25

A.—2

No. 32. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Eari of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 21.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 25th Eebruary, 1875. I have the honor to inform you that Her Majesty has been pleased, on my recommendation, to give directions for the appointment of Mr. Walter Lawry Buller, the author of " The Birds of New Zealand," to the dignity of a Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, in consideration of the ability and attainments displayed in that work. I have, &c, CAENAEVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. K.C.M.G., &c, &c.

No. 33. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 25.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 22nd March, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 103, of the 22nd of December, enclosing a letter addressed to me by the Superintendent of the Province of Auckland, with a petition which he had received from Sir George Grey, dated the 4th November, having reference to the appropriation of the fund arising from the sale of Crown lands within the Colony of New Zealand. 2. You also enclose a memorandum by Dr. Pollen, who is now acting as leader of the New Zealand Government, respecting the statements contained in Sir George Grey's petition. 3. It is my duty to observe that the Superintendent of the Province of Auckland acted irregularly in addressing Her Majesty's Government direct; and that the usual (as it is also the most convenient) course would have been to transmit the petition through the Governor. 4. I had previously received a copy of another petition from Sir George Grey to your predecessor, dated the 14th October, with respect to the measures which he apprehended were being rapidly pushed on for the abolition of Provincial Institutions in New Zealand. 5. You will have the goodness to cause Sir George Grey to be informed that I have read both his petitions with the attention which is due to any communication from him, and that, while I differ very widely from many of the views and opinions to which he has given expression, I do not think it desirable to enter into any detailed examination of his representations, for the single reason that they relate to matters in respect of which I do not think there should be any pretence for saying that Her Majesty's Government have influenced or interfered with the decision of the Colonial Legislature. 6. I have, as at present advised, no intention of applying to Parliament for any legislation on the subject of the Provincial Institutions or the Crown lands of New Zealand, and no suggestion that such legislation is necessary or desirable has been made to me by or on behalf of the Government of the Colony, or from any other quarter. These are subjects which the General Assembly of New Zealand is, in my opinion, quite competent to discuss, as indeed has already been very fully and ably done in the debate in the House of Bepresentatives which terminated in August fast, and which I have perused with much interest. I have, &c, CAENAEVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G, &c, &c. By Authority: Geobgb Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington. —1875. Price Is. 3d.]