TO THE GOVERNOR OP NEW ZEALAND.

53

A.—No. 1.

amongst other things, declared that no Bill which shall bo reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon shall have any force or authority within the Colony of New Zealand until the Governor of tho said Colony shall signify, either by speech or message to the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said Colony, or by proclamation, that such Bill has been laid before Her Majesty in Council, and that Her Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same: And whereas a certain Bill, passed by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said Colony, entitled " An Act to enable Provincial Legislatures to pass laws authorizing the compulsory taking of lands for works of a public nature," was presented to the officer administering the Government of the said Colony for Her Majesty's assent: And whereas the said Bill, was reserved by the said officer for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon: And whereas the said Bill, so reserved as aforesaid, has been laid before Her Majesty in Council, and it is expedient that the said Bill should be assented to by Her Majesty: Now therefore, Her Majesty, in pursuance of the said Act, and in exercise of the power thereby reserved to Her Majesty as aforesaid, doth by this present by Order, and with the advice of Her Majesty's Privy Council, declare Her assent to the said Bill. And the Most Noble the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, is to give the necessary directions herein accordingly. Arthur Helps.

No. 55. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Duke of Buckingham to Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B. (No. 44.) Sir,— Downing Street, 27th July, 1867. I forwarded to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury a copy of your Despatch, No. 44, of the 27th of April, drawing attention to the discrepancy between the Returns of the Importation of Gold into this country from New Zealand, which are published by the Commissioners of Customs, and those published by your Government. I enclose for your own information, and for that of your .Responsible Advisers, a copy of an explanatory report on the subject from the Commissioners of Customs, which has been received from the Board of Treasury.. have &c. BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS. Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B.

Enclosure in No. 55. Mr. Law to the Under Seceetaet for the Colonies. Sib,— Treasury Chambers, 23rd July, 1867. I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to transmit to you herewith, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with reference to your letter of the 8th instant, copy of a report from the Commissioners of Customs, as to the discrepancy between the gold returns published in England and those in New Zealand. I am, &c, The Under Secretary of State for the Colonies. William Law. Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 55. To the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury. Your Lordships having referred to us the annexed letter from Sir Frederic Rogers, dated 8th instant, transmitting, by desire of the Duke of Buckingham and Chaudos, copy of a Despatch from the Governor of New Zealand, enclosing a Memorandum by his Responsible Advisers, drawing attention to the discrepancy between the returns of the importation of gold into this country from New Zealand which are published in England by the Board, and those published by the Colonial Government : We report that the discrepancy between the account of gold imported into this country from New Zealand as published under the authority of this Board, and the account of gold exported from New Zealand to this country as published by the Colonial Government of that Colony, is explained by the fact that much of the gold obtained in New Zealand does not come directly from that Colony to this country, but is shipped from New Zealand to Australia, and brought from thence to this country; and as all foreign imports into this country can only be recorded in the books of this department as being imported from the port and country abroad at which they have been shipped for the United Kingdom, gold, the produce of New Zealand, coming to this country through Australia, can only be classified and treated as gold from Australia, as stated in the annexed Despatch from the Governor of New Zealand. We are unable to suggest the adoption of any course whereby the discrepancy in the returns referred to may be obviated. J. GOTTLBTTRIT, Custom House, 16th July, 1867. E. W. Grey. 14