The neglect to establish proper communication between the settlements is one of the complaints made against Governor Grey by the colonists. They allege that the Parliamentary grants, made chiefly For this purpose, have been wastefully expended page 26 without attaining the end proposed. See Resolution 7, Purl, Papers, August, 1850, p. 48; Resolution 6, ibid. p. 47; and Mr. Brown's letter, Parl. Papers, 1850, p. 125. But the great omission is the non-establishment of steam communication by sea between the settlements. This, Governor Grey has repeatedly promised during his canvass for nominees, and at other times, but he has done nothing towards it, except asking the Home Government for a grant of imperial money, which of course was refused; the local revenue, if properly expended, being ample for this and every other purpose. To what an extent the want of communication is felt, may be judged from the met, that in July last the Nelson settlement was without news from "Wellington (only 150 miles distant) for three months, while the council was sitting at the Tatter place, making laws affecting the former. News was ultimately received by way of Sydney, Laving gone 2400 miles round. (See "Nelson Examiner," July, 1851.) On one occasion, the Lieut.-Governor at Wellington sent despatches to Auckland by way of Sydney; and I have myself been five months in receiving at Nelson a reply to a letter from Auckland, which was sent by return of post. According to Governor Grey's own statement, it takes as long to send a letter from Auckland to Wellington as from London to the West Indies, or South America; which he nevertheless calls a communication of the "most regular and satisfactory kind,"—Parl. Paper, August, 1851, p. 8.