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A—No. 6a

a Company of Royal Engineers, I have the honor to enclose for your information, copy of additional -ingestions, received from the Commanding Royal Engineer. I have, &c., (Signed) R. 11. Wynyard, His Excellency the Governor, Colonel Commanding in New Zealand. &c., &c, &c., New Zealand. COLONEL MOULD R.E., TO MAJOR OF BRIGADE. Royal Engineer Office, Auckland, 15th October, 1858. Silt,— I have the honor to acquaint you, for the information of the Colonel Commanding the Forces, that no other matter at present occurs to me to add to my original Memorandum relative to the support by the Colony of a Company of Royal Engineers, except to state that in the calculations of the annual expense, I omitted to add the probable value of rations, which would amount, in round numbers, to £1,000 a year if they were granted free, or to about one-half that amount (say £500) if the men were placed under the usual stoppages; still, notwithstanding that further charge, I am decidedly of opinion that the Colony would reap pecuniary as well as other advantages, at least equivalent to the whole outlay. Certain it is that without them, the maintenance of Barracks alone would cost the Colony considerably more than if their services were available. Barrack accommodation would, as a matter of course, be provided by the Colony, to whom the expenses under this head for the whole Force in the command are chargeable, no special addition to the estimate of the cost of the Company is therefore necessary for this purpose. The question of the cost of the transport of the Company from England is one which should be arranged between the Imperial Authorities and the Colonial Government, but I would observe that it appears to me that the charge might fairly be borne by the Imperial Government, who would have the advantage of having on the spot ready for immediate service a useful and necessary addition to the Military Force in case of disturbances in the Colony; whereas if the Colony bore the expense, and supposing a case of extreme urgency should necessitate the removal of the Company elsewhere before the Colony had obtained such services from them as would compensate for their outlay for this purpose, there would be pro tanto a clear loss to them by the transaction. I have, &c, (Signed) Thos. R. Mould, Colonel Commanding Royal Engineer. The Major of Brigade, &c, &c, &c, Auckland. MINUTE BY MR. STAFFORD. January 19th, 1859. Upon a consideration of the whole question, His Excellency's Ministers advise, that the Imperial Government be informed that the Colonial Government will defray the expense of an entire Company of Royal Engineers, on the scale specified in the Memoranda of Colonel Mould ot the 30th July and 15th October, 1858; and that advantage be taken of the visit to England of the Colonial Secretary Mr. Stafford to bring this subject before the notice of the respective Imperial Authorities. (Signed) E. W. Stafford. COPY OF A DESPATCH FROM GOVERNOR GORE BROWNE, C.8., TO THE RIGHT HON. SIR E. B. LYTTON, BART. Government House, Auckland, New Zealand, 27th July, 1859. Sir,— Immediately on the receipt of your Circular Despatch marked " Secret," dated 6th May last, l I held a consultation with the Officer Commanding the Troops, the Commanding Royal Engineer, and . the Senior Officer of Her Majesty's Navy, present in New Zealand. 2. I enclose separate statements made by these Officers, together with a Memorandum which < embodies our united opinions. This Memorandum I forwarded to my Responsible Advisers, who» replied to it in the Minute marked No. 6. \

J 15th Oct., 1858.

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(No. 61.) Military and Natal.

No. 3. Col. Gold, Commanding the Eorccs, 23rd July, 1859.