Despatch from Governor Grey to Earl Grey.

My Lord,—

I have the honor to transmit for your Lordship's information an extract from a private letter I have received from Captain Stokes, of H.M.S. "Acheron," dated the fourth instant, together with two tracings and the copy of a report from Mr. W. J. W. Hamilton. These documents all relate to the nature of the country lying in the vicinity of Port Cooper, which has been selected as the site for the Canterbury Settlement.

2. Tour Lordship will be gratified at finding that the country in the neighbourhood of Port Cooper is so well adapted to the purposes of colonization, as also that the Middle Island of New Zealand appears to be so much broader than was imagined, and that this increased extent of territory is of so fertile and available a character.