A.—No. 1.

In making payment of the sum of £794 2s. lid., it should be distinctly understood that it is made without prejudice to the claim advanced by the Colony for £871 Is. lid., the amount of Customs drawbacks erroneously paid (as stated in Ministerial Memorandum of the 7th ultimo). It should at the same time be noted that a settlement of the claim of £1,951 10s. 7d. will leave unadjusted a claim of £68 7s. Bd. made by the Province of Wellington for the maintenance of naval prisoners in gaol from Ist April, 1869, to 31st January, 1870, together with further claims of a similar nature. J. Woodward, Treasury, Wellington, sth August, 1871. C- T. Batkot.

No. 5. Copt of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. (No. 81.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord, New Zealand, 2nd September, 1871. I have the honor to report that the Fifth Parliament of New Zealand met for its first Session, with the customary formalities, on the 14th ultimo. 2. Sir David Monro, who has filled the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives for the last ten years with dignity and efficiency, expressed his wish to retire on account of temporary ill-health; and himself proposed as his successor, Mr. Erancis Dillon Bell, who was unanimously elected. The Speaker elect, accompanied by the whole House, presented himself to me in the usual manner, when I approved and confirmed his election on behalf of the Queen, and in the terms of the New Zealand Constitution Act, and congratulated him that his long and honorable career in the public service of this Colony had been crowned by the distinguished position in which he had been placed by the confidence of the House of Representatives. 3. Ever since the first settlement of New Zealand, Mr. Dillon Bell has taken a prominent part in public affairs. He has acquired long and varied experience as a Member of several Ministries and Parliaments. Under an Act of the Colonial Legislature, passed in the Session of 1869, he was appointed, in conjunction with Dr. Featherston, to proceed to England on an important mission, which was conducted in a manner highly satisfactory alike to the Imperial and to the Colonial Government. 4. On the 15th ultimo, I delivered the opening Speech, of which, as also of the Addresses in Reply from both Houses, I now annex copies. 5. The Speech contains, of course, the Ministerial programme for the Session. I inserted, as will be seen, a paragraph expressing my sense of the demonstrations of loyalty to the Queen and of good will to myself which have been called forth by my official tours throughout this Colony, and my grateful remembrance of the constant courtesy and hospitality which I have always received in all parts of New Zealand and from all classes of the community. 6. Both Houses of Parliament are applying themselves steadily to business. I transmit herewith copies of the New Zealand Hansard, containing full reports of the debates, corrected by the several speakers themselves. 7. The Government Printer has standing instructions to forward to the Colonial Office, by each monthly mail, copies of all the Parliamentary Papers. I annex to this Despatch the Reports and other official documents of most interest, which have been already presented to the Colonial Legislature during the present Session, viz.:— (1.) Annual Report on the Postal Service of New Zealand. (2.) Annual Report on the Telegraph Department. (3.) Papers respecting the construction of Railways and Roads (in several parts). (4) Report of the Immigration and Public Works Department. (5.) General Summary of the Imports, Exports, and Customs Duties. (6.) Papers relative to the Defence of the Harbours of New Zealand. (7.) Report on Public Works, by the Engineer-in-Chief. (8.) Papers relative to the New Zealand War Medal. (9.) Memorandum on the Native Lands Court, by Sir W. Martin. 2

Enclosure 1. Vide Journals of H. of E., 1871, p. 10. Enclosure 2. Vide Journals of L.C., p. 6. Enclosure 3. Vide Journals of H. of R., 1871, p. 16.

Enclosure 4, N.Z. Hansard, Nos. 1 to 3.

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NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECBETARY OF STATE.