A.—No. 1.

12

DESPATCHES EROM THE SECRETARY OP STATE

have been sent from home. On this point I gladly seize this opportunity of stating that so long as the troops are retained in the Colony, and stationed at outposts as at present, it will not be possible to carry out the retrenchment of expenditure, or of officers or subordinates of this department ordered from home. I have now got rid of the last military officer temporarily employed in this department. I hope soon to send homo Deputy-Assistant-Commissary-General Cattell, and he will be followed by Dcputy-Assistant-Commissary-General Draper whenever he has completed the examination of some Colonial accounts required by Commissary-General Jones, C.B. I have, &c., The Under Secretary of State for War, E. Steickland, War Office, London, S.W. Deputy Commissary-General.

Enclosure 3 in No. 15. Sir E. Lugaed to Sir F. Eogees. Sie,— War Office, 29th October, 1866. With reference to your letter of the 22nd June last, and subsequent correspondence, relative to the withdrawal of troops from New Zealand, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit to you, for the information of the Earl of Carnarvon, the accompanying copy of a Desjjatch which has been received from Major-General Chute, with its Enclosures, on the subject. I have, &c, Sir Frederic Eogers, Bart., &c. Edwaed Lugaed.

Sept. 8, 1866.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 3 in No. 15. Major-General Chute to the Under Seceetaet of State foe Wab. Sie, — Head Quarters, Wellington, Bth September, 1866. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, on the sth instant, of your letter of 26th June, 1866, relative to the withdrawal of troops from New Zealand, and beg to enclose, for the information of the Eight Honorable the Secretary of State for War, copies of correspondence I have had with the Governor on this subject. In compliauce with the authority contained in His Excellency's letter of 18th August, the 2-14th Foot and Head Quarters Wing of the 50th, are now concentrating in Auckland, and the Eesident Transport Officer has been instructed to provide tonnage to convey them to the Australian Colonies, with the least possible delay. I have, &c, T. Chute, The Under Secretary of State, War Office. Major-General.

Maj.-Genl. to Ghrrr., July 26, 1866. ((•ovr. to Maj.GenL, Aug. 18, 1866. Maj.-Oenl. to Gtovr., Aug. 20, 1866. Govt, to Maj.Genl., Aug. 22, 1866. Maj.-Geul. to Oovr. Sept. 5, 1866.

Enclosure 1 in Sub-Enclosure. Major-General Cuute to Governor Sir Geoege Geet, K.C.B. Sie,— . Head Quarters, Wellington, 26th July, 1866. With reference to your Excellency's letters of the 10th and 21st May last, respecting the removal of my Head Quarters from Auckland to Wellington, which your Excellency stated that you considered absolutely necessary before you could decide what posts occupied by Imperial troops should be reduced or abandoned, I have the honor to state to your Excellency, that since my arrival here on the 29th June last, in compliance with your Excellency's wishes, I have waited anxiously for a communication of your Excellency's decision with regard to tho withdrawal of Her Majesty's troops from the outposts, and especially of the 2-14th and wing of the 50th Eegiment, whoso removal to the Australian Colonies, I have, as your Excellency is aware, received such positive orders from home. I beg again to invite your Excellency's attention to the following letters which I have had the honor of addressing to your Excellency at the dates specified, but to which I have not as yej; been favoured with any reply, viz.: — No. 131-66, of 23rd April, 1866, relative to withdrawal of Wing 50th, from Taranaki, for Australia. No. 127-66, of the 20th April, 1866, asking whether the posts occupied by the 2-14th are to be abandoned or relieved by Colonial troops. No. 64-66, of 17th March, 1866, stating 2-14th was next to leave the Colony, and asking whether troops may leave it more rapidly than one regiment in two months, and for instructions about further occupation of posts in Waikato District. I now most earnestly beg your Excellency will be good enough to favour me with replies to my letters above quoted, in order that I may keep the Secretary of State for War informed of the causes of the continued detention of Her Majesty's troops, and, if possible, as to the probable length of time to which your Excellency may find it necessary still further to detain them. I need scarcely add, that until I receive some indication as to even the probable time at which your Excellency will allow the 2-14th Eegiment and the wing of the 50th to be withdrawn from the outposts for removal to Otahuhu and embarkation to Australia, I am unable to instruct tho Eesident Transport Officer to incur the responsibility of engaging tonnage for their conveyance. I would again, therefore, very respectfully urge your Excellency to comply with my applications for your instructions relative to those corps, as well as with regard to the withdrawal of all Her Majesty's troops from the outposts to the chief towns, for your Excellency's sanction, for which I made an urgent appeal to your Excellency in my letter No. 125-60, of the 20th April last. I have, &c. T. Chute, His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B. Major-General.