The Colony of New Zealand is at present divided into two provinces. The northern (officially called New Ulster), contains two settlements, Auckland and New Plymouth, with the minor dependency of Russell. The southern, called New Munster, contains four settlements—Wellington, Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago, with the minor dependencies of Wangani and Akaroa. The Governor-in-chief, Sir George Grey, K.C.B., resides at Auckland, a Lieut.-Governor, Colonel Wynyard, supplying his place during his occasional absence. Another Lieut.-Governor, Mr. Eyre, resides permanently at Wellington, having charge of the whole southern province, which ia only visited at long intervals (sometimes twenty-two months) by the Governor-in-Chief. Lieut.-Governor Eyre is, however, entirely under the control of Governor Grey, corresponds with the Colonial Office through him, and has little or no liberty of independent action.

The Parliamentary Papers referred to in the subsequent documents are chiefly those which have been published since 1846, and the transactions referred to almost solely relate to the period subsequent to that date;—the object being to exhibit the government of New Zealand as it now is, and to trace the results of the policy of one uninterrupted administration under which it is at present ruled.