DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF, STATE TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1876 Session I, A-02

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1876. NEW ZEALAND.

DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF, STATE TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND.

Presented to both Souses of the General Assembly by Command of Sis Excellency. No. 1. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 35.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 21st May, 1875. I have the honor to transmit to your Lordship the enclosed Order of Her Majesty in Council, assenting to the reserved Bill of the Legislature of New Zealand, passed in the year 1874, and entitled (No. 83) "An Act to provide for the Surrender of Fugitive Criminals," a transcript of which accompanied Sir J. Ferguson's Despatch No. 63, of the 10th of September, 1874. Her Majesty's Government did not fail to give their attention to the recommendation of the Attorney-General of the colony, to the effect that the reserved Bill of 1873 should receive Her Majesty's assent in preference to the later one; but it is still considered by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, that the Bill of 1874 is preferable, as being more in conformity with the 17th section of the Extradition Act of 1870. I take this opportunity of enclosing a further Order of Her Majesty in Council, framed in communication with the Law Officers of the Crown, directing that the New Zealand Act thus allowed shall have effect in the colony as if it were part of the Extradition Act of 1870. I thought it desirable to consult the Law Officers in regard to the terms of the Order, as the present was the first case arising under the Imperial Act. I have, &c, CARNARVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., &c, &c.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1. At the Court at Windsor, the 13th day of May, 1875. Present: —The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, Loed Peesident, Loed Chambeelain, Eael of Deebt, Mr. Seceetaet Ceoss, Sir Chaeles A. Mueeay, Mr. Diseaeli. Wheeeas by an Act passed in the Session held in the fifteenth and sixteenth years of Her Majesty's reign, entitled "An Act to grant a Representative Constitution to the Colony of New Zealand," it is, amongst other things, declared that no Bill which shall be reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon shall have any force or authority within the Colony of New Zealand until the Governor of the said colony shall signify, either by Speech or Message to the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said colony, or by Proclamation, that such Bill has been laid before Her Majesty in Council, and that Her Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same: And whereas a certain Bill passed by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said colony, entitled "An Act to provide for the Surrender of Fugitive Criminals," was presented to the Officer Administering the Government of the said Colony, for Her Majesty's assent: And whereas I—A. 2. '

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the said Bill was reserved by the said Officer for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon And whereas the said Bill so reserved as aforesaid has been laid before Her Majesty in Council, and it is expedient that the said Bill should be assented to by Her Majesty: Now, therefore, Her Majesty, in pursuance of the said Act, and in exercise of the power thereby reserved to Her Majesty as aforesaid, doth by this present order, by and with the advice of Her Majesty's Privy Council, declare her assent to the said Bill. And the Eight Honorable the Earl of Carnarvon, one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, is to give the necessary directions herein accordingly. Chaeles Peel.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1. At the Court at "Windsor, the 13th day of May, 1875. Present:—The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, Loed Peesident, Loed Chambeblaik', Eael of Deeby, Mr. Seceetaey Ceoss, Sir Chaeles A. Mctebay, Mr. Diseaeli. "Wheeeas by section 18 of "Tho Extradition Act, 1870," it is, among other things, enacted, "That " if, by any law made after the passing of the said Act by the Legislature of any British possession, " provision is made for carrying into effect within such possession the surrender of fugitive criminals " who are in or suspected of being in such British possession, Her Majesty may, by the Order in Council " applying the same Act in the case of any Foreign State or by any subsequent order, either— " Suspend the operation within any such British possession of the said Act, or of any part " thereof, so far as it relates to such Poreign State, and so long as such law continues in " force there, and no longer; or " Direct that such Law, Ordinance, or any part thereof, shall have effect in such British " possession with or without modifications and alterations, as if it were part of the " Act." And whereas by a certain Bill passed by the Legislative Council and House of Eepresentatives of the Colony of New Zealand in the thirty-eighth year of Her Majesty's reign, and numbered 83, the Short Title of which is " The New Zealand Extradition Act, 1874," it is enacted that the provisions of the Acts of the Imperial Parliament the Short Title whereof is " The Extradition Acts, 1870 and 1873," shall be in force and applied in the said colony subject to the modifications and alterations thereinafter contained : And whereas the said Bill was reserved for the signification of the Queen's pleasure, and Her Majesty has been pleased, by Order in Council, to declare her assent to the same : Now, therefore, Her Majesty in pursuance of "The Extradition Act, 1870," and in exercise of the power in that behalf in the said Act contained, doth by this present Order, by and with the advice of Her Majesty's Privy Council direct that the said " New Zealand Extradition Act, 1874," shall have effect in the Colony of New Zealand as if it were part of " The Extradition Act, 1870." And the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon, one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, is to give the necessary directions herein accordingly. Chaeles Peel.

