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it is his Excellency's wish to forward your views as far as lies in his power, and that the attention of Mr. Commissioner M 'Lean will be again drawn to this subject. I have, &c., (Signed) Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretary.. Dr. S. J. Stratford, High-street, Auckland. To His Excellency Colonel Thomas Gore Browne,C.B., Governor of New Zealand, §c., fyc., fyc. The humble petition of Samuel John Stratford respectfully sheweth,— That having every reason to believe that Mr. Cameron, of Wall-street, New York, has succeeded in obtaining the contract from the British Government for the conveyance of the mails to Australia by the Panama route, as his agent in New Zealand, I respectfully solicit that a proper location be granted to the Company for wharfs, docks, and warehouses in the Harbour of Mongonui in trie North. Your petitionei would recommend that the said allotments be made of ample size ; and that sufficient inducements be offered to the Company to encourage them to make the Port of Mongonui the Western terminus of the line. Experience has fully shown that, should the Company attempt to make their depots either in Sydney or Melbourne, the enormous expenses in those places will eat up all their profits. This fact is clearly illustrated by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company proposing to renew their contracts with Government, provided that St. George's Sound, on the West Coast of Australia, be made their depot. With the same spirit, and under the same necessities, I have recommended Mr. Cameron to make the Port of Mongonui the stopping place of his line. The central position of Mongonui with regard to all the Australian Colonies, points it out as the spot to which each of the Colonies can most readily send their local steamers to receive their passengers and mails. Mongonui is the nearest practicable Port to North Cape, New Zealand; is an excellent harbour ; is possessed of plenty of coal; has abundance of good land in its neighbourhood ; and if the Company can obtain land from the Government in a proper location, and upon reasonable terms, would evidently be the point at which they could concentrate their energies with comparatively little expense, so as to make the permanent success of the line more certain. Besides which, it would effectually obviate that Colonial jealousy which is so evidently marked in these matters between [Sydney and Melbourne. Under these circumstances your petitioner would respectfully represent the enormous advantages which the arrangement he has pointed out would have for New Zealand generally ; it would not only place her foremost in the route to Europe, but make Mongonui the centre of that commerce which, as a matter of progress and necessity, must spring up between the Australian Colonies and the rest of the world, so much so, that it clearly demands the most liberal encouragement from your Excellency and the Provincial Government, and your petitioner prays that the honorable position which is here shadowed forth, may not be marred by that spirit of intestinal jealousy which it is evident reigns in the General Assembly between the North and South of New Zealand. Trusting that this petition may receive an early and satisfactory answer, your petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c., &c., &c. (Signed) S. J. Stratford. Auckland, Bth October, 1855. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 17th October, 1855. Sir, —With reference to your petition relative to land at Monganui, for a Steam Company, I am directed by his Excellency the Governor to inform you, that when it has been ascertained that effective measures have been taken to establish Steam Communication between England and the Australian Colonies via Panama, your representations will receive due attention. I have, &c., (Signed) Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretary. Samuel John Stratford, Esq., M.R.C.S.L. &c., &c., &c.