A.—2

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Enclosure 2 in No. 26. At the Court at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, the 4th day of February, 1875. Present: —The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty : Loed Chancelloe, Loed Peestdent, Loed Chamberlain. Earl of Shrewsbuey, Colonel Tayloe, Sir Henry Keating. Wheeeas by an Act passed in the session held in the fifteenth and sixteenth years of Her Majesty's reign, entitled " An Act to grant a Representative Constitution to the Colony of New Zealand," it is amongst other things declared that no Bill, which shall be 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 the said colony shall signify, either by speech or message to the Legislative Council and House of Bepresentatives 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 Bepresentatives of the said colony, entitled No. 85 of 1874, "An Act to authorize the Legislatures of Provinces in New "Zealand to empower Courts of Law to hear and determine Questions arising under the Laws of such " Provinces providing for the Construction and Maintenance of Dividing Fences," 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 Order, by and with the advice of Her Majesty's Privy Council, declare her assent to the said Bill. And the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon, one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, is to give the necessary directions accordingly. Aethub Helps.

No. 27. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (General.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 16th Eebruary, 1875. I have received Sir James Eergusson's Despatch No. 85, of the 17th November, submitting objections to the proposed withdrawal from circulation of the old British copper coin. 2. You will have already learned, from my circular despatch of the sth of December, that the period within which this coin will be received by the authorities of the Mint at its nominal value has been extended to the 30th June, 1876, which will allow a sufficient time for procuring an additional supply of bronze coins before calling in the old copper coin. 3. I would, however, remind your Government that if they are satisfied that, on account of the trouble, incidental cost, or any other local reason, it is advisable to leave this coin in circulation, there will be no objection on the part of Her Majesty's Government to such a course, but that, if the withdrawal of it be postponed beyond the later date fixed by the Treasury, the full nominal value of the coin cannot be obtained. 4. If, therefore, your Government desire to avail themselves of the Treasury proposal, they should proceed in the manner which has already been indicated in my circulars of the 27th April and sth December, issuing a proclamation decrying the coins in question, and procuring a sufficient supply of bronze coin to replace the copper, which is to be decried. 5. I have furnished Dr. Featherston with copies of the circulars and the correspondence on this subject, in order that he may, if he should deem it desirable, take advantage of the presence in this country of Mr. Vogel, and despatch at once the amount of bronze coinage which may appear to be necessary. 6. I am not aware whether your Ministers will desire to take advantage of this opportunity to withdraw the tokens now in circulation in the colony, but they are no doubt fully aware that the Mint will only be authorized to receive, at its nominal value, the British copper now decried in this country. I have, &c, CAENAEVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G, &c, &c.