AND THE GOVERNOR OE NEW ZEALAND.
A.—No. Ib,
15
certain toAvns, and absolutely prohibited from taking the field against the rebels. It was found impracticable to get a sufficient number of recruits in New Zealand, and I regret to learn from Colonel Whitmore that a large proportion of those imported from Melbourne proved so utterly worthless that it became necessary to discharge them forthwith. The truth is, that in Colonies, where even farmlabourers can command daily wages at the rate of from four to six and seven shillings, it is practically impossible to raise a large permanent force for a warfare of such great danger and such constant hardships as that carried on in the mountains and forests of New Zealand. Men able and willing to work can always procure remunerative employment in safe and easy occupations ; while men unable to work are obviously unfit to fight, especially in a country where the axe and the spade must be used as much as the sword and the rifle. It seems to be now generally aeknoAvledged on all sides that the Colonial Government must look principally to | the United Kingdom for a supply of recruits for its permanent armed force,^ and it will become my duty to report to your Lordship the measures in contemplation with this object, when they shall have been matured. 6. While submitting, amidst a great pressure of other urgent business, the explanations which seem to be required by the Despatch No. 12, I trust that I haA _c not used a single expression evincing the slightest want of that respect due to your Lordship, and nothing can be further from my intention than to provoke a controA'ersy on any of the points to which my attention has been directed. 7. The explanations and reports called for in the Despatch No. 30, will be found in my Despatches No. 69 and No. 82, also forwarded by this month's English mail. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. G. E. Bowen.
Enclosure 1 in No. 5. Mr. Nunes to Sir G. E. Bowen. Colonial Office, 19th February, 1869. Mr. Nunes presents his compliments to Sir George Bowen, and encloses a cover which contained a letter to Sir E. Eogers, marked "private and immediate." Sir George Bowen will see that the cover is marked to go by Marseilles, whereas it reached the Colonial Office by Southampton. This change of route delayed its delivery until after the mail for Australia of 29th January; and as no mail was sent by Panama on the Ist February, there has been no opportunity of acknowledging the letter until to-day. Mr. Nunes explained the circumstance to Sir E. Eogers at the time, and now mentions it to Sir George Bowen lest he should have looked for an earlier notice of its arrival.
Enclosure 2 in No. 5. Minute by Mr. McLean. In the Despatch from the Secretary of State to the Governor of New Zealand, No. 12, of the 29th January ultimo, Earl Granville desires to be informed on the following points : — (1.) The limits within which tho ap- Tho whole of the Province of Auckland, excepting the prehension of Native disturbances is immediate vicinity of the town, the Northern Peninsula, and considered to exist ? Lower Waikato. The whole of the Province of Taranaki. The Waitotara and Wanganui Districts of the Province of Wellington. Tho northern frontier of the Province of Hawke's Bay. (2.) The number of Maoris in arms A question difficult to answer approximately, impossible against the Government during the last to answer accurately. twelve months ? In one sense, every Hauhau in New Zealand is in arms against the Government; but I take the question to apply to those who have been in actual collision with the forces. These have fluctuated considerably in numbers at different times, but probably have not exceeded 1,200 men at any one time. On the East Coast, under Te Kooti, 600. On the West Coast, under Titokowaru, 600. Total, 1,200. Donald McLean.
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