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A—No. 6

General Peel in the Letter from this Office, of the 24th April, 1858. The Governor's present Despatch encloses an Address to Her Majesty which had been adopted by both Houses of the Legislature, deprecating such a reduction of the Troops. No. 52 encloses a Memorandum from the Responsible Advisers of the Governor, relative to the expense to be borne by the Colony for the accommodation of Her Majesty's Troops. No. 57 encloses the Report of a Debate in the House of Representative on the subject of Military protection. I am to request that you will call the attention of Major-General Peel to these Despatches. On a full consideration of these Communications, and of the previous representations of the Local Government, Sir E. Bulwer Lytton is unable to avoid the conclusion, that the Colony of New Zealand is exposed to dangers from the Natives which may lead to disasters, and may ultimately involve the necessity of employing a much larger Military Force there, than which would now suffice to arrest the threatened evils. Sir E. B. Lytton is fully aware that this question must be considered, not simply with reference to the interests of this individual Colony, but with a regard to the demands of the whole Empire. At the same time he cannot be insensible to the urgent and frequently repeated representations of Governor Browne, as to the necessity for Military protection and the absolute impossibility so strongly urged in the present Despatches of depending on a Militia Force. Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton would again invite the attention of Major-General Peel to the clear statement contained in Colonel Browne's previous Despatch No. 14, of the 25th of February last as to the Military Force required in the Colony, and to the distribution there laid down of 2,000 Men. He is inclined to believe, that if the other requirements of the general Military Service would permit of such an arrangement, tho maintenance for the present of that Force in New Zealand distributed in the manner proposed— would repay, in a pecuniary point of view, the charge which would be thereby incurred by the British Treasury ; by the stimulus which a sense of security would give to the occupation of the Territory and to increased production. Governor Browne expresses his opinion that a smaller Military Force would suffice if a War-Steamer were stationed on the Coast, which might act effectively at any one point in case of an emergency. On this subject a renewed representation will be addressed to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton has had under his consideration, in connexion with the enclosed Despatches, your Letter of the 18th ultimo, witli its enclosures from the Military Secretary to the General Commanding-in-Chief, and from the Officer Commanding the Troops in New Zealand, on the subject of an augmentation of the Royal Artillery on that Station. From Sir C. Yorkc's Letter it appears, that not even one Company of Artillery could be spared for New Zealand, but it is suggested that two Companies might be raised for that particular Service ; to be formed by Non-commissioned Officers and Men now serving, who are not equal to very active service, and who when no longer fit for tiie discharge of the duties devolving on them in New Zealand, might become Settlers in the Colony. The strength of these two Companies would be about 232 Rank and. File. That Force, together with the Goth Regiment increased to 1000 Men, would form an approach to the amount of Force estimated as requisite in Colonel Browne's Despath to Mr. Labouchere, No. 09, of the 25th August, 1857, forming an enclosure to your Letter now under acknowledgment and forwarded by Colonel Wynyard in his recent Letter to Sir Charles Yorke, as shewing the present requirements of the Colony. With regard to the Artillery Force as proposed to be raised, Lieutenant-Colonel Wynyard observes that tho duties of an Artilleryman in that Command are not likely to be severe, and that unless 138n - some unlooked for occurence should take place, Men of long service, who after a few years might wish to settle in Isew Zealand, would be quite equal to the task required of them. If Major-General Peel should be unable to effect an increase from the regular Troops of the Line to the present Force in the Colony, Sir E. B. Lytton conceives that it will be desirable to raise the two Companies of Artillery in the manner proposed, as the best mode in connexion with increased Naval protection, of placing the various scattered Settlements in a state of security. I am to request that you will call General Peel's attention to the Debates in the House of Representatives on the subject of Military protection in the Governor's Despatch, No. 57, and with reference to the remarks in Sir C. Yorke's Letter, which you have enclosed, I am to state, that, Sir E. B. Lytton can hold out no immediate prospect of relieving the Army Estimates, of any of the Military expenditure on account of New Zealand, except that at present borne by the Colony for Barrack and Lodging accommodation, which he is of opinion should be pressed on the Colony. I have, &c, (Signed) T. F. Elliot. Sir H. Storks, X.C.8., Horse Guards. (JOPY o*' A DESPATCH FROM LORD CARNARVON TO GOVERNOR GORE BROWNE, C B. Downing Street, sth May, 1859. Sir,— I transmit herewith, for your information, a copy of a Despatch which has been addressed to the Governor of Tasmania, on the subject chiefly of the Naval Defence of Australia. Although this Despatch