A.—No. 1

54

DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR OF NEW

Enclosure 7 in No. 31. Mr. Rollestox to Paeakia te Potjepa. Feiend,— Wellington, 2nd March, 1868. Mr. Richmond directs me to thank you for your letter in reply to his letter of the 22nd of February, and to tell you that he was well satisfied to hear from you, who have always maintained the law, that you had on this occasion been a peace-maker, and had determined that fighting would not be allowed. I forward a copy of a letter received from Kemp on the same subject, from which you will see that he too will leave the matter in the hands of the Government and the law, and not interfere to promote violence. From your friend, W. Eolleston.

Enclosure 8 in No. 31. Mr. Rolleston to Captain Kemp. Friend,— "Wellington, 2nd March, 1868. Mr. Richmond has received your letter of the 25th of February, in reply to his letter of the 22nd of that month. He directs me to thank you for your letter, and to tell you how satisfactory it was to the Government to receive so prompt an assurance from you that you would act according to its wishes. Now as to your word about the small tribe of the Muaupoko, Mr. Richmond directs me to say that the Government will not forget what you say. It will watch over great and small, only let the matter rest in the hands of the Government and the law. I forward to you a letter written by Parakaia, from which you will see that he too is determined that there shall be no violence. From your friend, ~W. EOLIESTOF.

No. 32. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to His Grace the Duke of Buckingham. (No. 16.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord Duke,— sth March, 1868. At the request of my Responsible Advisers, I have the honor to transmit a Memorandum, prepared by the Colonial Secretary, Mr. Stafford. 2. It will be seen that a question has been raised, whether on a new Governor of this Colony being sworn in, the appointments of the Executive Councillors lapse, and new appointments become necessary. 3. It appears that the practice in different Colonies on this point is diverse. In New South Wales the Executive Councillors are re-appointed and re-sworn on the arrival of a new Governor, and the Attorney-General of New Zealand thought that, on the whole, it was safer to follow *the same course on my assumption of office here. This was accordingly done. 4. My Responsible Advisers believe it to be of great importance that all doubt on this question should be finally settled, and request me to submit to your Grace that " the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown in England should "be obtained, and, if necessary, such alteration made in the Commission of " Governors of New Zealand as the form of Government in force in the Colony " may require." I have, &c, His Grace the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos. G. F. BOWEN. P.S.—I annex a case, drawn up in quadruplicate by the Attorney-General of New Zealand, in pursuance of the 405 th article of Her Majesty's Colonial Regulations (edition, 1867). G. F. B.

Enclosure 1 in No. 32. Memorandum by Mr. Stafeoed. Wellington, 14th February, 1868. A question has been raised whether, on a new Governor of New Zealand being sworn in, the appointments of members of the Executive Council then in office lapse, and new appointments become necessary. The question is one of doubt, and the practice in different Colonies, as respects re-swearing members of the Executive Council is diverse.