§ MR. ADDERLEYsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether any arrangements have been proposed to the New Zealand Government as to the proportion of the expense of the present Native War which is to be charged on the Colonial Treasury; and, whether there has been such an offer made as that the expenses of whatever local Militia may be raised should become a charge on the Colonial Treasury, but that all expenses incurred by the employment of British Troops should be borne by the Imperial Treasury?
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUE,in reply, said, that no arrangement of the kind on the subject of the distribution of the expenses of the war had been made by his noble Friend, the Secretary for the Colonial Department, with the Government of New Zealand. The despatch of the necessary forces was not made dependent upon any such arrangement. It would be utterly impossible to come to such an arrangement in the present stage of the proceedings. His noble Friend had taken the opportunity of conveying to the Government of New Zealand his repudiation of the idea contained in certain expressions which had come from that country, that the whole expenses of the war should fall on the Imperial Government. He also instructed the Governor to refuse to issue from the Commissariat Chest any further contribution to the expenses of the local force, except upon the condition of its repayment by the Colonial Government.