PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE PAY AND EXPENSES

under my charge for Militia purposes, and conveying the wish of the Oilicer commanding Her Majesty's Forces, for my remarks. If I am correct in understanding that His Excellency contemplates drawing lump unestimated lums from the Chest for Militia expenditure. I beg to submit the following observations for the information of the Officer Commanding the Forces The Horse Guards' Circular Memorandum referred to appears to be intended merely to define the relative authorities and powers of Governors and Officers Commanding Her Majesty's Troops in the Colonies, but gives the Civil Governor no power over the Military Ciiest, nor does it annul or alter the regulations from the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury or the Secretary of State for War, which provide that all expenditure for Militia Services, whether chargeable against the Imperial or Colonial funds, shall be defrayed and accounted for by the Commissariat. I may also remark that the Horse Guards is no authority on Finance matters, the whole of which rests exclusively—as far as Military affiiiis are concerned—with the Secretary of Stiitu for War, and the War Office Instructions are completely at variance with the proposal of His Excellency. Under these circumstances, 1 am compelled with the greatest deference, but most decidedly to decline making the advances for Militia Services in the manner contemplated. I have, &c, (Signed) H. Stanley Jonks, . Assistant Commissary-General, The Major of Brigade, Controller of Army Expenditure. &c, &c, &c.

No. 10. THE GOVERNOR TO THE OFFICER COMMANDING THE TROOPS. Government House, Auckland, 27th July, 1860. Sir,— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter dated the 12th July, 1860, enclosing a copy of a Letter from the Senior Commissariat Officer. That Officer observes that the Horse Guards is no authority on Finance matters, but appears not to have observed that the Instructions referred to are those of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated 22nd October, 1857, covering a Memorandum from the Horse Guards, dated 12th September. I enclose for your information a Minute of the Attorney-General, by which it appears that the Senior Commissariat Officer has not taken a correct view of the case. I forward also by this Mail a requisition prepared by the Attorney-General in accordance with the Despatch and Memorandum before referred to. I have, &c, (Signed) T. Gore Browne, Governor. The Officer Commanding the Forces in New Zealand, Taranaki.

(Nβ. 127.)

Enclosure in No. 10. MINUTE BY MR. WHITAKER ON A. C. J. JONES* LETTER. 23rd July 1860. Mr. Jones says, "If am correct in understanding that His Excellency contemplates drawing lump unestimated sums from the Chest for Militia expenditure, I beg to submit the following observations." It appears to me that Mr. Jones is altogether incorrect in his supposition, and I cannot see, after a perusal of all the Papers, a single sentence to support it. It is clear to me that the Governor, iv his Despatch of the 26th of June, 1860, has not proposed to draw a "lump sum" or, indeed, any sum whatever, but has proposed, iv accordance with the Horse Guards Circular of the 12th of Sept., 1857, to hand to the Officer Commanding Her Majesty's Forces, a requisition to issue such advances as may be necessary to meet the Militia expenditure ; and it is distinctly stated that " the supply of the "Militia will be governed and administered in the same manner as that of the Queen's Troops." It is unnecessary to go into the question of the propriety of the course proposed by the Governor, as Mr. Jones' observations are not directed against that, but against something purely imaginary. I forward a draft of what appears to me to be a proper requisition to the Officer Command - ing. (Signed) Feed. Whitaxeb.

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