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1888. NEW ZEALAND.
DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND
Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.
No. 1. (New. Zealand, No. 22.) Sib,— Downing Street, 15th April, 1887. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 20, of the 23rd February, enclosing extracts from New Zealand journals with reference to the recent disturbances in the Friendly Islands. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &o.
A.-l. 1887, Sess. 11., No. 13.
No. 2. (New Zealand, No. 23.) Sib,— Downing Street, 26th April, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a letter from the Admiralty, with its enclosure, respecting the Governor of South Australia's recent application to the Commander-in-Chief on the Australian station for the examination, by the officers of Her Majesty's ship " Nelson," of Mr. Clarkson for the position of Chief Engineer of the " Protector." I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.
Enclosure. Sib,— Admiralty, 19th April, 1887. I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to forward, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the enclosed copy of a letter addressed by the Governor of South Australia to the Commander-in-Chief on the Australian station, requesting that Mr. Clarkson may be examined by the officers of Her Majesty's ship " Nelson " as to his fitness for the position of Chief Engineer of the " Protector," and also that all examinations in future should be conducted in a similar manner. 2. My Lords have sanctioned this request in the case of Mr. Clarkson; but, with regard to the general question, they are of opinion that it would be advisable for the colonial authorities to prepare the regulations which they consider suitable for their fleet with reference to the qualifications of their officers, and to submit the proposed rules for their Lordships' concurrence, as affecting the officers of the Eoyal Navy who are to act in the capacity of examiners; observing that the regulations for the practical examination of engineer officers of the Royal Navy given in the Queen's Regulations (Articles 308-317) would, it is presumed, form the basis of the proposed rules. 3. I am to request that you will move the Secretary of State to cause the necessary communications to be made to the colonial Governments concerned. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Evan Macgbegob. I—A. 2.
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Sub-Enclosure. Sir,— Government House, Adelaide, 20th January, 1887. At the request of Commander Walcot, of Her Majesty's colonial ship " Protector," I have the honour to ask if you will be good enough to sanction the examination by the officers of Her Majesty's ship " Nelson " of Mr. Clarkson as to his fitness for the position of Chief Engineer of the " Protector." Commander Walcot suggests that, if you agree, all examinations should in future be conducted in a similar manner, as there are not a sufficient number of the necessary officers to conduct them in this colony. Perhaps you will kindly let me know when and where it would be convenient to receive Mr. Clarkson on board the "Nelson" for examination. I have, &c, Bear-Admiral George Tryon, C.B. W. C. F. Eobinson.
No. 3. (Circular.) Sib,— Downing Street, 10th May, 1887. With reference to my predecessor's circular despatch of the 17th November last, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying extracts from letters from the Board of Trade, showing the character of the information which it is desired should be furnished by Colonial Governments direct to that department, for insertion in their Journal. With reference to the concluding paragraph of the letter of the 26th April, I enclose a list received from the Board of Trade of weekly newspapers of certain colonies with which they desire to be supplied. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
A.-2, 1887, Sess. 11., No. 2.
Enclosure 1. Extbacts from a Letter from the Boabd of Teade to the Colonial Office, dated 28th March, 1887, No. C. 1160. "It is not so much periodical and tabular returns of banks, railways, telegraphs, &c, that are desired as notes on matters of immediate interest in trade and commerce, such as are commented on by Her Majesty's Consuls abroad It is often of great importance to British manufacturers and merchants to be informed of what changes are likely to be made in foreign and colonial tariffs, and that they appear to appreciate the notices of this kind. lam to add that care is always taken to state the stage at which any Bill or proposal for such changes has arrived."
Enclosure 2. Extbact from a Letter from the Boabd of Tbade, dated 26th April, 1887, G. 1160. " The nature and description of the information supplied for each colony must necessarily depend in great measure upon the requirements and condition of the particular colony, and it must therefore be left in great measure to the discretion of the colonial authorities to report upon such subjects as may be calculated to advance the commercial and industrial interests of the United Kingdom and the colonial possessions. At the same time lam to point out that, as copies of the Board of Trade Journal are regularly supplied to all the Officers Administering the Governments of the colonies, these gentlemen would be enabled to see for themselves the nature of the information relating to foreign countries which has been considered most suitable for publication, and this might to some extent assist them in their choice of subjects relating to their own colonies upon which reports might be prepared for insertion in the Journal. " Subject to these observations, I am to suggest that the following are, in the opinion of this department, a few of the more important subjects to which the inquiries of the Governors of the colonies might from time to time be directed with a view to the preparation of reports, which this Board would be glad to receive as frequently as possible : (1.) All tariff changes, both actual and projected, and decisions of the department on disputed points in the administration of the Customs. (2.) Details of the verdicts and decisions in cases of trials or new points of commercial law, or cases in which previous decisions have been reversed, especially in reference to patent, copyright, trade-marks, and design cases. (3.) Notices of new processes of manufacture. (4.) Establishment of new industries. (5.) Notices of condition of crops. (6.) Increase or decrease of employment of labour. (7.) Notices of exceptional state of manufactures. (8.) Notices of proposed exhibition of commercial products. " I am to add that the Board of Trade attach great importance to the receipt of the chief weekly newspapers from the principal colonial possessions, a list of which accompanied the letter from this department of the 28th ultimo ; and I am further to suggest, for the consideration of Sir H. Holland, that, with a view to information relating to the colonies for incorporation in the Trade
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Journal being received with as little delay as possible, the Officers Administering the Governments of the various colonial possessions might be requested to forward their reports direct to this office, proofs of the information about to be published in the Journal being furnished by the Board of Trade to the Colonial Office prior to publication."
Enclosure 3. List of Newspapers. Victoeia —Melbourne : Australasian. South Australia—Adelaide : Observer. New South Wales —Sydney: Sydney Mail. Queensland —Brisbane: Queenslander. New Zealand—Wellington.: Times. Canada—Toronto: Globe and Mail (weekly editions). Cape of Good Hope— Argus (weekly edition). Mauritius— Mercantile Becord and Commercial Gazette. Ceylon—Colombo : Observer (weekly edition). Natal — Mercury (weekly edition). British Guiana— Argosy. Singa-pore—-Straits Times.
No. 4. (New Zealand—General.) Sic,— Downing Street, 14th May, 1887. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 29, of the 14th of March, enclosing a copy of a letter addressed by Sir Julius Vogel, Commissioner of Customs, to the Agent-General for the colony, respecting the proposal of the Board of Trade to compile an official trade journal. I had already received from Sir F. D. Bell, on the 15th of February last, a copy of the letter, and have now the honour to refer you to my circular despatch of the.loth instant. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.
A.-l, 1887, Sess. 11., No. 19.
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No. 5. (Circular 1.) Sir,— Downing Street, 20th May, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you, for publication in the colony under your Government, a copy of a Treaty of Commerce and Navigation between Her Majesty and the King of the Hellenes, signed at Athens on the 10th of November, 1886, the ratifications of which were exchanged at Athens on the 21st ultimo. I have to call your attention to Article XVII. of the treaty, from which you will observe that, if it is desired that the colony under your Government should come within the operation of the treaty, notice to that effect must be given to the Hellenic Government within one year from the date of the exchange of the ratifications. I have therefore to request that you will be good enough to acquaint me as soon as possible of the wishes of your Government in the matter. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.
Enclosure. Teeaty of Commerce and Navigation between Her Majesty and the King of the Hellenes. (Signed at Athens in the English and Greek Languages, 10th November, 1886. Ratifications exchanged at Athens, 21st April, 1887.) Hee Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India, and His Majesty the King of the Hellenes, being desirous to extend and facilitate the relations of commerce between their respective subjects and dominions, have determined to conclude a new treaty with this object, and they have appointed their respective Plenipotentiaries, that is to say,— Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India, Sir Horace Rumbold, a Baronet of Great Britain, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, and her Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the King of the Hellenes ; and His Majesty the King of the Hellenes, M. Stephen Dragoumi, Minister for Foreign Affairs ; who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following articles : — Abticle I.—There shall be between the dominions and possessions of the two high contracting parties reciprocal freedom of commerce and navigation. The subjects of each of the two parties
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shall have liberty freely to come, with their ships and cargoes, to all places, ports, and rivers in the dominions and possessions of the other to which native subjects generally are or may be permitted to come, and shall enjoy respectively the same rights, privileges, liberties, favours, immunities, and exemptions in matters of commerce and navigation which are or may be enjoyed by native subjects, without having to pay any tax or impost greater than those paid by the same, and they shall be subject to the laws and regulations in force. Aeticle 11. —No other or higher duties shall be imposed on the importation into the dominions and possessions of Her Britannic Majesty of any article the produce or manufacture of the dominions and possessions of His Majesty the King of the Hellenes, from whatever place arriving, and no other or higher duties shall be imposed on the importation into the dominions and possessions of His Majesty the King of the Hellenes of any article the produce or manufacture of Her Britannic Majesty's dominions and possessions, from whatever place arriving, than on articles produced or manufactured in any other foreign country ; nor shall any prohibition be maintained or imposed on the importation of any article the produce or manufacture of the dominions and possessions of either of the contracting parties into the dominions and possessions of the other, from whatever place arriving, which shall not equally extend to the importation of the like articles being the produce or manufacture of any other country. This last provision is not applicable to the sanitary and other prohibitions occasioned by the necessity of protecting the safety of persons or of cattle, or of plants useful to agriculture. Aeticle III.—No other or higher duties or charges shall be imposed in the dominions and possessions of either of the contracting parties on the exportation of any article to the dominions and possessions of the other than such as are or may be payable on the exportation of the like article to any other foreign country ; nor shall any prohibition be imposed on the exportation of any article from the dominions and possessions of either of the two contracting parties to the dominions and possessions of the other which shall not equally extend to the exportation of the like article to any other country. Aeticle IV. —The subjects of each of the contracting parties shall enjoy, in the dominions and possessions of the other, exemption from all transit duties, and a perfect equality of treatment with native, subjects in all that relates to warehousing, bounties, facilities, and drawbacks. Aeticle V. —All articles which are or may be legally imported into the ports of the dominions and possessions of Her Britannic Majesty in British vessels may likewise be imported into those ports in Hellenic vessels, without being liable to any other or higher duties or charges of whatever denomination than if such articles were imported in British vessels; and reciprocally all articles which are or may be legally imported into the ports of the dominions and possessions of His Majesty the King of the Hellenes in Hellenic vessels may likewise be imported into those ports in British vessels, without being liable to any other or higher duties or charges of whatever denomination than if such articles were imported in Hellenic vessels. Such reciprocal equality of treatment shall take effect without distinction, whether such articles come directly from the place of origin or from any other place. In the same manner, there shall be perfect equality of treatment in regard to exportation, so that the same export duties shall be paid, and the same bounties and drawbacks allowed, in the dominions and possessions of either of the contracting parties on the exportation of any article which is or may be legally exported therefrom, whether such exportation shall take place in Hellenic or in British vessels, and whatever may be the place of destination, whether a port of either of the contracting parties or of any third Power. Aeticle VI.—No duties of tonnage, harbour, pilotage, lighthouse, quarantine, or other similar or corresponding duties of whatever nature or under whatever denomination, levied in the name or for the profit of Government, public functionaries, private individuals, corporations, or establishments of any kind, shall be imposed in the ports of the dominions and possessions of either country upon the vessels of the other country which shall not equally and under the same conditions be imposed in the like cases on national vessels in general. Such equality of treatment shall apply reciprocally to the respective vessels, from whatever port or place they may arrive, and whatever may be their place of destination. Aeticle VII. —In all that regards the coasting trade, the stationing, loading, and unloading of vessels in the ports, basins, docks, roadsteads, harbours, or rivers of the dominions and possessions of the two countries, no privilege shall be granted to national vessels which shall not be equally granted to vessels of the other country ; the intention of the contracting parties being that in these respects also the respective vessels shall be treated on the footing of perfect equality. Aeticle VIII.—Any ship of war or merchant-vessel of either of the contracting parties which may be compelled by stress of weather, or by accident, to take shelter in a port of the other shall be at liberty to refit therein, to procure all necessary stores, and to put to sea again, without paying any dues other than such as would be payable in a similar case by a national vessel. In case, however, the master of a merchant-vessel should be under the necessity of disposing of a part of his merchandise in order to defray his expenses he shall be bound to conform to the regulations and tariffs of the place to which he may have come. If any ship of war or merchant-vessel of one of the contracting parties should run aground or be wrecked upon the coasts of the other, such ship or vessel, and all parts thereof, and all furniture and appurtenances belonging thereunto, and all goods and merchandise saved therefrom, including any which may have been cast into the sea, or the proceeds thereof if sold, as well as all papers found on board such stranded or wrecked ship or vessel, shall be given up to the owners or their agents when claimed by them. If there are no such owners or agents on the spot, then the same shall be delivered to the British or Hellenic ConsulGeneral, Consul, Vice-Consul, or Consular Agent in whose district the wreck or stranding may have taken place, upon being claimed by him within the period fixed by the laws of the country ; and such Consuls, owners, or agents shall pay only the expenses incurred in the preservation of the property, together with the salvage or other expenses which would have been payable in the like case of a wreck of a national vessel. The goods and merchandise saved from the wreck shall be
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exempt from all duties of Customs, unless cleared for consumption, in which case they shall pay the same rate of duty as if they had been imported in a national vessel. In the case either of a vessel being driven in by stress of weather, run aground, or wrecked, the respective Consuls-General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls, and Consular Agents shall, if the owner or master or other agent of the owner is not present, or is present and requires it, be authorised to interpose in order to afford the necessary assistance to their fellow-countrymen. Abticle IX.—All vessels which, according to British law, are to be deemed British vessels, and all vessels which, according to Hellenic law, are to be deemed Hellenic vessels, shall, for the purposes of this treaty, be deemed British and Hellenic vessels respectively. Article X. —The contracting parties agree that, in all matters relating to commerce and navigation, any privilege, favour, or immunity whatever which either contracting party has actually granted or may hereafter grant to the subjects or citizens of any other State shall be extended immediately and unconditionally to the subjects or citizens of the other contracting party; it being their intention that the trade and navigation of each country shall be placed, in all respects, by the other on the footing of the most favoured nation. Abticle Xl.—lt shall be free to each of the contracting parties to appoint Consuls-General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls, and Consular Agents to reside in the towns and ports of the dominions and possessions of the other. Such Consuls-General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls, and Consular Agents, however, shall not enter upon their functions until after they shall have been approved and admitted in the usual form by the Government to which they are sent. They shall enjoy all the faculties, privileges, exemptions, and immunities of every kind which are or shall be granted to Consuls of the most favoured nation. Abticle Xll.—The subjects of each of the contracting parties who shall conform themselves to the laws of the country —(1.) Shall have full liberty, with their families, to enter, travel, or reside in any part of the dominions and possessions of the other contracting party. (2.) They shall be permitted to hire or possess the houses, manufactories, warehouses, shops, and premises which may be necessary for them. (3.) They may carry on their commerce either in person or by any agents whom they may think fit to employ. (4.) They shall not be subject in respect to their persons or property,-or in respect of passports, nor in respect of their commerce or industry, to any taxes, whether general or local, or to imposts or obligations of any kind whatever other or greater than those which are or may be imposed upon native subjects. Abticle XIII.—The subjects of each of the contracting parties in the dominions and possessions of the other shall be exempted from all compulsory military service whatever, whether in the army, navy, or national guard or militia. They shall be equally exempted from all judicial and municipal functions whatever other than those imposed by the laws relating to juries, as well as from all contributions, whether pecuniary or in kind, imposed as a compensation for personal service, and finally from every species of exaction or military requisition, as well as from forced loans and other charges which may be imposed for purposes of war, or as a result of other extraordinary circumstances. The duties and charges connected with the ownership or leasing of lands and other real property are, however, excepted, as well as all exactions or military requisitions to which all subjects of the country may be liable as owners or lessees of real property. Abticle XlV.—The subjects of each of the contracting parties in the dominions and possessions of the other shall be at full liberty to exercise civil rights, and therefore to acquire, possess, and dispose of every description of property, movable and immovable. They may acquire and transmit the same to others, whether by purchase, sale, donation, exchange, marriage, testament, succession ab intestate), and in any other manner, under the same conditions as national subjects. Their heirs may succeed to and take possession of it, either in person or by procurators, in the same manner and in the same legal forms as subjects of the country; and in the case of subjects of either of the contracting parties dying intestate their property shall be administered to by their respective Consuls or Vice-Consuls as far as is consistent with the laws of both countries. In none of these respects shall they pay upon the value of such property any other or higher impost, duty, or charge than is payable by subjects of the country. In every case the subjects of the contracting parties shall be permitted to export their property, or the proceeds thereof if sold, on the same conditions as subjects of the country. Abticle XV. —The dwellings, manufactories, warehouses, and shops of the subjects of each of the contracting parties in the dominions and possessions of the other, and all premises appertaining thereto destined for purposes of residence or commerce, shall be respected. It shall not be allowable to proceed to make a search of, or a domiciliary visit to, such dwellings and premises, or to examine or inspect books, papers, or accounts, except under the conditions and with the forms prescribed by the laws for subjects of the country. The subjects of each of the two contracting parties in the dominions and possessions of the other shall have free access to the Courts of justice for the prosecution and defence of their rights, without other conditions, restrictions, or taxes beyond those imposed on native subjests, and shall, like them, be at liberty to employ, in all causes, their advocates, attorneys, or agents from among the persons admitted to the exercise of those professions according to the laws of the country. Abticle XVI. —The Consuls-General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls, and Consular Agents of each of the contracting parties, residing in the dominions and possessions of the other, shall receive from the local authorities such assistance as can by law be given to them for the recovery of deserters from the vessels of their respective countries. Abticle XVII. —The stipulations of the present treaty shall be applicable, as far as the laws permit, to all the colonies and foreign possessions of Her Britannic Majesty, excepting to those hereinafter named—that is to say, except to India, the Dominion of Canada, Newfoundland, the Cape, Natal, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, New Zealand : Provided always that the stipulations of the present treaty shall be made applicable to any of the above-named colonies or foreign possessions on whose behalf notice to that
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effect shall have been given by Her Britannic Majesty's representative at the Court of Greece to the Hellenic Minister for Foreign Affairs, within one year from the date of the exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty. Article XVIII. —The present treaty shall apply to any countries or territories which may hereafter unite in a Customs union with one or other of the high contracting parties. Article XlX.—The present treaty shall come into force on the exchange of the ratifications, and shall remain in force for ten years, and thereafter until the expiration of a year from the day in which one or other of the contracting parties shall have repudiated it. Each of the contracting parties reserves, however, the right of causing it to terminate upon twelve months' notice being given previously. It is understood that the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation concluded between Great Britain and Greece on the 4th October, 1837, is abrogated by the present treaty. Article XX. —The present treaty shall be ratified by the two contracting parties, and the ratifications thereof shall be exchanged at Athens as soon as possible. In faith whereof the Plenipotentiaries of the contracting parties have signed the present treaty, in duplicate, in the English and Greek languages, and thereto affixed their respective seals. Done in Athens, this tenth day of November, in the year 1886. (1.5.) Horace Eumbold. (1.5.) S. Dragoumt.
. Protocol. At the moment of proceeding this day to the signature of the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation between Great Britain and Greece, the Plenipotentiaries of the two high contracting parties have declared as follow : Any controversies which may arise respecting the interpretation or the execution of the present treaty, or the consequences of any violation thereof, shall be submitted, when the means of settling them directly by amicable agreement are exhausted, to the decision of Commissions of Arbitration, and that the result of such arbitration shall be binding upon both Governments. The members of such Commissions shall be selected by the two Governments by common consent, failing which each of the parties shall nominate an arbitrator, or an equal number of arbitrators, and "the arbitrators thus appointed shall select an umpire. The procedure of the arbitration shall in each case be determined by the contracting parties, failing which the Commission of Arbitration shall be itself entitled to determine it beforehand. The undersigned Plenipotentiaries have agreed that this protocol shall be submitted to the two high contracting parties at the same time as the treaty, and that when the treaty is ratified the agreements contained in the protocol shall also equally be considered as approved, without the necessity of a further formal ratification. In faith whereof the two Plenipotentiaries have signed the present protocol, and thereto affixed their respective seals. Done at Athens, this tenth day of November, in the year 1886. (1.5.) Horace Bumbold. (1.5.) S. Dbagoumi.
