E.—No. 1.

No. 74 MEMORANDUM requesting a Return as to cost of guarding and rationing Prisoners while on board the Hulk. The Governor would feel much obliged to Ministers, if they would allow him to be furnished with a, Return shewing the average monthly cost, whilst the Prisoners were on board the Hulk, of the following items of expenditure. Total cost of Officers, non-commissioned Officers, and men of the guard, per month of Rations of Fresh Meat... ... ... ... " of Water ... ... ... ... ... ■ " ofFuel Government House, Auckland, 13th October, 1864. G. Geet.

No. 75. MEMORANDUM requesting information as to the Government Officials accompanying the Native Prisoners to Kawau. The Governor would feel much obliged to Ministers if they would allow him to be informed of the number and designations of the Europeans who accompanied the Native Prisoners on board the Hulk to the Kawau, their respective salaries, and by whom they were appointed. Government House, Auckland, 13th October, 1864. G. Geet.

No. 76. MEMORANDUM requesting certain information respecting the Hulk " Marion." The Governor requests that he may be furnished with the copy of any letter addressed to the Rev. B. Y. Ash well, on the subject of the erection of a house at Kawau for him by the Government; and also with copies of any report or reports that may have been received from the Emigration Officer at the Port of Auckland in reference to the hulk " Marion." Ha also would fesl very much obliged to Ministers if the would allow competent persons to report upon the size of the doorway leading to the mxin, deck of the hulk " Marion," during the time the prisoners were confined there ; and also upon the size of the hatchway leading to the orlop deck, and the size of the port on the orlop deck, and the date when any fresh ports or apertures were cut on the orlop deck. Government House, Auckland, 18th October, 1864. G. Gket.

No. 77. MEMORANDUM requesting certain Returns relative to Maori Prisoners. L'pon the 13th instant the Governor requested his Responsible Advisers to supply him with information regarding several points connected with the native prisoners, as also with copies of papers connected with the same subject. He earnestly requests that he may be supplied with the information he then asked for, as without it he cannot well transmit to the Secretary of State the report from the Colonial Secretary regarding the native prisoners, the non-transmission of which lias already been the cause of such severe remarks in a Ministerial memorandum. Ociober 2-±th, 1.861. G. Grest.

No. 78. MEMORANDUM of Ministers regarding certain returns asked for in reference to the Native Prisoners. The Colonial Secretary begs to acknowledge the receipt of His Excellency's Memorandum relative to certain returns asked for by His Excellency in reference to the Native Prisoners. The Colonial Secretary would be very sorry indeed if, from any cause whatever, the important information which he believes to be contained in his Memorandum of the 30th September, should be withheld from Her Majesty's Government for a second Mail. He has, however, been quite unable to supply His Excellency with the ret unit; requested at an earlier date; partly because some of tlum could not be made without the aid of Mi 1. White, who has been brought from the Kawau for the express purpose : and partly because in consequence of the early meeting of the Assembly, the clerks of the department have been too much engaged with otherwork to give the necessary attention to this. The Colonial Secretary hopes to be able to furnish the returns asked for in a day or two at longest. Auckland, 21th October, 1864. W. Fox.

No. 79. MEMORANDUM in reply to His Excellency's Memoranda of 13tli October. Tin1 Colonial Secretary begs to acknowledge His Excellency's Memoranda (3) of the 13th October, requesting certain returns relative to the hulk " Marion" and the Maori prisoners. Hib 15xcelleucy, on the 7th August, forwarded to Her Majesty's Government a Despatch containing most serious imputations on hi* Ministers in reference to these matters, without Ministers having the opportunity of commenting upon it, or defending themselves against these charges. On the 3Orh (>f September, nearly eight days before the close of the mail, they forwarded to His Excolloncy a

62

MEMORANDA AND REPORTS