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Enclosure in No. 20. Captain Chapm__n, R.N., to the Superintendent of Otago. H.M.S. " Dido," at Port Chalmers, Sir,— New Zealand, 26th December, 1872. I have much pleasure in bringing to your notice that, in conformity with an invitation received from the Otago Dock Board, I docked Her Majesty's ship under my command in the graving dock at this port, on the 19th instant, and I beg to express my great satisfaction with the dock and the manner in which the service was performed; and I am of opinion the undertaking is a very creditable one, and trust and believe it will be of great importance to the Province of Otago, and benefit to Her Majesty's ships employed on the New Zealand Station. I also consider that when the £10,000 additioinal is expended in dredging the channel deeper, and in erecting workshops, &c, it will be equal to any dock in this part of the world. I have, &c., AY. C. Chapman, His Honor the Superintendent of Otago. Captain, and Senior Officer, New Zealand Station.

No. 21. Copy of a DESEATCH from Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Eight Hon. the Earl of' Kimberley. (No. 8.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord, — New Zealand, Bth February, 1873. I have the honor to acknoAvledge the receipt on the 4th instant of your Lordship's Despatch of the 27th November ultimo, informing me that you have " had great satisfaction in submitting to the Queen the name of Mr. Francis " Dillon Bell, the Speaker of the House of Eepresentatives of New Zealand, for " the honor of Knighthood, and that Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to " sanction the grant of that dignity to Mr. Bell." 2. Mr. Bell requests me to transmit the expression of his gratitude for the honor conferred on him, which has also produced a very favourable impression here among the Members of the Colonial Barliament and the public generally; for it is believed that this mark of the approval of Her Majesty has been fairly earned by Mr. Bell, not only as Speaker of the House of Eepresentatives, but also as one of the leading public men of New Zealand—almost since the foundation of the Colony. He has, moreover, been a member of several Ministries, and a Commissioner representing New Zealand in England at a critical period. 3. With reference to the concluding paragraph of the Despatch now under reply, Mr. Bell requests me to state that his London Agents, Messrs. Eedfern, Alexander, and Co., of 3, Great Winchester Street Buildings, Old Broad Street, E.C., have instructions to pay the charges on the patent of Knighthood. I have, &., The Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. G. F. BOWEN.

No. 22. Copy of a DESEATCH from Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. (No. 13.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord, — New Zealand, 13th February, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, on the 4th instant, of your Lordship's Despatch No. 71, of the 21st November ultimo, stating as folloAvs : —" I have the satisfaction of informing you that the Queen has been " pleased to mark her sense of the success and ability Avith which you have " administered the Government of New Zealand by appointing you, upon my " recommendation, to the Government of Victoria, which is about to become " vacant by the retirement of Viscount Canterbury, on the expiration of his term " of office." 2. I would wish to express my deep and loyal sense of the favour so graciously conferred on mc by Her Majesty; and at the same time to express my