was acting. On the 2nd of October, Major McDonnell, of course without assistance from the Imperial Troops, attacked the Maoris.