CASE OP MR. MACANDREW.

45

D—No. 1

April 15,1867. March 15, 1867.

especially, seeing that in all probability the Provincial Government, if it is to carry on as heretofore its legitimate functions, may itself require the use of the property referred to. Considerable doubts exist among my responsible advisers as to the power of the General Government to appoint an Agent, and until satisfied that such a power exists, they are unanimous in advising me not to part with the property of the Province. I may also observe that waiving for the present its personal aspect, the question is one which does not concern myself individually so much as it concerns the Provincial Legislature. Although the delegated powers have hitherto been nominally conferred upon the Superintendent they have been and must necessarily be exercised by the Provincial Executive in terms of "The Executive Council Ordinance, 1862." It must be obvious therefore that the action of His Excellency's Advisers in withholding these powers from the Superintendent and Provincial Council, who have just been elected by the people for the express purpose inter alia of exercising such powers, is a decided blow against local self-government, and opposed to the genius of the Constitution Act. It must be evident moreover to those who know the extent to which the administration of the Gold Fields and the various interests connected with them arc interwoven and incorporated with the general administration of the Province, that to attempt to separate them will be to produce confusion worse confounded. It will be not only detrimental to the efficiency of the Public Service, but will involve a double expenditure, which is altogether unnecessary. I have, &c, James Macandrew, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 26. Copy of a Letter from the Superintendent, Otago, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. (67-1395; Sir,— Superintendent's Office, Otago, 29th April, 1867. I have received your letter of date as per margin, together with Report from the AuditorGeneral respecting certain irregularities in the Public Accounts of this Province during my former tenure of office in 1860. In reply, I have to state that while I do not deny that the particular informality to which reference is made did occur, the assumption of the Auditor-General as to the nature of the transaction is gratuitous and unfounded, totally at variance with the facts of the case and the explanation conveyed in my private note to him of date as per margin. I will only further remark, that whatever may be the estimation in which I am personally held by His Excellency's present Advisers, there is no public man in the Colony to whom I will yield in integrity of character, or who has to a greater extent sacrificed himself and perhaps been sacrificed to the interests of this Province —there is no man who possesses to a greater extent the confidence of the large majority of his fellow-citizens, circumstances which go far to counteract the bad opinion of His Excellency's Advisers. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. James Macandeew.

No. 27.

Copy of a Letter from the Hon. E. W. Stafford to the Supeblntendent, Otago. (No. 230.) Sir,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 9th June, 1867. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th ultimo, in reply to mine of the 15th ultimo, No. 187. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. E. W. Stafford.

No. 28. Copy of a Letter from the Superintendent, Otago, to the Hon. E. W. Stafford. (7386-7) Sir ,— Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 10th May, 1867. I have the honor to forward, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, the enclosed copy of a letter which I deemed it my duty to address to Major-General Chute, on the 24th ultimo. I have, &c, James Macandeew, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

Enclosure in No. 28. The Superintendent, Otago, to Major-General Chute. Sir,— Superintendent's Office, Otago, 24th April, 1867. As chief Executive Officer in this Province, and, as an integral part of the Provincial Legislature, I deem it niy duty to represent to you, as the independent representative of Imperial interests in New Zealand, the recent action of the Colonial Executive at Wellington, in relation to this 12