E.—No. 1.

You will be so good as inform the officer in charge of the prisoners that the Colonial Government has no longer anything to do with the custody or maintenance of the prisoners, and direct them no longer to report to, or communicate with, the Native Office on the subject —but directly with His Excellency ; and you will be so good as to take care that no Officers of the Native Department have for the future anything to do with the matter. If His Excellency should wish for any assistance from that department, he will no doubt request it in the usual way —through the Colonial Secretary. As the Colonial Government would be exceedingly sorry to put His Excellency to the smallest inconvenience, the services of Mr. T. A. White, of the Native Office, now acting as Interpreter and Superintendent of Prisoners on board the hulk, and who probably could not be easily replaced, will be at His Excellency's disposal, should he wish it: but he must be recognised as transferred for the time to His Excellency, and will take his instructions exclusively and directly from him, and his salary for the time will not be chargeable to the Colonial Government. You will also be so good as inform the Eev. C. Baker and the Rev. T. Buddie, that the passes issued by me are cancelled, and that if they wish them to be continued they must apply to His Excellency. Inform Dr. Sam, and any other gentlemen who hold appointments in connection with this branch of administration, that their services are no longer required by the Colonial Government; but that they will be paid by it up to the date when they may be engaged by His Excellency —or, if he does not require their services, till the end of the ensuing month (July). Request Dr. Knight (Auditor General) to furnish, aa early as he conveniently can, a full account of all expenses connected with the imprisonment of the rebels from the day of their arrival in Auckland —including purchase of hulk, food, clothing, buildings, repairs, salaries of officers, and extra pay of guard of Colonial troops employed on board the ship.

Appendix B. Te Kawau, September 29th, 1864. Snt, —Agreeably to your instructions, I have the honor to forward for your information the encloeed report of the hulk " Marion," and diagram. I have, &c, T. A. White, To the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Auckland. Superintendent Te Kawau. EEPORT by Mr. White on the Hulk. The hulk " Marion" has two decks for the accommodation of prisoners. The upper deck is 64 feet in length, average width 26 feet 2 inches, and height 6 feet 5 inches, and is provided on either side with a double row of ports (16 in number, averaging 18 inches by 7 inches), and having a central woodwork (which is cut into diamond-shaped apertures, 30 in number, and 8$ inches square), which communicates upwards with a very extensive hatchway (8 feet 5 inches by 5 feet), with the open upper dock. On the port side of the vessel it is entirely open, being fitted with two folding doors (3 feet G inches by 4 foot 8 inches), through which there is a strong current of air, and a door opening into, or rather from, the space called the lauding (11 feet 4 inches by 3 feet 5 inches), the la.tter intervening between the barred doors and the continuation of the hatchway into the lower deck. The main deck ia also provided (besides the central hatchway) with another hatch, being situated in the fore part of the ship, the size of which is 6 feet 9 inches by 3 feet 11 inches, both hatches having tarpaulins and other fit covering used to protect the deck below from the rain, &c. Near the fore hatchway, and on this deck, is a door which opens into a passage and staircase leading to the necessaries : this arrangement affords shelter to the men in inclement weather. The lower deck, which is by far the most spacious, is 84 feet 9 inches long, 21 feet 7 inches average width, and 7 feet 2 inches height. This deck has three hatchways, viz., the main hatch, 8 feet 5 inches by 5 feet; the after hatch, 3 feet 10 inches square, which communicates with the open upper deck by means of a ventilator 9 inches square, and 6 feet above the upper deck, fitted into and running through that part of the ship which accommodated the German guard ; and a fore hatchway, 6 feet 9 inches by 3 feet 11 inches, communicating with the upper deck. Both decks, main and lower, are fitted on both sides with planks, affording a continuous space 6 feet in width, running fore and aft, and used as a sleeping place. The deck below this also formed a second sleeping place for the prisoners. The wind sails which were used for this deck were two in number, the upper part of each being 6 feet in height, and 21 inches diameter ; the pipe 22 feet long by 17 inches diameter —making the total length 28 feet. These were in constant use, both day and night. The hulk " Marion," when first appropriated for the reception and .lodgment of the Maoris, being only a temporary concern and not the bona-fide property of the Governmeiit, afforded at the time only the main deck as an accommodation, which, prior to subsequent alterations, extended beyond its after boundary, giving a further space of 10 feet by 24 feet 7 inches, and having besides the entire opening of the after hatchway, and four port holes communicating into it, the current of air was in the warmest season so free that every person below felt comfortable. The fact also that the hatches were never battened or closed, and the prisoners allowed in turns to come upon deck regularly, and without actual restraint, rendered every available assistance in affording them ample means of enjoying the fresh air: even at the time when all the men had to sleep on this single deck, the arrangements in connection with rest, &c, were so managed as to discard the idea of "people being packed in together." On the contrary, each man 1« d 22 inches to lie in bed on. During the early part of March, when the hulk became the property of Government, the coals were removed, and another deck laid on as further accommodation ; other improvements were also made which greatly tended towards the comfort of the prisoners. The house and grounds on the North Shore being also placed at our disposal, several of the Natives were sent there to reside, as suggested by the Medical Officer. On the upper deck of the hulk the prisoners were allowed to peform their ablutions ; large tubs were in use, and in no instance were

53

RELATIVE TO MAORI PRISONERS.