ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OP STATE.

43

A—No. la.

for embarkation, in respect to which Her Majesty's Government has thus placed on me an undivided responsibility. I need scarcely assure your Excellency that, personally, it is with very much regret I find myself called on to perform a duty which exacts from me the necessity of not deferring to your Excellency's authority and wishes in regard to its execution; but lam supported by the confidence I feel, that since such a duty has devolved on me, I can count on your Excellency's consideration and assistance in its performance. As Her Majesty's Government however, by the terms of their instructions both to your Excellency and myself, now hold me alone individually responsible for any further detention of Her Majesty's Troops, I am compelled to issue orders for the embarkation for England of the 57th Eegiment, and Ist Battalion 12th Eegiment, as soon as tonnage can be provided ; and I have accordingly instructed the Eesident Transport Officer to provide tonnage for their conveyance as soon as possible. The 57th being the first corps for embarkation, will be withdrawn from the Waikato and Eaglan on the 15th proximo, to Auckland, for embarkation at the end of March, before which time, the Eesident Officer informs me, ships will not be ready ; and, as I am aware your Excellency is at present absent from the Seat of Government, I have, in order to lessen as far as lies in my power any inconvenience resulting to the Colonial Government from the removal of this corps, informed the General Government Agent in Auckland, in case it may be considered necessary, in your Excellency's absence, to take steps for replacing the 57th Eegiment with Colonial Troops. I shall feel very much obliged to your Excellency informing me at what principal towns, and with what garrison at each, your Excellency wishes the 18th Eegiment and the left wing of the 50th Eegiment to be stationed, on their withdrawal from the outposts in the Wanganui and Taranaki Districts. The former being the one regiment to remain in the Colony should their services be required, on the conditions specified in Lord Carnarvon's Despatch, and the latter pending the receipt of instructions, for which I have applied, as to their ultimate destination. The Military Train have been hitherto detained in this country chiefly for the supply of the outposts in the Wanganui and Taranaki Districts : it will also be my duty to make arrangements for their embarkation as soon as transports can be obtained, after the withdrawal of the 18th and 50th Eegiments from the outposts they at present occupy. I would therefore most respectfully urge your Excellency to favour me with a reply as to the distribution of the 2-18th and wing of the 50th Regiments, with as little delay as possible. I have only to add that I am giving orders for the detachment of the l-12th Eegiment, now in the Napier District, to join the Head Quarters of that Eegiment by the first week in April. A copy of this letter will be forwarded by the outgoing mail for the information of the Eight Honorable the Secretary of State for War. I have, &c, His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B. T. Chtite, Major-General.

Enclosure 2 in No. 21. Governor Sir George Gret, K.C.8., to Major-General CnuTE. Sir — Dunedin, 19th February, 1867. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant. It was delivered to me on Sunday afternoon, the 17th instant, and the mail for England closed on the morning of the 19th instant. I thus had not sufficient time to consider your letter and to make the remarks on it which so important a subject required, so as to send them to England by the same mail as took your letter to the Secretary of State for War. Her Majesty's Government must decide whether or not this is the manner in which such correspondence should be conducted. You have also neither communicated to me copies of the instructions under which you are acting, or of your communications to the Secretary of State for War. You also still neglect to comply with my repeated orders and earnest requests that you would reside at the Seat of Government, and I find that in attempting to conduct the public business with you whilst you reside at so great a distance from me in point of time, and whilst I am only imperfectly (or not at all) informed of matters you are instructed to communicate to me, and a knowledge of which is essential to enable me to form right conclusions, I only incur responsibilities without having any power, and do more harm than good to the public service. I must therefore decline to express any opinion on the questions you have asked me. I have, &c, The Hon. Major-General Chute. G. Gret.

Enclosure 3 in No. 21. Mr. Whitaker to the Assistant Militart Secret art. Office of the Agent of the General Government, Sir,— Auckland, Bth February, 1867. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, informing mo that tho Major-General is issuing orders for the withdrawal of the 57th Begiment from the posts they now occupy in the Waikato and Baglan, on the 15th proximo ; and that in reporting on the subject to His Excellency the Governor, the Major-General has acquainted him that he has, in order to lessen, as far as lies in his power, any inconvenience resulting to the Colonial Government from the removal of this corps, informed me regarding it, in case it may be considered necessary in His Excellency's absence from the Seat of Government, to take steps for replacing the 57th Begiment with Colonial Troops. I very much regret that the Major-General should have felt it necessary to take this step at the present juncture, during the absence of His Excellency the Governor from the Seat of Government,