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of the decision of the Governor to accept the advice of his Ministers, or otherwise, would, with the written advice, be in due course entered upon the minutes. It is hardly necessary to explain that if this course were followed in the future the practice would be changed, and Clause XL of the Instructions would fall into desuetude. Under the existing practice the Governor accepts a personal responsibility, which makes him liable to hostile criticism, and weakens the position which the representative of Her Majesty should occupy. If, on the contrary, the well-trodden path of constitutional practice were followed, Ministers would bear the responsibility, and have to defend the act of the executive authority. The objection that Ministers would be liable to be unduly influenced by public opinion equally applies to every other executive act relative to the peace, order, and good government of the colony, as well as to the practice obtaining in the Mother-country in respect of pardons, where the Home Secretary is solely responsible. Ministers see no reason why such an anomaly should continue to exist as the performance of executive acts which the Advisers of your Excellency would not be required to defend in Parliament, and think that the last remnant of Crown colony administration should no longer continue to survive. J. Ballance, Premier.

No. 9. (No. 13.) My Lobd, — Wellington, New Zealand, 9th February, 1891. I have the honour to request that you will advise Her Majesty to confer upon the following gentlemen, who have been members of the Executive Council for the period hereinafter stated, the privilege of retaining the title of " Honourable : " Edwin Mitchelson, 11th October, 1887, to 23rd January, 1891; Thomas Fergus, 11th October, 1887, to 23rd January, 1891; George Frederick Richardson, 11th October, 1887, to 23rd January, 1891 ; Thomas William Hislop, 11th October, 1887, to sth September, 1889, and 3rd October, 1889, to 23rd January, 1891. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

No. 10. (No. 14.) My Lobd, — Auckland, New Zealand, 26th February, 1891. With reference to your Lordship's Despatch No. 59, of 13th December, 1890, I have the honour to inform you that my Government are willing to grant Mr. Exham an allowance of a similar amount to that which he received from the Foreign Office from 27th November, 1888, to 24th October, 1890, which is the date of Mr. Moss's appointment as British Resident, though he has not yet formally assumed the duties of that office. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

No. 11. (No. 15.) My Lobd, — Auckland, New Zealand, 10th March, 1891. I have the honour to report that, in accordance with your Lordship's instructions, I have appointed Mr. Frederick James Moss to be British Resident. in the Cook Islands, and that his appointment dates from 24th October, 1890. I enclose copies of the various documents relating to the subject, and also of some reports made to me by Mr. Moss after an unofficial visit which he paid to the islands in November last. 2. I also enclose a copy of the instructions which I have given to Mr. Moss after consultation with my Ministers, which I trust your Lordship will find to be in accordance with the tenor of your despatch on the subject, especially No. 58, of 13th December last. 3. Mr. Moss will not proceed to the islands to take up his duties until the end of this month or the beginning of next, and it is possible that some modification of the instructions issued to him may in the meantime be found necessary. In this case I shall at once acquaint your Lordship with what is done. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Lord Knutsford. ONSLOW.

See parliamentary paper, Sess. 11., 1891, A.-8.

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