MADE BY COLONEL WEARE, C.B.

A.—No. Ib,

21

be strictly observed, would go far to prevent the recurrence of what has taken place; but I think also, that the Secretary of State for War should further order that copies of all correspondence with his department, relating to Colonial matters, should be forthwith communicated to the Governor. I do not think that it is cither constitutional or convenient that the Secretary of State for War should correspond, except with the knoAvledge of the Governor, with his subordinates in the Colony, on matters relating to the lives of Her Majesty's subjects, or of the proceedings of the Governor or of his Advisers, or of the Government of the country. This cannot be done without the Secretary of State for War assuming the responsibility of all acts which his subordinates may perform. It also, in practice, must, unless his subordinates are men of the most extraordinary judgment, lead to their acting independently of the Local Government, and probably indirectly setting its authority at defiance, or at least treating it with utter neglect, even on the most important subjects; whilst as the Local Government have no control whatever, under such a system, over the General Officer, and as he renders no report of his actions to them, and as they are ignorant of whether or not he renders any report of them to the Secretary of State for War, every constitutional rule which has hitherto been observed, is, in fact, swept away. 18. Your Lordship has recently objected to the language I use in writing to the Secretary of State. I trust in this Despatch I have said nothing that may give offence. It is perhaps difficult to treat of such grave questions without doing so, but I have really desired to write in the most proper and becoming manner, and I believe that your Lordship will rather look to the magnitude of the interests at issue than to the precise words and form in which I have brought them under your notice; and that it AA'ill be to you a most pleasing duty to apply a remedy to the difficulties which have, perhaps not unnaturally, arisen from the separation of the office of the Secretary of State for the Colonies from that of the office of the Secretary of State for War. The division of one office into two, each under a separate Secretary of State, naturally created what may be called a departmental feeling in the offices of the respectiA re departments, and to some men it would become almost a duty to maintain and eA'en extend the authority of the department under which they serve. 19. No difficulties need, hoAvever, arise from this cause that cannot easily be met by proper regulations, and I feel sure that your Lordship will haA'e such regulations laid down. [ have &c. The Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon. ' G. GREY.

No. 13. Copy of a DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Buckingham to Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B. (No. 18.) Sin, — Downing Street, Ist May, 1867. I bave received your Despatches of the 12th January and Ist February, 1867, relating to certain charges against the Civil and Military Authorities of New Zealand, made in private letters by Colonel Weare, and subsequently withdrawn by him. I observe with satisfaction your expression of " the fullest and most unreserved apology " for those passages of your Despatch which my predecessor considered to have been couched in improper language. I have, &c, Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B. Buckingham and Chandos. 6