A.—No. 1.

millions sterling contracted a few years ago, while a large force of Imperial troops was serving in New Zealand. It results that the annual cost of the Defence and Native Departments (including the payment of the Maoris in arms for the Queen) has amounted to a charge of about £1 7s. per head of the mean European population (240,000) of the last three years. This is much as if the expenditure on the Army and Navy were to amount to £1 7s. per head of the population of the United Kingdom, or to an annual charge of about forty-two millions sterling. 7. The Parliamentary " Papers relative to the Defence of the Harbours of " New Zealand," (of which a copy is appended,) will show that this important question has by no means escaped attention. I would also refer to my Despatches on this subject, No. 122, of 24th September, 1870, and No. 4, of the sth January ultimo, and to the Ministerial Memoranda therein enclosed. Moreover, Mr. Vogel, the Colonial Treasurer, during his recent visit to England, procured valuable information respecting the best methods of defending harbours. A Committee of the New Zealand Parliament has been appointed, during the present Session, to consider the whole question, and I shall forward a copy of its Report when published. 8. Meanwhile, it will, I submit, "be generally agreed that the exertions already made by this Colony for its own defence and for the maintenance of the authority of the Queen, under difficulties in some respects unparalleled elsewhere, deserve sympathy and support. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. G. F. BOWEN.

Enclosure 4. Vide Appendix to Journals H. of R., 1871, A. No. 4.

No. 12. Copy of a DESPATCH from. Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Sight Hon. the Earl of Kimbebxey. (No. 91.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord,— New Zealand, 29th September, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's Despatch No. 59, of the 26th July ultimo, by which I was much gratified to learn your approval of the action taken by me in last April, with respect to H.M.S. " Virago," as reported in my Despatch No. 39, of the Ist May ultimo. 2. With regard to the latter part of the Despatch under reply, lam requested by Mr. Fox to transmit the enclosed Memorandum, expressing his regret that in his telegram to me of the 12th April ultimo, concerning the departure of the " Virago," he should have used any expressions which your Lordship deems exceptionable. 3. I may be permitted to add that if Mr. Fox had been at the seat of government in April last, or if there had been time to communicate with him further before the departure of that month's mail, I should have requested him to modify the language of his message; but he was then residing on his estate in the Native District of Rangitikei, near Wanganui. In my Despatch No. 116, of the 17th November, 1868, * (paragraph 17,) I reported that I visited him there, while on my way to the front at Wanganui, during the formidable outbreak, in that portion of the Colony, of the Maori rebels under Titokowaru; when I found that " within " one mile of Mr. Fox's house, there is a large settlement of Hauhaus, who have " frankly told him that they wish him no ill personally, but that they must kill " him or drive him away, together with all the other English in the district, if "they should receive orders to that effect from the Maori King." It will be seen that Mr. Fox sent his message from this dangerous neighbourhood when he had no time for reflection, and at a crisis when his colleagues in the Ministry, and others well acquainted with the Maoris, apprehended very serious consequences from the sudden "recall of the only British man-of-war remaining in New " Zealand waters, at the moment when the unfortunate murder of Mr. Todd had " again unsettled the Native mind, and the European districts were threatened " with renewed invasion by a section of the King party." 4. Having said thus much in justice to Mr. Fox's peculiar position, I am * Printed at page 283 of the Papers on New Zealand presented to the Imperial Parliament in July, 1869.

Memo, by Mr. Fox, 28th Sept., 1871.

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NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.