Circular addressed to the Governors of the adjacent Colonies. Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 18th December, 1848.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 276, 20 January 1849, Page 3

Circular addressed to the Governors of the adjacent Colonies. Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 18th December, 1848.

Sir,—T have the honour to address you on a matter, which, though somewhat unusual as to the lubject of official correspondence, you will probably defm of suffi-.ient importance to warrant the request I am directed to make in connection with it. An impression appearing to have been produced in lome of the Colonies in the neighbourhood of New Zealand, that the consequences or the shocks of earth, quake litely experienced here have bpen of a much more severe character than was really the case, his Excellency the Governor*in-Chief consider! it to be his duty to take every means in his power to correct that erroneous impression, and to diffuse, as widely as possible, s knowledge of the actual circumstances. With thi* object in view, Sir George Grey directs me to requejt you will muvj his Excell ncy to be good enough to give publicity to the following facts ;—'viz., that the detriment 1 effects of the occurrences above alkded to weie confined almost entirely to dumnge done to the brii k buildings and erections in tins town, which formeJ a very small proportion of the whole; that all traces of these effects are already fast disappearing! and w.ll very scon lie hardly discernible; that public confidence is completely restored j and that all commercial and other operations have long since b«n jesumed and carried on wi h their usual activity. A detailed account of the effects of the earthquakes, and of the previous state of the damaged houses, will be found in a Report published in the New Zealand Government Gazttte, a copy of which I have the honor tj enclose for the information of his Excellency. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant, Alfred Domktt, Colonial Sec. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary.