TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND.

17

A.—No. Ia

impossible for me to give any adequate consideration before the departure of the mail. I infer from your telegram of the 18th December —eleven days later than the date of your latest Despatch—that the authors of the atrocities which you describe have been severely punished; and I perceive that the Colonial authorities are exerting themselves in earnest for the protection of those who depend on them. I hope that before this Despatch reaches you the efforts of the Government and the prudence and public spirit of the settlers will have placed the European population of the threatened districts in a position of comparative safety. I do not very clearly collect from your Despatches the precise limits within which the apprehension of Native disturbances is considered to exist, or the number of persons now in arms. It appears to me, at this distance, that the terrible nature of the catastrophe which has occurred leads you to overrate the magnitude of the danger to the Colony, more especially as your Ministry do not forward any request to retain Imperial troops at the expense of the Colonial Treasury, but have preferred, as I learn from Sir 11. Manners-Sutton, and, I think, very properly preferred, to send to Victoria and the other Australian Colonies for recruits. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G. GRANVILLE.

No. 26. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. Earl Granville, K.G., to Governor Sir G. P. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 14.) Downing Street, 29th January, 1869. Sm (Beceived at Wellington, 2nd April, 1869.) I have the honor to transmit to you the enclosed copy of a letter from Mr. Henry Selfe Selfe, protesting against the Act recently passed by the Legislature of New Zealand, "To provide for the Custody, Maintenance, and " Control of the Sinking Funds created as Security for the due Payment of the " Principal of Loans raised by the Government of the Colony and Provinces " respectively, and to enable a Part of such Sinking Funds, proportionate to the " Amount of the Loans converted under ' The Consolidated Loan Act, 1867,' to " be released." I have to request that you will bring Mr. Selfe's statement under the notice of your Responsible Advisers, for their consideration and report. In the meantime I shall refrain from tendering any advice to Her Majesty upon the Act in question. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. Bowen. GRANVILLE.

Enclosure in No. 26. • Mr. Selfe to Lord GbajtviMjE. Canterbury (N.Z.) Emigration Office, Mv Lobd— 16 Charing Cross, S.W., 12th January, 1869. I have the honor to submit the following statement, which I am prepared to substantiate, as embodying some of the grounds upon which I respectfully pray that Her Majesty may be advised to disallow an Act of the Colonial Legislature of New Zealand, called " The Public Debts Sinking Fund Act, 1868," passed on the 20th October last, being Act No. 74, 32 Victoria. By " The Canterbury Loan Ordinance, 1856," Session 7, No. 3, the Superintendent of Canterbury was authorized to raise a loan of £30,000 for immigration purposes. The £30,000 was raised accordingly in England, and debentures for securing the amount were issued to the persons in England who advanced the money. By section (i of the same Ordinance the Superintendent of Canterbury was bound to provide a sinking fund, first of 2 and afterwards of 4 per cent, per annum, out of the revenues of the Province, for the liquidation of the principal. By" The Lyttelton and Christchurch Bailway Loan Ordinance, 1560," Session 13, No. 1, the Superintendent of Canterbury was in like manner authorized to raise a loan of £300,000 for the construction of the railway; and there was (section 7) a similar provision for a sinking fund of 2 per cent, on the principal from time to time borrowed. £250,000 was, under this Ordinance, raised in England on debentures, the remaining £50,000 having been provided out of the current Provincial revenue, and debentures to that amount (£50,000) cancelled. By " The Canterbury Loan Ordinance, 1562," Session 19, No. 20, the Superintendent was in like 5