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No. 9. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach to the Oeeicer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, Ist October, 1878. Her Majesty's Government have lately had under their notice a case in which certain colonial officers in receipt of Imperial pensions have been permitted by the colonial Government to draw part of their emoluments by way of gratuity, thus evading the Imperial law under which, otherwise, these officers would have been subject, temporarily, at least, to a reduction of their pensions. 2. The Eords Commissioners of the Treasury have expressed their very grave reprehension of the course taken in the cases in question, and have pointed out that these officers have been led into a position which, if they had themselves been exclusively responsible for it, would justly have subjected them to the severe penalties which the law imposes (40-41 Vict., c. 61, sec. 6, 3rd paragraph). 3. The law respecting Imperial pensions payable to persons in colonial emplovment is to be gathered from the Acts 4-5 William IV., c. 24, sec. 20, and 35 Vict., c. 12. 4. It cannot rightly be contended that by calling a certain periodical payment " a gratuity " instead of " salary " any difference is made either in the law or in the practice of tlie case. 5. The Eords Commissioners of the Treasury have informed me that, in consequence of the irregularity which has occurred in this instance, they have been obliged to consider very seriously whether they can safely continue to allow pensions to be paid out of the United Kingdom. Their Eordships state that they are under no obligation to pay pensions in the colonies, but, for the convenience of the recipients, they have consented to allow officers in charge of Treasury chests abroad to pay pensions, and have even made arrangements for the payment of pensions in colonies where no Treasury chests exist; but they have pointed out that they will be compelled to withdraw this privilege altogether if irregularities such as have taken place in the present instance are permitted by colonial Governments. 6. Although I have no reason to suppose that any similar case has occurred in the colony under your government, yet I think it right to address this despatch to you in common with the Governors of all the other colonies. I have, &c, M. E. HICKS BEACH. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 10. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach to Governor the Most Hon. tbe Marquis of Norma.nby. (No. 48.) My Lord, — Downing Street, Ist October, 1878. I duly received, and caused to be communicated to the Board of Trade, a copy of your Despatch No. 85, of the 20th July, together with the replies which I had received from the Governors of New South Wales and Victoria, with respect to the practice alleged by the British Consul at Noumea to prevail at certain Australasian ports, of depriving sea-men of their certificates of discharge and charging an additional fee for the issue of a permit to reship; and I have tbe honor to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of the reply which I have received from that department. I have, &c, M. E. HICKS BEACH. Governor tbe Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, G.C.M.G., &c.