MILITAEY DEFENCE. COPY OF A DESPATCH FROM MR. STAPFORD TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF AUCKLAND.* Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, December 18th, 1856. Sir,— As it is not improbable that Her Majesty's Imperial Government might be disposed, on certain conditions, to send out to New Zealand, Men who have been i n the Military Service of Great Britain, I have to request your Honor to inform this Government whether, in the event of any such persons being sent out at the Imperial expense, the Provincial Legislature of Auckland would pass the necessary measures for enabling them at once upon landing to settle upon allotments of land, and would provide suitable cottages for their use: it being understood that after a residence for a defined period, and having fulfilled certain conditions of Military Service, they should be entitled to receive Grants for these premises, and possibly to exercise at a fixed price a pre-emptive right over some additional land in some such mariner, and subject to such general conditions, as were required with respect to the New Zealand Fencible Force. Should the Legislature of Auckland be desirous of securing the location of such men, I shall feel obliged it your Honor would state the precise nature of the conditions under which it might be desired that it should be effected, also, whether the expense of introducing their wives and families will be borne by the Province in the event of the Home Government refusing to provide for it. I need scarcely point out that the presence of such a body as a permanent armed force available in time of war would be of eminent service, while the addition to the population and public expenditure, which would result from it, would give a considerable impetus to the trade, and in other ways promote the progress and importance of any particular Province in which it might be located. I have, &c, (Signed) E. W. Stafford. His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. (Extract from the Minutes of the Auckland Provincial Council of2bth February, 1858 J " That with a view to giving effect to the recommendation contained in the 3rd section of the Immigration Committee's Report with reference to the further introduction of a Pensioner Force, provision be made by this Council to enable His Honor the Superintendent to give such guarantee as may be required by the Governor to justify His Excellency's Government in making such arrangements as may be necessary with the Imperial Government for sending out to this Province ten Companies of Enrolled Pensioners." MR. STAFFORD TO SUPERINTENDENT OF AUCKLAND. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 25th January, 1859. Sir,— I have to address your Honor on the subject of a Resolution, adopted by the Auckland Provincial Council on the 2nth February, 1858, (the original of which you left in this Office for the consideration of the Government, and which is now returned) respecting a proposed introduction of ten Companies of Enrolled Pensioners. The purport of that Resolution is, that provision should be made by the Council to enable your Honor to give such guarantee as may be required by the Governor to justify arrangements being made with the Imperial Government for sending out those Companies. I am not aware whether such provision has ever been made; but it is necessary, in order to enable this Government to enter into negotiations with the Imperial Government with a probability of practical effect, that some definite terms should be proposed on the part of the Auckland Province, and i would accordingly feel obliged by your Honor's views on the following points : — Judging from the course adopted by the Imperial Government on other questions connected with the Colony, involving Military expenses, and remembering the cost incurred by them on account of the Pensioners already sent out to New Zealand, it is almost certain that the whole cost of this proposed Pensioner Immigration will have to be borne by the Province, I therefore wish to know, —

( in in t.AR.

• Letter of the same tenor sent to the Superintendents of the several Provinces.