No. 2. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 39.) My Lord, — Downing Street, Ist June, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's Despatch No. 34, of the 15th March, on the subject of Sir Donald McLean's negotiations with the Maori tribes who still remain disaffected. I have received with much pleasure the intelligence conveyed in your despatch of the probability that a satisfactory result will follow from these negotiations. I have, &c., CAENAEVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., &c, &c.

No. 3. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 42.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 23rd June, 1875, With reference to my Despatch No. 9, of the 30th of January, I transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, in which

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certain objections are pointed out to the Act passed in the last Session of the New Zealand Legislature, No. 25 of 1874, "to authorise the raising of Money for " Immigration and construction of Public Works." A copy of their Lordship's previous letter, respecting the application of moneys raised under the Imperial guarantee to the purposes specified in the New Zealand Act No. 49 of 1873, was forwarded to your predecessor in my Despatch No. 13, of the 3rd of May, 1874. As Sir Julius Vogel is now in Europe, I have caused copies of these papers to be forwarded to him, and have requested him to furnish me with his observations on the subject, and I shall forward to you hereafter a copy of his reply. I have, &c, CAENAEVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., &c, &c.

Enclosure in No. 3. The Teeasuey to the Colonial Office. Sic,— Treasury Chambers, 26th May, 1875. I have laid before the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury your letter of the 2nd February last, with the copies of the two Acts of the Legislature of New Zealand enclosed —viz., 1. No. 25 of 1874, " An Act to authorize the raising of Money for Immigration and construction of Public " Works; " and No. 34 of 1874, "An Act to enable the Auckland Harbour Board to construct a " Dock and other Harbour Works, and to raise Money to defray the Cost thereof." With regard to No. 34, relative to the dock, &c, at Auckland, I am to state that, unless the Act in any way affects the loans guaranteed to the colony by the Imperial Government, which it does not appear to do, seeming to be in the nature of a private Act, my Lords have no observations to make upon the subject. With regard, however, to the Act, No. 25, for raising money for immigration, &c, &c, their Lordships would observe that some of the purposes specified in the Schedule, and covered by section 20, cannot, in their opinion, be deemed to come within the purposes for which the loan of £1,000,000 was guaranteed under the Act 33 and 34 Vict. cap. 40 ; and they request that the attention of the Secretary of State may be called to the letters from this department of the 27th April, 1874, and to the observations contained therein, with reference to the application of moneys raised under that guarantee to the purposes specified in the Colonial Act of 1873. The objections of this Board would, however, be removed by the section referred to being amended as follows: — " Any part of the loans respectively authorized to be raised under the Loan Act No. 1 and the " Loan Act No. 2, which is not guaranteed by the Imperial Government, may be applied to any of the " purposes to which is applicable the loan authorized by this Act to be raised ; but that portion of the " loan authorized to be raised under the Loan Act No. 1, which is guaranteed by the Imperial Govern- " ment, shall be applied only to tho purposes specified in the Act of the Imperial Legislature 33 and 34 " Vict. cap. 40." I have, &c, The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office. E. E. W. Ltjbgen.

No. 4. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 43.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 3rd July, 1875. With reference to my Despatch No. 42, of the 23rd of June, I transmit to you, for your information, a copy of a letter which I have received from Sir Julius Vogel in regard to the objections pointed out by the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury to the New Zealand Loan Acts, No. 49 of 1873, and No. 25 of 1874. I have forwarded a copy of Sir J. Vogel's letter for the consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, and I will transmit to you hereafter copies of any further correspondence which may pass on the subject. I have, &c, CAENAEVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., &c., &c.

