Mr. Alfred Domett, C.M.G., Premier from the 6th of August, 1862, to the 30th of October, 1863, came to New Zealand in 1842. He soon rose to eminence in State affairs, for, when the new Constitution was framed in 1848, he was appointed Colonial Secretary for the Province of New Munster (as the South Island was then called). In 1851 he became Civil Secretary for the whole of New Zealand. Subsequently he resigned these offices, and took up the duties of Commissioner of Crown Lands and Resident Magistrate for Hawkes Bay. A few years later he was elected for Nelson in the House of Representatives. In 1862, when the affairs of the Colony were in a critical condition, he rose to the position of Premier, which he held for about two years. On the resignation of his Government he accepted the position of Secretary for Crown Lands. In 1865 he was appointed Registrar-General of Lands, and a few years afterwards he also undertook the administration of confiscated lands. In 1871 he retired from the service of the State and returned Home, dying in page 59 London on the 2nd of November, 1887. Notwithstanding his long political career, Mr. Domett is better known as a litterateur than as a politician. After returning to England he published many poems and other works. His “Ranolf and Amohia, a South Sea Day Dream,” was favourably criticised by such high authorities as Tennyson, Browning, and Longellow.