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pleased if their thanks could be conveyed to Mr. Griffin through the Department of State, Washington. 3. I feel sure that your Lordship will perceive the high character of the work, and the advantage to New Zealand of its wide circulation. I have, &c. Wm. E. DEUMMOND JEEVOIS. The Eight Hon. the Earl of Derby.

Enclosure. Memoeandum for His Excellency. Twenty copies of " New Zealand : her Commerce and Eesources," by G. W. Griffin, United States Consul at Auckland, are forwarded to His Excellency herewith. 2. Mr. Griffin's papers attracted a great deal of attention as soon as the Consular Eeports containing them were received here, and, notice having been taken of them in the House of Eepresentatives, the Government readily promised to comply with a request made by members, that selections from the papers should be officially printed for circulation and sale. This has accordingly been done, after such modifications as were necessary to bring the statistical information upto the date of re-publication. 3. Ministers believe that His Excellency will agree with them, that the result is a work of considerable literary ability, and of great interest to all who are, or may be, concerned in the progress of this colony. The sale of the work, outside of New Zealand as well as within it, promises to be large; and, as Mr. Griffin's views respecting our commerce and resources are accurate, clearly expressed, and favourable, its circulation can hardly fail to be advantageous to the colony. 4. Ministers have therefore the honour respectfully to ask that His Excellency will forward the twenty copies of the work to the Colonial Office ; that he will request the Secretary of State to cause them to be transmitted to the United States Government; and that he will beg Lord Derby to be so good as to state that this Government would be much pleased if their thanks could be conveyed to Mr. Griffin through the Department of State, Washington. Wellington, 29th July, 1884. H. A. Atkinson.

No. 21. (No. 61.) My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 16th August, 1884. I have the honour to transmit herewith a petition from the Eight Eev. Erancis Eedwood, Eoman Catholic Bishop of Wellington, with reference to the recent decision of the Italian Court of Cassation concerning the property of the Propaganda. I have, &c. Wm. E. DEUMMOND JEEVOIS. The Eight Hon. the Earl of Derby.

Enclosure. S IEi Wellington, New Zealand, 31st July, 1884. I beg most respectfully to invite your attention to the recent decision of the Italian Court of Cassation, ordering all the real estate of the Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda to be converted into Government bonds. As the Soman Catholic Bishop of the metropolis and half the territory of this colony, I deem it my duty, in the name of many thousand Catholics in my diocese, who owe to the Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda all the spiritual welfare they enjoy, to express my respectful but emphatic protest against what can be called in fairness by no milder name than spoliation, and to humbly petition Her Majesty's Government to protect the grave and worldwide interests affected by the action of the Italian Courts with regard to the property of that most illustrious Congregation. It cannot be maintained with truth that this institution is only particular and local, or purely Italian. Its character is unquestionably cosmopolitan and international. Being founded and supported for the spread of Christianity and civilization over the face of the world, its property belongs to the Catholics of the whole universe, who, in their respective nations, have added to munificent donations of the Sovereign Pontiffs other large contributions to increase its patrimony, not for merely Italian purposes, but for the diffusion of faith, science, and civilization throughout the whole human race. Hence this object alone ought to shield it from from spoliation. Now, the application of the present law of Italy means, in a large measure, ruin and confiscation to the aforesaid property. It means, first, a tax of 30 per cent, for conversion into Government bonds, 4 per cent, for duty, 6 per cent, for land-tax, and an additional revenue-tax varying from 15 per cent, to 40—in all, at least 60 per cent. Besides, it is needless to remark that, apart from these excessive charges, Italian bonds are no equivalent for goods freehold landed estates and other property of the soundest and most stable kind; because they expose the Propaganda to the danger of losing wholly or partially its property owing-to not improbable events. They make the payment of its funds dependent upon the will of parties in power, and a matter of most deplorable uncertainty ; and they deprive it of the free disposal of its resources—a freedom required by its very nature and the frequent occasions on 2—A. 1.