ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OE STATE.

47

A.—No. 1.

4. I venture again, in continuation of the remarks submitted in my previous Despatch No. 19, of the 9th instant, to recommend this subject to favourable consideration. I have, &c, His Grace the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos. G. F. BOWEN.

Enclosure in No. 19. Memorandum by Mr. Stafford. Wellington, 13th February, 1869. Mr. Stafford presents his compliments to His Excellency, and has the honor to draw His Excellency's attention to the enclosed copy of a Notice, dated 25th January, 1869, published in the New Zealand Herald of 3rd February, 1869, and signed " J. O. Hamley, Deputv Superintendent of Stores," offering for sale by tender, among other Imperial stores, " any quantity not less than 500 lbs. of fine or large "grain powder." This gunpowder has been offered for sale without the previous knowledge, so far as Mr. Stafford is aware, of His Excellency or any Member of the Colonial Government, and without any precaution against its falling, directly or indirectly, into the hands of Natives now in arms against Her Majesty, or any security being taken that Customs duty, not previously paid on it, should be paid by the purchaser. The Government are advised that any persons buying this gunpowder would render themselves liable to the penalties inflicted by " The Arms Act, 1860," and a cautionary notice to that effect will be published in the Auckland newspapers. His Excellency is respectfully advised to communicate with the military authorities in this Colony, and to request that Imperial warlike stores may not, for the future, be sold in the Colony without any previous communication on the subject to the Colonial Government, and security being taken for compliance with the law specially relating to the disposal of warlike stores. 1 have, &c, For His Excellency the Governor E. W. Stafford.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 19. TOWDER AND OTHER STORES. Military Store Office, Auckland, 25th January, 1869. Tenders will be received by the Undersigned from this date from persons willing to PUBCHASE any quantity not less than 500 lbs. of FINE OE LABGE GBAIN POWDEE. Persons tendering are requested to state the quantity required, and their willingness to pay the regulated charge for the packages. There are also the following Stores, which may be tendered for at the same time: Wheelbarrows, with wrought iron wheels. Spare Wheels for ditto. Spades, Shovels, Scythes, Eeaping Hooks, Pick-axes, &c, &c, and other Stores, which may be seen at Fort Britomart. Tenders for the above or any portion thereof will be received until noon THIS DAY (Wednesday), the 3rd February. Samples of the whole may be seen at this office. J. O. HAMLET, Deputy Superintendent of Stores.

No. 20. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G-. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to His Grace the Duke of Buckingham. (No. 23.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord Duke, — New Zealand, 20th February, 1869. For some time past there have been rumours of probable disturbances in the district of the Wairarapa, which begins at a distance of about thirty-five miles east from Wellington. I thought it advisable to choose the present time to pay to this district a short official visit, from which I returned yesterday. I was accompanied throughout my tour by Commodore Lambert and Captain Montgomerie, of H.M.S. " Blanche," and by Dr. Featherston, the Superintendent of the Province of Wellington. 2. The fertile and picturesque valley of the Wairarapa stretches inland from Palliser Bay, and is about sixty-five miles in length, with a breadth ranging from fifteen to nearly forty miles. The European settlers amount to nearly three thousand (3,000) souls. Of this number about eight hundred (800) are adult males, and of these I found about 700, in fact almost every man capable of bearing arms, enrolled in the local corps of Militia and Volunteers. I saw, moreover,