I regret that your Excellency's letter on this matter should have remained so long unanswered, but my continued absence in the field, and the difficulty of obtaining the necessary documents from Wanganui, has rendered the delay unavoidable. I have, &c, J. Chute, His Excellency Sir George Grey, X C.8., Major-General. Governor, New Zealand. Enclosures in No. 1. Copy of Opinion of a Court of Enquiry assembled at Wanganui, 11th March, 1865. Opinion : The Court having considered the evidence adduced, are of opinion that a certain amount of property has been destroyed and stolen from the house of Messrs. I'eake, but that there is not sufficient evidence to prove by whom, the robberies were committed. Wanganui, New Zealand, J. Dwyer, Major, 14th Eegt., 11th March, 1865. and Brevet Colonel, President. Members f W" A> SnORTT ' Bt--MaJor> 57th Eegt. JuemDers W. B. Churchward, Ensign, 2-14, Eegt. Approved—E. A. Logan, Lieut.-Col., 57th Eegiment, Commanding District. True copy, E. Waddy, Brigadier-Genoral. Extract—Garrison Orders. Wanganui, 12th March, 1865. 2. The Officers commanding at tho out-posts will invariably have a parade at sunset. Any man absent to be at once confined, aud reported. No soldier is to be allowed out after that hour. It has come to the notice of the Officer Commanding the District that the houses of Mr. J. Peake and Mr. Wickstead have been broken into, and property wantonly destroyed and stolen. Lieut.-Col. Logan holds Commanding Officers strictly responsible for the safety of property, and has to remind them that they are stationed in the Eedoubts for that purpose, as well as for the defence of the settlement. Frequent check roll calls will be called when necessary, particularly at Woodall's Eedoubt. True extract, By order, W. Thompson, H. M. Powell, Lieut., 57th Eegt., and Gar. Adjt. Lieut., 57th Eegt., and Gar. Adjt. Lieutenant Dawson, 2-18 th Eegiment, to the Deputy Adjutant General, Wanganui. Sir, — Woodall's Eedoubt, June 6, 1865. I have the honor to report, for the information of the Brigadier-General, that Mr. John Peake, farmer, in the neighbourhood of my Eedoubt, informed me this day that he has lost a great number of his sheep, estimated by him at 200 head. He attributes his loss to the dogs at the Eedoubt. He also stated that he had evidence to prove that my men were in the habit of bringing sheep into camp. He gave me his authority, which proved to be the canteen-man at this post. I immediately sent for him, and have obtained the statement of the sergeant to whom, it appears, he mentioned the circumstance at some subsequent date. On referring to tlie duty roster, I find that the canteen-man's statement to tho sergeant must havo been made on the morning of the 28th May, but the first intimation that 1 receive on the subject is through Mr. Peake on the afternoon of the 6th June. Mr. Peake tells me that he got his information on the 3rd June, but did not think it necessary to acquaint me with his discovery. I may further remark that Mr. Nicholls, Mr. Peake's assistant, has been residing off and on at Mr. Peake's house for some time, looking after Mr. Peake's property; that he frequently visits me at the Eedoubt, and did so on Saturday and Sunday last, the 3rd and 4th June. He ought to have been aware of Mi-. Peake's losses, but still I was not informed on the subject. I may add that it is my custom frequently to inspect the vicinity of the Eedoubt, and can assert I have never seen anything to lead me to suppose that any depredation such as attributed to my men could have taken place. Ido not allow large dogs to remain loose about the Eedoubt, as I have found that they interfere with the sentries by night as also the cleanliness of the Camp, consequently I cannot understand that the very extraordinary loss which Mr. Peake appears to have suffered can be attributed to dogs at this Eedoubt. In reference to the statement made by the canteen-man, if true, I can only regret that he so far neglected his duty in not identifying the men which, if they belonged to this Eedoubt, he might easily have done, or reported the circumstance immediately, when it might have been in my power to detect the culprit. I take the liberty of sending this report, as Mr. Peake informs me that he has already spoken to the Brig.General Commanding on the subject. I have, &c, The Dep.-Adjutant General, Wanganui. C. Dawson, Lieut., 2-18 Eegiment.

D.—No. 1

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COERESPONDENCE EELATIVE TO THE