A.—No. 1.

MEMORANDA BETWEEN HIS EXCELLENCY

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sations reflecting indirectly upon His Excellency's own character, and upon those of his Responsible Advisers, Ministers, in deference to his wishes, and having in view the welfare of the public service, rather than any consideration of what might be justly due to themselves, have replied to the accusation, and at the same time have abstained from urging that the charges should be supported by the name of their accuser ; but in this instance the case is different. They cannot request a gentleman of the position of Sir "William Martin to undertake an investigation into the conduct of a public servant appointed by His Excellency on the recommendation of their predecessors to high and important trusts, upon simple rumours. Nor would it be just, or conducive to the public interests, that Dr. Featherston, or any other gentleman serving the Government in any capacity, should be arraigned on the charge of having carried out a purchase, or performed any other official act, in a " discreditable manner," without being able to furnish him with the name of his accuser, and with the specific grounds upon which the accusation rests. Ministers therefore request that His Excellency will furnish them with the requisite information, and that he will signify his approval of the appointment of Sir "William Martin, or suggest the name of any other gentleman that h.e may think more eligible, as Commissioner to inquire into the facts of the "Waitotara purchase. I\ A. Weld. Wellington, 18th March, 1865.

No 24. MEMORANDUM by Ministees. The Governor having communicated Lieut.-G-eneral Sir D. A. Cameron's letter of 12th June, 1865, to his Responsible Advisers, they request that His Excellency will draw the attention of the Imperial Government to the serious injury to the Public Service, resulting from the refusal of the Lieut.-General to communicate to the Governor, as requested by His Excellency, the nature of the inquiries he had made regarding the purchase of the Waitotara block, and his reason for believing it to have been an iniquitous job. No consideration regarding the Waitotara block has at all influenced the policy of Ministers. They have in no case advised an appeal to force upon any question of disputed title. Their policy is and always has been diametrically opposed to any such proceeding, believing as they do that such questions should be decided by judicial action. It is unfortunate that the course taken by Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron precludes the possibility of any satisfactory investigation into the conduct of the Land Commissioner. The Lieut.-General refuses to afford information as to the grounds upon which he entertains the belief that wrong has been done; as to the nature or extent of the wrong itself; regarding the person or persons whom he may consider to have been wronged ; —thus effectually preventing redress being extended to the injured (if injured persons there be), or an opportunity of self-justification being given to the Land Purchase Commissioner, whose character and position is at stake. Ministers confidently rely upon the justice of the Imperial Government for the defence against secret accusations ; but it is nevertheless their duty to protest against the refusal of Lieut.-General Sir Duncan Cameron to furnish to the Colonial Government information of a political character affecting the interests of the people of this Colony ; —a refusal which may perpetuate some possible injustice which, if known, might be prevented or redressed. Ebed. A. Weld. Wellington, 10th July, 1865.

No. 25. MEMOEANDTTM by Ministers. Ministers observe from His Excellency's Despatch Book, sent to them on the 3rd instant, that in a letter to the Eight Honorable Edward Cardwell, of the 7th ultimo, enclosing a petition from the inhabitants of Auckland on the question of Separation, accompanied by a Memorandum of explanation and arguments, that His Excellency mentions that he reserves his remarks on the petition at the request of his Eesponsible Advisers until they have had an opportunity of making their observations on it. Ministers have made inquiries from the Minister of Defence, at whose request His Excellency reserved his remarks, and he observes that His Excellency did not give him a copy of the documents in question, neither do they appear to have been referred, as usual, to Ministers. Under these circumstances, Ministers regret they cannot take any action in time for this mail, and request His Excellency to furnish a copy of the documents at his earliest convenience. Wanganui, Bth March, 1865. Feed. A. "Weld.

Extract from letter of His Excellency the Governor to Lieut.-Q-eneral Cameron, dated 16th December, . 1864 :— "The objects which , the Government is anxious to attain at ' those places, or in !

No. 26. MEMOEANDUM by Ministebs. Ministers have considered the correspondence between the Governor and Lieut.-General Sir D. A. Cameron, which has been laid before them by His Excellency on his return from Auckland. They thank the Governor for his vindication of the right of Ministers to defend their policy and the honor of the Colony from attack with all the publicity that they may think fit, —a right essential to Constitutional Government, and the exercise of which, in this case, was a duty and a necessity.