THE GOVERNOR AND MINISTERS

19

A.—No. 1.

No. 31. The following two Letters were also submitted to Ministers by the Son. Mr. Mantell, in order to be shown to His Excellency the Governor. Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Camebon to The Hon. the Native Ministeb. Mr deae Sib, — Camp on the Patea, 4th March, 1865. I have received Mr. Booth's letter to you, which you sent me through Mr. Strickland. It will be better that you should communicate with me upon matters connected with the public service direct, instead of through a private channel. I shall be glad to have your opinion as to what steps ought to be taken in consequence of the desire stated to have been expressed by Te Ua to make peace with us. I would recommend your coming to the Waitotara, where you can communicate with the Natives, and I would meet you there. Mr. Weld informs me that you have the full authority of the Government, who I presume will be too glad to bring the war here to a close, if jiossible, without further hostilities. In accordance with the Governor's last instructions, I was about to move all the troops at the Waitotara, except a post of two hundred men to this place, but under present circumstances, I think it advisable to suspend the movement until I hear from you, which I hope to do by the return of the " Gundagai." Believe me very truly yours, "W". Mantell, Esq. D. A. Cameeon, Lieut.-General. P.S.-—The officer commanding at the Waitotara reports that the white flag is still flying at the Weraroa Pa. D.A.C. No. 32. Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Caheeon to the Hon. the Native Mdststeb. Mt deae Me. Mantell, — Camp on the Patea River, 6th March, 1865. As the " Gundagai" returns to Wanganui immediately, I have only time to thank you for your very interesting account of the proceedings of the friendly Natives. I have no intention at present of attacking the Wereroa Pa, and have written to Sir George Grey to say that the friendly Natives are quite at liberty to do so whenever they please. Our movement into the Ngatiruanui country will probably draw off part of the garrison, and render it easier for the friendly Natives to take it. I hope they will be as successful as you expect. Very truly yours, W. Mantell, Esq. D. A. Cameeon, Lieut.-General. No. 33. MEMORANDUM by Ministers. Ministers observe that in his despatch of 27th February, 1865, Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, referring to the proposed increased rate of payment for the Imperial troops in New Zealand, writes to the Governor as follows: —" I shall expect to hear from you that arrangements have been made for the new and increased contribution in respect to the troops which still remain ;" and that in his despatch of 27th March, 1865, he further states —" You will make it clearly understood that an appropriation on the scale contemplated by Parliament must be made for any troops who may be retained in New Zealand by the Colonial Ministers." Since the above was written, orders have been given by the Colonial Government to their agents in London to transfer to the Imperial Government colonial securities to the value of £500,000. Ministers trust that they may not be called upon to make further payments for which the resources of the Colony will not enable them to provide. On the 22nd November last, Mr. Weld submitted to His Excellency propositions in reference to the formation of a Ministry, in which, after stating that he would recommend the Assembly " to request the Home Government to withdraw the whole of its land forces from the Colony," he added that, pending the decision of the Home Government, he would " recommend to the Colonial Parliament that the Colony should undertake a reasonable liability for the services of troops actively engaged in the field, at the especial recommendation of His Excellency's Ministers, and for such troops only." In reference to these propositions, His Excellency stated that if a majority of the General Assembly concurred in them, it would be his duty to aid, to the best of his ability, in carrying them out. On the 30th December, 1864, Ministers transmitted to His Excellency resolutions adopted by both Houses of the Legislature, in which, referring to the great sacrifices entailed on the Colony by the native insurrection, they declared " That, nevertheless, the Colony is resolved to make every further possible effort to place itself in a position of self-defence against internal aggression, with a view to accept the alternative indicated by the Home Government, namely, the withdrawal of Her Majesty's land forces at the earliest possible period consistent with the maintenance of Imperial interests, and the safety of the Colony." In the memorandum accompanying the resolutions, Ministers stated that they " saw no reason at present to prevent their policy of withdrawing the Imperial troops from being carried into effect—that whatever risk might attend it, they considered that it might now be undertaken with as little danger as under any circumstances likely to arise for many years to come." Ministers further submitted to the Imperial Government " that it was absolutely impossible for the Colony to increase the heavy war expenditure that already menaced New Zealand with financial ruin."