No. 6. (New Zealand—Honours.) Sir, — Downing Street, 23rd May, 1887. I have the honour to inform you that the Queen has, on my recommendation, been graciously pleased to give directions for the appointment of James Hector, Esq., M.D., C.M.G., Director of Geological Surveys and Curator of the Colonial Museum of New Zealand, to be a Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, and I request that you will be good enough to forward to him the accompanying letter. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &o.
No. 7. (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 31st May, 1887. With reference to the Earl of Carnarvon's circular despatch of the 2nd August, 1876,1 have the honour to transmit to you, for information and publication in the colony under your Government, an extract from the London Gazette containing an Order of the Queen in Council of the 13th instant, for carrying into effect the declaration concluded on the 21st April last for amending Article I. of the treaty between Great Britain and Belgium of the 20th May, 1876, for the mutual surrender of fugitive criminals. The declaration came into operation on the 30th instant, in conformity with Article 111. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. [For enclosure, see New Zealand Gazette, 4th August, 1887, p. 1045.]
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No. 8. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, Ist June, 1887. With reference to Lord Kimberley's circular despatch of the 18th April, 1882, I have the honour to transmit to you, for information in the colony under your Government, copies of the revised regulations governing the examination and entry of naval cadets. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. [For enclosure, see New Zealand Gazette, 4th August, 1887, p. 1045.] ]
No. 9. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 2nd June, 1887. The Belgian Government. is anxious that Her Majesty's colonial possessions should adhere to the proposal which is explained in the accompanying precis of a paper received from the Belgian Minister at this Court, for the publication of the Customs tariffs of various countries. 2. The proposal is one which meets with the cordial approval of Her Majesty's Government, and the adherence of the United Kingdom and of India has been notified to the Belgian Government. 3. -The Belgian Government attaches much importance to the adhesion of the British colonies generally to the proposal, and thinks that, as nearly all of them have a Customs tariff, it would, be an advantage to them as well as to international commerce that their tariffs should be published in the collection issued by the International Bureau. 4. I shall be glad to be informed, at your early convenience, whether your Government desires its adhesion to be notified to the Belgian Government. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Enclosure. International Customs Tabiff Bureau. The Belgian Government has, within the last year, drawn the attention of Her Majesty's Government to the want experienced by traders and manufacturers of authentic information as to the Customs tariffs of the countries with which trade is carried on. It is stated that formerly there existed in various countries publications containing information of this nature which were supported by private enterprise, but that the particulars which they contained were often inaccurate, and that these works soon became dangerously misleading. To avoid inaccuracies, several Governments, notably those of Germany, England, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, and the United States, undertook severally the publication of foreign Customs tariffs for the use of their own nationals. This system, though naturally superior to that previously carried out by private individuals, has, nevertheless, in the opinion of the Belgian Government, left much to be desired. A comparative examination at the Foreign Office at Brussels, which has taken place periodically for some years past, has tended to show that the tariffs as given by the various countries do not always correspond, and that the greater part of the collections are incomplete, and do not in every case present the most recent modifications, while additional confusion is caused in some cases by modifications being placed in the body of the publications, where they pass unnoticed. In any case the tariffs and their modifications generally appear so late that the usefulness of these publications is considered to be contestable from a practical point of view. The complaints of traders and manufacturers have led to the idea, on the part of the Belgian Government, of organizing at Brussels, with the co-operation of all Governments concerned, an International Bureau, which would undertake the duty of publishing, as they came out, all Customs duties of the world, with their modifications, and of translating them into the languages most generally used in trade, such as German, English, French, and Spanish, though there would probably be no inconvenience in adding to the number of languages if the Governments interested expressed a desire to this effect. The advantage of centralisation in a work of this character is apparent, and the creation of an organ receiving directly and promptly particulars from the Governments concerned would offer to traders and manufacturers of all countries guarantees and advantages not hitherto known. It is unnecessary to inquire whether Governments which have already a service of this nature would care to continue it after the establishment of the proposed international service at Brussels.
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Great Britain, Spain, Italy, and Switzerland, which have each a regularly-organized national service of this description, have given their adhesion to the proposals of the Belgian Government, and, assuming that these countries still adhere to their separate service, there can be no doubt that they would receive much assistance from the proposed International Bureau at Brussels. A sketch of complete organization will be submitted to the countries interested in the principle of the International Bureau as soon as the Belgian Government knows exactly what countries are prepared to entertain the project. The States which have so far accepted the principle are twenty-two in number, being England, Switzerland, Mexico, Spain, Russia, Roumania, Italy, the State of the Congo, Servia, the Republic of South Africa, Turkey, Sweden and Norway, Portugal, the Argentine Republic, Salvador, Venezuela, Denmark, Siam, Costa Rica, Hayti, the Netherlands, and Belgium. The Belgian Government, through the Belgian Legation in this country, has now invited the Governments of Her Majesty's colonies to consider the subject. 22nd April, 1887.
No. 10. (Circular.) Sic, — Downing Street, 4th June, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a letter from this department to the Foreign Office, with reference to a proposed treaty of commerce with Japan. I also enclose a copy of the article referred to in the accompanying letter. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Enclosure 1. Sic, —■ Colonial Office, Downing Street, 3rd June, 1887. I am directed by Secretary Sir Henry Holland to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th April, with reference to the commercial treaty with Japan; and I am to request that you will state to the Marquis of Salisbury that, as the matter appears to press for an immediate reply, he is prepared to accept the wording of the 22nd article of the treaty of 1883 between Germany and Spain, omitting the word "colonial," but that, in his opinion, the United States representative might be urged to withdraw his objection, as there is some difficulty felt in making these engagements binding on the larger colonies without previously consulting them. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office. E. H. Meade.
Enclosure 2. Aeticle XXII. of Treaty between Germany and Spain, signed 12th July, 1883. As the colonial possessions of Spain are governed by special laws, the foregoing provisions of this treaty shall apply to them only so far as is compatible with these laws. German subjects shall there enjoy, in every respect, the same rights, privileges, exemptions, advantages, and immunities as are or shall hereafter be granted to the subjects of the most favoured nation. German products and wares shall in Spanish colonies be liable to no other taxes, imposts, or formalities than the products and goods of the most favoured nation. The products and goods of the colonial possessions of Spain shall on entering Germany enjoy the same treatment as the " colonial" products and goods of the most favoured nation.
No. 11. (Circular 2.) Sib, — Downing Street, 6th June, 1887. With reference to my predecessors' circular despatches of the 27th June, 1884, 14th September, 1885, 13th February, 1886, and 9th April, 1886, relative to the Submarine Telegraphs Convention, and with reference to the " additional article " in that Convention, I have the honour to point out that I am not yet informed whether your Government is prepared to accede to that Convention. I now transmit to you the accompanying copy of a correspondence with the Foreign Office, and of the declaration referred to in it; and I request that I may be informed, at your earliest convenience, whether your Government is prepared to accede to the Convention and declaration. I have to inform you that the Convention has not yet been brought into operation. An International Conference was assembled at Paris in December
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last to examine the laws already passed by certain of the signatory Powers, and to consider the date at which the Convention should come into operation, but decided to adjourn to the Ist July next, when the matter will be further considered. I take this opportunity to transmit to you the accompanying copies of " The Submarine Telegraph Act, 1886," amending "The Submarine Telegraph Act, 1885." I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Enclosure 1. Sic,— Foreign Office, 28th September, 1886. With reference to previous correspondence respecting the Submarine Telegraphs Convention of the 14th March, 1884, I am now directed by the Earl of Iddesleigh to request that you will inform Mr. Secretary Stanhope that the Submarine Telegraph Act (1885) Amendment Bill has received the Boyal assent. Her Majesty's Government are therefore in a position to give effect to the declaration drawn up at the Conference which met at Paris last May. A copy of this document accompanied the letter from this office of the 4th of June last. The French Government have proposed that, after an examination of the further laws passed by the Legislatures of countries parties to the Convention of 1884, which will be communicated to the Conference when it reassembles on the Ist of December next, the list of these States shall then be definitely settled, and a decision come to respecting the position of States which are not at that date in a position to carry out the provisions of Article XII. of the Convention of 1884. When this preliminary business is disposed of, the Plenipotentiaries of the Powers will proceed to sign the declaration. Lord Iddesleigh will be glad to learn whether the British colonies enumerated in the additional article to the Convention of 1884 accede to the Convention and to the declaration, and will be on the Ist December next in a position to give effect to the provisions of these engagements; and if they accede, but are not yet in a position to give effect to them, what statement is to be made with respect to each colony so circumstanced. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. James Febgusson.
Enclosure 2. Sic, — Colonial Office, Downing Street, 22nd October, 1886. With reference to your letter of the 28th September, on the subject of the Submarine Telegraphs Convention, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Stanhope to state that the Colonies of Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland have, as the Earl of Iddesleigh is already aware, acceded to the Convention, but that they have not intimated their wishes with regard to the declaration of May last, nor have they yet been afforded sufficient time to do so. The remaining colonies mentioned in the additional article not having signified their accession to the Convention, no communication has been addressed to them with reference to the declaration; but Mr. Stanhope, being now informed that Her Majesty's Government are in a position to give effect to the declaration, will invite the Colonial Governments to furnish him with a definite answer as to their desire to accede both to the Convention and to the declaration. I am first to inquire whether Lord Iddesleigh concurs with Mr. Stanhope in considering that the effect of accession by a colony is (a) to make the Convention —Art. I.—operative outside the waters of the colony in respect of any cable which is landed upon the shores of that colony; and (b) to pledge the colony—Art. XII.— to pass any legislative measures which may be necessary to make the Convention operative within the waters of the colony. lam to add that no colony has yet legislated on the subject. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office. John Beamston.
Enclosure 3. SUBMAEINE TELEGEAPH DeCLABATION. Ceetain doubts having been raised as to the meaning of the word "wilfully " used in Article 11. of the Convention of the 14th March, 1884, it is understood that the provision in respect of penal responsibility contained in the said article does not apply to cases of breakage or injury caused accidentally or of necessity in the repair of a cable, when all precautions have been taken to avoid such breakage or injury. It is equally understood that Article IV. of the Convention had no other object, and is to have no other effect, than to empower the competent tribunals of each country to decide, in conformity with their laws and according to the circumstances, the question of the civil responsibility of the owner of a cable who in laying or repairing his own cable breaks or injures another cable, as well as the consequences of such responsibility if it is recognised as existing. 2—A. 2.
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No. 12. (New Zealand, General.) Sir, — Downing Street, 7th June, 1887. With reference to previous correspondence on the question of extending to the Australasian Colonies the whole or part of the Imperial Coinage Act of 1870, I have the honour to inform you that the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury are of opinion that, as the question of the renewal of the gold coinage of the United Kingdom will no doubt be dealt with at an early date, and may involve an amendment of the Coinage Act, it would be better not at present to take steps for extending the provisions of the Act to certain of the Australasian Colonies. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.
No. 13. (New Zealand, No. 28.) Sir,— Downing Street, 9th June, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Ministers, copies of the proceedings at the meetings of the Colonial Conference at which the future arrangements for the administration of New Guinea were discussed, and also a copy of a despatch which I have addressed to the Governor of Queensland on the subject. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.
See Proceedings of Conference, pp. 362, 532.
Enclosure. Sib,— Downing Street, 9th June, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Ministers, copies of the proceedings at the meetings of the Colonial Conference at which the future arrangements for the administration of British New Guinea were discussed. In the main, as you will observe, the arrangements agreed upon differ but slightly from the proposals submitted by your Government in Sir A. Palmer's Despatch No. 45, of the 21st May, 1886, approved by the Parliament of Queensland in the resolutions passed on the 27th November last, the most important difference being the extension of the period for which the colonies are to guarantee the expenses of the administration from five to ten years. The draft of the Bill which is to be submitted to the Legislature of Queensland is also enclosed. Sir Samuel Griffith will have communicated to you his action on the subject before this despatch reaches you, and I need only add that, on learning from you by telegraph that the Bill has been duly passed, I shall instruct the Administrator to proclaim Her Majesty's sovereignty over the territory, and the necessary Letters Patent will be issued on the receipt of telegraphic information that the sovereignty has been proclaimed. I have, &c, Governor Sir A. Musgrave, K.C.M.G., &c. H. T. Holland. [For sub-enclosure, see A.-5, 1888, Appendices to Journals of House of Eepresentatives, pp. 36-68.]
No. 14. (New Zealand, No. 31.) Sm,— Downing Street, 13th June, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you an extract from a letter from the University of London, reporting the result of the matriculation examination of that University held in Australasia in January last. I also transmit a copy of a letter from the Secretary to the Gilchrist Educational Trust, announcing the awards. You will observe that it is requested that the successful candidates should bring certificates of identity with them. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M G., C.8., &c.
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Enclosure 1. Extract from a Letter from the University of London to the Colonial Office, dated the Ist June, 1887. I have the honour to make the following report upon the matriculation examination of this University held in January last in Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. Of the four Australian centres to which the examination-papers were despatched, candidates appeared at three —namely, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Hobart; and the candidates at all these centres have evinced unusual merit, as have also the New Zealand candidates. In New Zealand two candidates presented themselves. Of these, one (No. 1,287, Mr. C. G. Spencer, of Christ's College, Christchurch) has been placed next to the third in the original honours list, and the other (No. 1,293, Mr. C. T. W. Little) has been placed next to the fourteenth in that list. It is to be assumed that the Gilchrist Scholarship assigned to the Australian Colonies will be awarded to Mr. J. Sutherland, and that the scholarship assigned biennially to New Zealand will be awarded to Mr. C. G. Spencer; but with these awards the University has nothing to do. I will, however, communicate the result of the examinations to the Secretary of the Gilchrist Trust, by whom the awards will no doubt be officially announced to you. The private address of Mr. Sutherland is 1, Lytton Street, Carlton, Melbourne; and of Mr. Spencer is Marine Parade, Napier, New Zealand. In explanation of the long delay in rendering this report, I may say that, as, notwithstanding my repeated request, no information has again been received from the authorities at Sydney as to whether any examination was held there or not, we have been compelled to wait until it appeared probable, from the mere lapse of time, that no candidate actually presented himself at that centre. I enclose a few pass-lists for transmission to the several centres.
Enclosure 2. Sir, — 4, The Sanctuary, Westminster Abbey, S.W., 4th June, 1887. I have the honour to inform you that, by the pass-list of the University of London for the matriculation examination held in the colonies in January last, the successful candidate for the Australian and Tasmanian Gilchrist Scholarship is Mr. John Sutherland, of Melbourne, who is placed above the first in the original honours list; and for the New Zealand scholarship, Mr. Charles George Spencer, of Napier. The two scholarships are therefore awarded to those two candidates respectively, and I have to respectfully request that you will convey this information to the Governments of Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand, for the use of all whom it may concern, with the least possible delay. I have, &c, Henry A. Papps, The Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Secretary. PS.—lt is requested that the scholars bring certificates of identity from the authorities.
No. 15. (New Zealand, No. 30.) Sir, — Downing Street, 13th June, 1887. I caused to be referred for the consideration of the Secretary of State for War, and for that of the Secretary of State for India in Council, a copy of your Despatch No. 122, of the 15th December last, with its enclosures, respecting a proposal that a small percentage of appointments to Woolwich and Sandhurst and to the Civil Service of India should be reserved for candidates in Australasia, and that special privileges in the way of local examination and probation should be conceded; and I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Ministers, copies of letters which have been received from the War Office and India Office in reply. I regret that the state of the law prevents the adoption of the proposals of your Government respecting Indian appointments. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.
• A.-l, 1887, I Sess. 1., No. 67.
Enclosure 1. Sib,— War Office, Pall Mall, S.W., sth May, 1887. With reference to your letter of the 2nd February last and its enclosures respecting a proposal th.Lt a small percentage of cadetships at Woolwich and Sandhurst should be reserved for candidates in Australasia, and that special privileges in the way of examination and probation should be conceded, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acquaint you, for the information of Secretary Sir Henry Holland, that the question raised by the Governor of New
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Zealand is a wide and complicated one, and the proposal made by him could not, if adopted, be limited to the Australasian Colonies. The advisability of affording to colonial gentlemen facilities for entering the British army has been fully recognised of late years, and four commissions annually are now allowed to cadets of the Royal Military College in Canada, two annually to officers of the local forces of the colonies named in the margin (New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, Queensland, New Zealand, Cape of Good Hope), and one cadetship annually at Sandhurst to graduates of each of the chartered colonial universities also named in the margin (Sydney, Melbourne, New Zealand, Cape of Good Hope, Adelaide, Malta). Thus twenty-two commissions a year are obtainable by colonial candidates, and of that number fourteen are allotted to Australasian Colonies. The total of twenty-two is about equivalent to 5 per cent, of the annual number of first appointments to the army. The Canadian Royal Military College has hitherto fully availed itself of the privilege, but, as the regulations granting commissions to colonial local forces were only issued last year, it is impossible to say yet to what extent advantage may be taken of them. As regards the chartered universities, however, during the seven years that the rule has been in force only six graduates have been nominated, and four of those came from Melbourne University, and one from New Zealand. It will thus be seen that, out of a possible twenty-eight cadetships in seven years, the Australasian Colonies have only taken up five. There would be so many and such obvious difficulties in carrying out a system of concurrent competition in the various colonies that Mr. Secretary Stanhope feels it would be inadvisable to adopt such a course, and would rather allow more time to elapse for the development of the existing arrangement; and, should it eventually be found that the colonists are availing themselves fully of their present facilities for admission to the British army, the question of extending those facilities on similar lines might then be considered. I have, Sec, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, SW. Ralph Thompson.
Enclosure 2. Sib,— ' ' India Office, Whitehall, S.W., 7th June, 1887. With reference to Mr. Bramston's letter of the 2nd February last, enclosing a copy of a despatch and connected papers from the Governor of New Zealand, I am directed to state, for the information of Sir Henry Holland, that Viscount Cross has given full and careful consideration in Council to the proposal of Sir William Jervois that a certain percentage of appointments to the Civil Service of India should be reserved for candidates in Australasia, and that special privileges in the way of local examination and probation should be conceded. Lord Cross has approached the consideration of this important subject with a strong desire to meet the wishes of the Australasian Colonies so far as may be possible without prejudice to the efficiency of the public service of India, his Lordship being fully alive to the advantage of any measure tending to associate the interests of the colonies with those of the Indian Empire. The present proposal, however, lam to say, is beset with very serious difficulties. The regulations under which candidates are admitted to compete for appointments in the Civil Service of India are framed under section 32 of the statute 21 and 22 Victoria, cap. 106, and so long as that statute remains in force it is impossible to act on the suggestion to reserve a certain percentage of appointments for candidates in the Australasian Colonies. Lord Cross has thought it right to consult the Civil Service Commissioners on the subject; and it will be seen from their letter, a copy of which is enclosed, that, while they concur in the view of the law above expressed, they have considered the possibility of holding an open competition simultaneously in England and Australasia, with the result that they are of opinion that there are practically insuperable difficulties connected with such a plan. Lord Cross concurs in the conclusions arrived at by the Civil Service Commissioners, and must therefore suggest that Sir William Jervois be informed that his recommendation cannot be adopted at present, though, if hereafter any question should arise of amending the law relating to the selection and training of candidates for the Civil Service of India, the proposals which he has submitted will receive due consideration. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. John E. Goest.
