FURTHER DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OE STATE.

45

A.—No. la'

I request that you will call the attention of the Superintendents of Provinces to the 217th and following Colonial Regulations, and inform them that it Avill not be possible for me to take notice of communications forwarded to me otherwise than as the Regulations require. I have, &c, BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS. Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G.

Enclosure in No. 66. 217. Persons in a Colony, whether public functionaries or private individuals, who have any representations of a public or private nature to make to Government, should address them to the Governor of the Colony ; or, if the Colony be a dependency of a Go vernor-in- Chief, then to the officer in the immediate administration of its Government. 218. The duty of the Governor or Administrator of the Colony is to receive and act upon each such representation as public expediency or justice to the individual may appear to require, with the assistance in certain cases of his Executive Council; and if he doubts what steps to take thereupon, or if public advantage may appear to require it, to consult or report to the Secretary of State. Every individual has, however, the right to address the Secretary of State, if he thinks proper. But in this case he must transmit such communication, unsealed, and in triplicate, to the Governor or Administrator, applying to him to forward it in duo course to the Secretary of State. 219. Every letter, memorial, or other document, which may be received by the Secretary of State from a Colony otherwise than through the Governor, will, unless a very pressing urgency justifies a departure from the rule, be referred back to the Governor for his report. 220. This rule, requiring transmission of correspondence with the Secretary of State through the Governor, is based on the strongest grounds of public convenience, in order that all communications may be duly verified, as well as reported on, before they reach the Secretary of State. It extends, therefore, to communications relating to public affairs as well as the concerns of the writer ; to those of all public functionaries of whatever rank ; and to those from public bodies. 221. Petitions addressed to the Queen, or the Queen in Council, memorials to public officers or Boards in Her Majesty's Government, <fcc, must be in like manner sent to the Governor for transmission home. 222. The Governor is bound to transmit to the Secretary of State every communication so received by him, accompanied by such report as its contents may appear to him to require. 223. He is to do this with all reasonable despatch, consistently, however, with the delay requisite for the preparation of such report. 12