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Enclosure in No. 4. Sir J. Vogel to Mr. Heebeet. Sib,— London, 26th June, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of June 23rd, forwarding to me, by direction of the Earl of Carnarvon, copies of twb letters from the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury on the subject of the New Zealand Guaranteed Loan, and inviting me to remark thereon. 2. I am able to say with confidence, that the Government and Legislature of New Zealand did not intend or desire, by either of the Colonial Acts referred to in the letters from their Lordships, to infringe in the least on the terms under which the guarantee of Her Majesty's Government was authorized to be given. In fact, those terms are already fully complied with; for it would be easy to place before the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury vouchers for the expenditure, out of the Four Million Loan of 1870, of three times the amount of the guaranteed portion of it, on purposes strictly within the spirit, letter, and intention of the Imperial Act. 3. Their Lordships, I understand, desire that an amending Colonial Act should be passed. I venture to suggest that to amend a Loan Act to which effect lias already been given, would be liable to create misapprehension, and it seems tome either of two other courses would equally meet the views of the Treasury. A declaratory Act might be passed, stating that whereas doubts have arisen as to the provisions of the Act in question possibly conflicting with the Imperial Act, it is hereby enacted that nothing in the said Acts shall confer any power or authority to spend any part of the money the proceeds of the Guaranteed Loan, on other purposes than those authorized by the Act of the Imperial Legislature 33 and 34 Vict. cap. 40. The alternative course I have the honor to suggest is for the Treasury to accept, finally, vouchers for the expenditure of the full amount out of the same loan, as already explained in this letter. 4. Should, however, the Lords Commissioners still prefer the Amending Act, I have no doubt the Government of New Zealand, with the sanction of their Law Advisers, will submit the measure desired. 5. As I am leaving town for a time, and as the Assembly will very shortly be in Session, may I ask you to send a copy of your reply to me to the colony, addressed to the Acting Premier. 6. In conclusion, let me express the hope that the observations I have made will be satisfactory to their Lordships. I have, &c, R. G. W. Herbert, Esq. Julius Vogel.

No. 5. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight the Hon. Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 44.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 15th July, 1875. With reference to my predecessor's Despatch No. 5, of the 13th of January, 1874, and to previous correspondence on the subject of the proposal that the superintendence of Norfolk Island should be transferred from the Governor of New South Wales to the Governor of New Zealand, I have the lienor to acquaint you that Her Majesty's Government are informed that the Cabinet of New South Wales are of opinion that the transfer would not be advantageous, and that, as at present advised, they do not think it expedient to'make any change in this direction. I have, &c, CAENAEVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., &c, &c.

No. 6. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 48.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 18th August, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 42, of the 7th of June, respecting your visit to Christchurch and Dunedin. I have read with much satisfaction the account you give of the prosperous condition of these towns, and of the spirit of loyalty to the Queen and attachment to the mother country which you report as prevalent among all classes of the community. I have, &c, CAENAEVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., &c.

