AND THE GOVERNOR OE NEW ZEALAND.

A.—No. Ib,

9

" expectation of Imperial assistance more than on their own exertions." But aU competent judges in New Zealand would concur with me in assuring your Lordship that General Chute's recent visit really produced an effect exactly the reverse of what seems to have been anticipated at the Colonial Office. Erom my previous Despatches it will be seen that great and frequent pressure was put upon me, during the recent crisis, to send for troops from Australia. Bitter reproaches against me were published because I refused to disobey the letter and spirit of the instructions of Her Majesty's Government and the well-known principles of Parliamentary Government as established in this Colony. It was persistently represented that if I Avould only invite General Chute to visit New Zealand, he would be certain to take the field against the rebels at the head of the 18th Regiment. I knew, of course, that the instructions issued to General Chute, as to myself, positively forbad any action of this kind; but it was obvious that a large portion of the Press and public of the disturbed districts would never have been convinced of this fact if they had not learned it on the spot from Sir Trevor Chute himself. They saw that the General merely inspected the regiment according to the usual annual custom; made full arrangements for its speedy embarkation for Australia ; carefully abstained from taking any part whatever, directly or indirectly, in the operations against the rebels; and, to avoid any possibility of misconstruction in this respect, even declined, while inspecting the detachment of the 18th Regiment at Wanganui, to accompany Commodore Lambert on a visit of two or three hours to the camp of the Colonial forces under Colonel Whitmore, which was then within a few miles of that town. I repeat that it is certain that General Chute's recent presence in New Zealand had an effect directly the reverse of " encouraging the Colonists to rely on the expectation of Imperial assistance more " than on their own exertions." 5. I regret exceedingly that the above remarks have unavoidably extended to such length. I would again say that they are submitted with all respect, and simply with the hope of removing the dissatisfaction which your Lordship has expressed with my conduct under the circumstances now explained; which expressions on your part have naturally caused me much concern in the anxious and difficult position in which I am placed. The Right Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. G. E. BOWEN.

No. 4. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G E. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. (No. 80.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord, — New Zealand, 4th July, 1869. I have the honor to report that on the 29th ultimo I received from Major-General Sir T. Chute a letter dated the 17th ultimo, forwarding a copy of a letter addressed to him from the War Office, and ordering the immediate removal of the 2-18 th Regiment from New Zealand. I annex a copy of General Chute's communication, and of my reply. 2. It Avill be seen that General Chute gives me no information as to the exact periods at which the detachments now garrisoning the chief towns in the disturbed districts, and the head-quarters of the regiment at Auckland, will be finally withdrawn. But as it is probable that the last British soldier will have left New Zealand in a few weeks from the present date, and as Her Majesty's Government had decided on this course of policy some time ago, I presume that I shall receive by the next mail an instrument appointing some person to act in my place in the event of my " death, incapacity, or absence." It will be remembered that, by the 9th section of my commission, it is provided that the Senior Officer for the time being in command of the regular troops in the Colony shall so act. 3. Were your Lordship to do me the honor to consult me on this subject, I would submit that the most fitting arrangement would be that the Chief Justice, 3