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No. 7. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby to the Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach. (No. 42.) Government House, Wellington, Sir, — New Zealand, 16th August, 1878. In reply to your circular of the 14th of February, 1878,1 have the honor to enclose the copy of a return showing the various amounts subscribed in aid of the Indian Famine Relief Fund in different districts in New Zealand. I regret that so much delay has taken place in furnishing this return; but some difficulty has occurred in obtaining it, in consequence of the subscription having been raised and transmitted locally, without the aid of any general committee, which has rendered it necessary to obtain the information from all the minor districts. The return now enclosed is, I believe, substantially correct, though it is possible that some small subscriptions may have been omitted. I have, &c., The Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach. NORMANBY.

Enclosure in No. 7. Amounts Collected in the various Boroughs in New Zealand in aid of the Indian Famine Relief Fund. Auckland, £1,985 lis. 5d.; Hamilton, £28 7s. 6d.j Thames, £230; Napier, £1,488 10s. lid. (including surrounding districts) ; New Plymouth, £440 10s. 4d.; Wellington, £1,994 ss. id.; Palmerston North, £30; Masterton, £54; Wanganui, £517 3s. 7d.; Nelson, £400; Westport, £16; Hokitika, £71 175.; Akaroa, £124 12s. 5d.; Christchurch, £5,000 (including surrounding districts) ; Lyttelton, £167 65.; Timaru, £458 12s. 9d.; Arrowtown, £32 7s. 6d.; Caversham, £68 12s. 6d.; Cromwell, £44 Bs.; Clyde, £26 145.; Dunedin, £2,399 ss. 9d.; Dunedin South, £14 os. 3d.; Green Island, £32 18s. 6d.; Lawrence, £41 10s.; Milton, £96 3s. lOd.; Naseby, £67 65.; Oamaru, £657; Palmerston South, £102 lis.; Queenstown, £99 125.; Roxburgh, £80 3s. 10d.; Tapanui, £57 9s. 6d.; Winton, £22 10s.; Invercargill, £500.

No. 8. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby to the Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach. (No. 43.) Government House, Wellington, Sir, — New Zealand, 13th September, 1878. I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the Public Works Statement delivered by the Hon. J. Macandrew, Minister for Public Works, in the House of Representatives, on the 27th of August. I have, &c.j The Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach. NORMANBY.

No. 9. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby to the Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach. (No. 44.) Government House, Wellington, Sir, — New Zealand, 13th September, 1878. I have the honor to inform you that on Tuesday, the 3rd of September, I proceeded to Lyttelton in H.M.S. " Nyinphe," for the purpose of being present at the opening of the railway between Christchurch and Dunedin. Portions of the line have been open for some time; but the establishment of through communication between those two important cities was considered a matter of such importance to the prosperity of the colony that it was deemed advisable to make a public demonstration in celebration of the event. Eor that purpose the Houses of Legislature adjourned on Wednesday evening, the 4th instant, until Tuesday, the 10th ; and, an intimation having been made to me that