6

Auckland, June 22, 1854. Sir, I received and perused with a peculiar attention the esteemed letter you wrote to oie yesterday according to the wishes of the select Committee over which you preside, to consider and report on the best form of secondary punishment in lieu of transportation. In reply, I beg to state to you and to the honourable members of your select Committee, that I will feel most happy to comply with your common request and indulgent confidence whenever my pastoral duties will allow me to do it, and in the manner it may please the Committee, for the matters concerning a system of curative punishment which charity, mercy, and prudence may suggest for the moral benefit of the persons who fall into iniquity and in the hands of civil justice. Wherefore to peruse the documents or statements you would be pleased to hand over to me ; to write or to say orally what I think about their contents ; or even to give you some previous notes by writing on these subjects, and to go to your Committee and give the explanations you may wish to have on my part, —I will be glad to do it for co-operating in your so very laudable efforts towards the temporal and religious good of the poor prisoners. As for the present, I have nothing prepared by writing on the subject of your letter, but in a few days can supply you with some general observations and information about the matter. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, Bt. Pompallier, Bishop of Auckland. E. J. Wakefield n Esq., Auckland.

Copy. House of Representatives, 21 June, 18.54. Sir, I have the honour to request that you will direct that the following documents be supplied at as early a date as possible, for the information of the select Committee appointed by this House, " to consider the best form of secondary punishment in lieu of transportation," viz : — 1. A return of all criminals sentenced by the Supreme Court of New Zea - land, specifying the nature of their offences and punishments for the last two years ending on the sth inst. 2. Copies of any despatches received by the Government from, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the subject of substituting any punishment for transportation. 3. Copies of any London Gazette, or other documents in the possession of the Government, containing any information respecting the recent establishment of a system of penal servitude in England for a, term of years, in lieu of transportation to the Colonies. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, E. J. Wakefield, To the hon. the C010.i.l Secret,,-,. Chaitma ° ° f Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 24th June, 1854. Sir, In accordance with the request contained in the 2nd paragraph of your letter ot the 21st inst., I have the honour by direction of the Officer admi-