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success. In supporting this request, my Advisers would have me represent that the geographical features and position of New Zealand fit it for a maritime Colony, and that it is most desirable that, instead of its continuing to be a drain upon the stock of seamen at home, a provision should be made for keeping up a supply by training the colonial youth, so that, in course of time, the Colony may hope to be able not only to provide for its own requirements, but even assist the Mother Country in time of need. 2. I am informed that the Agent-General of New Zealand in London has lately, by direction of this Government, been in communication with the Admiralty; that he has suggested that H.M.S. " Rosario," now stationed here, should, at the expiration of her present commission, be granted to the Colony as a training ship for boys; and that he has been informed that, inasmuch as vessels of the " Rosario" class are much required, she will return to England on completing her present commission, and consequently that their Lordships were unable to comply with the request of the Colony in the matter. 3. I am informed that the object which the Colony has in view was misunderstood by the Agent-General, who represented it to the Admiralty as being for the training of naval volunteers and not of mercantile seamen. 4. I beg to add that I believe that the grant even of a ship of an obsolete class would be gratefully accepted by the Colony, and that it would be usefully and beneficially applied. I have, &c, JAMES EERGTJSSON, The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. Governor.

No. 7. Copt of DESPATCH from Governor the Right Hon. Sir J. Fergusson, Bart., to the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberlet. (No. 51.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord, — New Zealand, 30th June, 1873. I regret to have to ask for instructions with regard to the precedency to he accorded to the Superintendents of the Provinces of New Zealand, a question which has been brought before me immediately on my arrival. 2. I am informed that some difficulty has lately occurred in at least one instance, owing to the uncertainty of the rights in this particular of Superintendents of Provinces. 3. In Mr. Labouchere's Despatch No. 27, of the 27th November, 1855, the then Governor was informed that " at the Seat of Government, in Auckland, the " rank of the Superintendent cannot be placed higher than that of the Commis- " sioners or Government Agents of Provinces or districts in the table contained "in the Colonial Regulations. But in the other Provinces, there being no " Lieutenant-Governor, the Superintendent should have precedency over all other " persons." 4. The Seat of Government now being at Wellington, the spirit of the abovementioned Despatch would imply that there the Superintendent of that Province would take rank as a Commissioner or Government Agent of a Province; that is, in the words of the Despatch already quoted, "after the high officers of the •• General Government or Legislature." But a portion of the General Government is still located at Auckland, the Chief Justice presiding over the Supreme Court there; and during a part of each year the Governor has continued to reside at the old Government House, and to hold Executive Councils there during such residence. It is therefore a question whether, during such residence, the Superintendent should not be placed after the high officers of the General Government there present, even although at other times he should have precedency "of all other persons," including the Chief Justice. 5. A similar question might arise at Dunedin, where the Province of Otago has hired and furnished a residence for the Governor, which it is desirous that he should occupy at some period of the year, necessarily performing there the functions of Government. 6. Members of the Ministry in many cases reside, during considerable portions