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Had I made such a communication to a person not connected with the Ministry, the Treasurer's reasoning might have been more applicable.. (Signed) T. Gore Browne. Government House, 25th March, 1858. _ March 26th, 1858. Ministers respectively submit the following replies to such portions of His Excellency's Memorandum of the 25th instant as appear to require an answer. 2. In reply to the 3rd paragraph— Nothing more is desired, with respect to the contingent expenditure of the Native Departments than His Excellency's continued adherence to established rules. 3. In reply to the 4th paragraph— Ministers will propose the longer term ; as they do not regard the question between the two terms as of very much importance. Looking, however, to the value and extent of the landed endowments of the Schools, the Legislature can scarcely be expected to debar itself from a reconsideration of the subject for so long a term as seven years. Ministers would have preferred to have been enabled to propose the shorter period with His Excellency's sanction, 4. To the fifth paragraph— Ministers reply that it is intended to confine Government aid to Maori and Half-Caste pupils, although this is not according to the original scheme of the Schools. 5. In answer to the 6th paragraph— It is understood that the Governor has not a veto merely on the appointment of an Inspector or Inpectors; but the actual power of appointment,—after consulting with Ministers. The term approved in the 4th paragraph of Ministers' Memorandum of 24th March, was inserted with reference to the possibility of some other body having the nomination of Inspectors, subject to the Governor's approval, 6. Remarking on the concluding paragraph— Ministers, in reply to His Excellency's question, express their opinion that it would be at once unbecoming and absurd to expect that His Excellency should not with absolute freedom communicate with all or any of them, on matters discussed with one only. Ministers merely express their hope, that, f in the mind of His Excellency, conversational suggestions and expressions of private thought, (which cannot but occur,) may be kept well distinguished from Ministerial proposals. They on their side, are not accustomed to regard similar expressions on His Excellency's part, as definitive and binding. (Signed) C. W. Richmond..

21st June, 1858. Referring to the Bth paragraph of their Memorandum of 24th March, 1858, on Native Affairs ; Ministers have the honor to propose that in lieu of the appropriation suggested by the Memorandum above referred to, the sum of £7000 for Native Purposes on the Civil List be appropriated as follows: £ s. d. £ s. d. Medical treatment of Natives in Hospital, and as out natients 200 0 0 Circuit and Resident Magistrates' Courts, — Magistrates 1200 0 O Assessors 1000 0 0 Court Houses 200 0 0 Travelling Expenses ... .— ».... 300 0 0 Contingencies of Courts ........ 200 0 0 2900 0 Q< Maori Newspaper and other Publications — 400 0 0 Pensions to Natives 200 0 0 f 600 0 0 Pensions and Gratuities under Walker Nene's Ordinance, — T. Walker Nene 100 0 0 Gratuities to Chiefs 100 0 0 200 0 0' Presents and Entertainments of Natives 500 0 O Southern Islands, Natives purposes 500 0 0' For Services not above specified <.... ... 300 0 0 £7000 0 0 It will be seen that Ministers proposed to relieve the £7000 of the whole charge of the Native Department. A portion of the cost of that Department will have to be provided for on the General Esti^-