Sub-Enclosure. Sib, — Civil Service Commission, 19th March, 1887. The Civil Service Commissioners have given their best consideration to your letter of the sth instant (H.P. 197), with enclosures, respecting the practicability of reserving a small percentage of appointments to the Civil Service of India for candidates in Australasia, or of holding the open competitive examination for the Civil Service of India simultaneously in Australasia and England. In reply, they direct me to state that they would be very glad to assist in giving effect to the wishes of the colonists, but they regret to say that they do not see how the difficulties in the way of carrying the proposals of Sir W. Jervois into execution can be overcome. (1.) The proposal to reserve a small percentage of appointments for candidates in Australasia appears to contemplate the selection of colonial candidates by means of an examination independent of, though simultaneous with, the open competition held in England. As to this, the Commissioners have only to observe that they apprehend that it would not be consistent with the Act under which appointments are made to the Civil Service of India (21 and 22 Viet., cap. 106, sec. xxvii.) to hold separate and distinct examinations for Australasia and England—in other words, to grant appointments in the India Civil Service otherwise than according to the order of proficiency in a single competitive examination. (2.) But if it is contemplated that an open competition should be held simulta-
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neously in Australasia and England, and that the whole body of candidates should be ranked in one order of merit, and appointments given up to the number of vacancies to those highest on the list, this proposal, though consistent with the Act, seems open to objections which, in the judgment of the Commissioners, must be fatal to its adoption. In the first place, the oral tests which in all the subjects form a part, and in many of the subjects a very important part, could not in the case of candidates in Australasia and England be conducted by the same examiner for all candidates in each subject—a condition which the Commissioners hold to be essential. Another serious objection is the delay which would unavoidably take place in declaring the result of the examination, owing to the time required for despatching to England the answers of the candidates examined abroad, and the further loss of time in sending out to those among the latter who might be successful the necessary instructions for their subsequent special studies. Even now the selected candidates have barely sufficient time for these studies, and any curtailment of this period would be a very serious evil. The Commissioners are moreover of opinion that, even if the open competition could be held concurrently in Australasia, the candidates could scarcely obtain the linguistic and legal training and instruction necessary before they could be finally appointed to the Service, or pass there the periodical and final examinations, the latter of which, as it determines the seniority in the Service, must be competitive. They would therefore be unable to concur with the recommendation that one of the colonial universities should be added to the list of those at which selected candidates are permitted to pass their probation. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, India Office. E. Poste.
No. 16. (New Zealand—Honours.) Sib,— ' " Downing Street, 15th June, 1887. I have the honour to inform you that the Queen has, on my recommendation, been graciously pleased to give orders for the promotion of Sir Edward William Stafford, K.C.M.G., to be a Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir VV. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.
No. 17. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 15th June, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Board of Trade, requesting information respecting the laws and regulations for saving life at sea in force in the chief British colonies, which I shall be glad to be furnished with as regards the colony under your Government at your earliest convenience. I enclose copies of a paper printed for the use of the recent Colonial Conference on the subject of the preservation of life at sea. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Enclosure 1. Sm, — Board of Trade (Marine Department), London, S.W., 3rd June, 1887. I am directed by the Board of Trade to state, for the information of the Secretary of State, that, in view of an inquiry now proceeding respecting the existing law as to the boats and lifesaving appliances of sea-going ships, they are desirous of ascertaining what is the practice in the principal colonies in dealing with the subject. The Board will therefore be glad if the Secretary of State will be good enough to cause the necessary steps to be taken for obtaining detailed statements of the laws and regulations in force concerning the boats and life-saving appliances required to be carried on board sea-going ships registered in the chief British colonies, showing the different rules applicable to passenger as compared with other vessels, and whether such regulations are enforced under statute or under the rules of some survey or register society. The Board will be glad if the informabion can be obtained with as little delay as possible. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Thomas Geat.
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Enclosure 2. Pkbseevation of Life at Sea.— [Printed for the Use of the Colonial Conference.] In 1882-83, Mr. J. Wilks, President of the Eoyal Humane Society of Australasia, visited England, and had interviews with Lord Kimberley, Mr. Chamberlain, and the officials of the Board of Trade. Plis object was to point out the necessity for an amendment of the laws relating to the mercantile marine in the following direction: "That the provisions regarding the number and capacity of boats to be carried by steamers should be based upon the maximum number of passengers and crew allowed to be carried, and not upon the tonnage of the ships, and should require that a larger proportion of such boats should be lifeboats, and fitted with the most approved patent lowering apparatus ; that more stringent provision be made with respect to the keeping of such boats in a position and state fit for immediate use ; that, in the case of ships carrying more than a hundred and fifty passengers, life-rafts or other apparatus in addition to boats should be carried; that the number of life-buoys to be carried on board ships should be regulated by a scale according to the number of passengers and crew allowed to be carried by such a ship; that a clause should be inserted requiring the master of every ship to provide a life-jacket for every passenger and sailor allowed to be carried, and that such life-jacket should be placed inside each berth; that proper provision be made that sailing ships carrying passengers should be provided with fire-hose and distress-signals." On the 27th February, 1884, Mr. Wilks wrote to Lord Derby, expressing gratitude for the announcement made in the Queen's Speech," and pointing oat the necessity for uniformity of legislation upon the subject as between the several Australasian Colonies. "On a former occasion, when, at the instance of this society, the Victorian Parliament attempted to deal with the subject, it was found impossible to do so through the fears expressed that the Act would be evaded by changing the port of registration of the interested shipping to a city in another colony." On the 25th August, 1884, the Governor of Victoria forwarded a resolution passed at a public meeting held in Melbourne under the auspices of the society. The speakers advocated the amendment of "The Passenger, Harbours, and Navigation Statute, 1865," in the direction above described. They recommended that "representations should be made to the proper authorities in England with a view to similar amendments being made in the Imperial law, in order to prevent any conflict of jurisdiction and laws, and to remove any impediment at present existing against the carrying-out of any of these suggestions by the Victorian Parliament." It was pointed out by the society that the Bill lately introduced into the Imperial Parliament by the President of the Board of Trade, but since withdrawn, did not contain any provision upon these subjects, although it seemed universally admitted that the existing law urgently required amendment. This despatch was referred to the Board of Trade, who replied that the suggestions would receive consideration. On the 3rd November, 1884, the Governor of Victoria forwarded a memorandum from his Ministers on the subject of this resolution. Mr. Service stated that the question had already received very full consideration, and a Bill had been prepared ; but it was considered that, though extensive powers were proposed by the Bill to be given, they could not be exercised in advance of British legislation. He therefore asked the Governor to draw the attention of Her Majesty's Government to the need of legislation by the Imperial Parliament, more especially as the Bill introduced by the Board of Trade did not contain any provision to meet the necessities now brought under notice. This was communicated to the Board of Trade on the 24th December, 1884; but no answer was returned. On the 10th January, 1885, the Governor of Queensland, in forwarding a letter from the society urging his co-operation, expressed his personal concurrence in their views. The Board of Trade then stated that "the subject would receive consideration;" and the same answer was returned at their request to a similar communication from the Governor of South Australia. On the 14th March, 1885, the Governor of Tasmania forwarded a correspondence with the society, from which it appeared that the Tasmanian Government " fully realise the necessity for the adoption and enforcement of better provisions for the safety of life at sea, but that the necessary action must, in their opinion, be taken by the Imperial Government in the first place ; and when the British Parliament shall have passed the necessary measure the Government will be prepared to submit a Bill to the Parliament of Tasmania to extend its provisions to the colony." The Queensland Government also invited the Secretary of State's attention to the propriety of such an amendment of the law as might " make it compulsory on shipowners to provide their vessels with sufficient life-saving apparatus." The Board of Trade desired that the same replies as before might be sent to these representations. On the 22nd October, 1886, the President of the society again wrote to the Secretary of State urging that the views of the society might be brought before the Eoyal Commission on the Loss of Life at Sea which had recently been appointed in England. This was sent to the Board of Trade, who acknowledged its receipt. From a Eeuter's telegram of the 7th instant it appears that the question of the necessity for uniform legislation on the subject in England and the colonies is to be brought before the Colonial Conference by the Victorian delegates. The Board of Trade were therefore asked what should be said on behalf of Her Majesty's Government in reply to the representations that might be made. They have now replied that they see no reason why these questions should not be brought before the Conference, but observe that Her Majesty's Government propose at an early date to direct the attention of Parliament to the subject, and to suggest that the whole matter should be referred to a Parliamentary Committee. Should this Committee be appointed it would of course deal with any representations brought to its notice, whether made by the representatives of the Australian Governments or by such bodies as the Eoyal Humane Society of Australasia. The Board append a
* " You will be invited to consider Bills relating to the security of life and property at sea "
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short statement of the existing Imperial law on the subject and the Board of Trade regulations [not reprinted], and remark, in conclusion, that the general question of the loss of life at sea has recently been the subject of a long and careful inquiry by a Eoyal Commission, which, however, has not presented its report.
Colonial Office, March, 1887. Appendix. Boats and Life-saving Appliances in Sea-going Ships. Section 292 and Table S of "The Merchant Shipping Act, 1854," prescribe the number of boats and life-buoys to be carried by all sea-going ships other than those which clear as emigrant ships under " The Passengers Act, 1855." Section 293 of " The Merchant Shipping Act, 1854," requires the boats and buoys to be kept always fit and ready for use. Section 15 of "The Merchant Shipping Act, 1873," empowers the Board of Trade to reduce or vary the usual requirements in the case of vessels carrying only a limited number of passengers, and to allow rafts to be substituted, subject to certain conditions. Section 27 of "The Passengers Act, 1855," prescribes the number of boats to be carried by vessels clearing as emigrant ships. The regulations laid down by the Board of Trade respecting the boats and life-buoys to be carried by passenger steamships are contained in paragraphs 23 to 33 of the attached Instructions to Surveyors [not reprinted], and those respecting the boats of vessels clearing under the Passengers Act in paragraph 34 of the same Instructions. Under section 6of " The Merchant Shipping Act, 1876," the Board of Trade and its officers have power to order the provisional detention for survey of any ship which they have reason to believe is (on account of defective equipments or other specified cause) unfit to proceed to sea without serious danger to human life. Section 4of the same Act provides that the taking or sending to sea of an unsafe British ship shall be deemed to be a misdemeanour under certain circumstances.
No. 18. (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 16th June, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a letter from the War Office respecting the proposal that the Australian military forces should be occasionally inspected, by an Imperial general officer. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Enclosure. Siß,— War Office, 6th June, 1887. A proposal having been made at the Colonial Conference that an Imperial general officer should be sent to inspect occasionally the Australian forces, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that it will be a source of gratification to Mr. Secretary Stanhope to be able to comply with this request, which was so unanimously supported by the colonial representatives at the recent Conference. I have to add that His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief entirely concurs in this proposal, and will be prepared, whenever it may be considered expedient, to nominate a general officer to perform this duty. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Ealph Thompson.
No. 19. (Circular.) Sib,— Downing Street, 24th June, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, enclosing a copy of despatch from Her Majesty's Consul at Noumea, relating to the treatment of distressed British subjects in the hospitals in New Caledonia. With a view to the further discussion of this question with the French Government, I should be glad to be informed as to the terms on which distressed French subjects are admitted into the hospitals in the colony under your Government. I have, &c, H. T. -HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Enclosure. Sib,— Foreign Office, 10th June, 1887. I am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to transmit to you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, a copy of a despatch which has been received by this depart-
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ment from Her Majesty's Consul at Noumea, and I am to request you to be good enough to move Sir Henry Holland to cause Lord Salisbury to be furnished with any observations he may have to make respecting those portions of the despatch relating to the treatment accorded to distressed British subjects in the hospitals in New Caledonia as compared with that accorded to distressed French subjects in the colonies. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. T. V. Listee.
Sub-Enclosure. My Lobd, — British Consulate, Noumea, Ist April, 1887. Beferring to Despatch No. 11 (Consular), of the 29th of December last, I have the honour to report that the Acting-Consul found it absolutely necessary to return the person therein named (Tonbridge) to the hospital, in consequence of erysipelas setting in. He was, in fact, in such a dangerous state that his life was despaired of, and he barely escaped. 2. This, of course, involved a further expense of 135fr. 20c, which has been paid as vouched for by the annexed receipt, and I have to request your Lordship's authority for including the same in my next quarter's accounts. 3. I would again call your Lordship's attention to these hospital expenses. In our colonies numerous French citizens are maintained in our hospitals at the public expense. Cannot some arrangement be made with the French Government for similar liberal treatment towards us ? It will be said that this is a military hospital; but the simple reply to that is, it is the only one in the country ! and there are no civilian medical men. The municipality is too poor to build a hospital. According to the rules, a civilian cannot be admitted unless he deposits in advance about 250fr.—a month's keep, in fact, at Bfr. 45c. per diem—and at the end of the month he would be turned out, cured or uncured, if he did not renew or pay in advance a second deposit. This rule is relaxed if I officially guarantee the payment of any one whom I send to the hospital, as was done in the present case; but it throws a heavy responsibility on my shoulders. 4. Had this man Tonbridge not been at once removed to the hospital he certainly would have died.- I fear he will never be able to repay the amount, but I shall urge him to do so in every way in my power. I have, &c, E. L. Layaed, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. H.B.M. Consul.
No. 20. (Circular.) Sic,— Downing Street, 28th June, 1887. At the request of His Eoyal Highness the Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, K.G., Chairman of the House Committee of the Governors of the Eoyal Holloway College for the Education of Women, at Mount Lee, Egham, I have the honour to transmit herewith, for the information of the colony under your Government, printed copies of a prospectus showing the scope and objects of the institution, together with copies of a memorandum relating to entrance and scholarship examinations, and of a form of application for admission to the College. I have to request that you will take such measures as you may think desirable for giving publicity to the prospectus, and inviting public attention to the advantages offered by the College. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. [For enclosures, see New Zealand Gazette, Bth September, 1887, page 1174.]
No. 21. (Circular.) Sib,— Downing Street, 29th June, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Fiji, with its enclosure, drawing attention to the desirability of making one of the ports of the colony a port of call in the event of the establishment of the proposed trans-Pacific mail service. It has not been considered necessary to forward with this despatch more than one of the two Admiralty charts referred to by the Chairman of the Fiji Marine Board, that numbered 2691, which clearly indicates the position of both Suva and N'galoa Bay. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
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Enclosure. Sic, — Government House, Suva, Fiji, 28th February, 1887. In connection with the subject of the proposed trans-Pacific mail service from Vancouver to the Australasian Colonies (alluded to in High Commission despatch of the 7th December, 1886), I trust I may be permitted to call attention to the great importance to this colony of one of its ports being made one of the points at which this line will touch. 2. I believe that this group lies directly in the track of steam-vessels from Vancouver to Sydney, and very little out of the course from Vancouver to Auckland. 3. If the approaches to Suva Harbour be considered too dangerous,—although, when the light on Solo Eock, now on its way from England, has been erected, there will be no real danger to the navigation of the channel to the harbour, —there is the magnificent harbour of N'galoa on the south side of Kandavu, which appears to me to possess all the advantages necessary for a coalingstation and a port of call. 4. If the acquisition by the company of any reasonable quantity of foreshore and land for warehouses and buildings in N'galoa Harbour would be an inducement to the company to call there, I think, with your permission, there will be no difficulty in meeting all their requirements in this respect. 5. I have received a report on the relative advantages of Suva and N'galoa harbours, of which I have the honour to enclose a copy. 6. It will be seen that Lieutenant Malan, E.N., contemplates, if the route through the islands be the one taken, the erection of several lighthouses at various points ; but if the steamers choose the safer, though slightly longer, course outside and to the southward of the group, a single light on Ongea N'driki Island will be all that will be necessary ; and this, I think, we shall be able to supply without difficulty. 7. If N'galoa be the one chosen, harbour lights and a pilot establishment will be required there; but if Suva Harbour be preferred, as Mr. Malan appears to think it would be, the establishment of lights and pilots is already provided. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, &c. C. B. H. Mitchell.
Sub-Enclosure. Memorandum to His Excellency the Govbenob concerning Ports of Call, &c, for Transpacific Mail Steamers in the Colony of Fiji (Eelative Advantages of the Harbours of Suva, Viti Levu Island, N'galoa, and Kandavu Island). Suva Haeboue, as a port of call for a steamer, may be considered comparatively easy of approach, and entry both by day and by night. The leading lights and lightship are good and sufficient; the passage broad (viz., three cables), deep, and clear of dangers, besides having smooth water throughout its length. The harbour is capacious, has good holding, and always very smooth water. Pilots are established, who meet vessels requiring their services at the Outer Horn of the eastern reef. As a coaling-station the same remarks apply, if the coal supply is carried in a hulk ; for, unless the Government wharf be utilised, there is no spot on the harbour's foreshore where any vessel of considerable draught could approach near enough for coaling purposes without first having to run out a wharf, and probably have to reclaim a certain portion of the foreshore upon which to make a coal store. Even punts could not be worked at all times of tide from the shore without having some wharf to go alongside of. The present hulk, belonging to the agents of the United States Steamship Company, is now so old that it may not be depended upon much longer. As regards N'galoa Bay : The immediate approach to it is funnel-shaped, and rather open to the prevailing winds. A dangerous reef, on which is a heavy break, and which extends four miles and a half from the land, forms the south side of the entrance. This safely passed, however, tends to make the water smoother near the entrance, three miles to the westward. This entrance is about three cables broad, and somewhat shorter than that at Suva. However, there is a considerable patch named "McGregor," after one of the Pacific Mail Company's steamers that stranded on it when proceeding out of the harbour, which lies across the fairway just inside the entrance, and dries at low water. This danger passed, the harbour is very commodious, with varying depths from 12 to 20 fathoms (mud). There is an inner harbour accessible to large vessels, and thoroughly protected on all sides, with anchorage in five fathoms. The outer anchorage, and the one usually made use of, is free from all dangers excepting one shoal (Wood's), with rocks awash on it, and which has to be passed in proceeding to an anchorage. The water here is not as smooth generally as that in Suva Harbour. The entrance of this harbour is not so easily made out as the approach to Suva Harbour, the natural landmarks not being so clearly defined. In the event of making Suva a port of call, I would recommend that the white upper leading light (at an elevation of 320 ft.) be replaced by a more powerful light (dioptric or holophote), so as to answer the double purpose of a leading light and an approach-light for vessels coming from the direction of Bengha Island or from the south-eastward past the Solo lighthouse; probable cost £250, but large after-saving in consumption of oil. On the other hand, should N'galoa Harbour be chosen, it would be necessary to replace the two wooden leading beacons which were formerly erected for the Pacific Mail Company's steamers, and which have been destroyed by fire and decay. These beacons would be somewhat similar to those in use in Suva Harbour, and carry at night similar lights, that is, a red and white light, the lower (red) lighthouse being placed on the south point of N'galoa Island, and the upper (white), whose light should be visible at least fifteen miles, being on the main island. It would also be necessary to re-establish the iron beacon at the north end of the Pearl Eeef (south side of entrance) to place one or two buoys on the McGregor Patch, and to erect another beacon or place 3—A. 2.