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No. 7. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 51.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 30th August, 1875. With reference to Sir James Eergusson's Despatch No. 86, of the 6th of November 1873, I have the honor to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a note received through the Foreign Office from the United States Charged' Affaires at this Court, together with its enclosures, conveying the thanks of his Government through that of Her Majesty to the authorities and people of New Zealand for the courteous and hospitable reception accorded by them to the United States Expedition sent to that colony to observe the transit of Venus. I have, &c, CAENAEVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., &c., &c. Enclosure 1 in No. 7. United States Legation to Foeeign Office. ' My Loed, — Legation of the United States, London, 24th August, 1875. I have the honor to transmit to you herewith a copy of a letter from the Navy Department of the United States and of its enclosures to Mr. Fish, expressing the feeling with which that department regards the courteous and hospitable reception given the expedition sent to New Zealand to observe the transit of Venus. I am instructed by Mr. Fish to convey to Her Majesty's Government the thanks of the Government of the United States for the courtesies and aid extended by the authorities and people of New Zealand to the American expedition, and to express the high appreciation entertained of the valuable services rendered. I have, &c, The Earl of Derby, &c, &c. Wickham Hoffman.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 1 in No. 7. Acting Seceetaey of the Navy to the Hon. Hamilton Fish. Sic, — Navy Department, Washington, 6th August, 1875. I have the honor to transmit herewith, a copy of a letter dated the 30th ultimo, from EearAdmiral D. 11. Davis, President of the Transit of Venus Commission, with a copy of a communication addressed to him by Dr. C. H. F. Peters, Chief of the Expedition sent to New Zealand, in regard to the assistance and courtesies extended to his party by tho Governor and other authorities and citizens of the Colony of New Zealand. The Department appreciates very highly tho courtesies and aid extended to the Transit of Venus Observers sent out by our Government to New Zealand, and would be glad to have the high sense entertained of their services made known to H.B. Majesty's Government. I have, &c, Daniel Aemuen, The Hon. Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State. Acting Secretary for the Navy.

Enclosure 2 in No. 7. Eear-Admiral Davies to the Hon. G. M. Eobeson. Sic, — United States Naval Observatory, Washington, 30th July, 1875. I have the honor to transmit to the department a copy of some notes furnished me by Dr. Peters, Chief of party, concerning the hospitalities extended to himself and his associates by tho Government of New Zealand. The exceptional success of the American party is due entirely to the aid furnished by the Government and by the Otago Institute. I have, &c, C. H. Davies, Eear-Admiral, The Hon. G. M. Eobeson, Secretary of the Navy. President of Commission.

Enclosure 3 in No. 7. C. H. F. Petees, Esq., to Eear-Admiral C. H. Davis. Deae Sic, — Washington, 19th July, 1875. I herewith submit some notes relative to the hospitalities extended to the American party at New Zealand by the Government of that colony.

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On the arrival of a portion of the party —namely, the Assistant Astronomer, Lieutenant Bass— at the northern part of New Zealand, transportation on a Government steamer was immediately furnished to Dunedin, in the southern province, through the kindness of the Hon. Julius Vogel, Premier of New Zealand. At Dunedin, the principal city of the southern province, two gentleman (Messrs. Thomson and McKerrow) were selected by a scientific society known as the Otago Institute to meet the American party, and to furnish them with all information in regard to the climate and most suitable stations for observing tho transit. Mr. McKerrow, Surveyor-General of the province, even accompanied Lieutenant Bass in his reconnoiterings of the localities. It was from among the stations suggested by these gentlemen that the station (at Queenstown) was selected where, on the day of the transit, we were fortunate enough to obtain good observations, while all other observers in New Zealand, at least six in number, had very different success. Before the arrival of the " Swatara," directions were sent to the various Customs officers to admit all property belonging to the Expedition. At Bluff Harbour, the property was received and transported carefully by rail to the terminus of thej-oad (Winton), a distance of some forty miles, free of all charge. At Queenstown, a telegraph line was constructed, from the main office to the Observatory, and free use of all lines in New Zealand was given throughout the sojourn of the party. A telegraph operator was ordered to be at our disposition, whenever we required him, in the various communications of longitude signals with the English Station at Christchurch, the New Zealand Observers at Dunedin, with the " Swatara," and the vessel of the German Expedition to the Auckland Islands. The Police Department furnished a special watchman to take charge of the property at the Observatory, during the entire period of our stay. The American Consul at Dunedin, Mr. Henry Driver, was extremely energetic in assisting the party in every possible way. The private citizens with whom the different members of the party came in contact were uniformly courteous, kind, and hospitable. Tours, &c, C. H. F. Petees, Eear-Admiral C. H. Davies, President of Commission, &c. Chief of N.Z. Expedition.

No. 8. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 53.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 3rd September, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's Despatch No. 55, of the 6th of July, explaining the circumstances in which you accepted the resignation by Sir Julius Vogel of the Premiership of the Government of New Zealand, and reporting the reconstruction of the Ministry under the leadership of Dr. Pollen. I have, &c, CAENAEVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., &c 5 &c.

