you will be pleased to accept the resignation of my seat in the
Executive Council.

I have the honour, &c., &c.,
(Signed) T. H. BARTLEY.

His Excellency the Officer Administering
the Government.

(True copy.)
A. S. RICHMOND.
Acting Clerk of Executive Council.

No. 13.

Reply to Memorandum of the 1st August, 1854.

Beyond the simple fact of accepting the resignation of the
Colonial Secretary, and filling the position by a gentleman from
the House of Representatives, I could not think of going. To
require the holders of office to resign their posts till I am
favoured with the views of the Crown on the steps I have
taken, would not only be at variance with the original under-
standing, and beyond what I conceive my powers to be, but a
want of proper respect on my part to the Home authorities.

On assuming my present office, I found three recognised Go-
vernment officers as my advisers in the Executive Council.
Circumstances occurred to induce me to introduce to that
council three members from the House of Representatives, and
subsequently a member from the Legislative Council, making a
majority of new members.

I found also, on coming into office the old form of General
Government in existence, I am now called upon to form an
entire new form of Government, without even a reference to
my Sovereign; thus throwing on me, during my temporary
Administration of the Government, a grave responsibility, which
I am not prepared or disposed to bear.

I have sanctioned the link between the Assembly and the Go-
vernment, by the introduction of four members into the Exe-
cutivc Council. I am prepared to accept the Colonial Secre-
tary's resignation (subject to confirmation) if voluntarily laid
before me; but I am not prepared to disturb the officers ap-
pointed by the Crown, or in any way to establish a new form of
Government in the Colony of New Zealand without reference
Home.

If the formation of entire Responsible Government is in
keeping with the views of the authorities at home, the arrange-
ment is only a matter of time, a few weeks-if, on the other
hand, it is not the wish of the Home Government, it is the
more necessary I should wait instructions for my further
guidance.

(Signed) R. H. WYNYARD.

Government House, Auckland,
1st August, 1854.

True copy.
A. S. RICHMOND,
Acting Clerk Executive Council.

(Copy)
Sir,—
No. 14.
Auckland, 2nd August, 1854.

Having tendered to your Excellency such advice as I was con-
scientiously bound to tender, respecting the steps which in my
opinion are absolutely necessary in order that the government
of the colony may be conducted with harmony and benefit to
the colonists, and your Excellency having deemed yourself
bound to reject such advice, I have the honor to request that
your Excellency will be pleased to accept of my resignation of
a seat in the Executive Council.

(Signed)
I have the honour, &c., &c.,
JAMES ED. FITZGERALD.

His Excellency the Officer Administering
the Government.

(True Copy.)
A. S. RICHMOND,
Acting Clerk of Executive Council.

MESSAGE No. 26,

The Officer administering the Government
has received from the House of Representatives,
an Address, dated the 4th instant, enclosing the
copy of a Resolution passed by them on that day,
embodying a Resolution passed by them on the
3rd, which last Resolution re-asserts their Reso-
lution of the 6th of June on the subject of Res-
ponsible Government, and calls for its full and
Immediate recognition in practice.

In reply, the Officer administering the Govern-
ment assures the House of his sympathy with
their wishes for the complete establishment of
Ministerial Responsibility as part of the Consti-
tution of New Zealand; and to the furtherance
of this end, by means of altering the Constitution
in a constitutional manner, he tenders to the

House his unqualified assistance, by assenting
to any Bill which they may pass for that
purpose, and most earnestly requesting that the
Imperial Government will give effect to its provi-
sions.

In the meanwhile he refers the House to his
Message No. 25, and once more assures them,
not only of his readiness, but of his most anxious
wish, to concur with them in immediately giving
to the principle of Responsible Government the
utmost practical effect, not exceeding his powers
under the Constitution. Short of any viola-
tion or evasion of the Constitution Act, he is
ready to comply with any proposal that the
House may see fit to make to him.

With this view, he is now only waiting for
an answer from the House to his Message, No.
25, in order to devote himself to the business of
forming an Administration as responsible to the
two Houses of the Legislature, as it can be
made without infringing the Constitutional law
by which the House and himself are equally
bound.

R. H. WYNYARD,
Officer administering the Government.

Government House, Auckland,
8th August, 1854.

House of Representatives,
Auckland, August 4, 1854.

SIR,

I have the honor to transmit herewith an
Address passed by this House this evening, and
also the accompanying resolutions which were
unanimously passed on the evening of yesterday,
the 3rd instant.

(Signed)
I have, &c.,
CHARLES CLIFFORD,
Speaker.

His Excellency
The Officer Administering
the Government.

To His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government,
&c.,
&c.

We, Her Majesty's faithful subjects the Commons of New
Zealand in their House of Representatives assembled, desire to
express to your Excellency our deep regret at the circumstances
which have resulted in the resignation of four members of your
Excellency's Executive Council.

We desire to lay before your Excellency the accompanying
Resolutions which the House of Representatives have felt it
their duty to adopt on this occasion, and respectfully to pray
that your Excellency will be pleased to take the same into
your serious and early consideration.

We beg to assure your Excellency of our deep and earnest
wish to co-operate with your Excellency in any measure which
your Excellency, may deem it right to adopt, so far as our
duty to our country will permit, for placing the Govern-
ment of this Colony upon a permanent basis.

(Signed)
House of Representatives,
Auckland, 4th August, 1854.

CHARLES CLIFFORD,
EXTRACT
Speaker.

From the Minutes of the Proceedings of the House of
Representatives,
Friday, August 4th, 1854.

Resolved—

That an Address be presented to His Excellency the Officer
Administering the Government, embodying the following reso-
lution of August 3rd. - That this House deems it necessary to
reassert the principle that amongst the objects which this
House desires to see accomplished without delay, both as an
essential means whereby the General Government may rightly
exercise a due control over the Provincial Governments, and as
a no less indispensable means of obtaining for the General Go-
vernment the confidence and attachment of the people, the
most important is the establishment of Ministerial Respon-
sibility in the conduct of Legislative and Executive proceedings
by Governor, and furthermore that in the opinion of this