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a conspicuous buoy on the Wood's Shoal near the anchorage ; and I am inclined to think that, to make the harbour quite secure from danger of approach by night, it would be necessary to establish a beacon, with a light when mail steamers were expected, on the east extreme of the sea reef south of the entrance, as there would be no other approach-light from the eastward, and the Thickombia light, suggested further on, would not lead a vessel clear of this dangerous horn of the reef. Cost of leading lighthouses, buoys, and beacons, about £250. Beacon on sea reef, £200. It would also be necessary to maintain a pilot with boat and boat's crew, also quarters ashore ; and it would be his duty to attend to all lights and marks. As regards N'galoa Harbour for a coaling-part, the same remarks would apply here as to Suva Harbour, although the fringing reef on the south-west side of N'galoa Island is much narrower, and a reclamation might be effected under the lee of this point at considerably less trouble. However, I could not report as to details on this matter, not having visited the port for several years. But, as regards coaling, it will hardly be necessary to have large stores within comparatively such a short distance from the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, and a small hulk could be easily secured in a safe position. Concerning the relative merits of these two harbours as regards their positions in the Fiji group : —■ In the case of Suva : The two routes open would be—that is, coming from the north-eastward, — First, through the Nanuku passage, and either south of Ngau Island between it and the Mumbolithe Beef (Admiralty Chart No. 2691), which always has breakers on it, past Nasilai to Suva, or round the north side of Batiki Island, &c. In these cases it would be necessary to establish a good sea light, revolving or flashing dioptric, at considerable elevation on the Island of Wailangilala, a low island covered with cocoanut palms, the total height of which is 70ft., and having an accessible harbour within its reef. This island is at the north-east entrance to the Nanuku passage, and this light would be the first made on approaching the group. Also a good light on the Island of Batiki to cover the dangerous reefs of the Horseshoe and of Nairai, or a light on the small islet on the south extreme of the reef south of Ngau Island. These are the shortest routes, and with two lights and inter-insular pilots, if it be thought necessary, who could be picked up and dropped at Wailangilala and Suva, there would be little risk. Leaving Suva the route would be to the westward of Kandavu Island, although with a light at Na Solo the latter might be preferred. Second, by keeping outside the whole group until, coming from the north-eastward, the islands of Ongea Levu and Ongea Driki with its off-lying reef would be made and rounded, and then a course steered to clear Totoya Island, which has an elevation of nearly 1,200 ft., and so on between the Na Solo and Nasilai lighthouses to Suva Harbour. This route is freer of danger than the first two, but it lengthens a vessel's passage eighty to ninety miles. It would also be necessary to have a good sea-light—that is, either a revolving or flashing dioptric one —exhibited from a comparatively small structure on the Island of Ongea Driki, which is 300 ft. high, this site being selected in lieu of the Nuku Songea Eeef on account of its height, and being more accessible. In the case of N'galoa Harbour : The two routes above described would equally apply, except that in the first case a clearer course could be run after clearing the Nanuku passage. The southwest extreme of this passage is marked by the three small islets of Nukutolo, which are 40ft., 80ft., and 100 ft. high respectively, and situated four miles to the westward of the Island of Yathata, 840 ft. high, the first two mentioned being to the westward, and joined together by a reef. After passing these islets a straight course would be steered towards Kandavu Island, passing south of the Mumbolithe Eeef, which would be the only danger before reaching the Island of Kandavu, on the east extreme of which, however, there would be no approach-light. On this route the lights above mentioned on Wailangilala and Ngau Islands would be also required. On the second route, after passing round Ongea Driki, the Island of Matuku, 1,260 ft. high, would be sighted on a direct course to N'galoa Harbour. In any case it would be most beneficial to establish a sea-light on the peninsula of Thickombia, south of Mount Washington, west extreme of Kandavu Island. A light on this point would enable vessels coming either from the Australian Colonies or New Zealand to make for it with confidence in thick weather, when Mount Washington is often covered low down with clouds, and thence shape their course either up the Kandavu Passage to Suva or on to N'galoa Harbour. Taking into consideration the several merits or otherwise of the two harbours and their approaches as ports of call for mail steamers, I am inclined to recommend the Port of Suva, to be approached by the Nanuku passage with lights as above recommended on Wailangilala and Ngau Islands, together with an improved leading light in Suva Harbour, or, if the extra distance round the group be preferred to any apparent risk in passing through it, then the one sea-light at Ongea Driki would only be required. Ido not think that any former objections that may have been held by any underwriters as to the danger of mail steamers entering the group could hold good now, for I consider that, with the Nasolo and Nasilai lights, the port of Suva can be approached now with less risk than can N'galoa Harbour be, which has no approach-lights, and the entrance to which cannot always be so clearly made out even by day. As regards wharves and warehouses at either port or harbour, I am hardly in a position at present to give much information, as the several localities should first be visited. It would be possible probably to obtain the necessary material and labour in this colony, but the former would, I think, be more advantageously procured from either Vancouver Island or New Zealand. I forward herewith two Admiralty charts, Nos. 167 and 2691, showing the above routes and positions of the various alternative lights alluded to. In a short and general memorandum of this description it has not been possible to enter into many details. C. F. de M. Malan, Lieutenant E.N., Chairman, Fiji Marine Board and Hydrographical Survey.
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No. 22. (Circular.) Sib, — Downing Street, sth July, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a correspondence which has passed between the Admiralty, the Board, of Trade, and this department, respecting the question of the clearance of vessels from ports in the Australasian Colonies for fictitious ports, and I request that I may be favoured with the views of your Government on the subject. I have, &c, H. T, HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Enclosures. Sic,— Admiralty, 16th April, 1887. I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit to you herewith copy of a letter (with enclosure) dated 14th February last, No. 73, from the Commander-in-Chief on the Australian station, calling attention to the clearance of vessels from ports in the Australasian Colonies without their proper destination being stated. 2. My Lords desire me to request that you will lay Admiral Tryon's letter before the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with a view to the question being brought forward for consideration by the Colonial Conference. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Evan MacGkbgoe.
Clearance of-Vessels from Ports in Australasian Colonies ivithout their proper Destination being known. Sic, — " Nelson," at Ascension, 14th February, 1887. Be pleased to acquaint their Lordships that during the period, two years ago, when defence questions in these colonies were the subject of special consideration, it came prominently before me that vessels were in the habit of clearing for " Guam," an imaginary port, which conveyed no idea of the destination of the vessel, or for very distant ports with very little regard to whether they ever went there or not. 2. At the time to which I have referred I took steps to ascertain the ports to which coal was despatched from the Australasian coal-ports. For some weeks I was enabled to keep a watch.on the important points involved, but soon the cargoes despatched to " Guam," &c, defeated the object I had in view. 3. I do not fully know what are the regulations on this subject at Home, but I believe the destination of coal affects the question whether it is or is not contraband of war. I refer to this matter at this moment, as there is about to be a Conference in London, in case their Lordships should think it desirable to draw attention to the subject, that the colonies may be asked to take power, if it is necessary to do so, by Act of Parliament, so as to be able to insist on all vessels declaring truly their port of destination, at such times as the Governors may deem such a step to be necessary. I believe a willing assent would be given by the colonies to such a step, or to doing whatever is required to secure a like result. I enclose a specimen sheet of the return I caused to be kept at that time with the assistance cordially given by the Government of New South Wales. I have, &c, The Secretary, Admiralty. G. Teyon, Bear-Admiral.
Sic,— Colonial Office, Downing Street, 25th April, 1887. I am directed by Secretary Sir H. Holland to transmit copy of a letter from the Admiralty on the subject of vessels clearing for fictitious ports, and I am to ask to be favoured with the views of the Board of Trade on the subject, and to be informed whether such a practice exists in England, and what means the present law affords for checking it. Sir H. Holland will be much obliged if he can receive an early answer. I have, &c, The Secretary, Marine Department, Board of Trade. John Bbamston.
Sm, — Board of Trade (Marine Department), London, S.W., 2nd June, 1887. I am directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th of April last,, with enclosure, inquiring whether the practice of vessels clearing outwards for fictitious ports exists in the United Kingdom, and what means the present law affords of checking it. In reply, I am to state, for the information of Secretary Sir Henry Holland, that, as the Board were not in a position to answer the inquiries directly, they referred your letter to the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Customs, and have received a reply, of which I am to enclose a copy, in the hope that it may be found to convey the desired information. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, S.W. Thomas Geay.
Sic, — Customhouse, London, 25th May, 1887. With reference to Mr. Swanston's letter of the 29th ultimo, M 8391, requesting to be furnished with such information as would enable the Board of Trade to reply to an inquiry from
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the Secretary of State for the Colonies as to—(1) whether the practice of clearing vessels for fictitious ports exists in the United Kingdom, and (2) what means the present law affords of checking it—l am desired by the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Customs to state—(l) That the practice of entering ships for fictitious ports is not known to exist in the United Kingdom. The expression " Guam " (referred to in the correspondence) is said to be well understood in the shipping trade to mean an open destination; but no clearance for such a place has ever been granted in London, nor, as far as the Board are aware, at any other port in the United Kingdom. (2.) All the documents which have to be delivered to the officers of Customs on the departure of a ship from a port in the United Kingdom are required to bear the name of her port of destination ; and the question as to destination may also be personally replied to by the master of the vessel: a false statement (and the naming of a fictitious port either in writing or verbally would be such) would subject the maker to a penalty of £100. lam to state, however, that the Board do not require any great vigilance to be exercised to see that statements on this point are correctly made; one of several ports of debar - cation, or even a genuine port of call, would probably be a statement that would prevent the imposition of a penalty, and in any case a false statement as to destination is a difficult offence to prove, as it is not easy to fix the master with certain knowledge at the time of the clearance outwards, or to guard altogether against the erection of a defence of change of purpose. Although the Colonial Office do not allude to the point referred to by Rear-Admiral Tryon with regard to coal as contraband of war, the Board desire me to add that they are advised that the destination of mere contraband of war as distinct from warlike equipments concerns not the Government of a neutral country, but only the trader who runs the risk. It is, however, doubtful whether coal is contraband of war. Should the Secretary of State for the Colonies desire any further information as to practice with regard to the clearance of vessels outwards, it will probably save the Board of Trade trouble in transmitting communications between the two departments if the Colonial Office were to communicate direct with this department. I have, &c, The Secretary, Marine Department, Board of Trade. Ed. Goodwyn.
Sic, — Downing Street, 14th June, 1887. With reference to your letter of the 16th April on the question of the clearance of vessels from ports in Australasian Colonies without a correct statement of their destination, I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of a letter from the Board of Trade, enclosing one from the Department of Her Majesty's Commissioners of Customs on the subject. I have, &c, The Secretary to the Admiralty. John Bbamston.
Sib,— Admiralty, 17th June, 1887. I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request that you will convey their thanks to the Secretary of State for the Colonies for the copies of the letters from the Board of Trade and Customs Departments relating to the question of the clearance of vessels from ports in the Australian Colonies without a correct statement of their destination, and which were forwarded in your letter of the 14th instant. 2. With reference to Admiralty letter addressed to you on the 16th April last, L 854, my Lords desire me to request that they may be informed whether this subject was brought before the recent Colonial Conference, and whether it is proposed to take any further steps, the question of the true destination of shipments of coals being of importance from a naval point of view. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. E. D. Awdky.
Sib, — Colonial Office, Downing Street, 2nd July, 1887. With reference to your letter of the 17 th ultimo, inquiring whether the question of the clearance of vessels from ports in the Australian Colonies without a correct statement of their destination was brought before the recent Colonial Conference, I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to request that you will inform the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that the subject was not brought formally before the Conference, as when the matter was mentioned to some of the Australian delegates it was found that they were already cognisant of it, and seemed to consider the existing law sufficient, and that no further legislation is required. The work of the Conference was so heavy that Sir H. Holland was unwilling to increase it by adding subjects for discussion which did not appear to be absolutely necessary. It is his intention, however, to transmit the correspondence to the Governors of the Australasian Colonies for the consideration of their Governments. I have, &c, The Secretary to the Admiralty. John Bkamston.
No. 23. (Circular.) Sib,— Downing Street, 6th July, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a letter from the Secretary to the Gilchrist Educational Trust, announcing the intention of the Trustees to withdraw the annual
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scholarship of .£IOO per annum offered to Australia, including Tasmania, and the biennial scholarship of £100 per annum hitherto offered to New Zealand. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND, The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Enclosure. Sib, — 4, The Sanctuary, Westminster Abbey, S.W., 17th June, 1887. I have the honour to inform you that the Gilchrist Trustees, having taken into consideration the numerous replies which they have received from the colonies respecting their scholarships, have decided, so far as concern the annual scholarship of £100 per annum hitherto offered to Australia, including Tasmania, and the biennial scholarship of £100 per annum hitherto offered to New Zealand, to withdraw the same. As regards New Zealand, an award having been made this year, the scholarship will not again be offered; and, as regards Australia and Tasmania, the withdrawal will take effect after the award which may be made on the usual examination to be held in those colonies in January next, 1888. After that occasion that scholarship also will not again be offered. I have to request that you will be so good as to have this information conveyed to the educational authorities throughout these colonies. I have, &c, Henet A. Papps, The Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Secretary.
No. 24. (Circular.) Sib,— • ' Downing Street, 7th July, 1887. With reference to my predecessor's circular despatch of the 11th January respecting the Solomon Islands, I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a further letter from the Foreign Office, with the translation of a note verbale communicated to the Marquis of Salisbury by the German Ambassador at this Court, enclosing an Imperial Ordinance, dated 11th January, 1887, concerning the regulation of jurisdiction over that portion of the group which belongs to the territory under the protection of the New Guinea Company. 1 I also transmit copies and translations of the laws referred to in the Imperial Ordinance of the 11th January, which accompanied Count yon Hatzfeldt's note verbale of the 29th of that month. As the papers on this subject would have been of little practical use in the Australasian Colonies without the laws referred to, which have only just been obtained from Berlin, I regret that an unavoidable delay should have occurred in communicating with you on this question. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. [For enclosures, see No. 3, A.-3, 1888, Appendices to Journals of House of Eepresentatives.]
A.-3,1887, Sess. 1., No. 14.
No. 25. (Circular.) Sib,— Downing Street, Bth July, 1887. I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of the colony under your Government, that a note was received by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on the 11th June from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua, announcing the decision of his Government to terminate the provisions of the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation between Great Britain and Nicaragua of the 11th February, 1860, in virtue of the terms of Article XXVII. thereof. Her Majesty's Government, in taking note of this announcement, have stated that they understand that the said treaty will accordingly terminate on the 11th of June, 1888, being twelve months from the date on which the note was received. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
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No. 26. (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 11th July, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, enclosing a despatch from Her Majesty's Consul at Noumea, with its enclosures, respecting his action on the occasion of the application made to him by two French liberes for permission to go to Sydney before leaving New Caledonia for the three years during which, in consequence of good conduct, they had received permission to absent themselves, together with a copy of the reply which I caused to be returned to the Foreign Office letter. I think it right to place you in possession of this correspondence, as the prohibition to set foot in British colonies, in the circumstances described, may be unknown in the colony under your Government. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Enclosures. Sib,— Foreign Office, 28th May, 1887. I am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to transmit to you herewith a copy of a despatch from Her Majesty's Consul at Noumea, relating to the prohibition to French liberes from Noumea from' setting foot on any British possession, and I am to request that, in laying this letter before Secretary Sir H. Holland, you will move him to favour his Lordship with his observations upon the subject. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. T. V. Listee.
My Loed, — Noumea, 22nd March, 1887. I was lately much surprised at being requested by two Frenchmen to give them permission to go to Sydney. On informing them that any one free to leave this colony could go thither, they stated that they were liberes, and, though allowed to leave this place for a residence in America, they were prohibited from setting foot in any English possession, in proof of which they produced an autorisation de depart, of which I enclose a copy (marked B). 2. Not having heard from your Lordship of any arrangement of this kind being made with the French Government, I was not a little astonished at the proviso which I have underlined in red. 3. I hardly knew how to act. The men said the Acting-Director of the Penitentiaire had referred them to me to give the permission, if I saw fit. I knew that almost their only chance of carrying out their permission was to take ship from Sydney, and eventually I indorsed their papers that they proceeded to Sydney to embark for California, not for residence. I, of course, intended to communicate with the Sydney authorities respecting them. 4. As soon as possible I waited on the Acting-Director to get a clear understanding of the matter. The result your Lordship will find detailed in the letter I have addressed to the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales, of which I annex a copy herewith, as I think your Lordship should be acquainted with the position of affairs. 5. I would ask for your Lordship's instructions respecting the levying of any fees on these permits. If any fee is to be taken, should it be under No. 67, 68, or 73 of the table ? If under No. 67, I would suggest that a supply of printed forms, on stamped paper, may be forwarded. If the indorsement is simply made as a visa, on the back of the autorisation, a simple 2s. stamp would suffice. I did not charge any fees in this instance, not knowing whether I had any right to act, or if my act would be efficacious. I have, &c, The Most Noble the Marquis of Salisbury. E. L. Layaed.
NoUVELLE-CaLI-JDONIE ET DiiPENDANCES. —AdMINISTEATION PfiNITENTIAIEE. Form of Autorisation da Depart. Le Gouvorneur de la Nouvelle-Cale'donie et Dependances, —vu l'Article 6, § 3, et I'Article 8 de la Loi dv 30 Mai, 1854 ; yules depeches Ministerielles dcs 17 Juillet, 1884, No. 527, et 30 Juin, 1885, No. 466—sur le proposition dv Directeur de I'Administration Penitentiaire, decide : Article l er. Le libere dcs travaux forces est autorise a quitter la colonie pdnitentiaire pour aller a . II lvi est interdit de se rendre en France et dans anemia colonie ou possession Franqaise ou Anglaise. Art. 2. Cette autorisation, valable pour trois ann6es, est subordonnee au versement par l'impetrant, a la Caisse d'Epargne Penitentiaire, de la somme de 800fr., present par la depeche Ministerielle dv 8 Avril, 1880, No. 277. Art. 3. Le Directeur de I'Administration Penitentiaire est charge de l'execution de la presente decision, gui sera enregistree et communiquee partout oii besom sera. Par le Gouverneur, Le Directeur de rAdministration Penitentiaire, Noumea, le 18 .
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Sir,— Noumea, 22nd March, 1887. Two liberes, named respectively Jean Bonyssalet and Desire Guignon, recently applied to me for permission to visit Sydney, to take ship for San Francisco, whither they had permission to go, as you will see by the memorandum from the Bureau of the Administration Penitentiaire, which I enclose. The men showed me the autorisation de depart, a copy of which I enclose for your information, as I particularly wish to call your attention to the part I have underlined in red, by which you will perceive that, at last, the numerous representations which have been made are bearing fruit. I called on the acting head of the Penitentiaire this morning, for the purpose of procuring some copies of this document, to forward to you and to the Foreign Office, the matter being new to me. In the course of conversation I asked for explanation on the two spaces I have filled in with figures, corresponding to those shown to me by the liberes. The Directeur informed me that these men, having been condemned to travaux forces for eight years or upwards, were virtually condemned for life, and could never return to France ; that, having behaved well, they had got permission to leave for three years, but were expected to return. The deposit of 800fr. was required to show that they had the means of paying for their passage; 600fr. being returned to them for that purpose, and 200fr. retained to meet any expenses they might cause to foreign Powers. I asked how these men could get to San Francisco without going to Sydney. During the eleven years I have been here, not half a dozen ships have sailed hence for that port. The Directeur said ships sometimes went, but he would not, in the face of the instructions which he showred me, authorise the men to go to Sydney for the purpose of shipping from thence. I might do so if I liked. I told him that I had already indorsed on the two permits that the men went to Sydney solely for the purpose of shipping, and not for residence there, and that I should communicate with you on the subject, in order that the police may keep them in view, and see that they really start for San Francisco with the least possible delay. It appears to me, however, that the time has now come when the Australian Colonies should take united action in this matter, they being really the only outlets from this French colony ; and I shall be glad pi your suggestions as to my future course of action in similar cases. Shall I, or shall I not, authorise such men to come to Sydney or other port in New South Wales ? What steps shall be taken to insure that such cases come under the immediate notice of the police ? My idea is that the " permit " should be placed in the hands of the captain of the vessel, and handed over by him, together with the individual named therein, to the water police before the vessel conies to the wharf: in fact, I think this a favourable opportunity of establishing some system whereby objectionable characters, such as "escapees" of any kind, may be kept out of the colonies. I shall be most happy to co-operate with the colonial authorities in any way. Knowing the great interest you, personally, take in matters connected with this colony, I sought an interview with you while passing through Sydney last month, but, finding you were much occupied with the elections at the moment, I did not press the matter, you having left Sydney. Any information or assistance, however, that you may require is entirely at your disposal. I have, &c, The Colonial Secretary, New South Wales. E. L. Layakd.
Sir,— Downing Street, 14th June, 1887. With reference to your letter of the 28th ultimo, respecting the prohibition of two French liberes from New Caledonia to set foot in English possessions during the authorisation which they had received, in consequence of good conduct, to absent themselves from the colony for three years, I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to request that you will inform the Marquis of Salisbury that the question appears to him to be one primarily for the consideration of the colonies concerned, to whom the papers will be transmitted, and that he would suggest that, looking to the difficulty of proceeding to San Francisco otherwise than by Sydney, Mr. Layard's action in indorsing the men's papers as described, as well as in communicating with the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales, should be approved. Sir H. Holland has no doubt that Mr. Layard will continue to act in accordance with the wishes of the Australian authorities; and he would be glad to be informed of any further communications which may take place on either side. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office. B. Wingpield.
