NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OE STATE

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A.—No. 1

Enclosure 1 in No. 48. The Goveenoe of New Zealand to Lieut.-Colonel Elliot. Sic,— Auckland, 23rd Eebruary, 1870. 1. When the 2nd Battalion 18th Eoyal Irish under your command wore first under orders for embarkation, twelve months ago, I felt it to be my duty to address you (on tho 13th Eebruary, 1869), expressing my sense of the important services rendered by the regiment in New Zealand, and also of the admirable conduct of the officers and men, who have invariably maintained the most cordial, relations with their fellow-subjects in this Colony. 2. I sent a copy of my letter, and of your reply of tho 22nd Eebruary, 1869, to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, who replied (on May 19th, 1869), " I have much pleasure in receiving this " testimony to the conduct of the battalion ; and I have caused a copy of your Despatch to be " forwarded to tho War Office." 3. I wish now to express my deep sense of the constant zeal and courtesy with which you, as Commandant in New Zealand, during the past year, have invariably co-operated with me. 4. I am now requested, on the occasion of the immediate departure of your regiment, to transmit the enclosed Memorandum from the Colonial Ministers, with which I entirely concur. I have, &c, Lieut.-Colonel Elliot, 18th Eoyal Irish, G. F. Bowen. Commandant in New Zealand.

Enclosure 2 in No. 48. Lieut.-Colonel Elliot to the Goveenoe of New Zealand. Sic,— Garrison Office, Auckland, N.Z., 24th Eebruary, 1870. In acknowledging the receipt of your Excellency's letter of yesterday's date, and the Ministerial Memorandum which it enclosed, I hope your Excellency will allow mo to express the gratification it affords me to learn that your Excellency and Ministers approve as highly the conduct, during the past year, of those under my command as during the period antecedent to the 13th Eebruary, 1869, alluded to in your letter of that date, and I feel sure that all ranks of the 2nd Battalion 18th Eoyal Irish Eegiment will share this feeling with me, when apprised that your Excellency has reported so favourably on them to our superiors at home, and has been pleased to renew the expressions of approbation then conveyed. I also trust I may be permitted to thank your Excellency and Ministers for viewing so indulgently my efforts to carry out your commands and their wishes, and to state that I am deeply grateful to the Government of Now Zealand for the readiness they have on every occasion evinced to sanction whatever was pointed out as likely to prove beneficial to Her Majesty's troops or military service in this Colony. The communication under reply will, with your Excellency's permission, be promulgated to the battalion under my command, and a copy of it will be forwarded for the information of the MajorGeneral commanding the Australian Colonies. I have, &c, His Excellency the Governor, Geoeoe A. Elliot, Lt.-Col., Government House. Commandant in New Zealand.

No. 49. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Eight Hon. Eari Granville, K.G. (No. 35.) Government House, Auckland, My Lord,— New Zealand, 16th March, 1870. In continuation of my Despatch No. 27, of the 19th Eebruary ultimo, I have the honor to state that the monthly mail via Suez will leave Auckland tomorrow morning. Mr. McLean informs me that he has nothing particular to report by this opportunity; but the Colonial Ministers intend to transmit a Memorandum, showing their views and policy, by the first mail via San Erancisco and New York, which will leave New Zealand on the second of next month (April), and is expected to reach England nearly, if not quite, as soon as the mail via Suez. 2. Nothing appears to have been heard of Te Kooti's movements since he took refuge in the Uriwera mountains. The rest of the Colony continues perfectly tranquil, so far as is known here up to this date. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. G. E. BOWEN. 21