No. 9. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 63.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 11th November, 1875. In reply to your Despatch No. 72, of the 30th of August, I transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Chairman of the Directors of Convict Prisons in regard to the request of your Government to be furnished with certain information and papers relating to prisons in this country. I have caused a copy of Colonel Dv Cane's letter to be sent to the Agent-General, and have suggested that he should procure and forward to New Zealand the reports referred to. A copy of the Eeport of 1872, on the penal system of this country, was forwarded to your predecessor in the Earl of Kimberley's circular despatch of the 4th of March, 1873. I have, &c, CAENAEVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., &c, &c.

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Enclosure in No. 9. Colonel Dv Cane to the Home Office. Offices of Directors of Convict Prisons, Sic,— 44, Parliament Street, S.W., 30th October, 1875. In returning the enclosed letter from the Colonial Office, transmitting a copy of a despatch from the Governor of New Zealand, asking for certain information and papers relating to prisons, I have the honor to state, for the information of Mr. Secretary Cross, that the detailed drawings and specifications of the prison at Wormwood Scrubbs alluded to, are not sufficiently complete to be furnished to the New Zealand Government, and that if they were they would be of little use to them, because tho New Zealand Government cannot require a prison of the size and for the peculiar purposes for which the prison at Wormwood Scrubbs is to be constructed; and the specifications depend so much, on the locality, the most available material for construction, and so forth, that the specification of one building cannot be made to serve for another. As regards the latest reports and blue books, I would suggest that the Agents for the New Zealand Government procure such of the annual reports of the Directors of Convict Prisons, of the Inspector of Prisons, and of the Inspectors of Eeformatories, as they may find useful; but the only complete account of our penal system with which I am acquainted is one prepared by myself in 1872, of which thirty copies were, at Lord Kimberley's desire, forwarded to the Colonial Office for transmission to the British Colonies, and of which, therefore, I presume one has already been sent to New Zealand. I am &c, The Hon. A. Liddell, &c, &c. E. F. Dv Cane.

No. 10. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 64.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 13th November, 1875. With reference to my Despatches Nos. 42 and 43, of the 23rd of June and 3rd of July respectively, I have the honor to inform you that, after further consideration of the subject, the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury have decided not to press further the objections raised in their letter of the 26th of May to the Act of the New Zealand Legislature, No. 25 of 1874, "To authorize the raising of Money for Immigration and Construction of Public Works." Their Lordships desire, however, to be furnished with a report of the AuditorGeneral of New Zealand, in continuation, of that supplied to Her Majesty's Government at the time of the preparation of the Bill which afterwards became 35 Vict, cap 15. Proof was then afforded of an expenditure of £800,000, but the Imperial guarantee has been given to a sum of £1,000,000; proof, therefore, is wanting for the sum of £200,000. Their Lordships are perfectly satisfied that the money has been spent; but they are bound to have the documents proving the spending of the money on record in their department, so that they can produce them in support of their action in the matter of the Imperial guarantee, in the event of any question arising in Parliament in reference thereto. I have, &c, CAENAEVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., &c, &c.

No. 11. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 66.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 18th December, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 77, of the 21st of October, enclosing a copy of the Speech with which you had that day prorogued the fifth Session of the fifth Parliament of New Zealand. I have, &c.j CAENAEVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., &c, &c.

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No. 12. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 7.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 17th Eebruary, 1876. I have the honor to acquaint you that an application has been received from the United States Minister, at this Court, on the subject of the appointment of Mr. Henry Driver as Consul for the United States, at Auckland. As Mr. Driver held the post of Commercial Agent at the Bay of Islands, and as it appears from Sir George Bowen's Despatch No. 21, of the 14th of March, 1873, that he was not aware of any objection to Mr. Driver's holding that appointment, I have concluded that there is none to his being appointed Consul at Auckland. I have now to inform you that the Queen's exequatur, empowering him to act in that capacity, received Her Majesty's signature on the 10th instant; and that the notification of Her Majesty's approval of his appointment appeared in the Gazette of the following day. I have, &c, CAENAEVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., &c, &c.

