ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OE STATE.

A.—No. 1

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the Colony of New Zealand, together with the accompanying Instructions under the Royal Sign Manual and Signet, would probably be sent out by the Panama Mail, and would meet me on my arrival this month at Wellington. However, my Commission and Instructions having been despatched via Suez, and addressed to me in Queensland, reached me at Sydney on the 25th January ultimo. 3. I proceeded to my new post by the first opportunity which offered, namely, by the Panama Mail Steamer, which left Sydney on the 30th ultimo. Yesterday morning (the sth instant) I landed at Wellington, and after taking the prescribed oaths in the usual form and- with the accustomed ceremonies, before Mr. Justice Johnston, one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of this Colony, I assumed, by virtue of Her Majesty's Commission, the office of Governor and Commander-in-Chief of New Zealand and its Dependencies. 4. The manner of my reception here cannot fail to be satisfactory, on public grounds, as a fresh proof of the loyalty of all classes of this community to their Queen. As Her Majesty's Representative, I was received, on landing, by the chief functionaries and officers of Government, saluted by the local corps of Volunteer Artillery and Rifles (which had mustered in full force), and welcomed with hearty cheers and other demonstrations of respect and goodwill by a very large concourse of spectators. 5. I am deeply sensible of the great and manifold difficulties of my present office; but I trust that they may in time be surmounted if I shall be so fortunate as to deserve the approval and support of Her Majesty's Government, and to secure the co-operation of the Colonial Parliament. I have, &c, His Grace the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos. G. F. BOWEN.

No. 24. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to His Grace the Duke of Buckingham.. (No. 3.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord Duke,—' 7th February, 1868. At the request of my Responsible Advisers I have the honor to transmit herewith a Memorandum referring to a portion of the Royal Instructions accompanying the Queen's Commission appointing me to be Governor of New Zealand. I have, &c, His Grace the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos. G. F. BOWEN.

Enclosure in No. 24. Memobandttk by Mr. Staitoed. Wellington, 7tli February, 1868. Bx the Jtoyal Instructions to His Excellency Sir George Bowen, referred to in his Commission as Governor of New Zealand, and dated the 14th November, 18C7, the Governor is enjoined to take a certain course where a criminal has been sentenced to death; amongst other things the report of the Judge who presided at the trial is to be considered at the first meeting of the Executive Council which can be conveniently called, at which meeting that Judge is to be specially summoned to attend. In these two particulars the Royal Instructions are different to those given to the late and previous Governors, and are not suited to the special circumstances of this Colony. "With regard to the summoning of the Judge, it is to be observed that four of the five Judges of the Supreme Court reside and hold Courts at places distant from the seat of Government, between which places there are only occasional mails; and even the Judge who resides at Wellington holds sessions of his Court at other places, which frequently necessitates his absence from the seat of Government. Thus, if the Eoyal Instructions were literally given effect to, a delay of several weeks, and perhaps of one or two months, might be necessitated before it could bo determined whether or not the sentence should be carried out, or a pardon or reprieve ordered, as the Governor, after having been informed of the sentence, would have to summon the Judge, who would have to come some hundred miles to the seat of Government, having frequently to wait for a means of conveyance, while a further delay would ensue before the result of the decision arrived at, after the Judge had attended, could be communicated to the person under sentence. Moreover, very great public inconvenience would be caused by the Judge being summoned from his judicial district, possibly in the middle of a session of the Supreme Court. The following by no means improbable case may be given as an example of what might occur : —The Judge who resides at Dunedin, in Ota-go, holds Courts at Southland also. A sentence of death may be recorded at South--8