ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S OPINION ON THE POWER TO ABOLISH PROVINCES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 197, 9 August 1875, Page 2

ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S OPINION ON THE POWER TO ABOLISH PROVINCES.

The following correspondence was laid on the table of the House on Thursday: — 'Wellington, August 2, 1875; bin— A statement has been made by Sir George Grey, the member for Auckland City West, ia liia place in Parliament, thityou have given an opinion as to the power of the General Assembly to abolish the provinces different from that given by yon as Attorney General on the Ist December, -.1874, and laid on the table of the House this session. "As the Government is unable to find any such opinion on record, I. shall be murh oblwed if you will be good enough to say whether you ever did give such different opinion; and if you did, on what occasion and to whom sach opinion was given and whether it wna given before or after the passing of the 31 :and 32 Viet. " The Government assumes that you will have no objection to this letter and 5 our reply being laid on the table of the House.— "I have, &c, «„. rT "Clr.vlll.Ks C. Boavbx. "His Honor tha Chief Justice."

The following is Mr- Prendergast'a reply:— ,/,.. " Wellington, August 2. Mr dear Me. Bowhn — I am not conscious of having ever entertained or expressed, while Attorney-General, an opinion on the effect of the 31 and 32 Viet., c 9?, other than thai it gave to the New Zealand J^gislature or recognised that tint Legislature had the power to abolish any or all the provmcea. I feel sure, therefore, that Sir l*. brrey must have been misinformed.. "I have, &c, "(Signed) James Piusndergast. ' The Hon C Bowen."