A.—No. 1

56

DESPATCHES PROM THE SECRETARY OP STATE.

has been to communicate such charges, and the sources of them, at once to the Governor for such explanation by the persons accused, or such other action as the case may require. I see no ground for altering this practice, or for considering that it is in any way open to the suggestion that it gives encouragement to secret calumny. I have, &c, BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS. Governor Sir George Grev, K.C.B.

No. 59. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Duke of Buckingham to Governor Sir George Geey, K.C.B. (Separate.) Sir, — Downing Street, 1st August, 1867. I have received your Despatch, marked separate, of the 31st of May last, transmitting a Memorandum from your Responsible Advisers, with a copy of a Resolution passed by the House of Representatives during the last session of the General Assembly, on the subject of the establishment of Vice-Admiralty Courts in the several Provinces of New Zealand. In my Despatch, marked separate, of the 24th of April last, I communicated to you the correspondence which had taken place between this department and the Admiralty on this subject, and forwarded to you a copy of a Bill which had been introduced into Parliament for extending and amending " The Vice-Admiralty Courts Act of 1863." That Bill is still in progress through Parliament. I have placed your Despatch in the hands of the Lords of the Admiralty. I have, &c, BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS. Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B.