rNEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

A.-hNo. 1.

61

and that the Acts and other official documents, containing a full statement of their views and of those of the Legislature respecting the Queen's Troops, were not ready in time to be transmitted by the August mail with my Despatch No. 103, of tho sth of that month, but were forwarded by the ensuing mails with my Despatches Nos. 109, 110, and 128. 3. Again, it is stated by your Lordship, "Her Majesty's Government have " felt bound to adhere to the opinion already communicated to you, that the " Queen's Troops should not be employed in the present hostilities. "I do not underrate the arguments which may be urged in favour of that " employment. They arc obvious in themselves, and have been forcibly urged by " yourself and others. But the objections to that course are over-balancing. " All experience, and not least the experience of New Zealand itself, has " shown the fatal consequences of carrying on war under a divided authority. It " can but lead to continued differences, imperfect co-operation, interrupted enter- " prises, and the other evils which are alleged to have characterized the Maori war." 1. I would observe that no man can be more thoroughly convinced than I am, both from reason and experience, of the evils of divided authority thus luminously described by your Lordship. I am not aware that I have ever urged that any portion of the Queen's Troops (if left here) should be employed in the field or in active hostilities. On the contrary, I have simply suggested that they should be a garrison and moral support, in accordance with the proposals formerly made by the Imperial Government, and on the terms recently offered to the Australian Colonies. My opinion was expressed in my Despatch No. 151, of the 25th November ultimo, (paragraph 6), and on many previous occasions, to the following effect, viz. : —"I " concurwith Mr. McLean, and the other leading men of all parties in the Colonial " Legislature, and with the loyal Maori chiefs, in deeming it desirable to retain " for the present the moral support of the 2-18 th Eegiment; which has held the " towns of Auckland, Taranaki, Wanganui, and Napier for the last two years, and " for the services of which the New Zealand Earliament has pledged itself by Act "to pay whatever the Imperial Government may demand." It will be found that I have always used similar language in my communications to the Colonial Office, believing, in common with most of those public men here who have given their attention to this question, that experience has proved that no portion of the British Army should be retained in New Zealand except on conditions and within limits such as Avere proposed in the Secretary of State's despatches of the Ist December, 18(56, and Ist Eebruary, 1887, —which, " in effect confine the Imperial Troops to " the duty of garrisoning the main centres of population, and leave to the Colonial " Eorces the conduct of active operations in unsettled or partially-settled districts."* /The 2-18 th Eegiment has held the above-mentioned towns throughout the operations of the last two years without taking any part in active hostiliI 'ties, and without being in any way entangled in Colonial politics. The desire of the Ministry and of the Legislature was (as I am assured), that this moral aid should continue to be afforded for a few years more on the payment of the same military contribution as that paid by other Colonies, —indeed on any terms which the Imperial Government might require. In addition to the Acts and other official documents already transmitted, I have been furnished with the subjoined extract from the instructions!" drawn up by Mr. Eox for the guidance of the Commissioners sent to England on behalf of the Colony: —■ " The Commissioners will understand that they are sent to communicate " with the Imperial Government on two subjects indicated by Eesolutions of the " Legislature. " The first is to treat with the Imperial Government for the services of an " Imperial Eorce, not exceeding 1000 men, for a period not exceeding five years. " The Commissioners will explain to Her Majesty's Government that the object " for which such a force is desired by the Colony is to impress the Native mind " with the feeling that the Imperial Government still extends its protection to the " Colony, and recognizes it as a part of the British Empire.

* Secretary of State to Governor of Now Zealand, No. 10, of Ist February, 1867. f These instructions had been drawn up, and the Commissioners had left New Zealand, before the arrival of Earl Granville's Despatch No. 115, of the 7th October, 1869, ordering the immediate removal of the 2-18 th Eegiment. 16