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

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1877 Session I, A-02a

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1877. NEW ZEALAND.

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

Presented to both Jlouses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Bight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 28.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 28th June, 1877. I have the honor to enclose copies of two letters I have received from Mr. James W. Thomson, accompanied by petitions to the Queen adopted at a Convention held at Dunedin on the Bth and 9th of November last, to consider questions arising out of the abolition of the provinces in New Zealand, under the Act of the General Assembly, No. 21, of 1875. I request that you will cause Mr. Thomson to be informed that I have received his letters and the petitions which accompany them, and that they cannot be considered unless they are forwarded through the Governor in accordance with standing instructions, and arc accompanied by such observations upon them as the Government of New Zealand may wish to offer. At the same time, I must express my surprise that the memorialists should have thought fit to ask for the interference of Her Majesty in a matter within the competency of the Colonial Legislature, and on which the Legislature and constituencies have long since expressed a decided opinion. I have, &c, CARNARVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, G.C.M.G., &c.

Enclosure 1. Mr. Thomson, President of the Otago Convention, to the Earl of Cabnarvon. My Lord, — Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 28th March, 1877. I have the honor to forward herewith a petition to Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, adopted by the Otago Convention at its meetings on the Bth and 9th days of November last, praying that the Province of Otago should have bestowed on it the large powers of local self-government granted by the Constitution Act, or else that Otago should be erected into a separate and independent colony. I have the honor further to state that, by resolution of the Convention, two delegates—viz., Sir George Grey, Superintendent-of the Province of Auckland, and formerly Governor of the Colony, and His Honor James Macandrew, Superintendent of the Province of Otago —were appointed to proceed to London, and present personally the petition to your Lordship, and afford any information desired; but, unfortunately, Sir George Grey has been so seriously indisposed as to be unable to undertake the fatigue of the voyage ; aud, as representing one province only, Mr. Macandrew did not feel justified in undertaking the duty single-handed. In the circumstances the Council of the Convention resolved to forward the petition by post to your Lordship, and to state the people are greatly dissatisfied with the new form of government which has been forced upon them, and feel it very unsuited to their position. I have, &c, James W. Thomsox, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon, President of Otago Convention. Secretary of State for the Colonies, London.

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Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 1. To Her Most Gracious Majesty, Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and |Ireland and the Dependencies thereof, Empress of India, &c. Mat it please Your Majesty,— The humble petition of the undersigned members of the Otago Convention, in meeting assembled, showeth, — 1. That a Convention of Members of the House of Eepresentatives for Otago, of Members of the Provincial Council of Otago, of Mayors of Incorporated Towns, Chairmen of Road Boards, and Chairmen of School Committees, was held on the Bth and 9th days of November, 187G, and there attended — Armstrong, J. P., Mount Ida. McWilliam, Thomas, "VVinton. Andrew, David, Suburban. McLeod, Donald, Winton. Andrew, John, Mosgiel. McGregor, Duncan, Anderson's Bay. Barrowman, J., South Dunedin. Park, Walter, Blueskin. Bower, David, Stoney Creek. Paterson, James, South Molyneux. Blacklock, Thomas, Clinton. Boss, John, Maungatua. Brash, William, Saddle Hill. Rutherford, Robert, Caversham. Browne, G. F. C, Waitahuna. Reeves, C. S., Dunedin. Church, Robert, Maori Hill. Raynbird, Robert, North-East Harbour. Calder, Hugh, Caversham. Seaton, James, Caversham. Cullen, James, Brighton. Stewart, Alexander, High Clifi'e. Cameron, Archibald, Forest Hill. Thomson, James W., Clutha. Cunningham, Peter, Tokomairiro. TJ'Ren, D., Kensington. Daniel, T., Riverton. ' Williamson, W., Kyeburn. Dawson. George, Woodlands. Fleming, Alexander, Otakia. Dyer, W. F., Wilton. Green, James, Blueskin. Anderson, Adam, Otepopo. Glover, J. A., Palmerston. Anderson, James, Mornington. Grey, John G., Waihola Gorge. Attwood, John, Tois Tois. Hodgkinson, Samuel, Riverton. Brown, J. C, Tuapeka. Home, Robert, Purakanui. Burns, A. J. Rosyln. Howorth, Thomas, Walton Park. Bruce, John, Brighton. Hislop, Thomas W., Waitaki. Begg, A. C, Kaikorai. Johnston, Thomas, Kaitangata. Clark, H, Matau. Lumsden, James, Lower Mataura. Christie, William, Clutha. Larnach, W. J. M., Dunedin. Cameron, Duncan, Pine Hill. Martin, William, Fairfield. Calder, George, North-East Valley. Mercer, Andrew, Owake. Coneik, Nicholas, Portobello. Murray, R. S., Shag Valley. De Lautour, C. A., Mount Ida. Melville, Andrew, Port Molyneux. Davie, J., Dunedin. Morrison, W. D., Clarke's Flat. Duff, William, Waipora. Miller, Walter, Mount Stuart. Eagerty, J. J., Green Island. Mason, Peter, Balclutha. Fleming, J. S., Balclutha. Manders, Henry, Wakatipu. Gillies, J. S., Milton. Mackay, James, Waihola. Green, Isaac, North-East Valley. McKenzie, J., Waihemo. Grant, William, South Bridge. McGlashan, E., North Harbour. Gilmore, Alexander, Green Island. McGregor, Peter, Mt. Cargill. Hitchen, Henry, Adam's Flat. McNiel, James, Warepa. Henderson, Donald, Clutha. McQuilkan, Donald, Whare Flat. Hutchison, David, Puerua. Pram, George, Taieri. Inglis, George, Matau. Paterson, Mathew, Kaikihu. Jones, John P., St. Kilda. Rankin, Andrew, Forbury. Law, Henderson, Mornington. Reid, D., Taieri. Lumsden, George, Invercargill. Robin, James, Dunedin. Marshall, Allan, Lovell's Flat. Shand, James, Taieri. Melrose, Robert, Wairuna. Smith, W. T., Kaitangata. Mitchell, Alexander, Wangaloa. Bomerville, John, Waitepeka. Murcott, William, Hampden. Turnbull, George, Dunedin. Mathieson, J., Hyde. Wright, Joseph, Waiwera. Mathieson, John, Peninsula. Wilson, W. A., Portobello. Mills, J., Waikouaiti. Wales, N. V. A., Roslyn. Macandrew, James, Dunedin. Wilson, J., Makerewa. McNeil, John, Clutha. Wood, W., Mataura. McDermid, H., Port Chalmers. The following refused to attend:— Vincent Pyke, Member of the House of Representatives for the Dunstan District. H. S. Fish, Dunedin, Member of the Provincial Council. W. J. Steward, Oamaru „ „ G. K. Turton, Dunedin „ „ J. A. R. Menzies, Mataura ~ „ Joseph Rogers „ „