No. 27. (New Zealand, No. 43.) Sir,— Downing Street, 28th July, 1887. I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to inform you, with reference to your Despatch No. 38, of the 22nd of April last, that the Queen's Exequatur, empowering Mr. J. T. Campbell to act as United States Consul at Auckland, received Her Majesty's signature on the 21st instant, and that the notification of Her Majesty's approval of this appointment appeared in the Gazette of the following day. I have, &c, EOBEET G. W. HEEBEET. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
A.-l, 1887, Sess. 11., No. 2S.
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(Circular.) No. 28. Sir,— Downing Street, 30th July, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you, for publication in the colony under your Government, a copy of an Order of Her Majesty in Council, extending the provisions of " The Foreign Deserters Act, 1852," to Greece. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Enclosure. At the Court at Windsor, the 12th day of July, 1887. Present: The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. Whereas by " The Foreign Deserters Act, 1852," it is provided that, whenever it is made to appear to Her Majesty that due facilities are or will be given for recovering and apprehending seamen who desert from British merchant-ships in the territories of any foreign Power, Her Majesty may, by Order in Council stating that such facilities are or will be given, declare that seamen, not being slaves, who desert from merchant-ships belonging to a subject of such Power, when within Her Majesty's dominions, shall be liable to be apprehended, and carried on board their respective ships, and may limit the operation of such order, and may render the operation thereof subject to such conditions and qualifications, if any, as may be deemed expedient: And whereas it has been made to appear to Her Majesty that due facilities will be given for recovering and apprehending seamen who desert from British merchant-ships in the dominions and possessions of His Majesty the King of the Hellenes : Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by virtue of the power vested in her by the said "Foreign Deserters Act, 1852," and by and with the advice of her Privy Council, is pleased to order and declare, and it is hereby ordered and declared, that, from and after the publication hereof in the London Gazette, seamen, not being slaves, and not being British subjects, who within Her Majesty's dominions desert from merchant-ships belonging to subjects of His Majesty the King of the Hellenes, shall be liable to be apprehended and carried on board their respective ships : always that, if any such deserter has committed any crime in Her Majesty's dominions, he may be detained till he has been tried by a competent Court, and until his sentence, if any, has been carried into effect. And the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and the Secretary of State for India in Council are to give the necessary directions herein accordingly. C. L. Peel.
(Circular 1.) No. 29. Sir, — Downing Street, 6th August, 1887. With reference to my circular despatch of the Ist February, I have the honour to transmit to you copies of the correspondence* which has been laid before Parliament respecting the conditions of service of Imperial officers and pensioners in the colonies. With regard to civilian pensioners, I have to point out that it will not be possible to give effect to the proposal in paragraph 11. of the Treasury letter of the 3rd April, 1886 (No. 16), until the Imperial Act, 35 Viet., cap. 12, has been repealed. A measure for this purpose is now under consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
A.-2, 1887, Sess. 11., No. 20. * Not printed.
No. 30. (New Zealand, No. 46.) Sib, — Downing Street, Bth August, 1887. I am directed by the Secretary of State to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, the document specified in the annexed schedule. I have, &c, BOBEBT G. W. HEBBEBT. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Date. Description of Document. Eeport on the Fungus Diseases of the Grape-vine, by F. Lamser Scribner, B.So. Printed at the Washington (United States Government Printing Office, 1886.
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No. 31. (New Zealand, No. 47.) Sir,— Downing Street, 10th August, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Ministers, copy of a correspondence between this department and the Foreign Office on the subject of the inspection by an officer of the United States Government of certain arms ordered by your Government from the Lee Arms Company of Connecticut. I should be glad if you would inform your Government that this application to a foreign Government for the services of an officer should have been made through this department and the Foreign Office, in accordance with the usual practice. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.
Enclosure 1. Sib,— Foreign Office, 25th July, 1887. I am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to transmit to you a copy of a note from the United States Minister at this Court, inquiring what are the wishes of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the inspection by an officer of the United States Government of certain arms which have been purchased of the Lee Arms Company, of Connecticut, by the Government of New Zealand. I am to request that, in laying this letter before Secretary Sir H. Holland, you will move him to inform.Loxd Salisbury what reply should be returned to Mr. Phelps. 1 am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. J. Pauncefote.
Sub-Enclosures. My Lord, — Legation of the United States, 19th July, 1887. I have the honour to enclose herewith the copy of a letter addressed by the Secretary of War to the Secretary of State of the United States relative to an application which has been made to the former to detail an officer to inspect certain arms which have been purchased of the Lee Arms Company, of Connecticut, by the Minister of Defence, New Zealand, " subject to the United States Government inspection ;" and I beg to acquaint your Lordship that I have been instructed to call the attention of the proper authorities to the matter, and to request you to be so good as to inform me of the wishes of Her Majesty's Government in reference thereto. I have, &c, The Marquis of Salisbury, E.G., &c. B. J. Phelps.
Si?,— War Department [U.S.A.], 30th June, 1887. A communication has been received from Mr. A. S. Winchester, the Treasurer of the Lee Arms Company, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, in which he states that the company he represents has received an order for arms from the Minister of Defence, New Zealand, " subject to the United States Government inspection," and requesting the detail of an officer for making this inspection, suggesting the name of Captain S. A. Day, of the army, "whose certificate would be satisfactory to both us and our customer." The irregular manner in which this reaches our department leads me to think that some request for the purpose named may have been preferred by the properly-constituted authorities of New Zealand, and it is with a view of ascertaining this that I write you this letter. I have, &c, W. C. Endicott, The Secretary of State. Secretary of War.
Enclosure 2. Sib,— Colonial Office, Downing Street, 10th August, 1887. I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th ultimo, transmitting copy of a note from the United States Minister at this Court, inquiring as to the wishes of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the inspection by an officer of the United States Government of certain arms purchased by the Government of New Zealand from the Lee Arms Company, of Connecticut. In reply, I am to state that Sir H. Holland thinks that Mr. Phelps should be informed, in answer to his note, that Her Majesty's Government will be glad if the United States Government could assist the Government of New Zealand by detailing an officer for the purpose desired, and that the Government of New Zealand will be reminded that this application, being to a foreign Government, should have been made through the Foreign Office. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office. 4—A. 2.
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No. 32. (New Zealand, No. 48.) Sir, — Downing Street, 10th August, 1887. I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acquaint you that an application has been received from the German Ambassador at this Court for the issue of an Exequatur to Mr. August Friedrich Castendyke, to enable him to act as Vice-Consul for Germany at Wellington, in the circumstance set forth in the accompanying letter. As this gentleman appears to be resident in the colony under your Government, I am to request you to report whether you are aware, or not, of any objection to his appointment; and, if not, you will recognise him provisionally in that capacity until the arrival of the Exequatur. I have, &c, EOBEET G. W. HEEBEET. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
No. 33. (Circular.) Sic,— Downing Street, 13th August, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of the colony under your Government, the accompanying copy of a Proclamation, issued by Her Majesty the Queen, by and with the advice of the Privy Council, respecting certain, changes in the designs, &c, of the gold and silver coins, and the issue of a new silver coin called the double florin. I have to request that you will take steps to publish this Proclamation in the usual manner in the colony under your Government. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. [For enclosure, see New Zealand Gazette, 20th October, 1887, p. 1326.]
No. 34. (New Zealand, No. 52.) Sic, — Downing Street, 15th August, 1887. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 60, of the 28th June, transmitting a letter addressed to my predecessor by Mr. John Bryce, member of the House of Representatives of New Zealand, in connection with the case of Bryce v. Busden. I request that you will inform Mr. Bryce that, having given my best attention to the subject of his letter, I must refer him to the terms of the reply which I made to a question on the subject put to me in the House of Commons on the Bth instant, and that I am not of opinion that the circumstances of the case are such as to require any interference on my part. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, K.C.M.G., C.8., &c.
A.-1, 1888, No. 1
No. 34a. Copy of Telegram from Sir Henry Holland to the Governors of the Australasian Colonies. —(Sent 19th August, 1887.) Important to know decision of your Ministers as to draft agreement increase of naval force. Telegraph acceptance or not as soon as possible.
No. 35. (New Zealand, No. 53.) Sib,— Downing Street, 22nd August, 1887. I have the honour to inform you that Her Majesty will not be advised to exercise her power of disallowance with respect to the following Acts of the
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Legislature of New Zealand, transcripts of which accompanied your Despatch No. 23, of the 28th June, viz.:— No. 1, entitled "An Act to provide that certain Islands in No. 12. "An Act to amend "Tho Counties Act, 1886.'" the South Pacific Ocean, known as the Kermadec No. 13. "An Act to amend ' The Mining Act, 1886.' " Group, shall become Part of New Zealand, and subject No. 14. "An Act to extend the Provisions of ' The Public to the Laws thereof." Revenues Act, 1882,' for the Appropriation of the Public No. 2. "An Act to declare the Boroughs of Cambridge Moneys until the Thirtieth Day of September, One and Hastings to be Boroughs under 'The Municipal thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven, and to make Corporations Act, 1886.' " further Provision for the Public Service until the said No. 3. " An Act to amend ' The Post Office Act, 1881.' " Day." No. 4. "An Act to amend the Law relating to the Local Acts. Guardianship and Contracts of Infants." No. 1. "An Act to empower the Borough Council of No. 5. "An Act to amend ' The Banks and Bankers Act, Sydenham to erect Gasworks." 1880.' " ]Sfo. 2. An Act to define the Limits of Reclamation by the No. 6. "An Act to amend the Law regulating the Regis- Corporation of Wellington in the Harbour of Wellingtration of Electors, and the Conduct of Elections for ton, and to provide Powers for effecting a Reclamation Members of the House of Representatives." within such Limits, and to vest certain Lands in the No. 7. "An Act to provide for the periodical Readjust- Wellington Harbour Board." ment of the Representation of the People of New Pevon^ni A^t rr l l ■ l tt £ T-i li' iL i9l -*■ t'""'^ JILL. Zealand in the House of KopreacntativcK thereof. ~T , , ~. _. , , , _~ '. , _ ~ No. 8. "An Act to amend 'The Interpretation Act, No 3 ''An Act to conserve the Rights of Cnarles Dudley -joyo , ii Robert Ward, lisquire, as a Civil Servant, notwithstandNo. 9.'"An Act to continue in Operation 'The West- ing his Acceptance of Office temporarily as a Judge of land and Grey Education Boards Act, 1885.' " the Supreme Court. No. 10. " An Act to amend the Law relating to certain frwate Act. Securities and Contracts respecting Chattel Property." No. 1. "An Act to enable the Wellington Gas Company No. 11. "An Act to amend " The Building Societies (Limited) to supply the Townships of the Hutt and Act, 1880.' " Petone and their Suburbs or Vicinities with Gas." I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.
A.-l, 1888, No. 2.
No. 36. (New Zealand, No. 54.) Sic, — Downing Street, 22nd August, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, a copy of a letter from the Admiralty inquiring when the decision of the several colonies on the draft agreement for an increase of the naval force in Australian waters may be expected to be known. On the receipt of this letter I caused the telegram of which a copy is enclosed to be sent to you. I trust that this matter will receive the early attention of your Government. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jeivois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.
Enclosure. Sib,— Admiralty, 16th August, 1887. Eeferring to Admiralty letter of 2nd May last, enclosing a draft agreement between the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Governments of Her Majesty's Colonies of Now South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand for the creation and maintenance of an additional naval force to be employed for the protection of the floating trade in Australasian waters, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request you will move Secretary Sir Henry Holland, to cause them to be informed when it may be expected that the Australasian Colonial Governments will communicate their decision upon this draft agreement, as it is desirable that arrangements should be made as soon as possible for making the financial provisions necessary in the ensuing financial year for the charge likely to fall upon Imperial funds in carrying out such an agreement. I have, &c, E. D. Awdey. The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, Colonial Office, S.W.
No. 37. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, Ist September, 1887. I have the honour to refer you to the report in the Times newspaper of a question asked in Parliament by Mr. Kimber and answered by the First Lord of the Treasury on the 15th ultimo, from which you will see that it has been suggested that funds for promoting colonisation may be provided by the public
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in the United Kingdom by subscription to a public marketable stock, to be issued on the security of the lands to be settled on, and guaranteed as to the interest by the co-operation of the Imperial and Colonial Governments, the latter undertaking and guaranteeing the administration of the capital and the collection of the interest from the settlers, and the Imperial Government lending its guarantee by way of indorsement of the colonial security, to enable the money to be raised at the lowest possible cost. I enclose for your information a reprint from the European Mail of the 19th August, which contains a fuller statement of Mr. Kimber's proposed scheme. It should be distinctly understood that, in transmitting these proposals for examination by your Government, Her Majesty's Government does not at present pronounce any opinion either upon the principle of the system which is placed before them, nor upon any of the details as now formulated. I have the honour to request that you will favour me with the views of your Government upon this suggestion, and with any observations they may have to offer upon it. I shall be glad to receive your reply before the commencement of the next session of Parliament. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Enclosure. , .. [Reprinted from the European Mail, 19tli August, 1887.] Colonisation. The Government, as will be seen in another column, by the answer of the First Lord of the Treasury to a question put by Mr. Kimber, M.P., in the House of Commons, following on previous answers to questions by him, have at length recognised in a practical manner the importance of colonisation to the interest of both the Mother-country and the colonies, and have promised that a communication shall now be addressed officially by the Colonial Office to the several colonies, to ascertain distinctly their views upon a definite plan of co-operation between the Imperial and Colonial Governments, which will adequately grapple with the difficulty which presents itself, and achieve the enormous advantages to the welfare and the trade of both which must result. The question put by Mr. Kimber enunciated in a concise manner the outline of a very definite plan. He asked that a proposal should be submitted by the Government through the Colonial Office to the several colonies for their consideration, "based on the principle of the funds being provided by the public here, by subscription to a public marketable stock, to be issued upon the security of the lands settled on, and. guaranteed as to the interest by the co-operation of the Imperial and Colonial Governments, the latter undertaking and guaranteeing the administration of the capital and the collection of the interest from the settlers, and the Imperial Government lending its guarantee by way of indorsement of the colonial security, to enable the money to be raised at the lowest possible cost." Mr. Kimber further asked, not only that the views of the several colonies should be invited upon this plan or principle, but that in the alternative their suggestions of any other plan should be asked. The Government have twice previously admitted the very great importance of colonisation, and have now gone further, and admitted that there is no reason why this plan should not be considered, and have pledged themselves to take the necessary steps. As the terms of the proposition as stated in the question and answer were necessarily very condensed, and contain only (though quite clearly) the principle suggested, it may be well to refer to the details of the plan as previously promulgated by Mr. Kimber himself in the form of propositions, or theses, before the voluntary Committee of the Houses of Peers and Commons who associated themselves together on the subject. These propositions were designed to procure, in the first instance, some agreement as to the principles upon which colonisation should proceed, before defining the details of the exact plan to be adopted, which would naturally differ with different colonies, although the principles would probably be the same. These are directed mainly to settle the respective parts which each of the parties interested —namely, the Mother-country, the colonies, the settlers, and the capitalists —ought to take in this great work, which, it must be obvious to all thinking people, would give new life, power, and energy, new commerce, work and wages, and profit to our people. Depression (which means only stagnation and stupidity, want of intelligence on the part of all of us to see what the world is really doing) will have passed away, and in fulfilling the primary duties imposed on us by the Creator—to " be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth " —we shall see that our boasted greatness is mere littleness itself compared with the more extended and more peaceful glory that may yet be in store for us. Surely the nation has not yet finished its work. 1. The first of these propositions is that " Colonisation has become the duty as well as a necessity for the nation," and is taken as a postulate granted and requiring no proof in this place. The congestion of the population at Home already, its now increasing increase of a thousand a day, the want of population in the colonies, the utter inadequacy of all existing means and agencies of emigration to make any sensible impression on these necessities, should be enough to prove this.
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2. The next proposition is that " British colonisation is always a profit to the Empire," and is also too well proved by history to require demonstration. 3. The succeeding propositions, which apportion the duty among the parties concerned, and endeavour to arrive at the principles on which their action should proceed, are those which require and deserve that further study and consideration for which they were submitted, and they are circulated also in this journal in order that they may receive that sympathetic and friendly support or criticism, or both, from distant parts of the Empire, which all good Britishers, it is hoped, will bo willing to give to any proposals for the common good of our nation, and of those other friendly peoples who have joined with and settled among us to aid in the great work of civilisation. These propositions are as follows : — (a.) That the duty of the Mother-country should be to select and despatch the settlers, with the approval of the agent of the colony to which they are to be sent. (b.) That the colonies should select the land and receive the settlers, prepare their homesteads, and have the administration of the money raised. (c.) That the money required (which should include the particulars after mentioned) should be raised in the open money-market in London by the co-operation of both the Mother-country and the colony, at the lowest cost which the credit of both and the security presently mentioned can procure it, which would not exceed 3 per cent. (d.) That the money to be raised should be calculated at the rate of £300 per group or family of five settlers, out of which should be paid the expenses of their passage, the erection of their homestead (in which some of them might be themselves employed), seed and implements of husbandry or industry, domestic animals, and enough food to supplement their production during the first twelve months ; and the balance of the £300 to the colonial authorities for making roads and improvements and public markets or other buildings in the new settlement. (c.) That fifty acres, besides his homestead and garden, should be allotted to each head of family. (/.) That repayment of the £300 capital provided for him need not be required, seeing that it is invested in what to him is a permanent form, land and home, of which it is necessory he should always remain in possession and occupation without fear of having to sell it to raise the money ; and seeing also, per contra, that the capitalists who provide the money will be always satisfied if the payment of their interest is permanently secured. The settler should have a freehold grant of his land and home, subject only to the payment to the Colonial Government of a rentcharge of, say, 4 per cent, on £300, or £12 a year, or more if thought fit. No mortgage and no expense is required for this ; a simple clause of reservation in the grant would do all that is necessary. (</.) That the security to be offered to those who subscribe the money should be some permanent stock of a homogeneous character, and large enough in volume to make a good market in it, and transferable and negotiable like Consols. It might have any name. Mr. Kimber suggested " The Land Kentcharge Consols of the Colony of ." (/..) Assuming it to be raised at 3 per cent., and that the colony received 5 per cent, rent from the settlers, the colonial Government could pay the Imperial Government 4 per cent, and retain 1 per cent, for itself, while the Imperial Government would only pay the 3 per cent., and retain 1 per cent., so that each Government would be paid for its trouble and risk. The rentcharges on the land and houses would constitute the ultimate security to the two Governments, and the Colonial Government would receive them, and would, in addition, have the profit and benefit of the fresh taxpayers and workers in their country, and the application of a large and abundant capital, and could therefore safely afford to counter-guarantee the Imperial Government the 3 per cent, which it would have guaranteed the subscribers of the money. (i.) That the Colonial Government would in its arrangements with the settler reserve a lien upon all crops, stock, and utensils for at least the first five years of the settler's occupation, after which he might be considered to have made his property worth the rentcharge without any additional security. (j.) That the settler should have a very simple method of relieving himself from his rentcharge, or any part of it, if he chooses, at any time, by redeeming it in the same way that land-tax is redeemed in England, viz., by paying the Government the amount of the capital represented by it, in which case the Government will write a clean discharge upon his title-deed and cancel an equivalent amount of the stock or Consols. [Or, as an alternative, it might be arranged that the rentcharge payable by the settler should be so calculated as to include a sinking fund, so that by paying the rentcharge for a fixed number of years he should then be free of it for ever, on the same principle as is given to Irish tenant farmers buying their holdings. Thus, if they pay a rentcharge of 5 per cent, for thirty-five years, it might be allowed so to extinguish itself, or 4 per cent, for forty-nine years, and so for longer or shorter periods, according to the rate. Although the settler will thus by one means or other pay off the money advanced to him, the stock upon which the money is raised in the market should nevertheless be a permanent one in its form, because this is the most economical way of raising the money, which could be used over and over again—when paid off by one set of settlers being used for others, and so on—the rentcharges redeemed being replaced by others. The stock purchased or redeemed by the sinking fund could be made reissuable, or new issues of stock made from time to time within fixed limits, so long as the interest was covered by sufficient amount of rentcharges. The £300 per group is estimated to be sufficient to enable the payment out of it of the first year's rentcharge.] (/..) That the plan of settlement should be the planting of village communities as new centres in open country, say at first twenty families or a hundred persons in each village. They should be selected and grouped so as to comprise among their number at least one craftsman from each trade which provides the necessaries of life. Thus—carpenter, mason, builder, tailor, bootmaker, blacksmith, &c, and the rest agriculturists. Great care should be exercised in the selection ; and their being sent out, backed with capital as they would be, should be made a premium or reward for good testimonials.
