■A.—No. 5

No. 15. His Excellency the Govebnoe to the Eight Hon. the Secretahy of State for the Colonies. Sib, — Government House, Auckland, 7th February, 1865. I have the honor herewith to transmit a petition addressed to Her Majesty by the Northern Members of the Legislative Council and of the House of Eepresentatives of the General Assembly of New Zealand, praying that the Northern portion of these Islands, occupied by the great bulk of the Native population, may be created temporarily into a separate Colony, \inder such a form of Government as may enable Her Majesty to protect the rights, to secure the safety, and to promote the welfare of both races of Her Majesty's subjects. 2. The enclosed letter from Mr. Cox which accompanies this petition shows that all the Northern Members of the House of Eeprcsentatives but three have signed this petition, and that their names will be shortly attached to it. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Edward Cardwell, M.P. G. Geey. Enclosure to No. 15. Secbetaby of the Nobtheen Association to His Excellency the Governoe. Sib, — Northern Association Office, Fort Street, Auckland, 7th February, 1865. I have the honor, with reference to the petition from the Members of the General Assembly, presented to your Excellency by a deputation of the Council of the Northern Association, to call your Excellency's attention to the fact that three of the Members of the House of Eepresentatives have not signed the petition. In explanation, I have to state that Messrs. Butler and Mason had requested Mr. Eussell to sign on their behalf; but it was thought advisable that no signatures should be attached, except by Members personally. Neither of these gentlemen, nor Mr. Munro, have been in Auckland since the petition has been drawn up : Mr. Mason being at Dunedin, in Otago, Mr. Munro at Wangarei, and Captain Butler at Mongonui. It will be seen, on reference to the division list upon the Eesolutions proposed in both Houses of the General Assembly on the 6th December last, that the Separation Movement received the support of the before-mentioned gentlemen. There is, therefore, every reason to believe that these gentlemen would have signed had an opportunity been offered them. I have, &c, E. J. Cox, His Excellency Sir G. Grey, K.C.B. Honorary Secretary. No. 16. His Excellency the Goyeenob to the Eight Hon. the Secbetaey of State for the Colonies. Sib, — Government House, Auckland, 7th February, 1865. I have the honor herewith to transmit a petition from the inhabitant s of the Province of Auckland, earnestly praying Her Majesty to temporarily constitute the Northern portion of this Island into a separate Colony. This petition (see enclosure) has already received 7920 signatures, whilst the signatures to it from the out-settlements have not yet been received. This petition is accompanied by a Memorandum which was placed in my hands by a deputation of the leading men in this Province, in which they explain in detail the reasons which have made them address this petition to the Throne. 2. My Eesponsible Advisers (see enclosure) have asked me to reserve my remarks on this petition until I have first received those which they wish to make on it. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Edward Cardwell, M.P. G. Geey. Enclosure 1 to No. 16. Secbetaey of the Noethebtt Association to His Excellency the Goyeenoe. Sib, — Northern Association Office, Fort Street, Auckland, 7th February, 18G5. I have the honor to state, for the information of your Excellency, that the petition to Her Majesty the Queen from the inhabitants of the Province of Auckland, presented to your Excellency yesterday for transmission to Her Majesty, containing seven thousand nine hundred and twenty signatures, is still incomplete. This arises from the remoteness of many of the settlements, and the scattered nature of the population, together with the uncertainty of the postal communication. I have also to state that, so far as I am aware, nearly all the male adult population of this Province will sign the petition, if a reasonable time be afforded them. It is expected that the greater portion of these signatures will arrive in town before the departure of the March mail, and I have the honor to request that your Excellency will be pleased to receive and forward such additional signatures. I have, &c, E. J. Cox, His Excellency Sir G. Grey, K.C.B. Honorary Secretary. Enclosure 2 to No. 16. MEMORANDUM for His Excellency the Goyebnob. As the Petitioners are desirous that the petition should go home by the mail closing this day, and being the only Minister at present at Auckland (my colleagues having gone to the Seat of Government at Wellington), it will be impossible that any remarks Ministers may wish to make can accompany this petition. I beg therefore respectfully to request that your Excellency will be pleased to reserve your own remarks upon this question, until you have received those of your Eesponsible Advisers, which shall be made with as little delay as possible. Colonial Defence Office, Auckland, 7th February, 1865. H. A. Atkinson. B

No-: 25. Mr. Cox to Sir G. Grey, 7th Feb., 1865.

No, 20. Petition. Mr. Cox to Sir GK Grey, 7th Fob., 1865. Hem. by Northern Association, 6th Feb., 1865. Mem. by Major Atkinson, 7th Feb. 1865.

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ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.