Gwavas 26th. December 1868. Dear McLean, Many thanks for Copy of Telegram from Minister of Defence dated 24th. which states that I have not managed things well in the matter of Buchanan. I hope you will bring under notice of Col. Haultain the following circumstances which I think might lead unpredjudiced persons to consider that some at least of the mismanagement might be attributable to higher authority than mine. On taking command I reported dissatisfaction existing amongst Militia and Volunteers owing to the former doing duty the latternot the one being called out on Actual Service the others not. I reported the case to Defence Minister directly and through you and was answered that Volunteers were on actual service and referring to Opinion of Attorney General and Defence Minister before given to that effect. The Volunteers and their Captain knew the value of these opinions and though under fear of disbandment the latter offered the conditional service of the Company he still maintained that they were not on actual service I continued to beg of Defence Minister that they should be called out or disbanded, with no result. With every disposition to stretch my authority to the utmost to render it in accordance with Opinion of Defence Minister I could not shut my eyes to the fact that Volunteers and Militia when on duty were not on the same footing and that I could not punish the former for breach of discipline as I should the Militia and I feared to reckon on the support of the Ministry who I was assured looked on Buchanan with favourable eyes; I was therefore powerless till Napier Cavalry volunteered for Poverty Bay when on the urgent representations of Capt. Tanner the whole of the Volunteers were called out in a legal manner and Capt. Buchanan announced his intention of going to the Wairoa. The ill blood caused by this vacillation of the higher authorities broke out during my temprary absence in the country in assaults by Capt. Buchanan on Capt. Kennedy. I reported these to Head Quarters and was told offence was merely civil but Capt. Buchanan was to have his leave cancelled I wrote to him to that effect desiring him to report himself without delay to Offr. Commg. at Wairoa instead of this he started for Wellington. To my surprise Officers of the Militia sent me a memorial on subject of the assault which after much consideration I thought it better to forward to Minister that he might see opinion of some of the principal inhabitants on the subject. You alone have supported me throughout this case, through you have passed many of the Telegrams on the subject and through you has come the Defence Ministers censure for my mismanagement of it. I feel therefore no apology is needed for requesting you to place my conduct of it in its proper light. I am the more indueed to trouble you on an affair which may appear personal as I think that the connection between Militia and Volunteers ought to be put on a clearer and more satisfactory footing. I am ever Very truly yours, Gwavas Carlyon.