A.—l.

18

9. It is therefore apparent to me that had your Lordship, on receiving the memorandum referred to, replied that you thought the question was one which could be settled more satisfactorily on the spot, there would have been an entire collapse of the situation, for the simple reason that the results of the session have proved that the assumption that nine appointments were insufficient to give the Government adequate support rested on an unsubstantial basis, and that I was entirely justified in the position I took up. 10. The information derived from this return was, of course, only available after your Lordship's decision became known. 11. With regard to the different opinions expressed by your Lordship and myself as to which method formed the best basis for calculation as to the strength of the Government in the Legislative Council, I submit that further experience shows that neither would have foreshadowed approximately the result shown by the return; and my opinion is that the Legislative Council, as a body, voted last session according to conviction, tempered by a feeling that in those cases where the country's opinion is known the Council should give way. 12. In conclusion, I beg to remark respectfully that I do not feel that my position has been in any way detrimentally affected by the fact that your decision has been against my view, but I submit that the experience gained by a review of the whole incident may be expressed in the following sentence: that the practice of referring differences between Colonial Governors and their Ministers to the Colonial Office —of the calibre at least of the one in question—is not one to be encouraged. 13. The great colonies all possess the inestimable boon of self-government as fully and freely as does the Mother-country. The range of questions in which the Governor has any discretion is reduced to a vanishing-point; and what has happened does not make his task on such occasions any easier, and, on any occasions when a difference does unfortunately arise, it should be remembered that the policy of leaning on the Colonial Office is not one that commends itself to colonists generally. I have, &c.j GLASGOW. The Eight Hon. the Marquis of Eipon, G.C.M.G., &c.

* See note below.

* Note.—The three following memoranda from His Excellency the Governor to the Premier, dated 7th, 21sfc, and 22nd June, 1893, covered the despatches to which they refer when forwarded by His Excellency for publication, and the Premier's replies are attached hereto as an Appendix. Memoeanda for the Peemieb. 7th June, 1893. In forwarding the two accompanying despatches* for publication, the Governor thinks it right to state that they were not seen by the late Mr. Ballance. Glasgow. * No. 7, of 17th Februaryi 1893,—Secretary of State to Lord Glasgow ; and No. 60, of 3rd December, 1892,—Lord Glasgow toSecretary of State. The Governor has just received from the Colonial Office copies of the return " New Zealand and the Colonies (Upper House)," printed on 2nd May, by order of the House of Commons, which he has forwarded for the information of Ministers. He observes this return includes all the correspondence on the subject of the Legislative appointments of last session, except the subsidiary correspondence (as the Governor considered it) which was afterwards sent Home, and which was numbered in the papers laid before the General Assembly Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 11. It also includes the first despatch he wrote on the subject, dated 22nd June, 1892, which was marked " Confidential," and therefore not laid before the General Assembly last session. As it has now been printed in this return, the Governor requests that it may be included in the despatches to be laid before Parliament. He thinks it right to mention that neither the confidential despatch referred to, his despatch of the 3rd December, 1892, nor Lord Eipon's reply of 17th February, 1893, were seen by the late Premier. He would also request that Lord Onslow's memorandum left for the information of his successor, and seen by the late Premier, be included in the correspondence to be laid before both. Houses. 21st June, 1893. Glasgow.