A.—No. Ia

6

DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE

it appears to me entirely unnecessary to enter upon any debate whether in that settlement too large a concession has been made by one party or the other, whether certain items of the amounts should not after weeks spent in their examination have been subjected to a further scrutiny, or what different considerations may have influenced, or ought to have influenced, the final decision. The terms of adjustment were readily assented to by the representative of the Colonial Government here, Mr. Eitzherbert, and were believed by me to be fair and equitable, although I had reason to think that the concessions to be made by the Imperial Government were likely to be severely commented on by the House of Commons. In now closing the correspondence, therefore, respecting these much controverted and long outstanding claims, I have only to express the gratification with which I found myself able to effect an adjustment of matters which, as the Colonial Government themselves stated, "had extended over so long a period, " were so large in amount, and were a source of such constant disagreement between " the Imperial and Colonial Government as to render it most desirable that a final " settlement should be arrived at in respect of them without further delay." I feel bound also to express my sense of the fairness and ability with which the various questions that arose were treated by the representative of the New Zealand Government in the negotiation. I have, &c, BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS. Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G.

No. 8. Copy of a DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Buckingham to Governor Sir G. P. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 106.) Downing Street, 19th September, 1868. Sir, — (Beceived at Wellington, 21st November, 1868.) I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 49, of 30th June, furnishing full and valuable information respecting the present condition of the British settlements in the interior of the Northern Island, and the position and attitude of the Maori king and his adherents, accompanied by maps in illustration of your report. I have to express the interest with which I have read your Despatch, and the satisfaction with which I have observed the pains you have taken to collect and transmit this information. I regret that any grounds should exist for anticipating fresh disturbances on the part of the disaffected Natives. As regards the withdrawal of the regiment of Her Majesty's troops to which. you refer in the sixteenth paragraph of your Despatch, my Despatch of 30th May, No. 58, will have informed you that the 18th Regiment was required in the ordinary course of relief to proceed to Australia, and that no arrangements are at present contemplated for replacing it. I have, &c, BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS. Governor Sir G. P. Bowen, G.C.M.G.

No. 9. Copy of a DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Buckingham to Governor Sir G. P. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 109.) Downing Street, Bth October, 1868. (Beceived at Wellington, 21st December, 1868.) SIR, — (Answered, " Separate," 21st December, 1868.) I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 76, of the 3rd August, transmitting Addresses to the Queen, unanimously voted by both Houses of the New Zealand Parliament, to convey to Her Majesty the