A.—lo.

1885. NEW ZEALAND.

PAPER CURRENCY AND STATE BANK OF ISSUE (CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, DUNEDIN, RESPECTING).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. Mr. E. B. Caegill to the Hon. the Peemiee. Sie, — Chamber of Commerce, Dunedin, 20th March, 1885. I have the honour, at the instance of this Chamber, to submit for your consideration the accompanying memorial, finally adopted at a general meeting of the Chamber held yesterday, the 19th instant, and to ask your careful consideration of the subjects upon which it treats. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. . E. B. Caegill, Chairman.

Memorial of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce. The Memorial of the Chamber of Commerce, Dunedin, unto the Honourable the Premier and Members of the Government for the Colony of New Zealand, showeth : That at the annual meeting of the Chamber, held 20th August, 1884, a special Committee was appointed to consider and report as to the expediency of establishing a State Bank of Issue for the colony, and for the better regulation of banking within the colony. The said committee reported to a meeting of the Chamber held on the 20th February, 1885, when the following motion was agreed to : — "That the Chamber memorialize the Government, in order that a Parliamentary Committee may be appointed to investigate the whole subject of the currency, and the practice of banking within the colony." This resolution is therefore now brought specially under the notice of the Government, and they are respectfully requested to obtain the appointment of a Committee during the ensuing session of Parliament, for the consideration and investigation of the important subjects therein referred to. On behalf of the Chamber. Dunedin, 19th March, 1885. E. B. Caegill, Chairman.

No. 2. The Hon. the Peemiee to Mr. E. B. Cabgill. Sie, — Premier's Office, Wellington, 23rd March, 1885. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th instant, with accompanying memorial adopted at a meeting of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce on the 19th, relative to the appointment of a Parliamentary Committee to investigate the subject of the currency and the practice of banking within the colony, and in reply to inform you that the representations of the Chamber will receive due consideration by the Government. I have, &c, E. B. Cargill, Esq., Chairman, Chamber of Commerce, Dunedin. Bobeet Stout.

No. 3. The Hon. the Peemiee to Mr. E. B. Caegill. Sie, — Premier's Office, Wellington, 31st March, 1885. As I had the honour to inform you on the 23rd instant it would, the Government has considered the memorial of your Chamber relative to the appointment of a Parliamentary Committee to investigate the subject of the currency and the practice of banking within the colony. Before, however, asking Barliament to appoint a Committee, Government ought to be able to point out in what respect they think an inquiry is required. In your resolution there is no hint given of what is desired. Is it the question of bimetalism that is to be discussed, or the substitution of a