D.—No. 15.

Powder affair— Natana to Otaki 10 0 Te Aomarere, from Otaki to Wellington (horse hire and expenses)... 2 0 0 Pene, from Otaki to Manawatu, Mr. Mantell's express (horse hire and expenses) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 100 Total £7 19 6 AValter Buller, 4th August, 1863. Resident Magistrate. Enclosure 3 to No. 4. VOUCHER, 1863. —Province of Wellington, the Department of General Native Pueposes Dr. to Walteb Bulleb. To amount paid Natana (express to Wellington) bearer of letters to Hon. Mr. Mantell £3 0 0 W. Bulleb, 15th September, 1863. Resident Magistrate. Submitted for approval, H. Halse, 10th August, 1863. Approved. R. Wood, 10th August, 1863. Enclosure 4 to No. 4. MEMORANDUM for the Sub-Treasurer, Wellington. Surcharge Mr. Buller, Resident Magistrate, Manawatu District, with the sum of three pounds (£3), being the amount of his account, —"To amount paid Natana, express to Wellington, bearer of letters to the Hon. Mr. Mantell," approved by the Hon. Reader Wood. Be good enough to forward to me duplicate or copy of that account and of the Memorandum (dated 23rd July, 1863) by which Mr. Buller accompanied it. 19th September, 1863. Walter Mantell. No. 5. Walter Bulleb, Esq., R.M., to tho Hon. AY. Mantell, Wellington. Sic,— Resident Magistrate's Office, Manawatu, 6th October, 1863. I received to-day (through you) from the Acting Native Minister, copy of a Memorandum dated 23rd ultimo, and addressed by you to the Hon. Mr. Wood, in the absence of the Minister for Native Affairs. I now learn to my unutterable surprise, that you have directly charged me with the most serious offence of which a public officer can be guilty, and without even affording me the opportunity of a defence, have suggested to your colleague at the head of my department, my summary dismissal from office, and the removal of my name from the Commission of the Peace. I am prepared to lay before His Excellency's Government such explanation as will fully and completely clear me from the charge of deception, and vindicate both my personal and my official character, and it is a matter of extreme pain and regret to me that you did not afford me an opportunity of doing this before condemning me. I have, &c, The Hon. Mr. Mantell. Walteb Bulleb, R.M. No. 6. Walter Bulleb, Esq., R.M., to the Hon. Readee Wood. Sic,— Resident Magistrate's Office, Manawatu, 9th October, 1863. I have tho honor to acknowledge receipt of the Native Secretary's letter of 28th ultimo,, covering copy of a Memorandum by the Hon. Mr. Mantell (with enclosures), and requesting my explanations thereto. I have read Mr. Mantell's remarks with unfeigned surprise, and I [can hardly realize that I am put on my defence on the most serious charge that could be brought against a Government officer. Mr. Mantell has deliberately accused me of "practising a deception on the head of my department " to obtain payment of a charge " disallowed " by him, and of supporting my claim thereto by a Memorandum, which appears to him "inveracious from beginning to end; " and without previously affording me an opportunity of rebutting the charge, has indirectly recommended that I should be removed from office, and my name from the Commission of the Peace. To the charge of deception, I give my unqualified and indignant denial. The Memorandum referred to, I am prepared, if required, to substantiate on oath. If ever I performed a service entitling me to the thanks of Government, it was in regard to this " powder business." To prosecute the inquiry without loss of time I swam my horse across the Manawatu in a heavy flood (at the risk of losing him), when several travellers refused to venture, —rode twenty-five miles in very boisterous weather, and sat up a great part of the night at Otaki. Instead of thanks however, I received from Mr. Mantell a virtual censure at the time, and I am not only surcharged with an amount paid to a special messenger, but am accused of having obtained this money under false pretences, while it is suggested that I should be dismissed from the service in disgrace. I must pray your patient attention to tho following facts in vindication of the course I took. In June last I received from Dr. Hewson information that the Otaki Natives had received large 2

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OF THE RESIDENT MAGISTRATE, MANAWATU