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creates inquiry as to the nature and value of his services. It also binds together in one common bond of honor, the whole of Her Majesty's vast possessions. The observance of this rule renders it impossible to create, almost unnoticed, new ranks and dignities, and to establish rules and precedents which may have the most important influence upon distant possessions of the Crown, and may hereafter exercise a pernicious influence on the entire Empire : for so long as the rule hitherto in force is observed, such steps can only be taken in the presence, as it were, of a great audience—the entire Empire —and under the watchful vigilance of the greatest Statesmen of the day, and of an accomplished and energetic Press. 13. On the contrary, if such creations of rank and dignity, and the appointments made to them, are not to be notified in the London Gazette, whilst the Secretary of State is to have the power of directing the notification of them in the Gazettes of distant colonies, then important changes may be made, almost unknown, in the Constitutions of colonies : people who, whilst they are loyal, faithful, and prosperous subjects of the Crown, still desire, within their own limits, to preserve their democratic institutions, may have an aristocracy forced upon them in some very objectionable form, at the sole will of the Colonial Department: and great and lasting disconlent may grow up in distant parts of the Empire, without the leading Statesmen of the time, or the most influential portion of the Public Press, having had any intimation that the causes which generated this discontent had been called into life, and had been brought into active operation. 14. It would be to deceive ourselves to attempt to deny the fact, that it is from such proceedings as are now under consideration that the institutions of youny nations almost imperceptibly develop themselves, and that, however trifling each step, taken by itself, may appear at the moment, its effect is lasting, and will ultimately produce important results. 15. On the whole, it appears that the most fitting rule to adopt in this colony will be : That whenever any honors conferred upon any inhabitant of New Zealand by the Sovereign are notified in the London Gazette, such notification shall, upon its receipt in this colony, be forthwith published in the New Zealand Gazette; but that in the case of any honor conferred upon any inhabitant of New Zealand not being notified in the London Gazette, or in the event of any general rules being laid down by the Secretary of State regarding the conferring of honors upon inhabitants of New Zealand, then the Despatches relating to such cases shall be laid before the General Assembly during its next session, and may be published in the New Zealand Gazette in compliance with a resolution of each House of Parliament to that effect, but not otherwise. Wellington, 29th April, 1878. G. Grey.
Enclosure 1. The Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. Sir, — Downing Street, 29th August, 1877. I have the honor to inform you that the Queen has been graciously pleased to approve of my recommendation, that retired Judges of the Supreme Courts of the Australasian Colonies may be allowed the privilege of bearing the title of Honorable for life, within the colony, with precedence next, in the case of retired Chief Justices, after the Chief Justice and before Puisne Judges, and in case of retired Puisne Judges, next after the Puisne Judges. Tou will in future be at liberty to recommend for submission to the Queen the name of any Judge retiring from the Bench for these privileges. I. have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. Carnarvon.
Enclosure 2. The Seceetaey of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord, — Downing Street, 29th August, 1877. With reference to my circular Despatch of this day's date, I have the honor to inform your Lordship that the Queen has been graciously pleased to approve of Mr. H. B. Gresson and Mr. H. S. Chapman, who have retired from the Bench of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, being permitted to bear the title of Honorable for life, within the colony, and to take precedence next after the Puisne Judges of the Supreme Court. I have, &c, Governor the Most Honorable Carnarvon. The Marquis of Normanby, G.C.M.G, Ac.
Enclosure 3. Mr. E. Pox to the Hon. the Peemiee. The Honorable the Premier. I desire to explain to you, immediately on your return from the North, that the Despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the subject of conferring the title of " Honorable," within the colony, upon Messrs. Gresson and Chapman, has, unknown to me been for some time in my possession, and to express my regret for the fact. The Despatch was in an envelope, with a number of printed papers, handed to me by you, about the end of the session. At that time I looked through the documents, somewhat hastily, perhaps, and concluded that they were all printed, and almost wholly parliamentary, papers ; and it was not until ten days or a fortnight ago, when I examined the contents of the envelope in order to decide which of the papers required to be preserved, that I found the Despatch. E. Fox. Wellington, 22nd April, 1878. By Authority: Geokge Didsbuht, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB7B. Price 3d.
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