A.—No. Ia

24

DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE

No. 76. —An Act for raising the sum of Seventy-eight thousand pounds (£78,000) by Treasury Bills, and to authorize the issue of Treasury Bills in the place of Treasury Bills issued under " The Treasury Bills Act, 1866." I have, &c, Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G. GRANVILLE.

No. 31. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. Earl Granville, E.G., to Governor Sir G. P. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 23.) Downing Street, 23rd February, 1869. Su> 5 — (Beceived at Wellington, via Auckland, 2nd May, 1869.) With reference to my Despatch No. 14, of the 29th ultimo, forwardingcopy of a letter from Mr. Selfe protesting against the Act recently passed by the Legislature of New Zealand, entitled "The Public.Debts Sinking Fund Act, 1868," I have the honor to transmit to you a copy of a further Protest against this Act which has been received from Mr. P. Braithwaite. I have, &c., Governor Sir G. P. Bowen, K.C.M.G. GRANVILLE.

Enclosure in No. 31. Messrs. Fostee and Bbaitiiwaite to Earl Gbaxville. 27, Austin Friars, London. My Loed, — 9th February, 1869. As holders on account of our friends of certain New Zealand 8 per cent, debentures, bearing date Ist July, 1862, issued under the authority of the Provincial Council of Wellington, aud understanding that by an Act of the Colonial Legislature of New Zealand, called "The Public Debts Sinking Fund Act, 1868," passed on the 20th October last, being No. 74, 32nd Victoria, it is proposed to authorize the General Government of the Colony to take possession of and appropriate as it may think fit the several sinking funds set aside by the different Provincial Governments for the repayment of their debts, we beg respectfully to urge on your Lordships that Her Majesty may be advised to disallow the said Act, as unjust to the holders of the said debentures, to whom we submit the sinking funds belong, until the several Provincial Loans are repaid. To the Bight Hon. Earl Granville, KG, We have, Ac, Secretary of State for the Colonies. Fostee and Bbaithwaite.

No. 32. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. Earl Granville, K.G., to Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 20.) Downing Street, 24th February, 1869. gill (Beceived at Wellington, via Auckland, 2nd May, 1869.) I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch, No. 124, of the sth December, forwarding a Petition to the Queen from the Wives, Mothers, and Daughters of the Settlers and Inhabitants of the Town and District of Wanganui, praying that Her Majesty would direct that the efforts of the loyal and well-affected of both races in that District and Island may be speedily supplemented by the aid of Imperial Troojis. I request that you will cause the subscribers of the Address to be informed that it has been laid before the Queen. Her Majesty feels warm sympathy with her faithful subjects who have been sufferers in New Zealand, but I was unable to advise Her Majesty to give any directions with regard to the special request contained in the Memorial. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. P. Bowen, G.C.M.G. GRANVILLE.