A.—No. 4a,

In the first of these letters he asks whether Her Majesty's forces are to remain on the defensive in the posts they now occupy, even in the event of the rebels attacking our convoys, or firing on our mounted orderlies. This letter was written subsequently to the barbarous and treacherous murder by the rebel Natives, on the 22nd ultimo, clo.se to a redoubt in the occupation of a body of Her Majesty's forces, under Brigadier-General AVaddy's command, of a Native messenger who he had himself sent to convey a message of peace to the Natives, of which they knew he was the bearer, and with which they had invited him to meet them. In the second letter Brigadier-General Waddy reports the supposed murder of Mr. Charles Broughton by the rebel Natives. The Brigadier-General states that on the 29th of September, in compliance with a letter from the rebel Natives, asking that nn interpreter might be sent to them to talk about peac«, he had sent Mr. Broughton to them ; that nothing had been heard of that gentleman up to the date of the Brigadier-General's letter. There is much reason to fear he has been most treacherously made away with. I cannot say how shocked I was to learn these particulars, and my concern has been increased byfinding that the Brigadier-General, who had a large force at his command, has allowed so long a time to elapse without taking prompt and energetic means to ascertain the fate of his own messenger, who he had despatched on a message of peace, and if necessary, either to have rescued him, or to have inflicted punishment on his treacherous murderers. The whole circumstances connected with this case appear at present at once to be so sad, and to reflect such discredit on the authorities, that I think the Brigadier-General should be called on to furnish an explanation in relation to them. I cannot but wonder that the Brigadier-General, two of whose messengers on errands of peace have been treacherously murdered close to his posts, whilst obeying the orders of a British General, should remain on the defensive in the posts he occupies, until he receives your instructions whether lie is to continue to do so or not. _ It appears to me that his duty under such circumstances was obvious, that his having failed to do it, is greatly to be lamented, and must produce most unfortunate results, and that he should be instructed to explain what has taken place, and not to lose an hour in attempting to punish or bring to justice the murderers of his messengers. I have, &c, The Hon. Major-General Chute. G. Grey. No. 7. Major-General CnuTE to His Excellency the Governor. Sir,— AVellington, 11th October, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of this date, relative to Brigadier-General AVaddy's communications of the 30th ultimo and sth instant, and beg to inform your Excellency that I am now sending instructions in conformity therewith to the Brigadier-General by special messenger overland to AVanganui. I have, &c, J. Chute, His Excellency Sir G. Grey, K.C.B. Major-General. No. 8. Major-General Chute to His Excellency the Governor. Sir, — Head Quarters, AVellington, 11th October, 1865. Referring to the conversation which I had the honor of having with your Excellency on the 9th instant and yesterday, and also to my letter of the 9th instant, respecting the employment of the troops in the AVanganui District, it is my desire in ease of any subsequent misapprehension, to place on record the substance of what I have already verbally stated to your Excellency with regard to the supposed murder of Mr. Broughton, viz., that I concur with your Excellency in the desirability of inflicting all possible punishment on the offenders, and that I am prepared to carry out, as far as the force at my disposal for operations may admit, any instructions your Excellency may be pleased to give mo; but until your Excellency favours me with full and explicit instructions, I feel that under present circumstances, and pending the receipt of your Excellency's decision relative to the embarkation of troops for England, I am not justified in undertaking on my own authority any movement or operation which may be attended with uncertain results, and which might interfere with any plans your Excellency may have in view for the immediate removal of troops to England, and the re-distribution of the force which may still be left in the country. I am therefore still waiting for the letter of instructions which I understood your Excellency purposed sending me yesterday. I have, &c, J. Chute, His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B. Major-General. No. 9. His Excellency the Governor to Major-General CnuTE. Sir, — Government House, AVellington, 17th October, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, expressing your readiness to carry out any plans for the punishment of the murderers of Brigadier-General AVaddy's messengers. I entirety concur with y rou in the necessity of steps being taken with the least possible delay for this purpose, and thank you for the expression of your readiness to do so; but I think the details of these operations must necessarily be devised by yourself. To aid you in carrying them out, I will request the local Government as soon as possible to enrol a small Native Force, at Wanganui, to be placed with proper officers under your command. I have, &c, The Hon. Major-General J. Chute. _. Gbey.

3

OF IMPERIAL TROOPS IN THE COLONY.