A.—3a

2

uniformity of legislation upon subjects connected with the aborigines, administration of public lands, and other matters of general interest to the whole Islands, should be secured by some provision of this nature. Undoubtedly some increased expenditure would, if this course were adopted, have to be incurred for the creation and maintenance of a separate Government establishment, but I think, by judiciously curtailing that now in existence, no very large additional expenditure would be necessary, and the executive, as well as the legislative, duties of the Government would be so much more efficiently performed, and tho development of the resources of the colony would be so much more rapid, that there is every reason to think that the colony would, under the proposed arrangement, be able to defray the whole of its expenditure at a much earlier period than it could otherwise do ; so that an ultimate saving would result to the British Treasury. Indeed, I feel quite satisfied that New Zealand will soon yield a large revenue. I beg to assure your Lordship that, although I have thought it proper to bring this subject under your Lordship's notice, because no measure has appeared to me so likely to secure the future tranquillity, prosperity, and happiness of this country as that which I have proposed, I will nevertheless do my utmost to secure the efficient working of the existing form of government in New Zealand, as long as Her Majesty may consider that Her Majesty's interests are promoted by my remaining here and conducting the government of thi^ colony with a legislative body as at present established. I have, &c, G. Geey.

No. 2. Copy of a Despatch from Governor Geey to the Bight Hon. W. E. Gladstone. (No. 103.) Sie, — Government House, Auckland, 7th October, 1846. I had the honour this morning of receiving your despatch marked " Separate," of the 26th May last; and, as a vessel sails in a few hours direct for England, lam unwilling to lose this opportunity of making some few remarks upon the changes Her Majesty's Government propose to introduce into the Constitution of this colony, although I write under the disadvantage of being compelled to make these remarks in a very hurried manner, and with no certainty whether or not they may reach England in sufficient time to be of any use to Her Majesty's Government. I suppose, in the first place, that Her Majesty's Government intend to divide New Zealand into two distinct colonies: whether they are both to be placed under one Governor-in-Chief, in the manner proposed in my despatch of the 27th January last, marked " Separate," or whether two totally distinct colonies are to be formed, is not material to my present purpose. I suppose also that it is the wish of Her Majesty's Government that representative institutions should be introduced into each of these colonies with the least possible delay, but that they should be so introduced as to insure, in as far as possible, harmony between the executive and legislative bodies, and thus to render these institutions available from the first moment of their erection, instead of a period of inutility and bitterness elapsing, during which disputed points would be contested between the Executive Government and the legislative body, and all the really essential business of the colony would be disregarded. In this view, I beg to state that I would recommend that, in the first instance, the Officer Administering the Government in each colony should be permitted to appoint a Legislative Council, composed, as at present, of official members and of nominees of the Crown. I am not at present aware of any circumstance which need then prevent the immediate introduction of representative institutions into that colony, which would comprise the settlements in Cook Strait and in the Middle Island. All questions of a vexatious nature between the Government and the settlers in that part of the colony have now been finally set at rest; and, with a considerable acquaintance with British settlements, I can have no hesitation in recording it as my opinion that there never was a body of settlers to whom the power of local self-government could be more wisely and judiciously intrusted than the inhabitants of the settlements to which lam alluding. But there are a number of questions connected with the introduction of such institutions which I confess I think can only be properly determined by inquiry upon the spot; such as the limits of the various electoral districts, the proportion of members from town and country districts, the precise qualification of electors, the places for polling, and questions of a like nature. These questions, I think, the Officer Administering the Government in that colony should be required to determine, with the assistance of a Legislative Council, constituted in the usual manner. If the number of members in that Council was extended to ten —five official and five unofficial —and the members were judiciously selected, as I have no doubt they would be, the Officer Administering the Government would have the benefit of the best possible advice ; and those questions of a really practical nature would be discussed upon the spot, and under such circumstances as would, I have no doubt, secure the efficient and satisfactory working of all the institutions which might be introduced, and which, when thus selected, would provide a legislative body which would forthwith replace that which had previously existed. But with respect to the northern of the two colonies, I beg to state that, until the questions connected with the land claims which have arisen under the penny-an-acre Proclamation, as well as those which have arisen from the grants of land extended in opposition to the opinions of the Commissioners who heard them, have been finally and conclusively set at rest, I do not think that any attempt should be made to introduce representative institutions into it. I feel quite satisfied that, if such an attempt were made before these questions were disposed of, efforts would be made to return representatives, not to transact the real business of the country, but to agitate these claims ; and from the number of Government servants who are directly or indirectly connected with them, from the influence of some of the missionaries who claim such large tracts of land, and from other circumstances, I fear that a period of confusion, probably of renewed rebellion, expensive both in blood and money, must under such circumstances inevitably take place. I would therefore recommend that, in the northern colony of the two, some period of time should yet elapse before any attempt should be made to introduce representa-