3

A.—s

No. 7. His Excellency the Goveenob to Ministees. Memorandum for Ministers. Me. Hall has forwarded|[to the Governor the enclosed petition, signed by Sir George Grey and five other members of the House of Eepresentatives, praying that the General Assembly of New Zealand may be called together before the close of the present financial year. His Excellency desires to receive the advice of Ministers as to the answer which should, in their opinion, be returned to this petition. 10th February, 1882. A. H. G.

No. 8. Ministers to His Excellency the Goteenoe. Memorandum for Sis Excellency. Ministees present their respectful compliments to the Governor; and return herewith the memorial signed by six members of the House of Eepresentatives, which was forwarded with His Excellency's memorandum of the 10th instant. 2. The prayer of the memorialists is, that His Excellency will be pleased to summon Parliament to meet before the 31st of March, for the despatch of business. 3. His Excellency has already, upon the advice of Ministers, prorogued Parliament to Tuesday, the 3rd of April; and, in the opinion of Ministers, nothing has since then occurred, nor is anything likely to occur, to make it desirable that Parliament should be summoned for an earlier date. 4. When the question of further prorogation has to be dealt with, it will be the duty of Ministers to consider the circumstances of the country ; and, should there then appear to be reason for the meeting of Parliament prior to the time contemplated by the Public Eevenues Act Amendment Act of last session, Ministers will have the honor of advising His Excellency accordingly. 5. Ministers now respectfully advise that His Excellency's reply to the memorialists be to the above "effect. H. A. Atkinson, Wellington, February 15th, 1882. In the absence of the Premier.

No. 9. The Colonial Secbetaby to Sir Geobge Geey, &c. Gentlemen, — Government Offices, Wellington, February 17th, 1882. I have the honor to inform you that your memorial to the Governor, which was forwarded through the Premier, asking that His Excellency would be pleased, for reasons therein stated, to summon the members of the new Parliament, for despatch of business, before the expiration of the present financial year, was referred by the Governor for consideration by Ministers; and that His Excellency has now directed that a reply be sent to you. 2. Parliament has already, upon the advice of Ministers, been prorogued to Tuesday, April 3rd. In the opinion of Ministers, nothing has since then occurred, nor is anything likely to occur, to make it desirable that Parliament should be summoned for an earlier date. 3. The question of further prorogation will soon have to be dealt with. It will then be the duty of Ministers to consider the circumstances of the country ; and, should there appear to be reason for the meeting of Parliament prior to the time contemplated by the Public Bevenues Act Amendment Act of last session, Ministers will have the honor of advising His Excellency accordingly. I have, &c, Sir George Grey, X.C.8., M.H.E., Thomas Dick. F. J. Moss, Esq., M.H.E., And the other memorialists.

Authority : Geobge Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB2.