A.—No. 13

CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

No. 1. Address from the Hon. Sir. D. Mos"eo to the Governor. Nelson, 27th November, 1867. Wiieeeas it has been established to my satisfaction that the seat of William Sefton Moorhouse, Esquire, a Member of the House of Representatives for the Electoral District of Westland, has become vacant: Now therefore I, Sir David Monro, tho Speaker of the said House, do hereby address His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand, and state that such vacancy as aforesaid exists, and that the same was caused by the resignation of the said William Sel'ton Moorhouse. As witness my hand this 27th day of November, 1867. D. Mojtro, Speaker.

No. 2. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. E. W. Stafford to the Hon. Sir D. Moirao. (No. 1,405.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sic,— Wellington, 6th December, 1867. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your address dated the 27th ultimo, stating that the seat of W. S. Moorhouse, Esquire, for the Electoral District of Westland, in the House of Representatives, has become vacant, and that the vacancy was caused by his resignation. The Government is advised that this address is informal, inasmuch as Mr,, Moorhouse ceased on the passing of " The Westland Representation Act, 1867," to be Member for the Electoral District of Westland, and that district also then ceased to exist. The address should state that the Seat for the Electoral District of Westland Boroughs is vacant, and also specify the cause of such vacancy. ' I have, &c, Tho Hon. the Speaker, House of Representatives. E. W. Stafford.

No. 3. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. Sir D. Moxeo to the Hon. E. W. Stafford. Sic,— Nelson, 10th December, 1867. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of } rour letter of tho 6th instant, pointing out that Mr. Moorhouse is by Act of Parliament member for " the Westland Boroughs," and not member for Westland. Both Mr. Moorhouse, in writing officially to me, and myself, in forwarding his resignation, would appear to have overlooked the existence of the Act in question. With regard to myself, such was undoubtedly the case ; and I can only express my regret that I should have committed the oversight. I have written to Mr. Moorhouse, requesting him, if he still wishes to resign, to amend the form of his resignation. I wish, however, to take this opportunity of directing your attention to a point of some importance in a constitutional point of view. You commence your letter of the 6th. by acknowledging the receipt of an address from me intimating a vacancy. If you will look at the form of the notification, you will find that I address not tho Colonial Secretary but the Governor ; and I do so in accordance with the provisions of " The Elections Writs Act, 1858." In that Act the Governor is most distinctly indicated as the officer of the Colony with whom the Speaker of the House of Representatives is to communicate —and no doubt with the very evident intention of preserving the Legislature from the appearance even of that Executive interference which in all British constitutional arrangements has been so jealously guarded against. «»SS3ra I must therefore beg you to understand that the present correspondence between us is not to be treated as a matter of precedent. I feel indebted to you for having, pointed out an oversight, and I will have it rectified ; but at the same time I feel it my duty to observe that this has not been done in the manner prescribed by law, nor in accordance with correct Parliamentary usage. I have, &c, D. Monro, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Speaker, House of Representatives.

No. 4. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. E. W. Staffoed to the Hon. Sir D. Monro. (No. 21.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sic,— Wellington, 7th January, 1868. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th ultimo, on tho subject of your address, dated the 27th of November last, to His Excollency the Governor, reporting a