A.—No. la,

18

DESPATCHES EROM THE SECRETARY OE STATE

No. 62, 10th October, 1867. —An Act to authorize the sale of certain Land situate in the District of Awatere, in the Province of Marlborough, held in trust by John Tinline, Alexander Mowatt, and AVilliam Atkinson, for the use of Presbyterians in the said Province of Marlborough, and the purchase of other lands for the purposes of the Trust. I gladly recognize in the Act, No. 47, an evidence of the desire of the Colonial Government to interest the Maori race in the general welfare of the Colony, and the working of its Government, and of their wish to bring into closer relations to each other the Natives and the inhabitants of European descent. I have, &c, BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 28. Copy of a DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Buckingham to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (No. 16.) Sir, — Downing Street, 14th February, 1868. I have had before me an Act passed by the Legislature of New Zealand, in October last, " To enable the Governor to carry into effect a Postal Service with " Great Britain in conjunction with the Colonies of Victoria, New South Wales, " Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania," a transcript of which accompanied Sir George Grey's Despatch No. 136, of the 27th of November last. If the resolutions referred to in the Preamble of this Act had received the assent of Her Majesty's Government, and had continued to command that of the Colonies concerned, I should have had pleasure in bringing it under Her Majesty's favourable consideration, but as the power given to the Governor is substantially confined to a definite scheme, though subject to alteration in detail, I have not laid the Act before the Queen. I have, &c, BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 29. Copy of a DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Buckingham to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (No. 17.) Sir, — Downing Street, 14th February, 18(58. I have the honor to inform you that Her Majesty will not be advised to exercise her power of disallowance with respect to the following Acts of the Legislature of New Zealand, transcripts of which accompanied Sir G. Grey's Despatch No. 186, of the 27th of November last, viz.:— No. 24, 10th October, 1867. —An Act to provide for the establishment of Municipal Corporations. No. 65, 10th October, 1867.—An Act to amend " The Volunteers' Land Act, 1865." No. 66, 10th October, 1867. —An Act to amend " The Crown Grants Act, 1866." No. 67, 10th October, 1867. —An Act to provide for the more effectual determination of differences and disputes heard before Waste Lands Boards. No. 68, 10th October, 1867.—An Act to amend " The Gold Fields Act, 1866." No. 69, 10th October, 1867.—An Act to amend "The Gold Fields Act, 1866." No. 70, 10th October, 1867. —An Act to make specific provision for the salaries and expenses of certain Judicial Officers and Courts on the Otago Gold Fields.