A.—No. 5.

No. 1. His Excellency the Governor to the Eight Hon. the Secretaet of State for the Colonies. Sir, — Government House, Auckland, 3rd January, 1865. In my Despatch No. 155, of the 31st of October last, I transmitted for your information a Memorandum by the Colonial Secretary in relation to the Native prisoners taken at Bangiriri, which contained the following statement: — " That the hulk ' Marion' was visited, lastly, twice by Mr. Justice Johnston, of the Supreme Court, ex-official visitor of all the prisons in the Colony, who on each occasion spent a considerable time on board, and never intimated to the Colonial Government the least dissatisfaction with anything he saw." 2. I have now the honor to transmit the copy of a letter from Mr. Justice Johnston, explaining that he made but one visit to the vessel, which was in no sense an official one, and that therefore the inference drawn by my recent Advisers from the Judge's visit to the hulk, aud his subsequent silence respecting it, is obviously without foundation. I have, Ac, The Eight Hon. Edward Cardwell, M.P. G. Grey. No. 2. His Excellency the Governor to the Eight Hon. the Secretary or State for the Colonies. Sir, — Government House, Auckland, sth January, 1865. I have the honor to transmit an humble petition to the Queen from the Provincial Council of the Province of Auckland, praying that Her Majesty will be pleased, in concurrence with the Imperial Parliament, to take such steps as will secure the separation of the Province of Auckland from the Southern portions of the Colony of New Zealand, by itself, or with such other portions of the Northern Island as may be deemed expedient, with such a constitution as will enable Her Majesty's Imperial Government to exercise such control over Native affairs, until a cordial good feeling between the races shall have been restored, as will enable it to secure the fulfilment of the treaty obligations undertaken by Her Majesty, and promote the good government of Her Majesty's subjects, both Native and European. 2. I only received this petition yesterday, and therefore fear I shall not by this mail have time to make a full report upon the important question raised in it. By the next mail I will however transmit such a report, and in the meantime I will only say, that I think, unless some such arrangement as is prayed for by the Provincial Council of Auckland, is carried out, it will be impossible to bring to a satisfactory termination the difficulties prevailing in this country. I have, &c., The Eight Hon. Edward Cardwell, M.P. G. Geet. No. 3. His Excellency the Governor to the Eight Hon. the Seceetaey of State for the Colonies. Sic, — Government House, Auckland, 6th January, 1865. I have been requested by my Eosponsible Advisers to transmit for your information a copy of the enclosed resolution of the Legislative Council of New Zealand, relative to the removal of the Seat of Government from Auckland to Wellington. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Edward Cardwell, M.P. G. Geey. No. 4. His Excellency the Goveenoe to the Eight Hon. the Seceetaky of State for the Colonies. Sic, — Government House, Auckland, 7th January, 1865. I have the honor to transmit herewith a Memorandum I have received from my Eesponsible Advisers, in which they explain the principles of the policy on which they propose to act. 2. They have not yet given to me the details, military or financial, of the plans by which they intend to give effect to that policy. Immediately I receive these, I will make a report to you upon the entire subject. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Edward Cardwell, M.P. G. Geey. No. 5. His Excellency the Govebnor to the Eight Hon. the Seceetaey of State for the Colonies. Sir, — Government House, Auckland, 7th January, 1865. I have the honor to transmit for your information copies of reports which I have received A.

No.. 2.

No. 3. Petition from Provincial Council, 23rd Dec, 1864.

No. 5. Vide Journal Leg. Council, p. 17, 1864.

' No. 10. Vide A. No. 1, PP- 1-3.

No. 11. Col. Greer to D. Q. G., 14th Dec, 1864.

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