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(I.) That colonising companies and boards of trustees should be encouraged to be formed in different parts of the country, and existing companies utilised for the carrying-out of the plan, subject to Government control and approval of their arrangements. Any funds provided by them for the purpose should be brought within and have the benefit of the guarantees and securities above mentioned. (m.) That, inasmuch as, after emigration by all existing methods is allowed for, the population of Britain increases by about a thousand per day, or over 330,000 per year, and this number is itself increasing, the matter ought to be grasped at once on a large scale, and arrangements made for at once selecting centres. It is obvious that to take off even one year's excess it would require 3,000 of such settlements of a hundred souls in each. To grapple with such numbers considerable time must elapse for organization, selection, and preparation ; but the evil is so grave that at least an experiment of two hundred of such settlements should be immediately selected and taken in hand before the present year closes. Assuming only a hundred persons are sent to each, even this would only provide for twenty thousand people, and would cost only £1,200,000 —which, however, would be virtually entirely spent in labour and wages, nearly all in the colonies and of an obviously reproductive kind, besides strengthening the weak parts of the Empire politically.
No. 38. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, sth September, 1887. With reference to my circular despatch of the 7th July last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a despatch from Her Majesty's Charge d'Affaires at Berlin, enclosing the text and a translation of a law passed by the German Reichstag amending the Consular jurisdiction introduced into the German Protectorate in regard to the law of real property. I also transmit to you a copy of a further despatch from Mr. Scott, with an Imperial decree introducing a system of land-legislation in the Protectorate of the New Guinea Company. I desire to draw particular attention to Articles 10 and 12 of this decree. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. [For enclosures, see A.-3, 1888, No. 5, Appendices to Journals of House of Eepresentatives.]
No. 24,
No. 39. (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, Bth September, 1887. With reference to the question of trade and merchandise discussed by the Colonial Conference, and to the circular despatches of the 29th October, 1883; 18th April, 1884; 9th July, 1884; 30th November, 1885; and 10th February, 1887, I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of " An Act to consolidate and amend the Law relating to Fraudulent Marks on Merchandise," which has been passed during the present session of Parliament. 2. I also enclose a copy of a letter from the Board of Trade, forwarding a copy of the special report of the Select Committee appointed by the House of Commons to consider the Bill as introduced into Parliament; and a copy of a further letter from that department enclosing a copy of a memorandum showing the nature and extent of the protection granted by the Act to foreign subjects, together with the general effect of its provisions in respect to foreign countries. 3. It will be seen, on reference to the proceedings of the Colonial Conference, that the delegates were unanimously in favour of uniformity upon this subject; and I would therefore urge upon your Government the desirability of similar legislation — mutatis mutandis —in order, as far as possible, to secure that uniformity and to check fraud. 4. I request that you will report to me what action your Government may propose to take in the matter. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
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Enclosure. Sib, — Board of Trade (Eailway Department), London, S.W., 26th August, 1887. Referring to previous correspondence on the subject of the Merchandise Marks Act of this session, I am directed by the Board of Trade to enclose herewith, for the information of the Secretary of State, copy of a memorandum that has been drawn up at the request of the Foreign Office for the purpose of showing the nature and extent of the protection granted by the Act to foreign subjects, together with the general effect of its provisions in regard to foreign countries. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Coubtenay Boyle.
Memobandum . "The Merchandise Marks Act, 1887," has been passed with the object, inter alia, of giving effect to the International Convention signed at Paris on the 20th March, 1883, for the protection of industrial property, and also of giving effect to a certain extent to the recommendations made at the second meeting of the Conference, held in Rome in the early part of 1886. Her Majesty's Government have been assured that a habit largely prevails in various parts of the world of marking goods with false indications of origin, which habit tends to defraud not only the purchaser who buys articles produced in one place believing them produced in another, but also those trade communities who, having justly attained a high reputation for excellence, find their name pirated by makers of inferior goods, not only in their own but also in foreign countries. It is believed that any enactment which tends to discourage this habit and to afford to the purchaser reasonable assurance that the goods he buys are what they purport to be will be for the benefit not only of the whole body of the consumers, but also of trading communities both in the "United Kingdom and in foreign countries. The Act deals with two principal classes of offences—those connected with forged or imitated trade-marks, and those connected with false trade-descriptions. It is an offence under the Act to forge a trade-mark, or to make or have in possession any machine or other instrument for the purpose of forging a trade-niark. It is also an offence to apply any false trade-description to, or to be in possession for sale of, any goods to which a false description or trade-mark has been applied. A "trade-mark" is defined so as to include foreign trade-marks entitled to protection in the United Kingdom as well as trade-marks registered in the United Kingdom. A " trade-description" is defined as meaning any description, statement, or other indication, direct or indirect —(1) as to the number, quantity, measure, gauge, or weight of any goods; (2) as to the place or country in which the goods were produced ; (3) as to the mode of manufacture of such goods ; (4) as to the material of which they are composed; or (5) as to their being the subject of any existing patent or copyright. A "false trade-description " means a trade-description which is false in a material respect as regards the goods to which it is applied. An application includes not only a direct application, but an application to any cover, label, &c, in or with which the goods are sold, and also placing goods in any covering, label, &c, to which a trade-mark or trade-description has been applied. The several offences of marking and applying forged marks, applying false descriptions, and selling goods so falsely marked, are punishable under the Act with imprisonment and fine, according to the two British methods of procedure by indictment and by summary conviction. It is competent for any foreigner in the United Kingdom, whether he be the proprietor of a pirated trade-mark or a member of an injured community, to set the law in motion for the punishment of an offender. Provision is also made under the Act for the forfeiture and disposal of falsely-marked goods, whether found in the possession of an accused person or otherwise. It is apparent, however, that much of the existing injury occasioned to traders and communities by false marking may be obviated by the prohibition of importation into the several countries of falsely-marked goods, and the attention of the representatives at the Conferences of Paris and Eome was largely devoted to the formulation of principles upon which the countries of the Union respectively should frame their Customs regulations. As to the precise limits of prohibition, complete unanimity was not, indeed, attained at the Conferences. It was distinctly recognised that goods falsely marked, whether by means of forged trade-marks, false names or descriptions, should throughout the countries of the Union be seized at the port of importation, but the Conference at Eome made an exception to the effect that the consent of the manufacturer should be taken as showing absence of fraudulent intent. Her Majesty's Government are assured, however, that trading communities suffer much injury to their commercial reputation through the importation by their own members of inferior goods made elsewhere, and they are aware that the same feeling is entertained in other countries. Her Majesty's Government therefore decided in the Bill which they submitted to Parliament, and which has now passed into law, that no such exception shall be made, and the Act accordingly provides for the issue of Customs regulations under which all goods which are falsely marked in any manner specified in the Act, and whether imported with the consent of the manufacturer or not, will be seized and forfeited. Inasmuch as the existing mischief largely consists in marking goods made in one country with the names of manufacturers and places in another, and in the exportation of these goods to a third, it is evident that the interests of the injured manufacturer or community can be safeguarded only in the country of manufacture, and in that to which the goods are exported. Under the present Act and the forthcoming Customs regulations, the rights of all foreign manufacturers and trading communities will be protected alike in British Courts of justice and at British ports. While Her Majesty's Government therefore believe that the evils complained of cannot be altogether suppressed without international harmony of legislation and Customs regulations, they entertain a confident opinion that, under the Merchandise Marks Act, foreign traders and communities will obtain in the United Kingdom a very ample protection.
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No. 40. (New Zealand—General.) Sib, — Downing Street, 9th September, 1887. With reference to your Despatch No. 33, of the 17th May, 1886, I have the honour to transmit to you, for information in the colony under your Government, a copy of the convention between Great Britain and the Eepublic of Salvador, signed on the 23rd June, 1886, for prolonging the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation of the 24th October, 1862. The ratifications of the Convention, to which New Zealand does not adhere, were exchanged on the Bth July last. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. E. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c, [For enclosure, see New Zealand Gazette, 24th November, 1887, p. 1462.]
A.-l, 1887, Sess. L, No. 7.
No. 41. (New Zealand, No. 58.) Snt,— Downing Street, 13th September, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a letter addressed by Mr. T. P. Moody, of Kawakawa, to the Marquis of Salisbury, forwarding a statement of certain alleged grievances of the Ngapuhi Tribe of Maoris. I. request that you will draw Mr. Moody's attention to the enclosed extract from the Colonial Office Eegulations, at the same time explaining that the rule there laid down equally applies to communications addressed to the Prime Minister. I should be glad to be informed of the manner in which the complaint is dealt with. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. E. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.
Enclosure. Kawakawa, Bay of Islands, via Auckland, My Loed, — New Zealand, 20th July, 1887. I have the honour, by request of Maiti Paraone Kawiti, chief of Ngapuhi Tribe of Maoris, to forward to you the enclosed statement written by himself. It sets forth certain grievances under which he alleges he has for years suffered and is still suffering, and prays for redress. Maihi would be thankful for a favourable consideration of his grievances, and a reply from your Lordship. I have, &c, Thomas Peaeson Moody. The Most Noble the Marquis of Salisbury, Premier, England.
Sub-Enclosure. Waiomio, Kawakawa, Bay of Islands, New Zealand, 12th July, 1887. To my Lord the Most Noble the Marquis of Salisbury, and Her Majesty Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Greeting to you, 0 Queen, in the assurance which you have made to the Maori people of New Zealand of your protection, and in your regard and that of your Majesty's kingdom which now covers the Native people of New Zealand. Greeting to you in your assurance of protection of the Native people, as recorded in the covenant made at the Treaty of Waitar ' and set forth as follows : " Her Majesty Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain ana Ireland, regarding with her royal favour the Native chiefs and tribes of New Zealand, and anxious to protect their just rights and property, and to secure to them the enjoyment of peace and good order," &c. 2. The second point has reference to your guarantee to the Natives of New Zealand in the 71st clause of the Constitution Act of the 30th June. It is set forth : " And whereas it may be expedient that the laws, customs, and usages of the aboriginal native inhabitants of New Zealand, so far as they are not repugnant to the general principles of humanity, may be maintained for the government of themselves in all their relations to and dealings with each other, and that particular districts should be set apart within which such laws, customs, or usages should be so observed: It shall be lawful for Her Majesty, by any letters patent to be issued under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom, from time to time to make provision for the purposes aforesaid, any repugnancy of any such Native laws, customs, or usages to the law of England, or to any law, statute, or usages in force in New Zealand or in any part thereof, in any wise notwithstanding." Your words of royal favour for the Maori people here ended. If it is true that the foregoing were your words, let me see their fulfilment.
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3. Following are the causes which prompted me to address you, for I am in great distress on one, two, and three subjects in regard to my lands which the Government of New Zealand, without any just cause, have wrested from me. The first of these is Opua, now occupied by the Kawakawa Eailwaystation at the loading-ground; the second block is the Maai, at Taumarere, Kawakawa; the third block is Waikurakura, at Taumarere ; and the fourth is Whakaarorangi, also at Taumarere. 4. The laws of the Government dealing with purely Native lands, leases, and Bills introduced by the Native Minister have been the means of wresting these portions of land from the Natives, and also of depriving them of all rights to such lands. 5. A compact has been formed for the purpose of preserving the lands belonging to our ancestress Hineamaru, and other hapus amongst the Native people have joined it. This compact gives me full and unreserved control over the lands of my hapu held under Native tenure, and reserves all dealings with them entirely to myself and people ; and, in accordance therewith, all Acts passed by the Government of New Zealand will not have any effect or bearing upon the lands brought under this compact: that is to say, all these Acts are entirely excluded, and so cause the Government Acts to be without operation over the Native lands of my people thus placed under restrictions, and reserving to me the entire control and administration of lands owned by my hapu, being aboriginal natives, and brought under the condition applicable to our ancestor's [land], subject to the approval of the rest of the people. 6. That the laws of the Government should not be brought into force on those portions of land which the Natives have thus set apart in that condition for ever and ever. Amen. But that these laws of the Government of New Zealand be entirely confined to lands under its own control and obtained by virtue of purchase. It would only be right for them to be in operation there, but it would not be right to impose them on portions held by the Natives. All the portions of the earth will hear that a serious trouble exists under the present system of administration in New Zealand: that is why I notify that a different law has been made for myself and people amongst the Maori tribes of New Zealand, to keep away the laws of the Government from my people and. tribe, and to preserve our lands. But let the Constitution Act be the general law for all the inhabitants of New Zealand, which law I do approve of for the Natives. 7. With respect to the Government, I say this—namely, that they have not shown me any consideration whatever, seeing that they have deprived me of four different parcels of land— namely, Opua, Te Maai, Waikurakura, and Whakaarorangi. These are the parts remaining to me of my lands which I gave away in consequence of Hone Heke's action in cutting down the flagstaff at Maiki (Eussell, Bay of Islands). It was I who set that flagstaff up again, thus re-establishing the authority of Queen Victoria. After the death of Heke and of my father Kawiti, I became the leading person amongst the Ngapuhi Tribe, and consequently I raised that flagstaff with a view of restoring the authority of the Queen and her flag, and to this the people agreed. I myself went and felled the tree in the bush, hewed, dragged it to the sea, and towed it across to Eussell, where it was handed over to a carpenter named J. Cook to complete it, after which I paid the sum of £100 for ropes, tackling, and other things required for the flagstaff. On the raising of the flagstaff I parted with the land in honour of the occasion. I freely gave that land, which, according to Maori customs, was a mark of respect and regard for Her Majesty the Queen, and, being such, no remuneration was expected for it. The second purpose for which the land was parted with was to efface the reflection cast upon the names of Heke and Kawiti by the Europeans. On the arrival at the Bay of Islands of the man-of-war bearing Governor Gore Browne, the Resident Magistrate of the Bay of Islands and I went on board, and there I handed over the flag with all its authority to Governor Gore Browne, and at the same time gave over the land to him. The name of the flag was (Ko Te Whakakotahitanga) The Unity of the Maoris and Europeans. ' ~e area of the land which I gave to Her Majesty amounted to two million acres, more or less, as will be seen in the plan drawn up by Mr. Kempthome, surveyor. In reply to the presentation which I made, Governor Browne said that he would be pleased to accept the flag, but that he could not accept the land except by purchase. I told him, however, that it could not be otherwise, as the chiefs had unanimously agreed in committee to make a gift of the land as a mark of their high esteem and regard for Her Majesty the Queen, and for the purpose of effacing the reflection that was cast upon the names of Hone Heke and Kawiti by the Europeans. After this Governor Browne gave me the seal of peace, which I still have in my possession. Now the remaining portions of my land have been wrested from me by the Government, and this is a heavy grievance to me. I have applied to the Government year after year for my land without effect, and I have been threatened by the Government with imprisonment for my own lands; and up to this year I asked the Native Minister to attend a meeting at the Treaty of Waitangi, on the occasion of which—that is, on the 9th of March of the jubilee year of 1887 —I applied to the Hon. Mr. Ballance, the Native Minister, for the payment to me of the sum of £4,500. I therefore ask that Her Gracious Majesty be pleased to consider my grievance and the grievances of the Maori people, caused by the present administration of the Government in connection with the Maori people of New Zealand: that is the reason I now ask that the laws of the Government be made applicable only to the Europeans, and that the Native Land Court, the rates on Native lands, and all laws should not apply to us. I request that the above statement be published in the English Press, and forwarded to New Zealand. From Maihi Pabaone Kawiti. PS.—I make this notification to the Sovereignty of England in order that the measures of the Government for New Zealand may be known and understood, for such measures are evil, and will not afford relief to the Maori people. I pray therefore that you will cause this statement of mine to be published in the English Press, and also forward a copy of the same to New Zealand. 5—A. 2.
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No. 42. (Circular.) Sic, — Downing Street, 14th September, 1887. With reference to my circular despatch of the Ist of June last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for information in the colony under your Government, copies of revised regulations respecting naval cadets. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. [For enclosure, see New Zealand Gazette, 24th November, 1887, p. 1461.]
No. 43. (Circular.) Sic, — Downing Street, 15th September, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, enclosing copy of a note from the German Ambassador at this Court, requesting to be furnished with copies of the laws in force in Canada and the Australian Colonies relating to suits against the Crown by private individuals. I should be obliged if your Ministers would cause me to be furnished with copies of any such laws in force in the colony under your Government, for transmission to the German Ambassador. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Enclosure. Sir,— Foreign Office, 10th September, 1887. I am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to transmit to you herewith copy of a note from the German Ambassador at this Court, requesting to be furnished, for the use of the German Government, with copies of the laws in force in Canada and the Australasian Colonies relating to suits against the Crown by private individuals. I am to request that, in laying this letter before Secretary Sir H. Holland, you will move him to cause Lord Salisbury to be informed whether copies of these laws can be furnished to the German Government. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. J. Pauncefotb.
Sub-Enclosure. My Loed, — German Embassy, London, 2nd September, 1887. It appears from the blue-book issued on the subject of the proceedings of the Colonial Conference held in London in April last (Vol. 1., c. 5091, pp. 9-107), that, at the meeting of the 14th April last, the question was raised of the circumstances under which English trust funds could be invested in colonial funds. Two principal reasons were alleged against such investments : (1) That the issue of colonial loans was not subject to the control of the Imperial authorities; and (2) that colonial Governments could not be cited before English Courts of justice. In treating of the latter point, the representatives of several colonies pointed out that the colonial Governments could now be cited before the Courts of the colonies, and that, therefore, the question might be raised whether they could be cited in English Courts. Sir Alexander Campbell, speaking on behalf of Canada (p. 99 as above), Mr. Downer on behalf of South Australia (p. 98), and Sir James Garrick on behalf of the Australian Colonies in general (p. 100), affirmed that the colonial Governments were justiciable in the Courts of the colonies. The latter gentleman observed on this point, "Each of the Australasian Colonies has given to the subject, as against the Crown, rights equal to those as between subject and subject." It would appear from this that, at least in Canada and the Australasian Colonies, it has been established by law that the Government may be cited like a private individual before the local Courts, contrary to the ancient English ■law on the subject. The Imperial Government would be glad to be furnished with copies of the laws or other instruments enacting the above-mentioned law in Canada and the Australian Colonies, and in any other British colonies where it obtains. I should be much obliged if your Excellency would cause me to be furnished with the required documents. I have, &c, The Marquis of Salisbury, &c. V. Hatzfbldt.
