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Report of Select Committee on Mr. Grimstone's Petition. Your Committee acknowledge, that, according to the principle ef compensation for loss of office through changes in the Government, which has been laid down by the Imperial Authorities, acted upon in the neighbouring Colonies, and proposed to be introduced into New Zealand, Mr. Grimstone's case appears to be entitled to the most favorable consideration. But your Committee, when considering the application of this principle to Mr. Grimstone's case, as involving a claim on the new Government of the Province of Wellington, are met by difficulties which they are unable to surmount; they cannot therefore recommend that the claim should be admitted as against this Province, but considering the extreme hardship of the case, as appears by the correspondence submitted to them, they feel bound to recommend that the Council should express an opinion in favour of the claim, as agaiust the General Government, which they submit might be done by a Resolution of Council approving of this Report. (Signed) George Moore, Chairman. A true Copy, (Signed) H. S. Harrison, Esq., Clerk of Council.

Extract from proceedings of Provincial Council of Wellington, on the 23rd December, 1853, in reference to Mr. Grimstone's claim to compensation for loss of office. Mr. Moore, as Chairman of Committee on Mr. Grimstone's case, brought up his Report and moved, in order to propose, without previous notice, its adoption by the Council, the suspension of Standing Order 84. Suspension agreed to. On the motion of Mr. Moore, seconded by the Provincial Secretary. Report read and adopted. (Signed) Chas. Clifford, Speaker. Compared. (Signed) 11. S. Harrison, Clerk of Council,

Wellington, 24th December, 1853. Sir, —I have the honor to forward for your Excellency's information a certified Report of the Select Committee of the Council of this Province, on a Petition presented on my behalf by Mr. Moore, and supported by Messrs. E. Gibbon Wakefield, Ludlam, and Brown, praying to be awarded compensation for the loss of the appointment which I lately held under the Government of New Munster, occasioned by the introduction of the Constitution recently granted to this Colony by the Imperial Parliament. Your Excellency will not fail to perceive by the Report that the claim has been fully recognized by the Council, but objected to so far as the Province of Wellington alone is concerned, the opinion of the majority of the members being, that the amount of compensation should be defrayed from the funds at the command of the General Government, although in a statement which I submitted for the perusal of the Council. I imagined I had contended successfully that the liability undoubtedly rested with Government of this Province, —it having been the seat of the late Government of New Munster, at which it must be evident the greatest portion of the public business was transacted. Wellington enjoyed advantages, in this respect, over the other Settlements in this part of New Zealand; and should therefore I conceive bear the responsibility of compensating those officers who may have been deprived of employment in the Public Service ; by the operation of the new system of Government, which was earnestly solicited more particularly by the Colonists of Wellington. Moreover, the adoption of the Report by the Provincial Government, is I would submit to your Excellepcy a,tacit acknowledgment that this Province is at least proportionately liable; the General Revenue being derived from the receipts of the Several Provinces. But the payment of compensation which I seek to obtain, having been refused by the Province of Wellington, I respectfully beg to refer your Excellency to the letters addressed to me by the Civil Secretary,