§ MR. W. E. FORSTERsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the Despatches lately received from New Zealand confirm the statement in a public journal, that the Governor of New Zealand has sent a request to the Governor General of India, asking him to send Sikh Troops to aid in suppressing the disturbances in New Zealand?
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUEsaid, in reply, that no application had been made upon that subject by Sir George Grey, the Governor of New Zealand, to the Governor General of India. But Sir George 1279 Grey sent home by the last mail a communication to the effect that there was great reason to apprehend that the murder of the officers and soldiers which took place at Taranaki would become the signal for a renewal of the war, and a formidable attack by the natives on the European settlers. Under those circumstances, he made, with the advice of his ministers, an urgent application to Her Majesty's Government to increase the force in New Zealand by the addition of one European regiment, and of two regiments of Sikh troops from India, it being the opinion of military men in New Zealand who had served in India, that those troops would be remarkably well adapted for New Zealand warfare. Her Majesty's Government had had that application under their consideration, and in consequence of the critical condition of the colony had come to the decision that it ought to be complied with.