A.—No. 4,

articles " pages 183 to 185, refer to temporary levies, as embodied and serving under the immediate orders of the Lieut.-General commanding, as the Colonial Forces to whom issues may be made. I have, &c., H. Stanley Jones, The Assistant Military Secretary Head Quarters, Wanganui. Commissariat General. Enclosure 2 to No. 141. The Commissariat General to the Assistant Military Seceetaey. Sic, — Commissariat, New Zealand, Auckland, 15th May, 1865. I have the honor to enclose herewith copies of correspondence relative to the issue of rations by this department to the Colonial force at Wanganui, and request you will be good enough to acquaint me if the Lieut.-General approves of the issue in question. I consider it my duty with reference to recent instructions from the War Office and Treasury to bring to the Lieut.-General's notice that portion of the correspondence which states that the issue of rations to the Colonial Forces in the Wanganui district was to be " gratuitous," and would respectfully suggest that the full value, with 15 per cent, added, be charged against the Colony for all supplies furnished by this Department. I have, <fee, H. Stanley Jones, The Assistant Military Secretary Head Quarters, Auckland. Commissariat General. Enclosure 3 to No. 141. The D. C. Geneeal to the Commissaey-Geneba_l. Sic,— Commissariat, Wanganui, 3rd May, 1865. I have the honor to transmit to you herewith copies of a correspondence relative to the issue of rations by this Department to the Colonial force in the Wanganui District. You will observe that Lieut.-Colonel Logan Commanding has sanctioned subject to the approval of the Lieut.-General commanding these issues being made by Deputy Assistant Commissary General Graham. I can only account for the delay that has occurred in bringing this subject under your notice by stating that the letter was not received by me before the 24th April, and I presume that it had been moving about the country in pursuit of me. I have, &c, E. Strickland, To Commissary-General Jones, C.8., Auckland. D. C. General. Enclosure 4 to No. 141. D. A. C. General Geaham to D. C. General Steickland. Sir — Commissariat, Wanganui, 17th April, 1865. I have the honor to hand you herewith copy of a letter, approved by Colonel Logan, requiring an issue of rations to the Colonial Forces in this district, which I have since issued, and to inform you that there is not here or elsewhere, as has hitherto been the case at other stations, anyone who is authorised to liquidate the cost of such issues. I have the honor to inform you also, that the Minister for Colonial Defence when here, stated to me that the Lieut.-General at the request of His Excellency the Governor, would sanction the gratuitous issue of rations to the Colonial Forces in this district, and I shall be glad to have your instructions on the subject, whether or not this is the case, as the issues for forage, &c, are very large. I have, &c, To Deputy Commissary General Strickland, J. C. Geaham, &c, &c, Patea. Deputy Adjutant Commissary General. Enclosure 5 to No. 141. Quartermaster Gudgeon to Major Rookes, Commanding Militia. Sir, Wanganui, 12th April, 1865. Mr. Graham, the Commissariat Officer, having refused to issue a further snpply of forage or provisions to the militia until he has the approval of Colonel Logan, it will be necessary immediately to apply to him, as I must send up without delay several week's provision to Pipiriki, Captain Brassey having rationed the Maori Militia in addition to his own men, which will soon run him short of the provisions already furnished. I have, <fee, T. W. Gudgeon, Major Rookes, Commanding Militia. Quartermaster. Mr. Gudgeon will wait on Colonel Logan, and obtain the necessary orders if that officer will give them. J- Rookes, (Major.) , Wanganui, 12th April, 1865. Sanctioned for the present, but subject to the approval of the Lieut.-General commanding. R. A. Logan, (Lieut.-Colonel 57th Regiment,) Commanding the District.

58

COREESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE