A.—3a

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to a nominee Council of taking whatever proportion of the remainder they may think fit for the purposes of the General Government; so that, in fact, the balance left to the disposal of the Provincial Councils will belittle more than nominal. And that, lastly, the institution of a Legislative Council, composed partly of representatives of the people and partly of nominees of the Crown, is not only incompatible with good government, but appears as if expressly calculated for the purpose of producing discord and mutual obstruction. For the foregoing reasons, therefore, this meeting rejects the measure in question, and pledges itself to resist its introduction by every constitutional means." Besolution 2. —Moved by Mr. Clifford, J.P.; seconded by Mr. Kelham, J.P.: " That this meeting is of opinion that no constitutional measure is likely-to give full satisfaction to the colonists on which they shall not have an opportunity of expressing their own opinions; consequently that, in any such measure which may be enacted on their behalf by the Imperial Parliament, the most ample powers should be conferred upon them of altering its provisions to suit their own views and circumstances." Besolution 3.—" Moved by Mr. Fox, J.P. ; seconded by Mr. J. Johnston : " That, as it is improbable that a session of Council can be held under the provisions of this Bill before the middle of next year (1851), and as the Home Government has pledged itself to introduce a measure of self-government for New Zealand into Parliament early next session, which, if passed, may be brought into operation within little more than a year from the present time, no injury will accrue from the rejection of the present measure compared with that which may arise from the sanction which its temporary adoption by the colonists would give to a principle fundamentally wrong." Besolution 4—Moved by Mr. Bethune; seconded by Mr. H. Wallace: "That a committee be appointed to prepare petitions to both Houses of Parliament and a memorial to Her Majesty's Ministers protesting against the measure proposed by Sir George Grey, and suggesting those broad principles as a foundation for the future Constitution of the colony without which self-government and responsible Government cannot exist, but which are not to be found in the present measure. That such committee do consist of Mr. Godley, Mr. Fox, Dr. Featherston, Mr. Clifford, and Mr. Brandon." Besolution s.—Moved by Captain Daniell, J.P. ; seconded by Mr. W. Dorset: " That Mr. Fox, the Principal Agent for the New Zealand Company, being about to return to England, he is hereby appointed Political Agent of the Wellington settlers, and requested to take charge of the petition and memorial mentioned in the last resolution ; and that the settlers of Nelson, New Plymouth, and Otago be invited to concur in such appointment." Besolution 6.—Moved by Mr. Brandon; seconded by Mr. R. Davis: " That it appears to this meeting that Her Majesty's Ministers have, in the course of the recent debates in Parliament, expressed a desire to ascertain the views and wishes of the inhabitants of the several Australian Colonies on the subject of self-government. That as far as regards this colony such views and wishes cannot be represented by the present General or Provincial Councils, neither of which deserves or enjoys the confidence of the colonists. That while this meeting perceives and admits that such views and wishes could only be effectually and certainly ascertained from a body freely chosen by the settlers at large, they are of opinion that, until such representative body be formed, if a General Council, consisting of the chief officers of the Executive and of members nominated by the Governor from individuals chosen by a public meeting in each settlement, were called together for the express purpose of framing a permanent Constitution for the colony, with a view to its being laid before Her Majesty's Ministers in time for the ensuing session of Parliament, such a course of proceeding would be generally satisfactory and acceptable to the colonists." Besolution 7.—Moved by Mr. Waitt; seconded by Mr. Lyon : " That the chairman do forward a copy of the resolutions passed at this meeting to his Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, for transmission to Her Majesty's Secretary for the Colonies." John Dorset, Chairman.

No. 35. Copy of a Despatch from Governor Grey to the Eight Hon. Earl Grey. (No. 30.) My Lord, — Wellington, New Zealand, Bth February, 1851. Since I addressed to your Lordship my Despatch No. 29, of this day's date, enclosing certain resolutions and a report adopted at a public meeting held by an association at Wellington, together with a letter from Mr. John Dorset, the enclosed memorial has been delivered to me on behalf of the settlers in the Hutt District. In their memorial they state their desire to repudiate any participation in the public meetings held at Wellington on the subject of the future Constitution of New Zealand, and to assure me that they are in the daily enjoyment of that prosperity which has resulted from the judicious policy which the Government has pursued since I assumed the Government, and to express the fullest confidence that I will continue to consult their best interests in every measure connected with the Government of the colony. This memorial is signed by 159 of the principal settlers in the Hutt District. Owing to the short period of time which elapsed between the holding of the public meeting on the 3rd instant and the sailing of a vessel for England, I was informed by the gentlemen who presented the memorial that only a few hours' time was given them to prepare and sign it, but that out of the settlers in the district whom they had time to apply to only two had objected to attach their signatures to it. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Earl Grey, &c. G. Grey.

Enclosure in No. 35. Memorial from Settlers in the Hutt District. To His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.8., Governor-in-Chief, &c, Sir, — We, the undersigned inhabitants and settlers in the Valley of the Hutt, are desirous of expressing to your Excellency our desire to repudiate any participation in the public meetings held