E.—No. 3 .

VII. —The Colonial Forces in the Northern Island on the 31st December 1563 inny be Summarized thus — On actual service and doing duty— Colonial Defence Force - 411 men - 386 horses Waikato Militia - - 3,617 „ Ordinary Militia - - 2,569 .. Cavalry Volunteers - 200 „ - 107 „ Eifle and Naval . _ - 1,000 „ 7,800 583 Not on active service, but available for duty — Militia - - - 1,980 men Cavalry Volunteers - 247 ~ 243 horses. Volunteer* - - 1,332 „ 3,588 243 Mimir.K TS(,A Ml. The Colonial forces of this porl inn of (lie Colony have been nearly disarmed, their arms having been brought to the Nqrthern Island as soon ;> j possible after it was seen that hostilities with the rebellious natives would be inevitable : and only in the Province of Nelson are the Militia called out. The return .shows that there were in thai Province 1,832 Militia, and in sundry Provinces G25 Volunteers enrolled, viz. : — MILITIA. Province of Nelson .... 1,882 men. VOLUXTEKKX. Province of Nelson .... 266 men. ~ Marlborongh ... 05 ~ „ Canterbury -' - - 148 ~ Otago - - - - 116 „ 625 Total of Militia and Volunteers in the Middle Island 2,457 (.RAM) TOTAL. XOBTHERX ISLAND. On actual service - - 7.806 men - 583 horses. Not on actual service - - 3.588 ~ - 243 „ MIDDLE ISLAM). Net on actual service and mostly unarmed 2457 „ 13,851 526 T. %SSELL. Colonial Defer.ee Office, Auckland. February 29, 1864.

No. 29. Copt of a DESPATCH fbom govebnob sib geobge sbey, k.c.b., to his c .ace the duke or NEWCASTLE, K.G. (Xo. 35.) Government House, Auckland, February 29, 1861. Mr Lobii Duke, — I have tlie honour to transmit, for your Grace's information, a report by tlie Superintendent of the Province of Wellington, showing the present state of the feeling of the native population of that part of the northern island of New Zealand, which I feel assured you will peruse with much interest, and that you will regard it as giving, upon the whole, reason to hope that tranquillity may still be preserved in thai part of the Colony. I have, &(.-., His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, K.G., * G. Grey, &c. &c. &c. Enclosure in No. 29. MEMORANDUM fob the honorable mb. fox. I started from Wellington for the West Coast on the 13th ultimo, partly on provincial business, but chiefly with a view of endeavouring, in compliance with your request, to adjust the long-pending laud dispute at Rangitikei between the Rangitane and the _ gatiraukawa on the one side and the Ngatinpas oi* the other.

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