A.—No. 1.

12

DESPATCHES EROM THE GOVERNOR OE NEW

"B.—Admiralty Bay, to the eastward of French Pass (Sheet No. 5 of New Zealand, Admiralty No. 2,054), has never been surveyed. The charts of the Chatham Islands are verv erroneous. The position of the Auckland Islands is believed to be doubtful. C. —The whole of the West Coast from Milford Sound to Cape Farewell requires to be more minutely surveyed. The surveys are being at present carried on by G. A. Woods, Esq., assisted by C. G-. Knight, Esq., and, so far as is practicable, by the officers of the St. Kilda. Mr. Woods has had some experience in marine surveys in Victoria, and the Government of that Colony reported favourably as to his zeal and ability. The other officers have had little or no previous experience in marine surveying, but they work under Mr. Woods' supervision at all times. The Government screw steamer " St. Kilda," 00 tons, has been fitted up for the accommodation, of the survey party, and she has been employed during a considerable portion of the time that they have been at work. When she was absent on other services, the party were left behind, with a boat's crew to assist them. At present, however, the Chief Surveyor and his assistant are on the West Coast fixing the various headlands by astronomical observations. They are endeavouring to work along the coast line from point to point, so as to save the cost of maintenance of the steamer until this portion of their work be completed. My last reports are that they were in the vicinity of Okarita, and all well. The survey party are fairly provided with instruments; they have three good chronometers, a good portable transit theodolite, &c. It is proposed to transmit the rough draft and finished plans, with all the field books and calculations, to the Admiralty, with a view to the full examination and verification of the accuracy of the work clone. Should the result be satisfactory it is hoped that the Admiralty may see fit to adopt the work more or less completely. I am aware that the Hydrographical Department is justly jealous of the adoption of any work which has not been done by an officer trained in the service, and could not hope that our surveys should be fully adopted —especially when they differ from the original surveys —unless the)' can stand a very searching examination ; but should they do so, I am in hopes that, under the circumstances, they will either be adopted and incorporated with existing charts, or that the Colonial Government may be authorized to issue lithographic copies of them in the Colonies with some kind of official imprimatur. I scarcely go the length of hoping for permission to impress them with the Admiralty seal; but some semi-official recognition, such as " Published under the sanction of the Admiralty," might perhaps bo granted. The surveys at present completed arc— Gore Bay, Wai-au-ua River, Kaikoura Peninsula (north and south anchorages), Flaxbourne, Cape Campbell (a check survey merely to check the accuracy of the danger line laid down on the Admiralty charts). I have all the field books and the rough and finished plans of their works in the office ready to be sent home, and am only waiting to hear from Mr. Woods as to whether he has a set of office copies in his possession. A considerable amount of work lias also been done on the West Coast, but until Mr. Woods' return it cannot be protracted, as the positions of some of the points to which angles have been taken require verification. James M. Baltouji, Wellington, 24th September, 18GS. Colonial Marine Engineer.

No. 5. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. F. Bowex, G.C.M.G., to His Grace the Duke of Buckingham. (No. 100.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord Duke, — New Zealand, Bth October, 1868. In my Despatch No. 80, of the Bth August ultimo, I had the honor to forward a letter addressed to me by the Speaker of the Legislative Council of this Colony, transmitting a copy of a Resolution agreed to by that House, viz. :— " That a respectful Address be presented to His Excellency the Governor, praying " that, if within his discretion, the embarkation of the only Imperial regiment " now serving in New Zealand may be delayed till His Excellency shall have " placed the present state of the Colony before the Imperial Government, and " have received instructions thereon." 2. I have now the honor to forward a letter addressed to me by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, transmitting a copy of Resolutions agreed to by that body with a similar object. They are as follows :— ■ " That the removal of the 18th Regiment, in the present condition of the " Northern Settlements, would tend to increase the excitement and confidence of