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No. 44. (Circular.) Sib, — Downing Street, 27th September, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Admiralty, arising out of an application made by the Agent- General for Victoria that the services of a lieutenant of the Eoyal Navy might be obtained to assist in the instruction of the officers and men of the Victorian naval forces. You will observe that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty suggest that it is very desirable that a scale of remuneration for naval officers employed under colonial Governments should be laid down which should be applicable to all the colonies, and be sufficiently attractive to induce officers to volunteer. I should be glad if you will submit this proposal to your Government, and suggest to them that an endeavour should be made to come to some understanding with the Governments of the other Australasian Colonies, with a view to the adoption, among the several Governments, of a uniform scale of pay, as suggested by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. A copy of this circular despatch has been communicated to the AgentGeneral for the colony under your Government. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Enclosure. Sib, — Admiralty, 15th September, 1887. With reference to your letter of the 27th June last, and Admiralty reply of the 4th July, No. 1889, relative to the request of the Agent-General for Victoria that the services of a lieutenant, E.N., might be obtained as an addition to the present instructing staff of the Victoria naval forces, on the following conditions—namely, salary, £350 per annum, rations as per scale, one servant, quarters on board, free first-class passage out and Home, —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 the Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth was requested to provide an officer on the above terms, and that he has replied that he cannot recommend a lieutenant with the necessary qualifications to accept such an appointment with the remuneration offered. It is represented that a first-class torpedo or gunnery lieutenant of ten years' seniority in one of Her Majesty's ships might receive £328 per annum, against which the colony offers £350 ; that the officer accepting such an appointment may run some risk of losing chances of advancement in the service afloat, and will be subject to the increased expenses consequent on residence in such a colony as Victoria. My Lords observe that the salary offered is not equivalent to that which officers have hitherto enjoyed in such appointments : for instance, Lieutenant the Hon. P. M. Hely-Hutchinson, Torpedo Lieutenant serving under the Victorian Government, has been in receipt of colonial pay of £400 a year, and of naval half-pay £91 ss. per annum, and counts his time in full except for promotion, with rations and allowances equal to those granted to officers of similar standing in the Victorian navy. It must be remembered that officers in future appointed will not receive half-pay, but will count time for promotion. My Lords fear that the proposed remuneration would not be attractive to valuable officers; but they are of opinion that, in view of the inauguration of a new system, it is very desirable to have a scale of remuneration for naval officers employed under colonial Governments laid down which would be applicable to all the colonies, and be sufficiently attractive to induce officers to volunteer; and they would suggest consideration of this point before further action is taken. I have, &c, The Under-Seeretary of State, Colonial Office. Evan Macgeegoe.
No. 45. (New Zealand, No. 62.) Sib,— Downing Street, 28th September, 1887. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 73, of the 12th ultimo, reporting the commutation of the capital sentence passed upon three Maoris, Aporo, Te Hau, and Te Uri. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. F, D. Jervois, GhC.M.Gh, C.8., &c.
A.-1, 1888, No. 4.
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No. 46. (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 17th October, 1887. With reference to my circular despatch of the 14th September last, transmitting to you copies of revised regulations governing the examination and entry of naval cadets, I have the honour to transmit to you, for information in the colony under your Government, an extract from a letter from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, stating that they have decided to allow to colonial candidates who fail to pass successfully at their first examination the opportunity of being examined again in about six months' time, provided they are still within the prescribed limit of age. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. [For enclosure, see New Zealand Gazette, 12th January, 1888, page 16.]
No. 42,
No. 47. (New Zealand —Emigration.) Sir,— Downing Street, 31st October, 1887. I have the honour to acquaint you that I have received a letter from the Secretary of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, enclosing a copy of the annual report of that body, which expresses concurrence in the views of Captain Daveney with regard to the settlement of army pensioners in the colony under your Government. I request you to cause the Chamber of Commerce to be informed that I have received their communication. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.
No. 48. (New Zealand, No. 64.) Sib, — Downing Street, 31st October, 1888. With reference to Sir J. Prendergast's Despatch No. 63, of the 26th August, 1882, and to the memorandum which accompanied it respecting the sinking fund for the repayment of the guaranteed loan of £1,000,000, I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a letter from the Treasury on the subject. I request that you will inform me whether your Government agree to the proposal made in this letter in respect of an increase in the half-yearly contribution from the colony. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.
Enclosure. Sm, — Treasury Chambers, 26th October, 1887. I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to request that you will call the attention of the Secretary of State to the arrangement made in 1882 with the Colonial Government of New Zealand that the state of the sinking fund for repayment of the loan of £1,000,000 guaranteed by this Board under the powers conferred by the Act 33 and 34 Viet., cap. 40, should be reviewed in five years from that date. You will recollect that the Act provided for a sinking fund of 2 per cent., which was calculated to produce sufficient to pay off the bonds when they fall due in June, 1907. The calculation was based on the assumption that the sinking fund for the whole £1,000,000 would come into full operation in the year 1870. Owing, however, to circumstances which need not here be repeated the full sinking fund did not come into operation until ten years later; so that the provision of 2 per cent, will not have accumulated a sufficient sum by 1907 to meet the bonds falling due. The amount of the accumulated sinking fund in the year 1907 will depend upon varying circumstances, which cannot be exactly reckoned beforehand. But assuming that the fund can be invested at 3f per cent., the accumulation (including the £143,179, stock already held) would amount on the Ist June, 1907, to £899,160; less income-tax at, say, 6d., £9,300=£889,860, The
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deficiency of the fund would therefore be £110,140. This deficiency could be provided for by an increase of the sinking fund of £3,747 per annum for twenty years from the Ist June last. To cover possible depreciation in value of investments and other contingencies, my Lords would put the required increase of the sinking fund at £4,000 per annum. They therefore request that you will move the Secretary of State to suggest, for the consideration of the Colonial Government of New Zealand, that the half-yearly contribution to the sinking fund should be raised to £12,000 from £10,000. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Feank Mowatt.
No. 49. (Circular.) Sic, — Downing Street, 31st October, 1887. With reference to my circular despatch of the 29fch June, relative to to the proposal that one of the Fiji ports should be made a port of call by the steamers of the projected trans-Pacific mail service, I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, an extract from a despatch from the Governor of the colony on the subject. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
No. 21
Enclosure. Extract from a Despatch from Sir C. B. H. Mitchell to the Seceetaey of State for the Colonies, dated Suva, Fiji, 26th August, 1887. * * . * * * * * 8. The harbour in Galoa, which I visited on the 21st, appears to me to be inferior, for easiness of access, absence of hidden dangers, and security, to that of Suva. It will be remembered that the Pacific Mail Steamship Company used this harbour as a stopping-place, and it is possible that, if the proposed Canadian and Pacific mail service from Vancouver to Australia were so organized, it would think that, because the harbour had once been so used, it was the best for the purpose. In my Despatch No. 33, of 28th February, 1887, I stated that the choice would probably rest between Suva and Galoa; and., after having seen the latter harbour, I am decidedly of opinion that the former would be more suitable, for the following reasons : (a.) Suva harbour has a clear entrance, is well lighted, and can be entered without danger at any hour of the night without a pilot; Galoa has a dangerous reef in the entrance of the channel, has no lights, and, even if these were established, could only be entered without a pilot during the day. (b.) By the mail route, if taken through the Nanuku Passage and round the north of Batiki, there would be an advantage of eight miles in the distance traversed in calling at Suva instead of at Galoa. If by the Nanuku Channel and the south of Gau, the passage via Suva to Sydney would be four miles longer than by Galoa. If the passage through the group were avoided, and a course steered round Ogea, the choice of Suva as the port of call would entail an increased distance of thirty-nine miles over what would be traversed if Galoa were the stopping-place. In each of these cases the distance has been calculated to the point of intersection on the continuing line of the voyage to Sydney, (c.) The establishment of the Solo Eock Lighthouse, in any of these cases, renders the approach to Suva much more easy than it was in the days when the former company went to Galoa, and it would only be reasonable, in the event of the company deciding to call at Suva, that a light should be established at Nanuku or thereabouts, if the course through the group were the chosen one, or at Ogea, if that outside the islands were preferred, (d.) The fact that Suva is now a considerable town, with large stores and with certain facilities for executing minor repairs, would, probably, be considered by the company as giving an advantage to this harbour over that of Galoa, where there is no town. I should be glad if, in the event of a trans-Pacific line of steamers from Vancouver to Sydney being still under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government, you should deem these remarks of sufficient importance to be communicated to the proper quarter.
No. 50. (Circular.) Sm,— Downing Street, Bth November, 1887. I have the honour to forward, for the information of your Government, a copy of a correspondence which has passed between this department and the Eoyal College of Physicians on the subject of leprosy. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
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Enclosure 1. Sic, — Colonial Office, Downing Street, 19th February, 1887. I am directed by Secretary Sir Henry Holland to request that you will call the attention of the Eoyal College of Physicians to the fact that, within recent years, the question of the compulsory segregation of lepers has attracted the attention of various colonial Governments, in different parts of the world; that in one colony an Act has been passed bearing in this direction ; and that circumstances might easily arise which would call for a definite decision of the Secretary of State on the subject. In the years 1867 and 1876 the circular despatches of which copies are annexed for reference were addressed to the various colonial Governments in support of the opinion that leprosy was not contagious. These despatches were based on reports of the Eoyal College of Physicians to that effect. This opinion, however, has never been accepted by the general public of those colonies where leprosy is endemic. A section of the local medical practitioners has held persistently the opposite view; and of late years the prevalence of this contrary opinion has decidedly increased, while it is supported by a growing desire of the community generally to guard themselves against danger from so loathsome a disease. Under these circumstances, Sir Henry Holland would be obliged to the President of the College of Physicians if he would inform him whether the experience of recent years has shown any reason for questioning the opinion formerly held by the College ; and whether, in his opinion, compulsory segregation of lepers is a measure which should receive the sanction and approval of the Secretary of State. I have, &c, The Eegistrar of the Eoyal College of Physicians. Edwabd Wingfield.
Enclosure 2. Sib,— . Eoyal College of Physicians, London, S.W., 16th August, 1887. Eeferring to your communication of the 19th February last, addressed to the College on the subject of leprosy, I have the honour, by direction of the College, to forward the following reply for the information of Secretary Sir Henry Holland. The College is quite aware that there is much difference of opinion respecting the communicability of leprosy, and that many colonial practitioners and inhabitants do not concur in the views expressed by the College in its report in 1867. The College is of opinion that, if there be any elements of contagion in leprosy, they are not more to be dreaded than are those in the case of syphilis, which is not commonly considered to justify compulsory segregation on the part of those affected. The College believes that leprosy is not contagious in the conventional sense of the term, but, if at all, is only so in low degree and under exceptional services. The College is of opinion that a further investigation into some of the more recondite points respecting the pathology of the disease would confirm or remove any doubt that may still remain as to the question of communicability, and it therefore recommends that the Government should institute such an investigation as this College might direct, and report on to the Government when completed. Whilst the College does not believe compulsory segregation to be justifiable, the encouragement of leper asylums or houses properly regulated it considers most desirable, such asylums not to bo regarded as prisons, and so arranged as not to prove foci for intensifying the disease, but as refuges where kindness, care, and enjoyment of the simple though necessary conditions of a healthy life would be insured. In this direction the College strongly recommends State interference and assistance. I have, &c, Edward Wingfield, Esq. Henky A. Pitman, Eegistrar.
No. 51. (Circular.) Sic, — Downing Street, 9th November, 1887. With reference to my circular despatch of the 6th June last, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a copy, as presented to Parliament, of the declaration signed by the Conference at Paris on the Ist December last, and of the final protocol signed by the Conference at Paris on the 7th July last, relative to the International Convention of the 14th March, 1884, for the protection of submarine telegraph cables. You will observe from the final protocol that the Ist May, 1888, has been fixed as the date on which the International Convention shall come into operation. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
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Enclosure. Declaration and Pbotocol relative to the Convention of the 14th March, 1884, for the Protection of Submarine Cables.—(Signed at Paris, Ist December, 1886, and 7th July, 1887.) Dbclaeation. The undersigned Plenipotentiaries of the signatory Governments of the Convention of the 14th March, 1884, for the protection of submarine cables, having recognised the expediency of stating precisely the meaning of the terms of Articles 11. and IV. of the said Convention, have agreed upon the following declaration by common consent: — Certain doubts having been raised as to the meaning of the word " wilfully " used in Article 11. of the Convention of the 14th March, 1884, it is understood that the provision in respect of penal responsibility contained in the said article does not apply to cases of breakage or injury caused accidentally or of necessity in the repair of a cable, when all precautions have been taken to avoid such breakage or injury. It is equally understood that Article IV. of the Convention had no other object and is to have no other effect than to empower the competent tribunals of each country to decide, in conformity with their laws and according to the circumstances, the question of the civil responsibility of the owner of a cable, who, in laying or repairing his own cable, breaks or injures another cable, as well as the consequences of such responsibility if it is recognised as existing. Done at Paris, the Ist December, 1886, and the 23rd March, 1887, for Germany. Lyons. T. Luis Albareda. De Stuers. Minister. Nobel M. McLane. Comte de Valbom. Jose C. Paz. C. de Freycinet. Alecsandri. Goluchowski. Crisanto Medina. Kotzebue. Beyens. N. T. Delyanni. E. Pector. Arinos. L. A. Menabrea. 3. Marinovitch. E. Fernandez. Hara. C. Lewenhaupt. Moltke-Hoitfeld. Essad. Juan J. Diaz. Emanuel de Almeda.
Final Pkotocol. The undersigned, Plenipotentiaries of the signatory Governments of the Convention of the 14th March, 1884, for the protection of submarine cables, assembled at Paris for the purpose of fixing, in accordance with Article XVI. of this International Act, the date for the putting into force of the said Convention, have agreed as follows : (1.) The International Convention of the 14th March, 1884, for the protection of submarine cables, shall come into force the Ist May, 1888, with the condition, however, that upon that date those of the contracting Governments which have not yet adopted the measures stipulated by Article XII. of the said International Act shall have conformed to that stipulation. (2.) The measures that shall have been taken by the said States in execution of Article XII. aforesaid shall be notified to the other contracting Powers by the French Government, who are charged with the examination of their purport. (3.) The Government of the French Eepublic is equally charged with the examination of similar legislative measures or regulations which the States who have not taken part in the Convention, and who wish to avail themselves of the power of accession provided by Article XIV., must adopt in their respective countries in accordance with Article XII. In witness whereof the undersigned Plenipotentiaries have drawn up the present final protocol, which shall be considered as forming an integral part of the International Convention of the 14th March, 1884. Dated at Paris, the 7th July, 1887. Lyons. Flourens. De Stuers. Leyden. T. Luis Albareda. Comte de Valbom. Jose C. Paz. Nobel M. McLane. Alecsandri. Hoyos. Crisanto Medina. M. de Giers. Beyens. N. T . Delyanni. J. F. Medina. Arinos. L. A. Menabrea. J. Marinovitch. Manuel M. de Peralta. Hara. C. Lewenhaupt. Moltke-Hoitfeld. J. S. Missak. Juan J. Diaz. Emanuel de Almeda.
No. 52. (Circular.) Sic, — Downing Street, 18th November, 1887. With reference to my predecessor's circular despatch of the 2nd December last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for information and publication in the colony under your Government, a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office enclosing a copy of a parliamentary paper containing the text of the Convention concerning the creation of an International Union for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, signed at Berne, September 9th, 1886.
A.-2, 1887, Sess. 11.,'N0. 8.
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It will be seen from the Foreign Office letter that steps have been taken for the passing of an Order of the Queen in Council for bringing the Convention into effect. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Enclosure. Sir,— Foreign Office, 31st October, 1887. I am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to transmit to you, to be laid before Sir Henry Holland, and for communication to the colonies, copies of a parliamentary paper containing the text of the Convention concerning the creation of an International Union for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, signed at Berne, 9th September, 1886. The following States, viz.: Great Britain, Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Haiti, Italy, Switzerland, and Tunis, have ratified the Convention, and the ratifications of those States were deposited at Berne on the sth of September last. I am to add that steps have been taken for the passing of an Order in Council for bringing the Convention into effect three months after the date of the deposit of the ratifications, in conformity with the stipulations of Article XX. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. T. V. Lister. [For Convention, see New Zealand Gazette, 15th March, 1888. p. 345.]
No. 53. (New Zealand, No. 67.) Sir, — Downing Street, 18th November, 1887. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 84, of the 7th of October, reporting upon the present political situation in the colony under your Government. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.
A.-l, 1888, No. 9.
No. 54. (Circular.) Sib, — Downing Street, 22nd November, 1887. With reference to my circular despatch of the 27th September last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a letter from the Admiralty, setting forth the terms which should be offered to lieutenants of the Eoyal Navy to induce them to volunteer as Instructors of colonial naval forces. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
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Enclosure. Sir,— Admiralty, 16th November, 1887. With reference to previous correspondence, and to your letter of the 15th ultimo and its enclosure from the Agent-General of Victoria, asking on what terms a qualified lieutenant of the Royal Navy can, be obtained to assist in the instruction of the Victorian naval forces, 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 they consider £450 a year, with free quarters, rations, and a servant, would be the fair amount to be given as a maximum to any lieutenant, Royal Navy, who volunteers for such an appointment in the colonies. 2. As, however, it would be undesirable and, indeed, impossible in all cases to appoint an officer entitled to the maximum pay and allowances of a lieutenant in the Eoyal Navy, which are as follows : If a first-class torpedo or gunnery lieutenant of ten years' standing—Pay, 12s. a day ; allowance, 3s. 6d. a day = £282 9s. 6d. per annum; if first lieutenant of a ship he would receive Is. 6d. or 2s. 6d. a day, say 2s. 6d.=£45 12s. 6d. : total, £328 Is. per annum—my Lords consider that it would be preferable to give the officer the full pay and allowances he is, or would be, entitled to in a sea-going ship, and to add to it 10s. a day colonial allowance —free quarters, rations, and a servant being given in addition, as in Her Majesty's ships. 3. Although it is somewhat difficult to call for a volunteer to undertake the duty until the scale of pay can be announced, my Lords have, with a view to saving time, furnished the Con-mander-in-Chief at Portsmouth with a copy of this letter, and directed him, in the meantime, to report what officers in every way suitable would be willing to come forward, subject to the pay being considered sufficient, observing that gunnery and torpedo officers would be preferred. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Evan Macgregor.
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No. 55. (Circular.) Sic, — Downing Street, 23rd November, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you herewith, for communication to your Government, the accompanying copy of a Board of Trade circular dated November, 1887, to which is annexed an Order of Her Majesty in Council, dated the 15th September, 1887, relating to colonial certificates of competency granted to officers of British vessels. This order consolidates the regulations now in force; gives to colonial certificates the same force as to similar certificates issued by the Board of Trade ; modifies the provisions of the Order in Council passed on the 29th June, 1882, and of all other orders hitherto issued on the subject, by withdrawing the restrictions to the issue of a certificate of a lower grade, either temporarily or permanently, in the case of the suspension or cancellation of officers' certificates ; and has been passed in consequence of representations received from the Government of Victoria relating to the hardship which might be inflicted upon men in the event of the suspension, &c, of their certificates (issued by the Board of Trade or some British possession) in the absence of power for the issue to them of temporary certificates of a lower grade without previous application being required to the authority which originally granted the certificates dealt with. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. [For enclosure, see New Zealand Gazette, 9th February, 1888, p. 235.]
No. 56. (New Zealand, No. 68.) Sic, — Downing Street, 23rd November, 1887. I am directed by the Secretary of State to transmit to you, for communication to your Ministers for their information and guidance, the documents specified in the annexed schedule. I have, &c, EOBEET G. W. HERBEET. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Enclosure 1. SIE, — Downing Street, London, 11th November, 1887. On the Ist January next we shall have to furnish the Bank of England with the necessary funds to pay off £300,000 New Zealand Government 4-per-cent. guaranteed debentures (Act 20 and 21 Viet., c. 51), as well as the bank's commission of -J per cent., making a total of £301,500 to be so paid. I enclose a list of the securities constituting the sinking fund of this guaranteed loan, and would suggest that the New South Wales 3-|- and 4-per-cent. stocks standing in the names of Sir E. B. W. (now Lord) Lingen and others should be sold, together with £60,000 Victoria Government 4-per-cent. debentures, as well as sufficient New Zealand 4-pcr-cent. stock standing in the names of the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury and others, as would realise together the requisite amount. An early decision in this matter is desirable, in order that arrangements may be made to obtain the signatures of the various trustees to the transfer deeds. I have, &c, Hon. E. H. Meade, C.8., &c, Colonial Office. W. C. Sakgeaunt.
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Date. Description of Document. Eepayment of Amount of Guaranteed Loan falling due in January, 1888— Crown Agents to Colonial Office. Colonial Office to Crown Agents. lth November... '3rd November...
