ZEAEAND TO THE SECRETARY OE STATE.

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A.—No. 1

under the Acts of the General Assembly, and of the several loans of the Provincial Governments of the several Provinces of New Zealand, and prohibits the raising of further Provincial loans, or the Provincial guarantee of interest or subsidy. No. 91. The Diseased Sheep Fines Appropriation Act, converts into Provincial revenue moneys hereafter to arise from fines and penalties inflicted upon owners of sheep under any Ordinance of a Provincial Legislature for preventing the introduction or spread of disease in sheep. No. 92. The Appropriation, Act, appropriates out of the Consolidated Fund of Now Zealand, for the service of the year ending on the 30th day of June, 18G8, in addition to the sum of £100,000 applied by " The Imprest Supply Act, 1867," the further sum of £306,009 ss. 7d. And out of such, portion of the special fund as may arise out of sales of Confiscated land a sum of £34,750 to defray charges arising in respect of such lands; and indemnifies the Treasurer for £193,938, the excess of actual over authorized expenditure for the year ending 30th June, 1867. Local and Peesonal. No. 95. The Otago Southern Trunk Railway Act, authorizes a deviation from the original line, and change of terminus.

No. 19. Coi>y of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir George Grey, X.C.8., to His Grace the Duke of Buckingham. (No. 143.) Government House, Auckland, My Lord Duke, — 28th December, 1867. > I have the honor to transmit, for your Grace's information, a copy of an Address I have received from the Executive Council of New Zealand, as also a copy of my reply to that Address. I have, &c, His Grace the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos. G. GKEY.

Enclosure 1 in No. 19. Addeess from, the Executive Council. His Excellency Sik Geoege Geet, X.C.8., &c, &c, &c. When, immediately on the receipt of the first intimation, that your Excellency would shortly be informed of the name of your successor in the Government of New Zealand, both Houses of the Legislature, by simultaneous Addresses, marked their high regard for your Excellency personally and their appreciation of your distinguished public services, and while numerous bodies of Colonists hastened to re-echo those sentiments of respect which everywhere greeted you in your late visit throughout the Provinces, we abstained from approaching your Excellency with any expression of sympathy, because we could not but believe that at the close of your career in New Zealand, Her Majesty would have been advised to mark her appreciation of your services; but the tone of the late Despatches addressed to your Excellency impels us no longer to withhold the expression of the sentiments entertained towards you by those who have witnessed near at hand the devotion to the Empire iind to public duty which has distinguished your long career. Seldom has a Governor been placed in circumstances more trying, and amid duties more conflicting and embarrassing. In so difficult a position we cannot but think that your Excellency might reasonably have expected that you would not have been left unprotected to bear the unjust aspersions to which you have been exposed. Again and again during the last twenty-six years where there has been danger and difficulty in the administration of Colonial affairs, your Excellency's aid has been invoked by the most eminent statesmen of the day. Sacrifices you have disregarded, and trials have served as opportunities of evincing devotion to public duty, and. we cannot but regard it as an indication of the indifference, if not positive disfavor, with which the Colonies of the Empire are regarded, when loyalty, zeal and high intelligence displayed in the administration of their affairs are passed by without even the courtesy of a cold acknowledgement. Nevertheless, it will be no mean gratification to your Excellency to feel assured that upon your retirement from the Government of New Zealand it is universally recognized that, in defence of constitutional Government, the honor of the Colony entrusted to your guardianship, and the best interests of the Empire, you have added to your sacrifices, that of the assured prospect of some still more honorable position in Her Majesty's Service, or a distinguished retirement from the cares of office. We trust that the day may not be far distant when the high services you have so freely and ably rendered will meet with a fitting recognition. We pray your Excellency to accept these few words as expressing the sentiments of Ministers who have had the honor of being associated with you in the administration of the affairs of New Zealand. E. W. Staffoed, J. C. Richmond, T. M. Haultain, J. Eicitaedson, W. EITZIIEEBEET, J. H. HaEEIS. J. Hall, "Wellington, 20th November, 1867. 7