E.-No. 2.

possible to carry on operations for the next three or four months in such a country as that between Taranaki and "Whanganui. I Bhall be obliged for any information your Excellency can give me regarding these or any othor operations in which the troops are likely to be employed, as well as regarding the locations of the military settlements on the Waikato frontier, which must materially effect any arrangements for the distribution of the troops and the amount of transport likely to be required. I would take the liberty of submitting for your Excellency's consideration whether it would not be advantageous to the public service if the Executive Council met occasionally, to take these and similar subjects into consideration. I have, &c., D. A. Cameron, His Excellency Sir G. Grey, X.C.8., Lieut.-General. &c., &c, &c. COPT of a Letter from Governor Sir Georoe Gbey, X.C.8., to Lieut.-General Cameron, K.C.B. Government House, Auckland, 29th May, 1864. Sib,— In answer to that portion of your letter of the 25th instant, in which you express a wish to be informed regarding the locations upon which it in proposed to establish Military settlements on the Waikato Frontier, I have now the honor to enclose to you tracings which shew roughly the points on which it is proposed by the Government in the first instance to establish such settlements. The precise points at which they should be placed on the locations shewn in the accompanying sketch, can be so arranged, as to fall in with that distribution of Troops which you may deem most advisable. I have, &c, G. Grey. The Hon. Lieut.-General Sir D. Cameron, X.C.8., &c, &c, &c, Head Quarters. COPT of a Letter from Lieut.-General Sir D. Camerox, X.C.8., to Governor Sir George Grey. K.C.B. Head Quarters, Auckland, 2nd June, 1864. Sib,— I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 29th tiltirno, relative to the establishment of military settlements on the "Waikato frontier. I mentioned the subject in my letter of the 25th ultimo, as I was desirous of ascertaining whether your Excellency had decided upon any plan for the formation of military settlements, in order that I might be enabled to judge whether any alteration in the distribution of the troops on the frontier, or increase to the land transport would be necessary. It does not appear from your Excellency's letter that anything has yet been settled beyond the mere division of a certain area of country into three districts, as shown in the tracing which you have forwarded to me, but in which I would observe that there are no points marked showing even roughly where it is proposed in the first instance to establish the settlements. I have received no information regarding the number of men it is proposed to settle in each district; from what regiment of the "Waikato Militia they are to be taken ; how they are to be distributed, whether into large or small bodies; whether any protection is to be given to them in the shape of stockades, &c, &c. In the absence'of such information I propose not to disturb the present distribution of the troops on the frontier until I receive more exact information from your Excellency. I have, &c, D. A. Cameiiox, His Excellency Sir G. Grey, X.C.8., Lieut.-General. &c, &c, &c. MEMORANDUM by Mnnwr«au' In reply to the questions raised by Lieutenant-General Cameron's letter, of the 2nd instant. Ministers beg to state to Hia Excellency their view of the answer which should be given to the Lieutenant-General at the present time. That upon the plan sent herewith it is roughly shewn where the Government propose, in the first instance, to establish the military villages, and that in order to settle the precise spots to be occupied as the village sites, the Government are prepared to name an officer who will confer with the military authorities upon the subject. That the men may occupy their village acres at once, but the Government do not propose to locate any of the men on their country land at present. That* the number of men it is proponed to settle at each of the points indicated will be from three hundred to five hundred men. That the settlements numbered 1 and 2 bo formed from the 2nd Regiment, settlements 3 to 4 from the 3rd Regiment, settlement 5 from the Ist Regiment, leaving a part of that Regiment after-

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