A.—s

2

4. The Legislature of a colony like that of New Zealand would value, and is worthy of, a communication of this kind. It would interest the whole Colony in the proceedings of the Parent State. If war should hereafter take place, it is through the colonies being associated with the Homo Country by considerate proceedings such as the one now recommended, that their sympathy and effectual aid in the struggles of the Empire would best be secured. Communications of this nature make the entire Empire one people. 5. Sir George Grey believes that the addresses hitherto sent Home have proceeded from public meetings, to which no communication could have been made by the Imperial Government. The Parliament of the colony stands in a very different position. 6. His Excellency may, perhaps, think it worth while to telegraph to the Secretary of State on the subject; as there would be time, after the receipt of a reply to such a telegram, for tho Assembly to adopt addresses. Wellington, August 7, 1878. G. Grey.

No. 4. His Excellency the Governor to Hon. the Premier. Memorandum for the Hon. Sir George Grey. The Governor presents his compliments to Sir George Grey, and begs to acknowledge the receipt of his memorandum of the 7th of August, relating to the telegram received from Sir Michael Hicks Beach, in reply to the telegram sent privately by Sir George Grey to Lord Beaconsfield. The Governor will of course be happy to forward by telegraph any communication Sir George Grey may wish to send to the Secretary of State, but he must decline himself to offer any remonstrance to the opinion expressed by Her Majesty's Government, as it does not appear to him that any real advantage would be obtained by the course proposed by Sir George Grey. The question, as the Governor views it, is not whether the result of the Congress shall be communicated to the colony, which no doubt will be done in the ordinary way by despatch, but whether it is necessary that an official communication should be made by telegraph. Could it be shown that such a communication were necessary to allay alarm, or to prevent unnecessary expenditure in tho colony, no doubt it would be desirable that such a course should be adopted; but the public are perfectly aware through the public journals that a Treaty of Peace with Eussia has been made, and all apprehension as to war has thereby been relieved, neither is there, at present, any expenditure of money taking place which could be stopped. Communication by telegraph, invaluable as it is in cases of emergency, is very expensive, and consequently has to be confined within very narrow limits. New Zealand has, of course, no claim to be treated in a manner different to that in which other colonies, in a similar position, are treated ; and to communicate in any detail to all the colonies the proceedings of the Congress by telegraph, would, it appears to the Governor, be a most unnecessary waste of public money; while to communicate the simple fact that peace has been settled, would be simply announcing that which is already known by every individual in the colony. Due information of what has taken place will, no doubt, be sent to the colony by mail, and will probably arrive before the prorogation of Parliament. The Governor, therefore, can see no use in pressing further for an official announcement by telegraph. Government House, Wellington, Bth August, 1878. Normanby.

No. 5. Hon. the Premier to His Excellency the Goternor. Memorandum for His Excellency. Sir George Grey presents his respectful compliments to the Marquis of Normanby, and acknowledges tho receipt of his memorandum of the Bth August. 2. Sir George Grey did not ask that a remonstrance should be offered to an opinion expressed by the Homo Government. He holds that it is the duty of Her Majesty's Servants on the confines of the Empire, faithfully to advise the Home Government upon all those subjects connected with the distant dependencies of the Crown with which they are intimately acquainted. Such advice cannot be regarded as remonstrance. 3. The Empire of many races had been for months stirred by a common anxiety : it might, almost within the same hour, have been calmed and made joyous by a message that peace had been secured. Participation in sentiments of this nature insensibly links men into one people. 4. Only two telegraphic messages (one eastward, the other westward) need have been despatched by the Imperial Government. Sir George Grey cannot believe that the inconsiderable expense of such messages could have prevented British statesmen from so conveying a few gracious words, such as the Queen would have wished to utter, to the many peoples and races who had incurred large expenditure in anticipation of war, and who were prepared to make great sacrifices if war should break out. The omission was, in Sir George Grey's opinion, to be attributed rather to forgetfulness by Statesmen overburdened with great affairs —forgetfulness of which he still believes it to have been the duty of of other Servants of the Crown to remind them, by advice tendered in a becoming manner. Wellington, 12th August, 1878. G. Grey.