A.—No. 1

80

DESPATCHES EROM THE GOVERNOR OE

4. The march of the loyal chiefs Te Kepa and Topia (lately one of the principal adherents of the so-called Maori King,) in pursuit of Te Kooti is certainly a remarkable event. In three months they have forced their way, at the head of their clansmen, through the forests and mountains of the central interior, across the entire breadth of this Island, from Wanganui on the West Coast to the Bay of Elenty on the East Coast. Neither the constant guerilla warfare in which they have been engaged, nor the severe toils and hardships which they have encountered, seem to have impaired their zeal and spirit. 5. Mr. Eox, the Brime Minister of the Colony, who has been lately occupied in settling the affairs of the West Coast, (as will be seen from his Memorandum transmitted with my Despatch No. 26,) yesterday joined at Auckland his colleagues the Native Minister and the Colonial Treasurer. By the next mail I shall be able to inform your Lordship more fully of the views and intentions of the Colonial Government. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. G. E. BOWEN.

No. 18. Copy of a DESBATCH from Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Eight Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. (No. 29.) Government House, Auckland, My Lord, —■ New Zealand, 25th Eebruary, 1870. In continuation of my Despatch No. 16, of the Ith instant, I have the honor to report that the last detachment of the 2-18 th Eegiment left New Zealand yesterday. Colonel Elliot alone remains, for a few weeks longer, having received instructions to that effect from General Chute, so that he may complete the transfer of the Barracks to the Colonial Government, the sale of the Imperial Stores, &c. So soon as he shall have carried out the orders of the War Office in every respect, he will (he informs me) rejoin the head-quarters of his Eegiment at Sydney. 2. I have been requested by my Eesponsible Advisers to transmit the following Ministerial Memorandum :—" Ministers cannot permit the last detach- " ment of Her Majesty's 2-18 th Eegiment to leave the Colony without expressing " the regret which they feel at the departure of the Eegiment, and bearing " testimony to the uniform good conduct of the force under the command of " Lieutenant-Colonel Elliot during the period of its service in the Colony. The " sentiment which the Government thus places on record is that of the whole " community. " The Government also desires to express the feeling which it entertains of " the readiness which Lieutenant-Colonel Elliot, and the Officers commanding " detachments under him, have always displayed to aid the Colony as far as lay " in their power. " The Government also desires to record its appreciation of the uniform " courtesy and consideration which they have experienced on the part of " Lieutenant-Colonel Elliot in their communications with him throus-h his " Excellency the Governor." 3. I need scarcely repeat that I entirely agree with the sentiments expressed in this Memorandum, as will be seen from the letter with which I transmitted a copy of it to Colonel Elliot. I forward also a copy of that officer's reply. 1. On leaving the four towns in this Colony (Auckland, Napier, Wanganui, and Taranaki,) where the 2-18 th Eegiment has been so long quartered, the officers and men were everywhere accompanied to the place of embarkation by large numbers of all classes of the community, who made many demonstrations of personal respect and goodwill, and of general regret at the final departure from New Zealand of the last battalion of British Troops. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. G. E. BOWEN.