No. 13. Mr. Herbert to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (No. 8.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 21st Eebruary, 1876. I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to inform you that on the 21st instant he received from you a telegraphic despatch in the following words:— " New Zealand, 20th Eebruary.—Completion of the Telegraph Cable from Sydney to New Zealand enables me to congratulate your Lordship upon the establishment of direct communication between this country and the mother country. This great work, while facilitating the transmission of official and mercantile business, unites Great Britain and this Her Majesty's most distant possession." I have, &c, E. G. W. Herbert. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 14. Mr. Herbert to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (No. 9.) My Lord,— Downing Street, 21st Eebruary, 1876. I am directed by the Secretary of State to inform you that on this day he sent a telegraphic despatch to you in the following words :— "21st Eebruary.—l have received your telegram, and heartily rejoice in the completion of this important work. The Queen commands me to express her satisfaction at the establishment of a fresh bond of union with her loyal colony of New Zealand." I have, &c, E. G. W. Herbert. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

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No. 15. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 14.) My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth March, 1876. I referred, for the consideration of the Board of Trade, a copy of your Despatch No. 81, of the sth of November last, enclosing a representation from your Government urging the necessity of Imperial legislation to secure the safe stowage of gunpowder and other explosive materials on board merchant vessels, and I enclose a copy of the reply which I have received from that department. I have, &c, CAENAEVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., &c. 5 &c.

Enclosure in No. 15. Mr. Geay to the Undee Seceetaey of State, Colonial Office. Board of Trade, Whitehall Gardens, 26th January, 1876. Sic, — Emigration. — Miscellaneous. I am directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th instant, transmitting, by direction of the Earl of Carnarvon, a copy of a despatch from the Governor of New Zealand, enclosing a representation from his Government urging the necessity of legislation to secure the safe stowage of gunpowder and other explosives on board merchant vessels, and, in reply, to state, for his Lordship's information, that the Board do not think that it would be advisable to introduce any legislative measure on this subject at the present time. I am to add that, as suggested by Mr. Harvey, the matter would appear to be one for the consideration of the underwriters. I have, <fee, The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Thomas Geay.

No. 16. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 15.) My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth March, 1876. With reference to my Despatch No. 54, of the 7th of September last, informing you of the issue of an exequatur to Mr. W. Montgomery to enable him to act as Swedish and Norwegian Consul at Christchurch, I have the honor to state that it has been thought desirable, under the circumstances explained in the accompanying copy of a note from the Swedish Minister at this Court, to issue a fresh exequatur to Mr. Montgomery to act as Swedish and Norwegian Consul for the Middle and South Islands of New Zealand, to reside at Christchurch. I have to add that the fresh exequatur received Her Majesty's signature on the 2nd, and that the notification of Her Majesty's approval of the appointment appeared in the Gazette of the 3rd instant. I have, &c, CAENAEVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., &c, &c.

Enclosure in No. 16. The Swedish Ministeb to the Foeeign Office. M. le Comte, — Londres, le 28 Janvier, 1876. Par suite dune erreur de Chancellerie, la patento delivroe a, M. W. Montgomery, comme Consul de Swede et Norwege a Christchurc-h, New Zealand, omettait de mentionner que l'lle Centrale (Middle Island), etait comprise dans le district oii le Gouvernement dv Eoi a entendu que cet employe exercerait ses fonctions. L'exequatur de S. M. Britannique ayant deja cite accorde aM. Montgomery, comme Consul a Christchurc-h, avec l'lle Meridionale comme district, il a semblo plus correct de lvi delivrer une nouvelle patente afin que, si besom en etait, celle-ci put etre soumise a l'approbation dv 2—A. 2.

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Gouvernment Britannique. En transmettant a votre Excellence la patente rectifiee je laprie de vouloir bien decider elle nieme si les circonstances rendent necessaires la formalite dun nouvel exequatur, ou si un avis addresse au Gouverneur de la Colonie, et dont M. Montgomery pourrait recevoir communication suffirait pour regulariser la position dv Consul dcs Eoyaumes Unis dans l'lle Centrale de la Nouvelle-Zelande. Je saisis, &c, S. E. le Comte de Derby, &c, &c. Hochschild.

