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No. 1. Copy of a Letter from Mr. E. Rumsey to the Hon. E. W. Stafford. Sir,— Auckland, 2nd June, 18GG. I have the honor to inform you that I have this day forwarded, by the steamer " Auckland," the design for the proposed new House of Representatives to be built in Wellington. The Report on the buildings I will forward by the next mail leaving here, as it is not yet quite completed. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Edwaed Rumset. No. 2. Copy of a Letter from Mr. E. Rumsey to the Hon. E. W. Stafford. Sir,— Auckland, 9th June, 1566. I have the honor of enclosing herewith the Report of the new House of Representatives proposed to be built at Wellington, and alterations to the present Government Buildings, the drawings of which I forwarded on the 2nd ultimo. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Edward Ruhset. Enclosure in No. 2. Report as to a proposed New HorsE of Representatives. Sir,— Auckland, N. Z, 30th May, 1866. I have the honor of submitting at your request a design for the new House of Representatives proposed to be built at Wellington, and have forwarded the accompanying drawings showing its construction with certain alterations to be made in connection with it to the present General Government Buildings. The new building, which is to bo appropriated as the House of Representatives, will be attached to the present Buildings, and built on a plateau which has been formed at the rear by cutting down the embankment and filling up the low ground to the level on which the present Buildings stand. Tiie principal front will then face Street, and being raised on a terrace considerably above the level of the road will have a commanding position and be effectively seen from the bay and surrounding neighbourhood. In making my design I have preserved the character of the old buildings as nearly as possible in external appearance, which, with a few alterations in the details, can be made to work harmoniously with the new portion. The internal arrangement will be more readily understood by referring to the ground and first floor plans. The principal entrance being under the tower is approached from the terrace running the entire length of the building, and leads to the lobby, which will be used for the use of the Members, from which the chamber of the House of Representatives will be entered, around which runs a corridor having access with the Speaker's and Ministers' entrances, and having communication with the different rooms in connection with the House, and with the other corridors leading to the Committee Rooms, Refreshment Rooms, Legislative Council Chamber, and the various Government Departments in other parts of the buildings. Over the lobby and corridors surrounding the House of Representatives will be the Strangers' Gallery at the south end, and the Reporters' Gallery at the north end, situated behind the Speaker's chair; and on either side will be galleries for the accommodation of ladies, members, and friends of the Speaker, with cloak and retiring rooms for each. They will be entered by staircases from without, having no communication with the Members' entrances, excepting the Ladies' Gallery, which will be entered from the main entrance under the tower. There will also be in connection with the new House, a Strong Room, and Room for Records and Papers on the ground floor, and a suite of offices on the upper floor which could be converted into committee rooms. ■ The general arrangement of the present buildings will be materially altered. The Legislative Council, which is on the north eide of the building, will be removed to the chamber now used as the House of Representatives, and the old chamber will be converted into two stories ranging on a level with the floors of the other parts of the building, and each floor subdh ided into suites of apartment! suitable for Government offices. The old chamber of the House of Representatives will then be re-arranged, and made suitable for the Legislative Council.

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REPORT • AS TO A PROPOSED NEW CHAMBER FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.