DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE

A.—No. la.

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Enclosure in No. 16. Sir E. Lugaed to Sir F. Bogees. Sie,— War Office, 10th November, 1868. I have received and laid before Secretary Sir John Pakington your letter of the 27th ultimo, enclosing copy of a Despatch from the Governor of New Zealand, with its accompanying documents, on tho subject of a Besolution of the House of Bepresentativcs to the effect that Her Majesty should be petitioned to make the Colony the sanatorium of the invalided troops of the British army. In reply, I am to request that you will move the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos to inform the Governor of New Zealand that the establishment of a military sanatorium in those seas is not contemplated by Her Majesty's Government. I have, &c, Sir Frederic Sogers, Bart. Edward Lugaed.

No. 17. Cofy of a DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Buckingham to Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 127.) Downing Street, Ist December, 1868. (Beceived at Wellington, 27th January, 1869.) g IR (Answered, No. 18, Bth February, 1869.) I have to acknowledge your Despatches, Nos. 99, of 7th October, and 100, of Bth October, the former forwarding Colonel McDonnell's report of the losses sustained by the Colonial forces under his command while endeavouring to reach a rebel pah, the latter enclosing Resolutions of the House of Representatives in which they urge the retention in New Zealand of the Imperial regiment still in the Colony. I have received with much regret the intelligence of the reverse which the local forces have met with. But, however lamentable this disaster may have been, it affords no reason for doubting that the European population of the Colony, now amounting probably to near 220,000 souls, aided by the loyal Natives, are fully able to defend themselves, if they make the proper arrangements, against a few thousand disaffected Maoris, of whom a few hundred only appear to be at present in arms. The abandonment by the Home Government of all control over Native policy, and their consequent non-interference with a line of policy, in respect of the confiscation and occupation of Native lands, which they considered highly dangerous to the future peace of the Colony, was conditional on being totally relieved from any responsibility in respect to the military defence of the settlers. Warnings to this effect have been more than once given ; and the reverse which has just occurred furnishes no sufficient reason for changing the settled policy both of the Home and Colonial Governments. In a Memorandum of Mr. Stafford, wliich accompanied Sir George Grey's Despatch No. 47, of 27th April, 1867, it is stated that " they (the Ministers) accept " the removal of the troops and the consequences ;" and again in his Memorandum to yourself, dated as lately as the Bth August last, Mr. Stafford observed with reference to certain resolutions passed by the Legislative Council, praying that the embarkation of the regiment might be delayed, " that since October, 1865, Mr. " Stafford has declined to advise that Imperial troops should be employed in the " field, or to accede, on behalf of the Colony, to any formal conditions on wliich " the single regiment now in New Zealand should be retained." " Mr. Stafford does not now propose to depart from the course which, as " indicated above, has been consistently pursued for the last three years." The Government and Legislature of New Zealand might have withdrawn from the position thus taken by Mr. Stafford, and have sought, if they considered the emergency so great, to retain the services of a portion of Her Majesty's troops, while organizing their own force, on the conditions on which those troops are retained in the neighbouring Australian Colonies. They however have not seen ground to take this course, but have merely requested that a British regiment may be allowed to remain in the Colony, without any condition whatever. I find therefore no reason to vary the instructions already given, that the troops are to leave at once on the arrival of the " Himalaya;" and having regard to the