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A.-2

Enclosure in No. 9. Colonel Dv Cane to the Home Office. Offices of Directors of Convict Prisons, Sic,— 44, Parliament Street, S.W., 30th October, 1875. In returning the enclosed letter from the Colonial Office, transmitting a copy of a despatch from the Governor of New Zealand, asking for certain information and papers relating to prisons, I have the honor to state, for the information of Mr. Secretary Cross, that the detailed drawings and specifications of the prison at Wormwood Scrubbs alluded to, are not sufficiently complete to be furnished to the New Zealand Government, and that if they were they would be of little use to them, because tho New Zealand Government cannot require a prison of the size and for the peculiar purposes for which the prison at Wormwood Scrubbs is to be constructed; and the specifications depend so much, on the locality, the most available material for construction, and so forth, that the specification of one building cannot be made to serve for another. As regards the latest reports and blue books, I would suggest that the Agents for the New Zealand Government procure such of the annual reports of the Directors of Convict Prisons, of the Inspector of Prisons, and of the Inspectors of Eeformatories, as they may find useful; but the only complete account of our penal system with which I am acquainted is one prepared by myself in 1872, of which thirty copies were, at Lord Kimberley's desire, forwarded to the Colonial Office for transmission to the British Colonies, and of which, therefore, I presume one has already been sent to New Zealand. I am &c, The Hon. A. Liddell, &c, &c. E. F. Dv Cane.

No. 10. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 64.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 13th November, 1875. With reference to my Despatches Nos. 42 and 43, of the 23rd of June and 3rd of July respectively, I have the honor to inform you that, after further consideration of the subject, the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury have decided not to press further the objections raised in their letter of the 26th of May to the Act of the New Zealand Legislature, No. 25 of 1874, "To authorize the raising of Money for Immigration and Construction of Public Works." Their Lordships desire, however, to be furnished with a report of the AuditorGeneral of New Zealand, in continuation, of that supplied to Her Majesty's Government at the time of the preparation of the Bill which afterwards became 35 Vict, cap 15. Proof was then afforded of an expenditure of £800,000, but the Imperial guarantee has been given to a sum of £1,000,000; proof, therefore, is wanting for the sum of £200,000. Their Lordships are perfectly satisfied that the money has been spent; but they are bound to have the documents proving the spending of the money on record in their department, so that they can produce them in support of their action in the matter of the Imperial guarantee, in the event of any question arising in Parliament in reference thereto. I have, &c, CAENAEVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., &c, &c.

No. 11. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 66.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 18th December, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 77, of the 21st of October, enclosing a copy of the Speech with which you had that day prorogued the fifth Session of the fifth Parliament of New Zealand. I have, &c.j CAENAEVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., &c, &c.