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Mayors of Incorporated Towns. Mayor of Palmerston. Mayor of Invercargill. „ Alexandra. „ Oamaru. „ Eiverton. „ Lawrence. ~ Cromwell. „ Queenstown. „ Roxburgh. „ Clyde. Chairmen of School Committees. Chairman of Bluff Harbour. Chairman of Port Chalmers. „ St. Leonards. „ Riverton. „ Invercargill. „ Clinton. Road Boards. Chairman of Oreti District. Chairman of Oteramika District. Chairman of luvercargill District. The following sent letters of sympathy with the objects of the Convention, and regretted their inability to attend.: — Members of the House of Representatives. E. S. Shrimski, Waitaki. Gr. Sumpter. H. Bastings. Members of Provincial Council. G. Ireland, Mount Benger. A. Kinross, Oteramika. J. Hazlett, Dunstan. G-. Toshach. G-. Sumpter, Oamaru. Mayors of Incorporated Towns. Mayor of East Invercargill. Mayor of Naseby. „ Avenal. „ North Invercargill. School Committees. Chairmen of Switzer's, AVetherstone, Blackstone Hill, Te Houka, Macrae's, St. Bathans, Waipori, Hamilton's, Queenstown, Waitahuna, Ophir, Outram, Roslyn Bush, Waikiri, Arrowtown, Waihola Gorge, Myross Bush, Taieri Ferry, Naseby, Flag Swamp, North Clutha, Ahurdi, Lime Hills, Cromwell, Ravensbourne, Maerewhenua. Road Boards. Chairman of Waipori District. Chairman of Invercargill District. ~ Otakia. ~ Lindhurst. „ Pomahaka. „ Mataura. „ Tokomairiro. 2. That the Province of Otago contains an area of twenty-six thousand six hundred and forty and three-quarters (26,C_0£) square miles, or about fifteen million five hundred thousand acres, a population of about one hundred and one thousand, and the general revenue collected within the province during the past year amounts to six hundred and five thousand two hundred and eighty-six pounds. 3. That the province was founded in one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight (1848), and its rapid development has, we believe, to a great extent, been due to their large powers of local selfgovernment so gracionsly bestowed upon the colonists by Tour Majesty and the Imperial Parliament. 4. That, at present, one of the main provisions of the Constitution Act, lo and 16 Victoria, cap. 72, has not been obeyed —namely, section 41 —which provides that representation should be according to population. 5. That a majority of the House of Representatives passed an Act intituled " The Abolition of Provinces Act," repealing the main provisions of the Constitution Act. 6. That such Act was not to come into force until the day alter the last day of the next session of Parliament. 7. That, at the last election of members for the House of Representatives in the various districts of Otago, almost all those who voted for the Abolition of Provinces Act were rejected by their constituents, and candidates opposed to Abolition were returned in their places. 8. That the vast majority of the members for the Provinces of Auckland and Otago are opposed to the policy of centralism, which the said Act has originated. fl. That your petitioners believe that greater powers of local self-government should be given to the districts far removed from the centre of the Island than are enjoyed by them at present. 10. That your petitioners believe that in wealth, population, and area, the Province of Otago excels many colonies, as will be seen by the following table: —

