A.—l.

2. In the memorandum under consideration the Premier repeats some of the reasons which he advanced on the last occasion, when he advised four appointments to the Council, or at least reasons similar, if not in the same words. With regard to these, the Governor adheres to the views he then expressed; but the Premier has brought forward two others, to which he will allude further on, as sufficient, in his opinion, to make it his duty to make the appointments asked. 3. The present position is that the party in power has now appointed fifteen Councillors in addition to those previously appointed by the same party, and on the appointments now asked for being gazetted they will have appointed eighteen Councillors in five years, a number which he believes to be unprecedented in the history of this or any other colony. There can be no doubt, as the Governor has before pointed out, that, when the time comes when another Government assumes office, what has happened will form a very strong incitement to the next Ministry, in their turn, to make a considerable addition to the Council, thereby raising it to an abnormal strength, and thus causing the colony an unnecessary expense, for which the present Government will have to bear the responsibility. 3. The reasons which induce him to agree to these appointments, however unnecessary he may deem them, are : First, that the result of the general election, which gives the Government a considerable though reduced majority, is evidence that the Premier still possessed at the general election the confidence of the colony. The second is, that he thinks it very inadvisable that such an important question should be left for the consideration of his successor, as from the Premier's memorandum it appears would be the ease, were he not to agree to the advice given him. 5. Therefore, although he feels that this intimation places a pressure upon him, for the reasons he has given he has come to the conclusion that it is his duty to act on the advice of his Ministers, and to grant the three appointments advised. 6. I have to request that this memorandum may be placed on the table of both Houses of the General Assembly on the meeting of Parliament. Glasgow.

No. 16. (No. 8.) Sic,— Government House, Wellington, sth February, 1897. Having been granted by your telegram of the Ist September, 1896, two months' leave of absence, I have the honour to inform you that I take my final departure from the colony on the 6th of February (to-morrow evening), and that my five years' term of service will expire on the 18th of April next ensuing. Sir James Prendergast, Knight, Chief Justice of the Colony, will be the Administrator of the Government until the arrival of my successor. The Eight Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, I have, &c, Secretary of State for the Colonies. GLASGOW.

No. 17. (No. 10.) Sic, — Government House, Wellington, 18th February, 1897. I have the honour to inform you that His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow took his departure from New Zealand on the afternoon of Saturday, the 6th instant, amidst an universal expression of respect and affection. On Monday, the Bth instant, I, under the Commission to the Chief Justice, assumed the Administration of the Government, having first taken the oaths required, and in the manner prescribed by the Eoyal Instructions. I have, &c, JAMES PEENDEEGAST. The Eight Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 18. (No. 12.) Sic, — Government House, Wellington, 18th March, 1897. In reply to your despatch, No. 57, 21st November, 1896, I have the honour to inform you that the Government here agrees with the wishes of the German Government therein made reference to, and approves of the method of procedure suggested in the last paragraph of Prince Hohenlohe's despatch. I have, &c, JAMES PEENDEEGAST. The Eight Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1897, No. 26 (property of Germans dying intestate).

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