Council Chamber,
November 16, 1848.

G. Grey,

To the Right Honourable Her Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, &c., &c., &c.

ture of New Zealand—firstly, because, as I have before stated, circumstances have prevented me from at present imparting to this Council the general cha- racter which I had desired, and which I yet hope to be able to give it; and secondly, because I am anxious as speedily as possible to reach Wellington to assist, in as far as I am able, in devising and carrying out those measures which may appear most likely to res- tore public confidence, and to secure the future pros- perity of that settlement.

Had I met this Council a few days since, it would have been my pleasing duty to have congratulated you upon the great measure of tranquillity and prosperity with which, for some time past, it had pleased Divine Providence to bless every portion of New Zealand; the recent calamitous events at Wellington have now, however, shed a deep gloom over one portion of this Colony, whilst the other portions of New Zealand are still left in the enjoyment of, I believe, a more than usual degree of wealth and prosperity. I have no doubt that those who are so blessed will extend every aid in their power to those of their fellow colonists upon whom such a disaster has fallen; and I trust that the assistance which, by your aid, I hope it may be in the power of the Government to afford to the in- habitants of Wellington may enable them speedily to repair their present losses, and still fully to develope the great resources of their adopted country.

Council Chamber,
November 16, 1848.

Schedule B.

No. 27.
Downing Street,
24th April, 1848.

Sir,

With reference to my despatch No. 11, of the 24th February last, I herewith transmit for your informa- tion and guidance, the copy of a communication from the Board of Treasury, enclosing copies of two letters from the Post-Master General, relative to the Post Office arrangements at New Zealand; and I have to desire that you will take an early opportunity of car- rying into effect Lord Clanricarde’s suggestions on this subject, by proposing to your Council the prepara- tion of an Ordinance, placing the Post Office under the control of the Local Government.

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

To Governor Grey,
&c., &c.

Treasury Chambers,
5th April, 1848.

Sir,

With reference to your letters of 17th January and 24th February last, and to previous correspon- dence on the subject of the Post Office arrange- ments at New Zealand, I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury to transmit the accompanying copies of two letters from the Post- master-General for the information and consideration of Earl Grey.

I am at the same time to request you will state to his Lordship that my Lords concur in opinion with the Postmaster-General that it is desirable that the control of the Post-Office arrangements in New Zea- land should be vested in the local Government; and you will suggest to his Lordship, that any requisite instructions in this respect should be conveyed to Governor Grey, and that the Governor’s attention should be called to the expediency of causing steps to be taken, without delay, for removing any doubts as to the legality of the demands made in the Colony for Postage.

I am, &c.,
(Signed) C. E. Trevelyan.

To Herman Merivale, Esq.,
&c., &c., &c.

Schedule C.

To His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief of New Zea- land, and the honourable the Members of the Legisla- tive Council, in Council assembled.

The Humble Petition of the undersigned Inhabitants of Auckland,

Humbly Sheweth,

That your Petitioners, in common with their fellow Colonists in the Southern Division, have long and anxiously looked forward to some amelioration of their political condition with reference to the want of representation of the people in the Legislative Council of this Territory; and had hoped that it was your Excellency’s intention, with the advice and consent of your honourable Council, to confer this privilege upon them at the earliest opportunity.

That your Petitioners have read the draft of a Bill to be called the “Provincial Councils Bill,” which has been submitted by His Excellency to the Legislative Council, with feelings of the deepest disappointment, feeling assured that a Council formed upon the prin- ciples of that Bill could never give satisfaction to the great bulk of the Colonists generally, nor work to the advantage of either the governing or the governed.

Your Petitioners, therefore, humbly pray that your Excellency and your Honourable Council will be pleased to postpone any further consideration of this Bill, until your Petitioners shall have had time to lay before your Excellency and your Honourable Council, their wants and wishes, as far as the same may be justly conceded to them, and also until such time as your Petitioners’ fellow Colonists in the South may have been able to make known their feelings on this all-important subject.

And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c., &c.

[Here follow the signatures.]

Auckland:—Printed by Williamson and Wilson, for the New Zealand Government.