THE GOVERNOR'S REPLY TO THE SUPERINTENDENTAL TELEGRAMS.

Evening Star, Issue 4253, 13 October 1876, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR'S REPLY TO THE SUPERINTENDENTAL TELEGRAMS.

[Bi Telsgbafh.]

The following is a precis of papers laid on the table of both Houses last night by command. The first is a copy of a despatch from the Governor to the Secretary of State, dated June, 1875, covering a letter from Sir George Grey. The Governor shows by incontrovertible evidence that Sir George Grey's apprehensions about the bombardment of Auckland originated with himself in 1875, in a conversation with Mr J. M. Dargaville, of Auckland, long before the Abolition Bill was thought of. His Excellency says, " Sir George Grey, when he wrote this letter to your Lordship, must have been perfectly aware of the fact that the Government of a Colony have no control whatever over Her Majesty's forces, and that they could, under no circumstances, be brought into action except through the intervention of the Governor himself. To suppose, therefore, that it could be possible for Her Majesty's snips to be used for the purpose of cannonading the City of Auckland, he must, in the first place, have presumed that I had entirely lest my senses before I could be induced to make such a requisition to the officer in command of Her Majesty's hhips; and, in the second, that that officer must have been equally mad to comply with it." As to the ultra vires point of view of the Abolition Bill, the Governor-says "That the Legislature has power, under the authority of the Imperial Parliament) to make the change propoled by the Abolition Act is, I think, amply proved bv the fact that your Lordship has informed me that Her Majesty will not be advised to disallow it."

Yesterday (he Governor sent the following cablegram to the Secretary of State :

Wellington, October 12. The Superintendents of Auckland and Otago hare sent telegrams to your Lordship direct, forwarding copies to me, and those copies havo been laid by me before Parliament. Ministers advise there is no reason to fear the consequences predicted, in which I entirely concur. The Counties Bill to replace the Provinces passed the Lower House by a large majority, and the second reading passed the Legislative Council without a division.—Nokjianby. Earl Caraavon, Colonial Office, London.