(Copy.)

Sir,—I have the honour to inform you that the London Committee of the Northern Association of New Zealand have received from the Council of that association the enclosed memorandum and copy of Act of Assembly, which they desire page 7 the London Committee, therein referred to, to submit for your consideration,

In their correspondence with this Committee the Council of the association advert to the fact of the present Provincial Council of Auckland having been elected on the pledge of prosecuting their endeavours to obtain a separate Government for the province, independent of any interference or connection with the Southern colonies; and to the fact that the first action taken by the Provincial Council was the preparation of a petition to the Queen renewing their prayer for a measure which they consider essential to the peace and welfare of that province,

This Committee received a copy of the petition alluded to by the last mail; and by the present mail they have learned that on its meeting after adjournment the Provincial Council had agreed to a resolution that similar petitions should be prepared to both Houses of Parliament, to be forwarded respectively to Earl Russell and the Right Honourable W. E. Gladstone for presentation,

This Committee cannot refrain from renewing their solicitation that you would favour the appointment of a Parliamentary Committee to investigate the case of the colonists of Auckland, a precis of which is enclosed herewith. Looking at the extent of the business with which the House of Commons is occupied, this Committee propose, if possible, to obtain the consent of a member of the House of Lords to move for a Committee of that House, and they respectfully pray the consent of Her Majesty's Government to that proportion.