A.—l

2

No. 4. I (No. 45.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord, — New Zealand, 12th August, 1881. In compliance with the instructions contained in your Lordship's despatch (general) of the 17th March, I have the honor to return herewith for defacement the Seal of the Colony, which has lately been replaced by a new one. 2. At the same time I have the honor to transmit the copy of a memorandum addressed to me by the Premier, Mr. Hall, on the subject of the proposed restoration to the colony of this seal after it has been defaced. I have, &e.j ARTHUR GORDON. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Reply. A-2, No. 5.

Enclosure in No. 4. Memobandtjm for His Excellency. The Premier presents his respectful compliments to the Governor; and has the honor to inform His Excellency that the new Seal of the Colony, respecting which there has been correspondence with the Imperial Government, has now been received, together with the press, &c, and is being used with complete satisfaction. The old seal is forwarded herewith for transmission to the Colonial Office, that it may be defaced in compliance with Her Majesty's warrant authorizing the new seal to be used. In his despatch enclosing the warrant, Lord Kimberley stated that the Lord President of the Council had directed that the old seal should be presented to the Colonial Government after it had been defaced. The Premier desires to acknowledge this ready compliance with the wish of the Government that the defaced seal should be returned to New Zealand, to the people of which it must continue to be of interest, not alone as the first Seal of the Colony under Representative Government, but as a gift from the Queen, forwarded by Her Most Gracious Majesty with the Constitution Act in 1852. Wellington, 12th August, 1882. John Hall.

No. 5. (No. 53.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord, — New Zealand, 22nd August, 1881. I have the honor to enclose the copy of a memorandum of the Premier, Mr. Hall, giving cover to a memorandum by the local Solicitor-General with respect to the inability of the New Zealand Assembly to pass a Bill "to provide for the execution of warrants of apprehension issued in other colonies." 2. This subject has already been referred to in Sir Hercules Robinson's Despatch No. 11, of the 10th March, 1880, and in your Lordship's Despatch No. 20, of the 24th July, 1880. I have, &c, ARTHUR GORDON. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Reply. A-2, No. IX.

Enclosure in No. 5. Memorandum for His Excellency. The Premier presents his respectful compliments to His Excellency the G-overnor. 2. The Intercolonial Conference, recently held in Sydney, considered the Bill prepared hy the Government of Victoria " to provide for the Execution of "Warrants of Apprehension issued in other Colonies ;" and, having revised it, the Conference resolved that its members should endeavour, in their several colonies, to have the Bill passed into law. 3. The Bill was accordingly submitted to the Solicitor-General; and that officer, by a memorandum which is enclosed, has advised the Government that, according to a late judgment of the Supreme Court it is beyond the powers of the New Zealand Assembly to pass such a law. 4. The attention of the Imperial Government has already been called to the subject; and the Solicitor-General's memorandum is now forwarded to His Excellency, with the view of that Government being again moved to initiate legislation, by which alone, as it appears, the serious evils that have been pointed out can be remedied. Wellington, June 11, 1881. John Hall.