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2. I drew the attention of Taingakawa (who presented the Petition in person) to the fact that no reasons were given in support of the Petitioners' prayer, and warned him that the Petition was practically valueless without such particulars. 3. In reply he informed me that he had been instructed to have the Petition forwarded at once, but that he hoped shortly to send a document in further explanation. 4. In conformity with the Royal Instructions, I therefore transmit this Petition and with it a copy of a memorandum from my Government relating thereto. I have, &c, The Earl of Elgin, PLUNKET. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosures. To His Most Gracious Majesty King Edward the Seventh, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the British dominions beyond the seas. May it please Your Majesty,— We, the undersigned aboriginal Natives of New Zealand, humbly pray, — That Your Majesty, who now sits on the throne, to hold fast to the provisions and covenants established by your late mother for her Maori people in the year 1840, under the Treaty of Waitangi and "The Constitution Act, 1852," will exercise your power of disallowing "The Maori Land Settlement Act, 1905," and " The Maori Land Settlement Act Amendment Act, 1906," as such laws, together with several others made by the Parliament of New Zealand, are contrary to the terms and provisions confirmed to the Maori by the said treaty and the said " Constitution Act, 1852," above referred to. And your Maori subjects will ever pray. God save the King. T. Taingakawa te Waharoa.

Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 3rd September, 1907. The Prime Minister presents his compliments, and, in reply to His Excellency's memorandum (No. 53) of the 30th August, respecting the petition to His Majesty to disallow certain Native Acts, begs to observe that the Acts in question are in conflict neither with the Constitution Act nor the Treaty of Waitangi. They are the deliberate expression of the will of Parliament on matters well within its constitutional powers. The petition is returned herewith, and His Excellency will observe that it does not indicate in what respects the Acts in question are unconstitutional. The Prime Minister had no objection to the petition being forwarded, but suggests that a copy of this memorandum be sent with it. J. G. Ward.

No. 15. (No. 73.) My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 16th September, 1907. I have been requested by the Rev. Dr. James Gibb, on behalf of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the Colony, to forward to Your Lordship, for transmission to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the enclosed letter. 2. The request made is that certain clergymen should be appointed Chaplains to the Fleet, so that the Presbyterian Church should have the same opportunities that obtain with the Anglican and Methodist Churches, and be able to minister to the needs of their co-religionists on board His Majesty's Ships at the four principal ports of New Zealand. 3. If this reauest can be granted under the present regulations, I desire to support the application. I have, &c, The Earl of Elgin, PLUNKET. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

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