A.—3a

84

memorial which has been addressed to me by a large number of the inhabitants of Nelson expressing their dissent from some of the resolutions previously transmitted to your Lordship from the same place. It will be found that the signers of the present memorial object to almost the same portions of the resolutions of the public meeting at Nelson as 1 have already reported to your Lordship to be, in mv opinion, unadapted to the present circumstances of New Zealand I find n quite, impossible to express an opinion as lo what extent the memorial from Nelson, winch 1 transmitted in my D spatch No. 15, of the 29th of January last, represents .the opinions and wishes of the inhabitants of that settlement, because it is only signed by seven persons. The enclosed memorial is, as the memorialists themselves state, signed by a very large proportion of the persons who represent the wealth, real property, and intelligence of Nelson. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Earl Grey, &c. G. Grey.

Enclosure 1 in No. 32. Messrs. Newcome, Monro, &c, to His Excellency Sir George Gkey. Sir,— Nelson, 29th January, 1851. We have the honour to forward to your Excellency a memorial expressive of dissent from some of the resolutions adopted by a public meeting held in Nelson on the 27m of last month. From the great extent of ground covered by our settlement, and the consequent dispersion of our population, we believe that many persons have not had an opportunity of signing the memorial who would have been glad to do so. And from the same cause we are unable to forward the signatures which have been obtained in the Motueka District; but these we shall have the honour of presenting to your Excellency on your arrival in Nelson. It would also have been a very easy matter to have largely increased the number of signatures ; but, with very few exceptions indeed, no persons have been allowed to sign who were not heads of families or householders. We merely beg to call your Excellency's attention to the fact that the memorial is signed by eight Justices of the Peace (we believe the number will be twelve), by six clergymen, and by a very large proportion of the persons who represent the wealth, real property, and intelligence of the settlement. We have, &c , E. K. Newcome. D. Monro. Alfred Pell. His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.8., &c. W. O. Cautley.

Enclosure 2 in No. 32. Memorial from Inhabitants of Nelson. Sir, — Nelson, 2nd January, 1851. At a public meeting held in Nelson on the 27th December, to consider " whether it might not be advisable to recommend certain provisions suited to the requirements of New Zealand to be submitted to Her Majesty's Ministers," a string of resolutions was adopted which have probably by this time become known to your Excellency. Unable to concur in the views embodied in all these resolutions, and deeming it proper that on a question of so much importance your Excellency should be put in possession of the opinions of all classes of the inhabitants of this settlement, we have felt it our duty to address you, to point out the grounds of our dissent from the majority of the public meeting, and in a very general manner to indicate our ideas of the form of Government which would best conduce to the prosperity of the colony. It was with the greatest satisfaction that we learnt that it was the intention of Her Majesty's Ministers to confer upon the inhabitant's of this colony representative Government. As Englishmen, it is the form of Government to which we have been accustomed, and which we consider intimately connected with the liberty and greatness of our native land. It was therefore with the utmost interest, but yet with confident expectation, that we looked for the time when the increase of our numbers, internal tranquillity, augmented production, and consequent independence of extraneous support, should induce the British Parliament to confer upon us those privileges which are enjoyed by Englishmen in other parts of the empire. With the utmost regard for the institutions of our native country we feel that it would be impossible to produce a transcript of them here. We doubt moreover whether, if possible, it would be desirable. The Constitution of England is, no doubt, admirably adapted to the highly complicated relations of society which prevail there, but in this colony we have simpler elements to deal with. We have no collision of modern civilisation with the relics of rude and barbarous ages. We are commencing from a point a great many centuries in advance of our forefathers. We have the light of experience and accumulated knowledge to guide us. It would be absurd, accordingly (even if it were possible), to adhere literally to the modes and practices of the parent State. Some of these it is necessary that we should abandon, and others we must modify ; but much still remains that we should wish to copy. The British Constitution is the one which, in its broad features of rational freedom, caution, justice, and elasticity, we propose to ourselves as a model; and, even where not absolutely perfect in theory, we should prefer the adoption of practices sanctioned by time and usage to others which can as yet be regarded as little better than experiments. Our colony is in its veriest infancy ; but, as it puts forth its strength, it will reasonably expect more perfect libertv of action, and will find it necessary to model its form of Government to meet conditions and relations of society which it is impossible at present to foresee. Eor a country like New Zealand, offering here and there upon its coast tracts available for settlements, separated by formidable physical harriers, it seems to us that a form of Government which should confer upon the several districts large powers of dealing with all pocal questions would be the most satisfactory and efficient. The municipal —using the word in its widest and most ancient sense—appears to us the form best adapted to the requirements of this country.