29

A—No. 6

The two Captains to be furnished from the Royal Artillery, and the Subalterns to be selected from half-pay of the Land Transport Corps and Field Train Department, who had previously served as Non-commissioned Officers in the Royal Artillery. I have, &c, (Signed) C. Yorke. The Under Secretary of State, War-Office. COLONEL WYNYARD, TO SIR C. YORKE. Auckland, New Zealand, 26th May, 1858. Sir,— Having communicated the tenor of your communication of the 15th January to His Excellency (Enclosure), the Governor, and having been favored in reply, with a copy of the original Despatch to the Right Honorable- the Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the subject, I beg permission to enclose the same for the information of His Royal Highness the General Commanding-in- Chief, and in so doing, Mth A "E-' lBa '- to renew my request for an increased Artillery Force in this Command, which I conceive to be the more urgently required since the Colonial Government have called upon me to detach the only Artillery Officer I have, to Taranaki, together with the few available Men of that Arm, leaving me charge of a Battery of 16 Guns, with merely four Men to work them, supported by such aid as can be rendered by the present very reduced Garrison of Auckland. The whole force of Artillery in this Command does not exceed 25 Men, of whom three are at Wanganui, where there are seven Guns in position ; four, as I have already stated remain at heaquarters, seven at Napier, and eleven at Taranaki, where the Government seem to apprehend the possibility of a collision with the Natives, on matters connected with the feud existing in that neighbourhood amongst the Aborigines for some considerable time past. The duties of an Artillery-man in this Command are not likely to be severe, and unless some unlooked for occurrence takes place, Men of long service, who, after a few years may wish to settle in New Zealand, would be quite equal to the task required of them, and enable me, besides having the Guns efficiently manned, to keep a far better eye to the preservation of the stores, which annually increase in quantity and value, and at present are very considerable. Enclosed is a copy of my Letters to the Governor, consequent on your communication. 2 4ih May I have, &c, (Signed) R. H. Wynyard. Colonel Commanding in New Zealand. Sir C. Yorke, X.C.8., Horse-Guards. GOVERNOR BROTTNE, To MR. LAJBoUCHERE. Government House, Auckland, New Zealand, 25th August, 1857. Sir,— In continuance of my Despatch of the Bth instant. No. 63, I have the honor to inform you Milit*»t. that the first part of the Detachment of Troops stationed at the Bay of Islands, arrived in Auckland on the 22nd of this month, and by the mail which accompanied them, I received Petitions from the Inhabitants remonstrating, in the strongest terms against their removal, stating that "in the absence of ( ' ° ' Military protection, we do not consider our property nor yet even our lives safe." I do not participate in these apprehensions, having carefully, but quietly communicated with the Chiefs and those who are best acquainted with them, before the order was given. 2. I am, however, of opinion that it is not possible to ensure a continuance of the present security, and therefore, that a place of refuge, which could be maintained in defiance of attacks by an irregular Force, ought to be established at the Bay of Islands. I have answered the Petitioners in these terms, and have reason lo believe that the money for the erection of such a Buildin" will be subscribed without delay, as the danger is probably mageified by the Inhabitants of the District. I shall take care that the position occupied shall be approved, and the Building erected under thesupervision of the Military Authorities. 3. I take this opportunity to enclose a Letter from Colonel Wynyard, C.8., informing me that the establishment of the two Regiments serving in New Zealand will in future be reduced to G6O Rank and File, making a total of 1320 Rank and File in the Colony. Deducting casualties, and considering the Detachments which cannot without imminent danger be withdrawn, I do not consider this Force ]gihAu " na7 sufficient for the defence of the Colony, deprived as it is of all Naval protection. 4. Without presuming to dictate to Her Majesty's Government what protection should be afforded to one of its dependencies, I yet feel that I should be failing in my duty to you, if I did not say