E.—No. 2A.

That the present grave condition of the Province of Auckland, the disquiet that has been arouaed in districts previously tranquil, and the uncertainty at what moment a most critical conjuncture may arise of such a kind as to require promptness of decision, lead us earnestly to deprecate a step that would tend to remove for an indefinite period your Excellency and your responsible advisers from this Province. That the Session of the General Assembly about to be held being a special one, convened at an unforeseen time and from unforeseen circumstances, is thereby exempt from a reasonable application of the Resolution passed by the General Assembly, during its last Session, respecting the place of meeting in the next Session ; and that in consideration of the premises, your petitioners humbly and earnestly ask your Excellency to cause the approaching Session of the General Assembly to be held in the City of Auckland. [Here follow the signatures.] Mr>isTEHs' REPLY to Petitioners. Gentlemen, — Auckland, 14th October, 1864. I have "the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the Petition transmitted by you to me* yesterday, asking His Excellency the Governor to cause the approaching Session of the Genera] Assembly to be held in the City of Auckland, with a request that I would lay the same before His Excellency the Governor; and I have to inform you that T have complied with your request, and that the Petition will receive careful consideration. I have, &c, Messrs. C. I\ Fischer, C. A. Harris, &c. Feed. Whitakeb.

No. 11. MEMOEANDUM by Mntnmcßs. Ministers beg to be permitted to inform His Excellency that the steam ship "Wellington" will leave for the South to-morrow morning, and that in their opinion the greatest public inconvenience will be caused if a Proclamation summoning the Assembly be not sent by that opportunity; Ministers trust, therefore, that His Excellency will be pleased to fill up the Proclamation transmitted to him on. the 11th instant with the name of the place at which, in His Excellency's opinion, the Assembly should meet, and forward it to them for publication this morning. 17th October, 18G k Feed. "Whita kee.

No. 12. MEMORANDUM by the Goyikxok. The Governor has just received the Ministerial Memorandum of this day's date, regarding the place of meeting of the General Assembly. On the 11th instant, Ministers advised the Governor that the place at which the Assembly ought to meet was Wellington. At the same time they warned the Governor that a very great peril now overhangs this portion of New Zealand. The Governor fully believed that such was the case, and shewed the danger that might result from moving at such a moment the Governor, the Ministers, and many of the chief inhabitants of this part of New Zealand from Auckland. Ministers, however, again informed the Governor, on the 14th of October, " that they saw no reason to alter the views they had expressed to the Governor on this subject." Ho at first understood these expressions to apply to the answer he was to return to a Memorial which has been presented to him, but was afterwards informed they were intended to apply to the place of meeting of the Assembly. The Governor has fully stated to Ministers his views upon the subject, and feels after the reply that he has returned to the Memorial from the inhabitants of Auckland on this subject, that it is for Ministers to inform him that they have carefully considered that Memorial, and then to advise him as to the place where the Assembly should meet; and that it would not be right in him to fill up and sign a blank Proclamation upon so important a subject. Government House, Auckland, 17th October, 1864. G. Geey.

No. 13. MEMORANDUM by Mikisteks. Ministers beg to acknowledge the receipt of His Excellency's Memorandum of this day's date, relative to the place of meeting of the General Assembly. Ministers beg to state that they have carefully considered the Memorial of some of the inhabitants of Auckland, but that it has not altered their opinion as to the place where the Assembly ought to meet. Ministers do not participate in the feelings of alarm which His Excellency entertains at the prospect of the Governor, the Ministers, and many of the chief inhabitants of this part of New Zealand being taken away from Auckland. They believe that if Lieut.-General Sir Duncan Cameron were left behind as Deputy Governor, with the forces at his command, the North would be quite as safe in his hands as if His Excellency remained here. An additional reason for adhering to their recommendation of Wellington is found by Ministers in the fact of the Commissioners for deciding the question of the Seat of Government having decided on that place, where there is ample accommodation for holding the Session, and where it would be in accordance with the spirit of the resolution of the Assembly. At the same time, Ministers having given this advice, beg respectfully to state that, if His Hxeellency still entertains the strong and decided opinion he has already expressed, they are ready,

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RESIGNATION OF MINISTERS, &c.