No. 45.
Downing Street,
19th June, 1848.

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge your despatch, No. 135, of the 21st December last, accompanied by a Petition to Her Majesty by some of the Children of Missionaries and Catechists of the Church Missionary Society—praying Her Majesty’s interposition in order to avert proceedings which they consider injurious to their reputation and property.

You will acquaint the Petitioners that I have laid their Petition before the Queen, but that I have not been able to recommend Her Majesty to comply with its prayer. I am satisfied that it is neither consistent with justice, nor compatible with the interests of the public, or of the natives, that the Petitioners should hold the large quantities of land to which they lay claim; and whilst I abstain from entering in this despatch into details which have been so amply explained and discussed in former correspondence, I have merely to convey to you my entire approbation of the course you have pursued on this subject, and my extreme regret that the Petitioners should not have felt willing to accept those liberal offers, by which, with the concurrence of the Bishop of New Zealand, you endeavoured to effect an amicable adjustment of these questions. I have now no alternative left me, than to instruct you, as I have done in another despatch, to take measures for annulling by means of the proper proceedings before the Court of Law, such of these grants as are duly pronounced to be illegal, with a view to the resumption of the excessive portions of them. You will communicate a copy of the present despatch to the Petitioners.

I have, &c., &c.,
Grey.

(Signed)
To Governor Grey,
&c., &c.

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Auckland, November 10, 1848.

HIS Excellency the Governor-in-Chief directs it to be notified for general information that the Officers and non-commissioned Officers of the Armed Police Force are authorised and empowered to lay complaints and informations, in terms of the 1st clause of the “Native Land Purchase Ordinance,” Session 7, No. 19.

By His Excellency’s command,
ANDREW SINCLAIR,
Colonial Secretary.

Civil Secretary’s Office,
Auckland, 8th November, 1848.

HIS Excellency the Governor-in-Chief has been pleased to direct the publication of the subjoined despatches, lately received from the Right Honorable the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

By His Excellency’s command,
C. A. DILLON,
Civil Secretary.

No. 43.
Downing Street,
17th June, 1848.

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge your despatch, No. 134, of the 24th December, accompanied by a Memorial addressed to me by a considerable number of the Inhabitants of Auckland, and the surrounding districts, expressive of their confidence of the equity and judgement with which you will deal with the outstanding Land Claims in New Zealand, and of their hope that Her Majesty’s Government will not be misled by any statements to the contrary, nor interfere with the powers you hold to deal with the subject.

You are aware of the concurrence which I have always felt on your general views on these questions, as well as of the reliance which I have placed upon your judgement on those points upon which an opinion could only be formed on the spot. And I have to request that you will so inform the Memorialists, and will acquaint them that it has been very satisfactory to me to receive their expressions of confidence in your administration.

I have, &c., &c.,
Grey.

(Signed)
To Governor Grey,
&c., &c.

Downing Street,
1st June, 1848.

Sir,

It has become my melancholy duty to communicate to you the intelligence of the decease of Her Royal Highness the Princess Sophia, which event took place at Kensington Palace, on Saturday, the 27th of May.

I am, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
Grey.

(Signed)
To Governor Grey,
&c., &c.

TENDERS—QUEEN STREET.

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Auckland, November 10th, 1848.

TENDERS will be received at this Office until noon on Monday, the 20th instant, from parties desirous of undertaking the repairs and construction of the Roadway in Queen-street, from the Court-House to high-water mark.

Plans and sections, with specifications of the work required to be performed, may be seen on application to the Superintendent of Roads, at the Survey Office, from whom any information on the subject may be obtained.

The tenders to specify the rate per yard running measurement, according to Sections A and B, at which the work will be undertaken; and the date at which it will be completed; and as security for the due performance of the work within the stated period is an indispensable condition, each tender must be accompanied by a notification of the consent of the parties proposed as sureties.

Tenders to be in duplicate, sealed and endorsed “Tenders for repairs and construction of Queen-Street.”

By His Excellency’s command,
ANDREW SINCLAIR,
Colonial Secretary.