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Native Prisoners Act. They wish prisoners tried not later than February next, and that the matter should not be indefinitely postponed. • Also, that there should be a Maori Commissioner.

No. 19. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir Hercules Robinson to the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. (No. 52.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord,' — New Zealand, 13th August, 1880. With reference to your Lordship's Despatch No. 8, of 25th May, 1880, transmitting papers of questions for a matriculation examination in connection with the Gilchrist Scholarship, I have the honor to forward, at the request of the Minister for Education, a memorandum from his department stating, for the information of the Trustees of the Gilchrist Scholarship, the steps which have heen taken to give effect to the wishes of the Registrar, as expressed in his communication. I have, &c, HERCULES ROBINSON. The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley.

Enclosure in No. 19. Memokandum for the Ministee of Education. Education Department, New Zealand, 12th August, 1880. The papers containing the offer of a Gilchrist Scholarship for competition in New Zealand, and setting forth the conditions of competition and tenure, did not come under the notice of this department until the 4th instant. It is quite possible that the London University matriculation papers, after being used in London in June, may have been published in some way and posted to persons residing in New Zealand, and that papers so posted may arrive in the colony by the Suez mail due at the Bluff on the 17th instant, or by the San Francisco mail arriving at Auckland about the 24th instant. On the other hand.it is not possible to give public notice to all parts of the colony, and to assemble candidates at one place of examination, within a less space of time than three or four weeks. Had the offer and the conditions been known earlier, arrangements might have been made to get the candidates together by the date of the arrival of the mail which brought the examination-papers. I suggest that the Gilchrist Trustees be respectfully requested to give authority for an earlier announcement of the competition in future years. The last despatch from the Agent-General on the subject of this scholarship stated that the conditions had not been settled, and that the competition would not take place until 1881 or the beginning of 1882. The attention of students has not been directed in any practical way to the intended institution of the scholarship, and no special preparation of candidates for the competition has been ever thought of. There is some uncertainty as to the number of Gilchrist Scholarships which can at any one time be held by successful competitors at examinations held in New Zealand. In the printed conditions it is stated that a scholarship will be annually awarded to a candidate resident in New Zealand. Former correspondence, and the notice attached to the London University matriculation regulations, indicate the intention to award a scholarship biennially and not annually. I think the discrepancy arises from the fact that the printed conditions were designed to apply to Canada, and that, when alterations were made in writing to adapt the form to the circumstances of New Zealand, the necessity to substitute " biennially" for " annually" was overlooked. I recommend that the Trustees be asked for an authoritative statement on this point. The department, seeing the difficulties of which I have spoken, hesitated for a few days before taking any action. On the 9th instant, however, you made known your determination to invite candidates to compete for the scholarship, and a notice (of which a copy is hereto attached) was at once prepared for insertion in the New Zealand Gazette of this day's date. Short advertisements have been sent to the local newspapers in different parts of the colony to call attention to the Gazette notice, and the newspapers have been furnished in advance with copies of that notice. The advertisements and copies of notice were sent out on the 10th instant, but it is not possible for the Auckland papers to publish them before the 18th instant. Information has been sent by telegraph to the gentlemen named in the Gazette notice, who have promised to answer, as far as they can, inquiries which intending candidates may make. The Chancellor of the University of New Zealand was asked by telegraph to suggest the name of a suitable person to be recommended to His Excellency the Governor for appointment as sub-examiner, and has nominated Mr. George Leslie Lee. The examination is fixed for September 6th and following days. The papers can be sent Home by the September mail, via San Francisco. W. James Habeas, Inspector-General of Schools.