Colony. Wealth. Population. Area. Ceylon Tasmania... "Western Australia... Queensland South Australia Natal cOtago £ 1,324,328 274,262 134,832 1,120,034 1,055,936 207,361 6J5.286 2,128,8S4 99,328 24,785 163,517 185,626 315,250 101,000 Sauaro Miles. " 24,454 26,215 978,000 678,500 914,730 18,000 26,640

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11. That the Government from Wellington will neither be efficient nor agreeable to the feelings of the people of this province. 12. That it will be injurious to the best interests of the colony to have about one-half of the population discontented with the form of government under which they live. 13. That your petitioners are earnestly of opinion that Otago should have grauted to it the large powers of local self-government bestowed by the Constitution Act; or that it should be created a separate and independent colony. 14. That the manner in which the Constitution Act has been altered—in a hurried, thoughtless way, and without reference to the opinions of the local Legislature —abolished in violation of the provisions of the Constitution Act, has created in the minds of your petitioners a grave distrust of the General Assembly and its Legislature. That your petitioners therefore pray that Your Majesty will be pleased to take this petition into your gracious consideration, and grant that either the Province of Otago should have bestowed on it the large power of local self-government granted by the Constitution Act, or else that Otago should be erected into a separate and independent colony. And your humble petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. James ~W. Thomson, President of the Otago Convention.

Enclosure 2. Mr. Thomson, President of the Otago Convention, to the Earl of Cabnaevon. Mr Lobd, — Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 28th March, 1877. I have the honor to forward herewith petition to Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, adopted by the Otago Convention at its meetings held on the Bth and 9th days of November last, praying for an inquiry into the action of His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand in identifying himself in such a manner with one party in politics as to have the effect of influencing the loyal feelings which have hitherto been cherished towards Her Majesty's Representative!. I have the honor further to state that, by resolution of the Convention, two delegates —viz., Sir George Grey, Superintendent of the Province of Auckland, and formerly Governor of the Colony, and his Honor James Macandrew, Superintendent of the Province of Otago—were appointed to proceed to London, and to present personally the petition to your Lordship, and afford any information desired; but unfortunately Sir George Grey has been so seriously indisposed as to be unable to undertake the fatigue of the journey; and, as representing one province only, Mr. Macandrew did not feel justified in undertaking the duty single-handed. In the circumstances, the Council of the Convention has resolved to forward the petition by post to your Lordship, and to state that the feeling of dissatisfaction which was raised in this province has not in the slightest degree been abated. I have, &c, James W. Thomson, The Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon, President of Otago Convention. Secretary of State for the Colonies, London.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 2. To Her Most Gracious Majesty Yictoeia, Queen of the IJuited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Dependencies thereof, Empress of India, &c. Mat it please Youb Majestt,— The humble petition of the undersigned members of the Otago Convention, in meeting assembled, showeth— 1. That a Convention of Members of the House of Representatives for Otago, of Members of the Provincial Council of Otago, of Mayors of incorporated towns, Chairmen of Road Boards, and Chairmen of School Committees, was held on the eighth and ninth days of November, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, and there attended—[N.B. —Names the same as in the other petition.] 2. That your petitioners recognize the wisdom that has actuated Your Majesty in retaining the appointment of a Governor for this colony, believing that such is retained in order that the great interests of the Empire and the welfare of the colonists may be better conserved. 3. That we believe that it is of the utmost importance that the Governor should be one who is not in any way identified with any political party or parties that may exist in the colony. 4. That we have to deplore that His Excellency the Governor has identified himself with the Centralist party, and has thereby become the representative only of the opinions of the party dominant for the time being in the House of Representatives and the Legislative Council; and that his recent action has had a tendency to impair the feelings of loyalty and respect which wc have always cherished for Your Majesty's Representative. Your petitioners therefore pray that Your Majesty will be pleased to inquire into the grievances mentioned in our petition, and appoint some person to fulfil the onerous and responsible duties of Governor who will not be biassed against a political party, even though such party may be in the minority. James W. Thomson, President of Otago Convention.

By Authority : G-eorok Didsbttby, Government Printer, Wellington. —1877. Price 3d.]