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Governor of New Zealand to Secretary of Stato. No. 109, of 3rd Sept. 1870. No. 82, of 2nd Sept. 1871. 'g Secretary of State to Governor of New Zealand. No. 101, of 14th Nov. 1870.

" been more than fivefold. Nor is it less satisfactory to observe the steady " progress of education. In IS6O, there were only 20 schools in this Erovince, " all of an elementary character. Now there are above 130 schools, including " two high schools for boys and girls respectively, four grammar schools, and a " school of art: while the University of Otago, with its able and learned " professors from the Universities of Great Britain, crowns the noble scheme of " public instruction. These are facts and figures which should be made Avidely " known in the mother country, and to Avhich I am determined to give official cir- " culation there. In this, as in the other Brovinces, a continuous stream of immi- " gration —that life-blood of a new country —is absolutely necessary for the " maintenance and extension of the progress already achieved, and for the success " of the public AVorks sanctioned by the Colonial aud Brovincial Legislatures. " In conclusion, Gentlemen, I accept, Avith much satisfaction, the honor which " you propose to confer on me, by enrolling my name as one of the Batrons of " the Caledonian Society of Otago. And here permit me to congratulate you on " the nationality of the gentleman appointed to succeed me in New Zealand on "my promotion to the Governorship of Victoria. Sir James Ecrgusson has many " personal as Avell as official claims to your respect and confidence. He is a " soldier, Avho has seen active service in the Crimea, and was Avounded at " Inkerman. He is a statesman, who has for several years been a Member of " the House of Commons, and has filled more than one Administrative office of " importance. Finally, he is a Governor of large ability and experience, whose " manifold qualifications and accomplishments will not be the less popular in this " community because they are united in a Scotchman." 4. Among the many public ceremonies at which I have been requested to preside during my present visit to Otago, one of the most important and interesting has been the opening, on the 31st ultimo, of the railway connecting Dunedin with Port Chalmers. I annex the account of the proceedings as published in the local journals. The speeches delivered at the public luncheon given on this occasion will repay perusal, especially those of Mr. Justice Chapman (one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Ncav Zealand), of Sir Francis Dillon Bell (the Speaker of the House of Eepresentatives), and of the Superintendent of the Erovince of Otago. 5. After my return to Wellington, I shall report my further proceedings by the mail of next month. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. G. F. BOWEN.

No. 20. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. (No. 2.) Dunedin, Otago, My Lord, — New Zealand, Bth January, 1873. With reference to previous correspondence respecting the Graving Dock at Bort Chalmers (the port of Dunedin), I have the honor to report that Captain Chapman, E.N., lately docked there H.M.S. " Dido," under his command ; and expressed himself to me as entirely satisfied with the accommodation afforded, and with the manner in which the service was performed. He also expressed himself in similar terms in an official letter addressed to the Superintendent of the Erovince of Otago, of which a copy is annexed. 2. I would request your Lordship to cause a copy of this Despatch and of its onclosure to be transmitted to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. It will be seen that Her Majesty's ships in the waters of this Colony and of the South Sea Islands can now be docked in New Zealand, and that it is no longer necessary to send them for that purpose to Australia. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. G. F. BOWEN.