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would be preferable that the works should be carried on by the Government. It has therefore been decided to take over the works at once; and, as a Board is necessary under the existing Act, and also desirable as a Board of Trust, in order to conserve the funds for this work as distinct from any other funds over which the Government has got control, it has been decided to appoint a Board of Government officers, who will, however, act merely formally under the instructions of the Public Works Department. Feeling sure that the members of the present Board will be willing to assist the Government in carrying out what they believe to be for the best interests of the locality and the colony at large, I have therefore now the honour to request that the present Board will aid the Government in carrying out their proposals, by placing their resignations in the hands of the Minister of Marine. While making this request that the members of the Board would send in their resignations, I would wish at the same time to convey to the Board my thanks for the services which they have rendered to the colony whilst acting on its behalf." I have, &c, G. F. Richabdson, The Chairman, Harbour Board, Greymouth. Minister for Public Works.

The Chairman, Greymouth Harbour Board, to the Hon. G. F. Richardson. (Telegram.) Greymouth, 21st March, 1888. Owing- to absence of members, Board cannot consider Government request re resignation before Monday night. Eiciiaed Nancaeeow, The Hon. G. F. Richardson, Wellington. Chairman, Harbour Board.

The Hon. the Ministee for Public Works to the Chaiiuian, Greymouth, Harbour Board. (Telegram.) Wellington, 22nd March, 1888. I would bo much obliged if you will let me have reply as to resignation of Board to-day, if possible, or at latest to-morrow. I very much regret delay in carriage of letter, and having consequently to press' for reply with probably inconvenient haste ; but there are reasons why it is necessary that new arrangements should come into operation at botli Westport and Greymouth before the end of the present month, and hence cause for urgency. The Chairman, Harbour Board, Greymouth. E. Mitchelson.

The Hon. tho Minister for Public Works to the Chaieman, Groymouth Harbour Board. (Telegram.) Wellington, 22nd March, 1888. Presuming that your Board decides to resign, I find since writing you on the 6th instant that the more regular way for members of Board to resign would be in terms of section thirty-eight of the Harbours Act, seventy-eight, that is to say, that the members of the Board should send in their resignations addressed to the Chairman, and that the Chairman, as a member of the Board, should then send in his resignation, also addressed to the Chairman, and if you will have this done I would be obliged. The Chairman, Greymouth Harbour Board. E. Mitchelson.

The Seceetaey, Greymouth Harbour Board, to the Hon. the Ministee for Public Woeks. (Telegram.) Greymouth, 22nd March, 1888. lam directed by the Chairman to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of to-day. Letter of sixth of March only arrived this morning. Chairman regrets that it is impossible to get a meeting of the Board before Monday next. F. W. Lahmann, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. Secretary, Harbour Board.

The Seceetaey, Greymouth Harbour Board, to the Ministee having charge of the Maeine Department. Hon. Minister of Marine, Wellington. Greymouth, 27th March, 1888. I am directed by the Chairman to transmit to you the following resolution passed by the Board at its meeting last night; also to inform you that Mr. Petrie handed in his resignation to the Chairman : "That the Board, after careful consideration of the important communication made to it by the Government asking the Board to resign in a body, does not see its way to acquiesce, for the following reasons: Firstly, the Greymouth Harbour Board Act, and under which the Board was created, is a separate measure, and distinct and apart from the Westport Harbour Act. Secondly, that the individual appointments of members of the Board are made by His Excellency the Governor on the advice of His Excellency's advisers, vide section 4, ' Greymouth Harbour Act, 1884 ;' the same power to remove any individual member rests with the Governor, it is presumed on the advice of His Excellency's advisers ; and it is only reasonable to •expect that strong grounds must exist before such an extreme step would be advised. Thirdly, by the Board passing a resolution to resign in a body it would, as it were, be doing that which, under clause 13 of the Greymouth Harbour Act, Parliament alone has the power—namely, declaring the works to be colonial works, and might be construed as recommending Parliament to dissolve the Board, and that the Board admitted maladministration or incompetency, or, on the other hand, that the Board desire local control and administration, together with the district's valuable endowments, to be taken away." F. W. Lahmann, Secretary, Harbour Board.

The Assistant Seceetaey, Marine Department, to the Secbetaby, Greymouth Harbour Board. (Telegram.) Wellington, 27th March, 1888. Minister directs me to inform you that Governor in Council has removed all the members of