No. 17. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (Circular.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 10th April, 1876. With reference to my circular despatch of the 27th April, 1874, respecting the withdrawal of the old British copper coins from circulation in the colonies, I have the honor to transmit to you the accompanying copy of an Order of Her Majesty in Council, dated the 24th of March, approving the draft of a Eoyal Proclamation for the decrial of those coins in those colonies in which it is desired, and in which they have not been already withdrawn from circulation. Old copper coins will be received at the Mint at their nominal value up to the 31st of December, 1877, after which date they will only be received as metal. It is important that this date should be distinctly understood to be final, in the event of any change of view on the part of those Colonial Governments which, for the present, have decided to retain these coins in circulation. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government CAENAEVON. of New Zealand.

Enclosure in No. 17. At the Court at Windsor, the 24th day of March, 1876. Present: —The Queen's Most Excellent Majestx in Council. Wheeeas by Her Majesty's Royal Proclamation bearing date the thirteenth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, Her Majesty did, with the advice of Her Privy Council, declare and command that no copper moneys whatsoever, other than and except such bronze moneys as were then or are now current by virtue of Her Majesty's Proclamation bearing date the seventeenth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and sixty, or any Proclamation dated subsequently to the said seventeenth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and sixty, should be allowed to pass or be current in any payment whatsoever within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the thirty-first day of December, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine : And whereas it hath been represented unto Her Majesty in Council by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury that it would be expedient that the provisions of the said Proclamation bearing date the thirteenth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, should be extended to certain of the colonies and possessions : And whereas there was this day read at the Board a draft of a Proclamation extending the provisions of the said Proclamation bearing date the thirteenth of May, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, accordingly Her Majesty, having taken the same into consideration, was pleased, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, to approve thereof, and to order, and it is hereby ordered, that the said Proclamation do take effect and come into force in such of the said colonies, possessions, aud dominions wherein proclamation shall have been made or shall be made for decrying the same copper moneys from the date named in such last-mentioned Proclamation. And the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury and the Right Honorable the Earl of Carnarvon, one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, are to give the requisite directions for . causing publication to be made thereof in Her Majesty's said colonies and possessions, and for the other purposes referred to therein accordingly. C. L. Peel. By the Queen. Victoeia R. A PROCLAMATION. Wheeeas by our Royal Proclamation bearing date the thirteenth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, after reciting that We had taken into consideration the state of the copper coin of this Kingdom, and had deemed it expedient, with the advice of our Privy Council, that all copper moneys of this realm, commonly called a penny, a half-penny, a farthing, and a half-farthing, coined at our Mint and current in our dominions by virtue of any Proclamation prior to the seventeenth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and sixty, should be called in and re-coined : And further reciting that considerable quantities of the said copper moneys before mentioned had been received and exchanged at our Mint, so that only a small portion of such moneys was remaining in circulation at the date aforesaid, We did, with the advice of our Privy Council, declare and command

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that no copper moneys whatsoever (other than aud except such bronze moneys as were then and are now current by virtue of our Proclamation bearing date the seventeenth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and sixty, or any Proclamation dated subsequently to the said seventeenth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and sixty) should be allowed to pass or be current in any payment whatsoever within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the thirty-first day of December, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine: Now, therefore, by this our Boyal Proclamation, and with the advice of our Privy Council, We do think proper to declare and command, and We do hereby declare and command accordingly, that, in whatsoever of our colonies, plantations, possessions, and dominions there be current copper moneys of this realm, commonly called a penny, a half-penny, a farthing, and a half-farthing, other than and except such bronze moneys as aforesaid, such copper moneys be no longer allowed to pass or be current in any payment whatever within any of the said colonies, plantations, possessions, and dominions wherein proclamation shall have been made or shall be made for decrying the same copper moneys from the date named in such Proclamation.

By Authority : Geoege Didsbfey, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB76. Price 9d.]