NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

101

A.—No. I.

the East Coast, holding a meeting of his constituents, to explain his conduct during the last Session, and to ascertain their views with reference to the Session of this year, which will open on the 16th instant. In this, as in other respects, the Maoris are rapidly adopting English Parliamentary usages. 5. On the whole, the results of my official tour during the last three months have been very satisfactory. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. G. F. BOWEN.

No. 80. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. (No. 63.) Government House, Wellington, My Loud,— New Zealand, 7th July, 1872. I have the honor to transmit herewith six copies of the Statistical Register (or Blue Book) of New Zealand, for 1870. 2. These volumes were placed in my hands by the Registrar-General only yesterday, but all their more important contents were forwarded with my Despatches No. 76, of the 30th August ult, and No. 12, of the 13th January ult. With the last-mentioned Despatch I transmitted the customary Report, for insertion in the Blue Book showing the condition of the Colonies which is periodically presented to the Imperial Parliament. 3. As has been already stated on previous occasions, I have repeatedly pointed out here the inconvenience of the delay in the publication of the Statistical Register of this Colony. It is obviously expedient that it should contain full and recent information on the progress and resources of New Zealand, especially now that the Colonial Government and Legislature are carrying out an extensive scheme of Public Works and Immigration. I am assured that the delay in the completion of the annual volume has been hitherto caused principally by the difficulty of procuring certain minor statistical details from the several Provinces, but that the preparation and printing of the returns will proceed more rapidly in the future. L J 4 In my Despatch No. 76, of the 30th August ult., I commented on the proof which the official returns afford of the general advance of this Colony during the interval of ten years between the census of 1861 and that of 1871. I added as follows:—"When it is considered that the years between 1861 and 1870 " were years of almost constant war and disturbance, this result cannot be described "as otherwise than satisfactory. Had New Zealand enjoyed the tranquillity of the " Australian Colonies, the progress achieved here would have been far more rapid. " However, it is now confidently believed that for the future there will be little " impediment from internal warfare to the steady development and organization of " the vast resources of this country." I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. G. E. BOWEN.