A.—No. Ii

FURTHER DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF

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and sixty-seven, under Our Sign-Manual and Signet, direct and enjoin that the Judge who presided at the trial of any offender who shall have been condemned to suffer death by the sentence of any Court within Our Colony of New Zealand, shall be specially summoned'to attend at the first meeting thereafter which may conveniently be held of Our Executive Council of the said Colony. And whereas it may be inconvenient to require the attendance of such Judge, and tend to create delay in the consideration of the cases of offenders so condemned to death as aforesaid, and it is expedient that such inconvenience and delay should be prevented. Now therefore "We do, by these Our additional instructions under Our Sign-Manual and Signet, declare Our will to be that it shall not be necessary to summon the Judge who presided at the trial of any offender who shall have been condemned to death to attend at the meeting of Our said Executive Council, and that you shall, if you think fit, proceed as directed by the said recited Instructions without the attendance of such Judge. Additional Instructions to Sir George Ferguson Bowen, G.C.M.G., Governor and Commander-in-Chief, New Zealand.

No. 51. Copy of a DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Buckingham to Governor Sir G. P. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 65.) Sir, — Downing Street, 12th June, 1868. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 23, of the 18th of March last. I have read with much interest Mr. Hall's Memorandum respecting the working and probable effects of the County of Westland Act, 1867, as well as the other papers transmitted in your Despatch. On the subject of the Westland Act, I beg to refer you to my Despatch No. 20, of the 25th February last. I have, &c, BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS. Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G.

No. 52. Copy of a DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Buckingham to Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 66.) S IR? Downing Street, 12th June, 1868. I have received from the Superintendent of Otago a letter, dated the 24th of March last, expressing the sympathy of the people of that Province with Her Majesty on the occasion of the attempt upon the life of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. I have also received from the Deputy-Superintendent of the Province of Southland a letter, dated the 24th of March last, enclosing Resolutions passed on the occasion of a public meeting of the inhabitants of that Province. I have further to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from Mr. S. Gibbs, Mayor of the town of Oamaru, dated 31st of March, enclosing the copy of an Address from the inhabitants of that town to His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. I am commanded to instruct you to assure the inhabitants of New Zealand that Her Majesty cordially appreciates the spirit of loyalty to the British Crown, and of attachment to the person and family of the Sovereign, displayed in the Addresses which you have transmitted to me. I have, &c, BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS. Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G.