3

A.—6

Enclosure in No. 5. Memorandum for His Excellenct. Ministers understand that two officers of the Royal Engineers are now in Australia, to report upon the best means of defending the principal seaport towns, those officers having been specially selected for the duty in compliance with an application from some of the Australian Governments, the arrangement beirrg that, while so engaged, the officers shall receive salaries at the rate of £1,500 and £1,000 a year respectively, and shall have all their expenses paid. 2. It is very desirable that the principal ports of New Zealand should be similarly reported upon. 3. Ministers respectfully ask, therefore, that His Excellency will communicate with the Governors of Victoria and New South Wales, with a view of securing that the two officers shall, as soon as convenient, visit this colony for that purpose; this Government joining in the arrangement as to salaries and expenses. Wellington, 17th May, 1877. H. A. Atkinson.

No.. 6. Memorandum for His Excellenct. Ministers present their respectful compliments to the Marquis of Normanby. They regret that the Governor should have regarded their reply to his Memorandum respecting Sir William Jervois as being curt. They wrote amidst the hurry of a great pressure of business ; and they intended that their answer should be in every respect courteous. 2. Ministers were not aware, until they received the Governor's Memorandum, that it might be in their power to dispense with the visit of Sir AVilliam Jervois to New Zealand ; but the state of the finances of the colony at present is such, that it is their duty to avoid expenditure wherever it is possible to do so. They feel satisfied that New Zealand could not at this moment incur any large expenditure on public works for the defence of the many harbours of the colony. They might, possibly, with but little warning, have to make provision for resisting an internal enemy, who might prove much more dangerous than any external foe. The best means of providing against such an internal enemy is the expenditure of funds in civilizing the Natives, opening up the country by means of roads, encouraging settlement in Native districts, and otherwise promoting friendly relations between the two races. They would, therefore, prefer to apply any funds available for defensive jiurposes to those objects, rather than to devote such funds to costly works meant for resisting a foreign enemy. For the latter purpose, they trust confidently to the fleets of Great Britain, which they feel satisfied will never allow a foreign enemy to dominate in these seas. 3. Under all the circumstances, therefore, whilst regretting that they cannot avail themselves of the valuable services of so distinguished an officer as Sir William Jervois, if it is possible, without any uncourteousness on their part, to delay his visit until a time when the colony may be in a better financial position, Ministers would feel greatly obliged to the Governor if he would make such a communication to Sir William Jervois as may be the means of postponing his visit to New Zealand. Wellington, 3rd December, 1877. G. Gret.

No. 7. Memorandum for the Hon. Sir George Gret, K.C.B. The Governor presents his compliments to Sir George Grey, and begs to acknowledge the receipt of his Memorandum of this day's date, in which Ministers inform him that, in consequence of the financial condition of the colony, they advise the Governor to communicate with His Excellency Sir AVilliam Jervois, and to request him to postpone indefinitely his visit to New Zealand. The Governor will at once comply with the advice given to him by Ministers, but he must, at the same time, express his deep regret that they should have felt it their duty to come to such a decision, as he fears it is one which is little calculated to raise the credit of the colony abroad. The fleets of Great Britain will, no doubt, in the event of war perform their duty as they have always dene, but it is manifestly impossible that England, even if she were disposed so to do, should keep sufficient ships in these seas to secure at all times her various possessions from the attack of small expeditions, or of a single ship or privateer ; and it is in the Governor's opinion clearly the duty of each colony to make such provisions as they may consider necessary for that purpose. The question is one of public importance, and the Governor will feel it his duty to lay this correspondence before Parliament without delay. Government House, 3rd December, 1877. Normanbt.

No. 8. Memorandum for the Hon. Sir George Gret, K.C.B. The Governor presents his compliments to Sir George Grey, and requests that he will be good enough to lay the accompanying Message, containing the correspondence on the subject of Sir William Jervois's visit to New Zealand, on the table of the House with as little delay as possible. Government House, Wellington, 3rd December, 1877. Normanbt.