15

A.—2

No. 26. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (No. 39) Sir,— Downing Street, 28th October, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Sir Hercules Robinson's Despatch No. 55, of the 31st of August last, reporting the prorogation on that day of the Second Session of the Seventh Parliament of New Zealand. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY of New Zealand.

No. 27 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor the Hon. Sir Arthur Gordon. (General.) Sir, — Downing Street, Ist November, 1880. I have the honor to inform you that, on the receipt of Sir Hercules Robinson's Despatch No. 24, of the 22nd of April, the necessary steps were at once taken for the preparation of a new seal of steel, with matrix, for the use of the Government of New Zealand, and I now transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, a copy of the correspondence which has joassed on the subject. 2. It will be seen, from Mr Wyon's letter of the 21st October, that he hopes to complete the seal in about two months from that date, provided that no accident occurs to the steel in hardening or otherwise. 3. The seal, when completed, will have to be submitted for the approval of the Queen in Council, it will therefore be some few months before it can reach the colony, but no time will be lost in transmitting it to you as soon as the necessary formalities have been completed. I have, &c, Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, KIMBERLEY GC.M.G

Enclosure 1 in No. 27 The Colonial Office to Mr A. B. Wyon Sir,— Downing Street, 23rd June, 1880. I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you a copy of a despatch from the Governor of New Zealand enclosing a memorandum from his Ministers intimating the wish of the Colonial Government to obtain a new public seal made of steel, with matrix, for the colony, in substitution for the silver seal which is at present in use. lam to enclose the facsimile of the seal which has been sent Home from the colony, and I am to request that you will furnish Lord Kimberley with an estimate of the cost of preparing a seal of steel with matrix in exact accordance with the device of the present seal, an impression of which, it is concluded, is in your possession. I am, further, to ask you to state whether you think the press used for the present seal will be suited to the proposed new seal, and., if not, I am to request that you will furnish an estimate of the cost of a lever-press adapted to the requirements of the new seal. I have, &c, A. B. Wyon, Esq. Robert G W Herbert.

Enclosure 2 in No. 27 Mr. "Wyon to the Colonial Office. 287, Regent Street, London, W., and My Lord, — 2, Langham Chambers, Portland Place, W., 26th June, 1880. In accordance with your instructions of the 23rd instant, I beg herewith to submit an estimate for engraving a new seal in steel for the Government of New Zealand. To take embossed impressions of the seal it will be necessary to use a screw-press, the seal