A.—2

14

and the British Empire generally in the Pacific, which the establishment of a separate Colonial Government in these islands will now afford, it is obviously undesirable for the present to give a decision either in favour of or against any particular schemes on so important a subject. The work on which Her Majesty's Government are thus engaged, and in which the interests of New Zealand and the Australian Colonies are so largely concerned, is one requiring so much care and attention that its success, as I feel sure your Ministers will agree with me, ought not to be in any degree jeopardized by the introduction into it of other measures and considerations, however important, by which it might be complicated. I have, &c. 5i The Officer Administering the Government CARNARVON, of New Zealand.

No. 19. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 28th November, 1874. The Administrator of a Colonial Government has recently forwarded to me a petition to the Queen in Council from one of the parties in a private suit, for leave to appeal to Her Majesty in Council from a judgment of the Supreme Court of the colony. 2. I take this opportunity to inform you that it is no part of the duty of the Governor of a colony to forward such petitions, but that they should be brought before the Lords of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council by a professional agent of the petitioner in the usual manner. 3. I have further to inform you that it is not the practice of the Judicial Committee to return any answer to such petitions until an appearance has been entered on behalf of the petitioner. 4. If, therefore, application should be made to you by a party in a private suit to transmit a petition of this nature to the Secretary of State, you will decline to do so ; and you will inform the petitioner what are the proper steps to be taken in the matter. I have, &c, CAENAEVON. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 20. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, sth December, 1874. With reference to my circular despatch of the 27th of April last, transmitting a copy of a correspondence between this department and the Treasury relative to the withdrawal of the old British copper coin from circulation in those colonies using the Imperial coinage, I have the honor to inform you, that it having been represented to me that it would be desirable to extend the period during which this coin should be received at the Mint, I suggested to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury that the period should be extended from the 31st of March next to the 30th of June, 1876, and their Lordships have expressed their willingness to sanction that date as the latest for which the Mint will be authorized to receive the coin in question at its nominal value. The copper coins which your Government may desire to return to the Imperial Mint should be carefully sorted and packed in bags, and consigned to the Crown Agents for the Colonies. A letter of advice, with full details, should accompany