CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING H.M. SHIPS STATIONED ON THE COAST OF NEW ZEALAND.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1871 Session I, A-05

A.—No. 5.

CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING H.M. SHIPS STATIONED ON THE COAST OF NEW ZEALAND.

PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BY COMMAND OF HIS EXCELLENCY.

WELLINGTON.

1871.

A.—No. 5,

No. 1. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Hon. W. Fox. Sir, — Charing Cross Hotel, London, June 6th, 1871. I have the honor to forward to you copy of correspondence respecting Her Majesty's vessels stationed on the Coast of New Zealand. I have had many interviews with the Earl of Kimberley on the subject to which the correspondence refers, and one with Mr. Goschen, First Lord of the Admiralty. You will observe that there is something in the nature of a departmental objection raised to giving the Colony a, specific assurance in respect to the number of vessels to be stationed on the coast; but I do not doubt that you will agree with me that the tenor of the correspondence evidences that, despite the objection referred to, the intention is effectually to meet the requirements of the Colony. I feel that the Government will be gratified by the assurance that it is intended to strengthen the squadron now in the Australian waters ; and also by the passage in the letter to the Secretary to the Admiralty, in which Lord Kimberley so clearly intimates his desire that Her Majesty's ships should frequently visit such portions of the coast as will most certainly, wherever there may be inclination to disaffection, " prevent any impression amongst the Natives that the removal of the troops implies an abandonment of the Colony by the Queen." I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, New Zealand. Julius Vogel.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Right Hon. Earl of Kimberley. My Lord, — Charing Cross Hotel, London, Ist May, 1871. I have the honor to represent to your Lordship, that the Government of New Zealand, when the troops were removed from the Colony, valued very highly what they understood to be the assurance that they might rely on the presence of two of Her Majesty's vessels on the Coast. It was not an expectation or a desire that they might have to ask assistance from the vessels which caused the arrangement to be so gratifying to the Government; but they felt that the sense of security which the vessels would afford, and the constant evidence which they would supply to tho Native mind, that the removal of the troops was not to be regarded as an abandonment of the Colony by Her Majesty, would be very valuable. From a Despatch which your Lordship has sent to His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand, in reply to a Memorandum by my colleague, Mr. Fox, the contents of which have been communicated to me, I gather that your Lordship, while desiring to assist the Colony, objects to giving any specific pledge which might be held to limit the exercise of future discretion as to the disposition of Her Majesty's vessels. The difficulty which this objection raises may, I think, be easily surmounted. It might be understood that such arrangements as your Lordship would be willing to make were liable to be disturbed and varied, consequent upon unforeseen emergencies. Upon this footing I respectfully urge your Lordship to move the Admiralty to direct that two vessels should continue, for the present, on the New Zealand Coast. Without wishing to convey the impression that the Government of the Colony anticipate serious difficulties, I may state that some disturbances may take place in connection with the murder of Mr. Todd, and the continued freedom of Te Kooti. Probably they would be much more localized than has been the case with previous disturbances; but, in any event, the support which the presence, and especially the assurance of the presence, of two of Her Majesty's vessels would afford, would be exceedingly valuable. 1 respectfully urge, therefore, that the Colony may be assured of the presence of two of Her Majesty's ships for (say) two years; on the understanding that Her Majesty's Government reserve the right of varying the arrangement, should circumstances induce them to do so. I take the opportunity of respectfully urging that Her Majesty's Government should consider the question of constituting New Zealand into a separate naval station. I have, &c., The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. Julius Vogel.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1. Mr. Holland to the Hon. J. Vogel. Sir, — Downing Street, Bth June, 1871. With reference to your letter of the Ist ultimo, respecting the naval assistance to be afforded by Her Majesty's Government to the Colony of New Zealand, I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley

CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING H.M. SHIPS STATIONED ON THE COAST OF NEW ZEALAND.

A.—No. 5

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CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING H.M. SHIPS.

to transmit to you for your information a copy of a correspondence which has passed upon the subject with the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, Esq. H. T. Holland.

Sub-Enclosure 1 to Enclosure 2 in No. 1. Mr. Holland to the Secretary to the Admiralty. Sir,— Downing Street, 18th May, 1871. I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, for the consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of a letter from Mr. Vogel, the Treasurer of New Zealand, on the subject of the naval assistance to be afforded to the Colony by Her Majesty's Government. His Lordship desires me to state that the instructions sent at the request of Lord Granville were not intended to convey an assurance that they might rely on the presence of any particular number of Her Majesty's vessels on the New Zealand Coast, and that he is fully aware that it would not be consistent with the general arrangements of Her Majesty's Naval Service, to give a promise that any particular number of vessels should always be kept there ; but His Lordship attaches weight to the considerations urged by Mr. Vogel, and regards it as a matter of importance that Her Majesty's vessels should show themselves frequently in the ports of New Zealand, especially in those parts of the Colony where disaffection is apprehended, for the purpose indicated by Mr. Vogel, namely, to prevent any impression amongst the Natives that the removal of the troops implies an abandonment of the Colony by the Queen. Lord Kimberley would therefore be glad if the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty would give such instructions to the officers commanding Her Majesty's vessels as will insure their special attention to this service. I have, &c, The Secretary to the Admiralty. 11. T. Holland.

Sub-Enclosure 2 to Enclosure 2 in No. 1. Mr. Wolley to Sir F. Rogers, Bart. Sir, — Admiralty, Ist June, 1871. With reference to your letter of the 18th ultimo, respecting the Naval assistance to be afforded to the Colony of New Zealand, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that Commodore Stirling has been informed that it is intended eventually to reinforce the squadron under his orders by another vessel; and, in the meantime, he has been directed to make such arrangements for meeting the wishes of the Earl of Kimberley as may be effected without prejudice to the requirements for visits of Her Majesty's ships to other parts of the station. I have, &c, Sir Frederic Rogers, Bart., &c, &c, Colonial Office. Thomas Wolley.

Enclosure 3 in No. 1. Hon. J. Vogel to the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. My Lord, — Charing Cross Hotel, London, 12th June, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's letter of the Bth instant, enclosing copy of correspondence between the Colonial Office and the Board of Admiralty, respecting Her Majesty's ships on the Coast of New Zealand; and I thank your Lordship for the same. I have, &c., The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. Julius Vogel.