A.—l
4
2. It will be perceived that the Government of New Zealand, " will gladly " assist the arrangements of the Astronomer-Eoyal by the erection of the huts " required for the instruments to be used at Christchurch, mentioned in Brofessor " Airy's letter to Mr. Holland of the 19th February, 1872, provided that plans and " specifications of the huts required be sent out in good time, seeing that there " are no means of ascertaining in the Colony exactly what is required." I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. G. F. BOWEN.
Enclosure in No. 4. Memorandum by Mr. AVaterhouse. Referring to the enclosure in Despatch No. 12, of tho 23rd February, 1872, from the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, upon the subject of the arrangements for the observation of the transit of A renus in 1874, Mr. Watorhouse has the honor to inform His Excellency that the Government will gladly assist the arrangements of the Astronomer-Royal by the erection of the huts required for the instruments to be used at Christchurch, mentioned in Professor Airy's letter to Mr. Holland of the 19th February, 1872, provided that plans and specifications of tho huts required be sent out in good time, seeing that there are no means of ascertaining in the Colony, exactly what is required. Wellington, 16th October, 1872. G. M. AVaterhouse.
No. 5. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. (No. 86.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord, — New Zealand, 21st October, 1872. In my Despatch No. 79, of the 20th September ultimo, and on previous occasions, I have reported that the experiment of admitting Maori Members to the House of Eepresentatives had proved completely successful, and that it had been decided to admit them also to the Legislative Council. A Eesolution recommending that course has been adopted in the popular Chamber, and it seems to be generally approved by all parties, both within and without the Legislature. 2. As your Lordship is aware, the Maoris in the House of Eepresentatives are elected by their countrymen; but as the Members of the Legislative Council are nominated by the Crown, the selection from among the principal Maori clans and chiefs was a matter of delicacy, requiring careful consideration. With the advice of my Ministers, I have now summoned to the Legislative Council, in the name of the Queen — (1.) Mokena Kohere, of Waiapu, in the Province of Auckland, a chief of high rank and commanding influence in the great clan of the Ngatiporos, and who was recently presented by Her Majesty with a sword of honor for his long and gallant services in fighting for the Crown during the second Maori war. (2.) Wiremu Tako Ngatata, of Waikanae, in the Province of Wellington, the foremost chief of the clan of Ngatiawas. When the first English colonists, under the auspices of the New Zealand Company, arrived in this country in 1840, they found this chief living in a pa on what is now the site of the City of Wellington. Together with his friend and relative, the celebrated Te Euni (whose death was recently lamented by both races*), Wiremu Tako Ngatata cordially welcomed the early settlers, made over to them large grants of land, and protected them from the attacks of the hostile Natives. I have already borne my testimony to the assistance which he afforded to me personally at the very critical period of the dangerous outbreak on the West Coast of this Island in 1868.t 3. Both of the above-mentioned chiefs are universally recognized as good representatives of their race. They have taken their seats in the Legislative Council, and have already begun to show, like their countrymen in the other House, an intelligent and active interest in the debates, and in the general business of the Farliament. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. G. F. BOWEN. * See Governor of New Zealand to Secretary of State, No. 158, of 24th December, 1870. t See Governor of New Zealand to Secretary of State, No. 116, of 17th November, 1868 (paragraph 6).