TO THE GOVERNOR OP NEW ZEALAND.

55

A.—No. 1

No. 57. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Duke of Buckingham to Governor Sir Geokge Grey, K.C.B. (No. 47.) Sir, — Downing Street, 29th July, 1867. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch, No. 51, of the 28th of April, commenting on a remark contained in my predecessor's Despatch, No. 5, of the 1st of February last, respecting the differences which have existed between yourself and the officers in command of the Troops in New Zealand. I do not feel it necessary that I should now enter upon the discussion of these matters. I have, &c, BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS. Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B.

No. 58. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Duke of Buckingham to Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B. (No. 49.) Sir, — Downing Street, 1st August, 1867. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch, No. 47, of the 27th of April, in which, at the request of your Responsible Advisers, you transmit a Memorandum respecting Lord Carnarvon's Despatch, No. 56, of the 28th December last, by which Major-General Chute was invested with exclusive control over such of the Troops then in New Zealand as were not intended for further service there. Your Ministers treat that Despatch as containing aspersions on themselves and the Colonial Force employed under their orders, as withdrawing from your control the Troops about to leave the Colony; and they advance the opinion that the Secretary of State cannot constitutionally withdraw from the Governor the authority they conceive to be vested in him by his Commission. They also complain of the peremptory and precipitate manner in which the Troops have been withdrawn. The general tone and tenor of the Memorandum which you transmit does not lead me to think that any public good will accrue from my entering upon a controversy with your Advisers on the subject of it. I have only, therefore, to make the following remarks : — First: That as no official information had been received respecting certain operations by Colonial Forces against Natives, reported in the public papers to have occurred, and to have resulted in much loss of life, it was the imperative duty of the Secretary of State to call attention to that fact, and to point out the prejudice which might arise to the Colony if the statements alluded to became the subject of comment, while he was unable to offer any explanation to show the necessity of the operations and the gallantry with which they had been effected. Next: That whatever may be the authority conferred upon you by your Commission under the title of Commander-in-Chief, it is at all times subject to instructions from the Imperial Government. This will be seen by reference to the Commission itself. That by Mr. Cardwell's Despatch of the 27th February, 1865, when the conduct of Native affairs and the duty of self-protection was devolved upon the Colonists of New Zealand, directions were given for the immediate reduction of the Imperial Forces, with a view to its consequent entire removal; and, therefore, the Colonial Government cannot justly complain that instructions should be given in December, 1866, to hasten the removal of the remaining Troops, or allege that at the end of nearly two years they were not prepared for this removal. Lastly : With reference to the concluding paragraph of the Memorandum, I have to state that when charges are made against the Colonial Government or persons in authority in the Colonies, or transactions are reported in public journals which appear to call for explanation, the course pursued by the Secretary of State