A.—No. la,

TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND.

21

that they can deal with them, in contravention of section 25 of the Constitution Act ? (also unalterable). If any further explanations are desired, I shall gladly furnish them ; and if any of the Provincial Ordinances I have mentioned are not easily accessible at the Colonial Office, I shall readily supply them. I have, Sec., The Eight Honorable Earl Granville, Iv.G, Hen'ey Selfe Selfe. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 27. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. Earl Granville, K.G., to Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. IG.) Downing Street, 4th February, 1869. S IRj (Beceived at Christchurch, 24th April, 1869.) I have the honor to transmit to you, for your information, a copy of a correspondence between this office and the Admiralty, relating to the survey of the Coast of New Zealand. You will observe that while prepared to assist by advice and by the services of experienced Naval Surveying Officers, the proposed survey or re-survey of the Coast of the Colony, their Lordships are of opinion, for the reasons stated, that the whole cost of the undertaking should be borne by the Colonial Government. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G. GRANVILLE.

Enclosure 1 in No. 27. Sir F. Bogees to the Seceetaet to the Admiealty. Sie, —■ Downing Street, 12th December, 1868. I am directed by Earl Granville to transmit to you, for tho consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, an extract from a letter from Mr Fitzherbert, the Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand, expressing the wish of the Colonists that the survey of the Coast should be completed under their Lordships' directions, on the same terms as those on which a survey is being now conducted on the Coasts of Victoria and New South Wales. I have, &c, The Secretary to the Admiralty. F. Bogees.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 1 in No. 27. Extract of Memorandum from Mr. Fitzherbert, for the Secretary of Stale for the Colonies, dated 21, Cockspur Street, S.W., the 26th November, 1868. " There is a further question, which, although not directly bearing on the defence of the harbours, yet relates to it in some measure, and is therefore now brought under notice. Tho survey of the Coast of New Zealand is incomplete; and although much has been done by the Colony by the erection of Lighthouses, yet the incomplete state of the survey of the Coasts is a constant source of danger to shipping frequenting the New Zealand seas. The petition of the Colony is, that the survey of the Coast of New Zealand may be completed under the direction of the Admiralty, on the same or similar terms as those on which it is understood that a survey is now being conducted on the Coasts of Victoria and New South Wales."

Enclosure 2 in No. 27. Mr. BoiiAiNE to tho Undee Seceetaev of State, Colonial Office. Sib,— Admiralty, 29th January, 1869. I have laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your letter of the 12th December last, transmitting, by desire of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, an extract of a letter from Mr. Fitzherbert, the Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand, expressing the wish of the Colonists that the survey of the Coast should bo completed under the directions of the Admiralty on the same terms as those on which a survey is being now conducted on the Coasts of Victoria and New South Wales. Their Lordships have had under their consideration the subject of surveys and re-survc} rs, referred to in the above Despatch, and arc desirous of affording the New Zealand Government every assistance by counsel and advice, as well as by the services of experienced Naval Surveying Officers, to enable that Government to complete, and, if need be, to amend the surveys of its Coasts, the accuracy and completeness of which is of so much importance to the interests and welfare of the Colony. 6