E.-No. 2.

No. 4 MEMORANDUM by the Hon. T. Eusssll. The Governor's Eesponsible Advisers beg respectfully to thank His Excellency for his explanation of his views as to the respective functions and duties of himself and the Officer commanding Her Majesty's Forces in New Zealand. Ministers had read the Circular Memorandum, dated Horse Guards, 12th September, 1857, differently from the meaning His Excellency attaches to it, particularly the following passage of it: — "In the event of active Military Operations taking place m a Colony, it exclusively belongs to the Governor to state, and explain, to the officer commanding the Troops the Policy of Her Majesty's Government, and the Military Measures by which that policy is to bo obtained; but it rests with the Officer commanding the Troops alone to direct the execution of those measures." From the general tenor of the Memorandum, and particularly from the passage quoted, Ministers were under the impression—as it rested with the " Officer commanding the Troops alone to direct the execution of Mititary Measures" —the policy of which had been explained by the Governor that the choosing of sites for stockades, for the defence of the Waikato District, must be left to the Military Authorities. Ministers have no desire whatever to interfere in questions as to the relative functions of His Excellency and the General, nor indeed to express any opinion on the subject; and they would respectfully remind His Excellency that in the Memorandum of the 22nd April, requesting the concent ration of the 2nd Eegiment, Ministers did not raise the question of the choice of sites for the Stockades ; His Excellency invited Ministers to specify the " precise points," on the proposed line, at which the posts were to bo fixed, but Ministers felt that it was not their duty, but the duty of the Military Authorities, to choose the sites for Forts and other defensible positions, and informed His Excellency accordingly. Ministers regret that they should have made, what His Excellency appears to consider, a mistake. Ministers are particularly anxious that their recommendations, made on the 22nd of April last, aR to a line of posts, and the concentration of the 2nd "Waikato Eegiment upon that line, should be considered by the proper authorities, and determined as speedily as possible, as delay causes great expense and inconveniences, and the rapidly approaching winter will render the work required much more troublesome and difficult to be performed. T. EITSSELL. Colonial Defence Office, Auckland, 10th May, 18G1. No. 5. MEMOEANDTJM by the Goveexoe. The Governor has received the Memorandum from his Eesponsible Advisers, of this day's date, regarding a line of posts which they propose should be taken up between the Pirongia and Maungatautari mountains by the 2nd Waikato Eegiment in detachments of 100 men, each of whom is to receive fifty acres of land, and to become a permanent military settler. His Advisers have not yet informed the Governor where, or in detachments of what strength, they propose to locate the other three Wadkflto Regiments, or what is the whole line of frontier they propose should be occupied. He has, in fact, as yet been made acquainted with but a small part of their plan. In his belief, that part of their plan which they have disclosed will probably, under any circumstances, fail as a plan for the military protection of the country, and for the future welfare of the Waikato military settlers, and will certainly so fail unless the proposed posts are supported by strong detachments of the regular troops. If a similar plan is adopted with the other Waikato Eegiments, still larger detachments of troops may be required to co-operate with them, and to keep open the long line of communication which will separate them from the settled districts. At the same time the Governor believes that the interests and safety of the Province of Taranaki have already been too long neglected; that the Province of Hawke's Bay is in a position of danger, thai Wairarapa, and the country between 'Wellington and Whanganui, are in an unsatisfactory state, and that considerable detachments of troops may at any moment be required to be sent to some, or even to all of these places ; and that'reinforcements may be required at Tauranga, It is evident that as military settlers are located on their lands, so many effective men are withdrawn from any operations which may bo necessary in the field, and that any detachments of troops which may be requisite to support these settlers will be so many men taken from, or that might otherwise be afforded to; other parts of New Zealand. The Governor would therefore suggest that, before he is required to give the orders asked for, for the location of the 2nd Waikato Eegiment, in detachments of 100 men each, between the Pirongia ami Maungatautari mountains, his Eesponsible Advisers should inform him what is to be the manner, ;in<l in what districts they propose that all the Waikato Regiments should be located, and what is the total extent of country over which they will be spread. G. Geey. Government House, 10th May, 1864. No. 6. MEMORANDUM by the Hon. T. Eusset.l. In reply to His Excellency's Memorandum of yesterday's date, Ministers beg most respectfully to state that it does not appear to them that the time has yet arrived when it is possible definitively to

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