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List of Secubities held on account of New Zealand Sinking Fund Act, 20 and 21 Viet., c. 51. In the names of the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, the Crown Agents for the Colonies, and the Assistant Paymaster-General:— s s. a. Canada 4-per-cent. debentures ... ... ... 7,300 0 0 New South "Wales 4-per-cent. debentures ... ... 1,900 0 0 Victoria 4-per-cent. debentures ... ... ... 101,200 0 0 New South Wales 3^-per-cent. inscribed stock ... ... 10,338 8 6 New Zealand 4-per-cent. inscribed stock ... ... 279,518 16 1 £400,257 4 7 In the names of Sir Ealph Eobert "Wheeler Lingen, X.C.8., Sir William Charles Sargeaunt, K.C.M.G., Montagu Frederick Ommanney, Esq., C.M.G., Ernest Edward Blake, Esq., John Pycroft Collier, Esq. : — £ s. a. New South Wales 3-|-per-eent. inscribed stock ... ... 5,836 13 7 New South Wales 4-per-cent. inscribed stock ... ... 103,493 3 3 £109,329 16 10
Enclosure 2. Gentlemen, —■ Downing Street, 23rd November, 1887. In reply to your letter of the 11th instant, I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit, for your information, a copy of a letter from the Treasury approving the sale of the securities necessary for paying off the amount of New Zealand Government 4-per-cent. guaranteed debentures falling due in January next. I am to add that Sir H. Holland has no objection to the course proposed in your letter. I have, &c, The Crown Agents for the Colonies. J. Bbamston.
No. 57. (Circular.) Sir,' — Downing Street, 3rd December, 1887. With reference to my circular despatch of the 28th of October, enclosing a draft of the New Hebrides Convention, I have the honour to transmit to you copies of the Convention in French and English as actually signed. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Enclosure. My Lobd, — Paris, 16th November, 1887. I have the honour to transmit herewith to your Lordship the New Hebrides Convention, which, under the authority conveyed in your Lordship's Despatch No. 61, treaty, of the 14th instant, I have this day signed with M. Flourens, in duplicate, one copy remaining in His Excellency's hands. I have, &c, The Most Noble the Marquis of Salisbury. Edwin H. Egebton.
Sub-Enclosure. Convention relative to the New Hebeides, signed at Paris, 16th November, 1887. The Government of Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Government of the French Bepublic, being desirous to abrogate the declaration of the 19th June, 1847, relative to the islands leeward of Tahiti, and also to make provision for the future protection of life and property in the New Hebrides, have agreed upon the following articles: — Abticle I. —The Government of Her Britannic Majesty consent to proceed to the abrogation of the declaration of 1847 relative to the islands to the leeward of Tahiti as soon as the agreement hereinafter contained for the future protection of life and property in the New Hebrides by means of a Joint Commission shall have been carried out. Abticle II. —A Joint Naval Commission shall be immediately constituted, composed of British and French naval officers on the Pacific station, charged with the duty of maintaining order and of protecting the lives and property of British subjects and French citizens in the New Hebrides. Akticle lII.—A declaration to that effect shall be signed by the two Governments. Abticle IV.—The regulations for the guidance of the Commission shall be drawn up by the two Governments, approved by them, and transmitted to the Commanders of the British and French ships on the Pacific naval station within a period not exceeding four months from the date of the signature of the present Convention, should it be impossible to do so earlier.
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Article V.—lmmediately on the approval of these regulations by the two Governments, and the consequent withdrawal of the French military posts from the New Hebrides, the Government of Her Britannic Majesty will proceed to the abrogation of the declaration of 1847. It is understood that the assurances relating to trade and to convicts, which are contained in the note verbale of the 24th October, 1882, communicated by M. de Freycinet to Lord Lyons, shall remain in full force. In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorised for that purpose, have signed the present Convention, and have added thereto their seals. Done in duplicate at Paris, the 16th November, 1887. (1.5.) Edwin Heney Egebton. (1.5.) Floueens.
No. 58. (New Zealand, No. 70.) Sir, — Downing Street, 3rd December, 1887. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 96, of the 18th October, reporting the formation of a Ministry under Major Atkinson. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.
. . . No. 59. (New Zealand, No. 69.) Sic, —■ Downing Street, sth December, 1887. I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to inform you, with reference to your Despatch No. 86, of the 7th October, that the Queen's Exequatur, empowering Mr. August Friedrich Castendyk to act as German ViceConsul at Wellington, received Her Majesty's signature on the Ist instant, and that the notification of Her Majesty's approval of this appointment appeared in the Gazette of the 2nd instant. I have, &c, EOBEET G. W. HEEBEET. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
A.-1,1888, No. 11.
No. 60. (New Zealand, No. 73.) Sir, — Downing Street, 6th December, 1887. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 92, of the 15th October last, enclosing a petition to the Queen from the Chancellor and Council of the University of Otago, praying that Her Majesty may be pleased to grant letters patent under which degrees conferred by the University may be recognised in the same manner as those conferred by any University in the United Kingdom. You also forward in your despatch counter-petitions to the Queen from the Chancellor and Senate of the University of New Zealand, and from the Colleges of Auckland and Canterbury, as well as one addressed to yourself from former students of the University of Otago. You will be so good as to inform, the several petitioners that their petitions have been laid before the Queen, who was pleased to receive them very graciously, but that the grounds alleged in the petition from the University of Otago do not appear sufficient to outweigh the opposition with which it has been received, and the inexpediency of enabling more than one institution in the colony to confer degrees at the present time; and in laying the petitions before the Queen I have been unable to advise Her Majesty to issue a charter to a second University in New Zealand. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G-.C.M.G-., C.8., &c.
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No. (31. (Circular.) Sic, — Downing Street, Bth December, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you, for your information and for that of your Government, a copy of a letter from the Treasury respecting the continuance after the 31st January, 1888, until the following November, of the existing arrangements for the mail service via San Francisco. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Enclosure. Sib, — Treasury Chambers, 26th November, 1887. I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you, for the information of Secretary Sir Henry Holland, that my Lords have been in correspondence with the Post Office upon the question, whether the existing arrangements for the New Zealand mail service should be continued after the 31st of January, 1888, the date when the contracts for the conveyance of the Indian and Australian mails expire, and that their Lordships have been pleased to authorise the prolongation of the present arrangements for this service, via the San Francisco route, until the termination of the existing colonial contract for the conveyance of the mails in November, 1888. I have, &c, Sir E. Herbert, X.C.8., Colonial Office. E. E. Welby.
■ ■ • No. 62. (Circular.) Sm, — Downing Street, 22nd December, 1887. With reference to my telegram of the 15th instant, respecting the arrangements for the conveyance of the Australian mails across France and Italy, I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a letter from the General Post Office on the subject. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Enclosures. Sir,' — General Post Office, London, 13th December, 1887. With reference to your letter of the 12th July last and previous correspondence, I am directed by the Postmaster-General to state, for the information of Sir Henry Holland, that the arrangements for the conveyance of mails to and from Australia and the East by special trains across France and Italy, after the close of the current year, have at length been completed. The matter has long been settled with the French Post Office; but the Italian Post Office had not until now given its final reply to one of the proposals of this department. The Secretary of State is aware that the object of the negotiations now concluded was not only to obtain a substantial reduction in the rates at present paid for this service, but also to recover the liberty of the Post Office to use other routes than that of France and Italy for the transit of the mails in question ; and, further, in the case of Italy, to arrange for a reduction of the rate payable by the colonies to that country for correspondence sent to Europe via Brindisi. In regard to these several objects the negotiations have been attended by complete success. Taking first the most important question of the transit-rates for the special service, I am to remind the Secretary of State that the rates per kilogramme at present in force for that service are: For letters and postcards—To France, lOfr. ; to Italy, 6fr. 50c.: total, 16fr. 50c. For printed papers, &c. —To France, 50c.; to Italy, 37-Jc.: total, 87-J-c. But, in pursuance of an arrangement made since these rates were settled, they are only charged for a certain fixed amount of the correspondence, and the remainder is paid for at the ordinary Postal-Union transit rates of 2fr. per kilogramme for letters and postcards, and 25c. per kilogramme for printed papers, &c. The result of this arrangement is that, according to the latest figures, the average rates actually paid are as follow : For letters and postcards —To France, Bfr. 66c.; to Italy, 6fr. 15c. : total, 14fr. 81c. For printed papers, &c.—To France, 43c.; to Italy, 36c.: total, 79c. The rates which it has now been arranged to pay for the next two years commencing on the Ist January, 1888, are: For letters and postcards—To France, 6fr.; to Italy, 4fr. 80c.: total, lOfr. 80c. For printed papers, &c.—To France, 40c.; to Italy, 32-Jc.: total, 72fc. Thus, the actual reduction of rates is to be expressed as 4fr. lc. for letters and cards, and 6-J-c. for other articles; but it is possible that, in application, the reduction may be greater still; for an undertaking has been exacted from the French and Italian Post Offices that, if the weight of the correspondence sent in 1888 or 1889 should exceed the weight of that sent in 1886, only the ordinary Union rates of 2fr. and 25c. shall be paid for the excess.
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Assuming that the weights for the next two years are about the same as for 1886, the saving resulting from the reduction of rates may be estimated at £22,000:;; a year; and there seems to be no reason for anticipating any considerable diminution of weights. But, as the Post Office has resumed the liberty to divert correspondence to other routes, it has been necessary as a pledge of good faith to guarantee a minimum annual payment of £30,000 to France, and £25,000 to Italy : total, £55,000. It is, of course, understood that, during the currency of the new arrangement, this department will not set up a rival Continental route via Suez, to the detriment of the French and Italian route; but, so far as regards the western routes to Australia and the East, and direct communication by sea, the British and colonial Post Offices will be at liberty to send such correspondence as they please to send, and, so far as letters and postcards are concerned, even to charge rates of postage lower than those charged for correspondence sent via Brindisi. As regards newspapers, books, patterns, &c, there is no reason to apprehend that any differential rates will be found necessary, at all events during the next two years; and the Postmaster-General's delegate found, in the course of his final negotiations with the French Post Office, that a certain -§fr. per kilogramme, which it was most important to get taken off the price for letters and cards as an ultimate concession, would, in fact, be taken off if he could guarantee that, so far as newspapers, books, &c, were concerned, the Franco-Italian route should not be undersold during the next two years, by charging the public a low Ter rate for such correspondence when sent by the long sea route. The Postmaster-General therefore authorised him to give that assurance. At the same time the Post Office will be perfectly free to send that class of correspondence, as well as letters, by other routes if it be found advantageous to do so. The present arrangements have been entered into for only two years certain. If it be found desirable to reopen the question the year after next, the Postmaster-General will be in a position to terminate the agreement with the close of that year by giving notice to that effect on the 30th of June, 1889. In connection with the reduction of the rates payable by the Australian Colonies to Italy for correspondence passing between those colonies and Europe via Brindisi, it is hardly necessary for Mr. Eaikes to remind Sir Henry Holland of what passed at the Colonial Conference. The Secretary of State will remember that it was proposed to execute with the Italian Post Office an agreement similar to that which the Postmaster-General executed in 1883 with the French Post Office, for regulating the postal relations between France and the Australasian Colonies ; and the negotiation of such an agreement at Eome was to be conducted together with the negotiation of the larger matter of the special-train service. The Postmaster-General's delegate was empowered accordingly to deal with the two questions together; and, having obtained from the Italian Post Office certain important concessions for the offer of his good offices in the matter of the agreement, he settled the terms of a draft instrument, which was accepted by both parties, subject to the confirmation of Her Majesty's Government. A copy of the draft agreement is sent herewith for Sir Henry Holland's consideration, and I am also to enclose a print of the Franco-Australian agreement, in case it should be required for reference. Mr. Eaikes does not doubt that the Secretary of State will at once assent on the part of the colonies to the execution of the agreement with the Italian Post Office, which has been submitted to the Lords of the Treasury for their sanction. As the Italian Post Office is desirous that this part of the understanding now arrived at should be carried out without delay, Mr. Eaikes would be glad to meet the Director-General in the spirit of conciliation that has been shown at Eome in these negotiations; and lam therefore to suggest that the concurrence of the colonies concerned may be obtained, if necessary, by telegraph, unless it has already been received by post. I am to take this opportunity of mentioning that the Postmaster-General's delegate was accompanied as far as Paris by Sir Saul Samuel and Sir Graham Berry, the Agents-General for New South Wales and Victoria, and received their cordial co-operation and advice in settling a basis of negotiation with the French Post Office; and of this service the Postmaster-General wishes to place his appreciation on record. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. S. A. Blackwood.
Italy and Australasia. —Draft Agreement for regulating the Postal Eegulations between— (1) Italy and the Best of Europe via Italy ; and (2) Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and the Fiji Islands. Agreement regulating the exchange of correspondence between Italy and the British Colonies of Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and the Fiji Islands, as well as the cost of conveyance of mails sent from Italy or any other European country via Italy to the above-mentioned British colonies, and vice versa: The Postmaster-General of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland of the one part, and the Minister of Public Works of Italy of the other part, having regard to the Universal Postal Union Convention signed at Paris the Ist of June, 1878, and the additional act to that Convention signed at Lisbon on the 21st of March, 1885, have agreed as follows: — Article I.—There shall be paid to the British Post Office for the conveyance by sea of correspondence forwarded by British packets either from Italy or from other European countries via Italy for Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and the Fiji Islands, the sum of 25fr. for each kilogramme of letters and, if any, of postcards, and Ifr. for each kilogramme of other articles. In case Italian packets calling at Australasian ports are established, such packets shall be at the disposal of Great Britain and the colonies in question on the same terms.
* The proportion of this reauction which would apply to mails to and from Australia may be roughly estimated at £14,000, of which £8,000 would be for the outward mails and £6,000 for the homeward.
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Aeticle ll.—The Italian postal administration, and the postal administration of each of the British colonies of Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and the Fiji Islands, shall be at liberty to hand over to each other reciprocally, either a decouvert or in closed mails, correspondence for those countries in regard to which they can reciprocally make use of each other as intermediaries. In such case the despatching office will have to pay the cost of the further conveyance, which shall be determined by the intermediary office as far as possible in accordance with the rules of the Universal Postal Union, whenever the service employed is not an extraordinary one. As to mails from or for the same British colonies carried by the service known as the Indian mail service, their conveyance through Italy will continue to be governed by the special conditions arranged for that purpose. Aeticle lll.—There may. be exchanged between Italy and the British colonies of Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and the Fiji Islands : Ordinary letters prepaid to destination or unpaid, according to the wish of the senders ; commercial papers, trade patterns without value, and printed papers of all kinds, prepaid to destination (such articles shall not be forwarded unless prepaid at least in part). The postage payable on the correspondence in question shall be levied in accordance with the Table A annexed to the present agreement. On correspondence prepaid in accordance with this tariff no postage can be levied from the addressees. Unpaid letters shall be charged on delivery with double the postage at the prepaid rate. Insufficiently prepaid correspondence of all kinds shall be charged with double the deficient postage. Aeticle IV.—Correspondence of every kind shall be transmissible as registered, on payment by the sender of a fixed registration-fee, which each administration shall determine for itself, in addition to the postage payable on an ordinary article of correspondence of the same nature and the same weight. No special condition as to the shape or method of closing is prescribed for registered articles. Registered articles must be clearly marked by the despatching office with a special stamp or mark. The corresponding administrations shall notify to each other the registra-tion-fee which they adopt, and shall furnish specimens of the impression of the special stamp applicable in their service to registered articles. Aeticle V. —Prepayment of postage on all descriptions of correspondence can be effected only by means of postage-stamps valid in the country of origin. Each administration shall bear the whole cost of the intermediary conveyance of the correspondence which it shall hand over to the other administration, and shall keep entirely the postage which it collects on despatch for prepaid correspondence, and on arrival for unpaid and insufficiently prepaid correspondence. Aeticle VI. —The present agreement shall come into force on the Ist February, 1888, and shall abrogate from that date all earlier stipulations which are contrary to it. It shall remain binding until one of the parties interested shall have announced to the other, six months in advance, its intention to terminate it. Nevertheless, the adhesion of one of the Colonies of Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, or the Fiji Islands to the Convention of the Universal Postal Union shall entail, as a matter of course, the abrogation of the regulations of the said agreement as regards the mails to or from that colony, from the time of its entry into the Union. Done in duplicate, and signed at London the , and at Rome the , 1888. The Postmaster-General of the United Kingdom.
Draft Agreement to regulate the Postal Relations of Italy and the Australasian Colonies.
A. —Rates of Postage for the Prepayment of Correspondence sent from Italy to Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and the Fiji Islands, and vice versâ.
Note. —Commercial papers, patterns, newspapers, and other printed papers must be placed in movable wrappers, in open envelopes, in bags, boxes, or cases easily opened, so as to render it possible to verify the contents. Such articles must not be closed with wax, with gum, or in any
Nature of the Correspondence. Rates of Prepayment in Italy. Rates of Prepayment in Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and the Piji Islands. Special Conditions to bo fulfilled. Drdinary letters 60c. per 15gr. or fraction of 15gr. 60c. up to 300gr.; above 300gr., 10c. per 50gr. or fraction of 50gr. 6d. per or fraction of-|oz. 6d. up to 12oz.; above 12oz., Id. per ounce or fraction of Commercial papers, not enclosing any letter or manuscript note of a personal character Maximum weight, 2 kilogrammes. Patterns of merchandise, without commercial value 10c. per 50gr. or fraction of 50gr. an ounce Id. per ounce or fraction of an ounce Maximum weight, 350gr. Maximum dimensions : 30 centimetres in length, 20 centimetres in breadth, 10 centimetres in depth. Maximum weight, 2 kiloNewspapers and printed papers of all kinds 10c. per 50gr. or fraction of 50gr. Id. per 4oz. or fraction of 4oz. grammes.
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other way. Correspondence of this kind must not have on it, either outside or inside, other manuscript writing than the names and addresses of the sender and the addressee, the date of despatch, numbers and prices, and a simple dedication by the author. Passages in a printed text may be underlined.
No. 63. (Circular.) Sic, — Downing Street, 23rd December, 1887. With reference to my circular despatch of the 13th of August last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of the colony under your Government, the accompanying copy of an Order of the Queen in Council, approving the draft of a Eoyal Proclamation for giving currency to certain silver coins called " sixpences," with a new design therein described, and directing the coining of such coins at the Boyal Mint. I request that you will take steps to publish the Proclamation and Order in Council in the usual manner in the colony under your Government. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. [For enclosure, see New Zealand Gazette, Bth March, 1888, p. 314.]
L No. 33.
No. 64. (Circular.)Sic, — Downing Street, 24th December, 1887. With reference to my predecessor's circular despatch of the 10th of January last, I have the honour to transmit to you, herewith, printed copies of revised regulations for the entry of engineer students, and students in naval construction in Her Majesty's dockyards, received from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and dated the Ist of July last. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. [For enclosure, see New Zealand Gazette, 15th March, 1888, p. 350.]
? A.-2, 1887, Sess. ■ 11., No. 16.
No. 64a. Telegeam from the Seceetaey of State to Sir W. F. D. Jeevois. Hee Majesty's Government learn with satisfaction Naval Defence Bill passed 27th December, 1887.
No. 65. (Circular.) Sic, — Downing Street, 27th December, 1887. I have the honour to transmit herewith a copy of a letter from the Statute Law Revision Committee, inquiring whether any reasons now exist for the retention in the statute-book of the Act 3 and 4 William IV., c. 73, sections 61, 64, and 66. I should be glad to be informed whether there is any objection in the colony under your Government to the proposed repeal. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Enclosure. Sib,— 7, Fig-Tree Court, Temple, E.C., 10th December, 1887. I have the honour, on behalf of the Statute Law Eevision Committee, to inquire whether any reasons now exist for the retention in the statute-book of 3 and 4 William IV., c. 73, sections 61, 64, and 66.
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You will be aware, from the revised edition of the statutes, that these sections, together with a portion of section 12, are all that remain of the Act. With regard to section 61, the intention in applying 52 George 111., c. 155, to those colonies in which the recited Acts were in force seems to have been to provide against interruption of public worship. What its connection is with the abolition of slavery is not so clear. However that may be, the recited Acts are all repealed (except three sections of 1 W. and M., c. 18) ; and the question arises whether there is any justification for preserving, as to any of the colonies, the Act 52 George 111., c. 155. That Act deals partly with questions which seem not to have any existence in the colonies; while, as to the disturbance of public worship, it is suggested that these are matters probably covered by colonial legislation. If section 61 may be repealed, I apprehend that section 64 may be repealed also. It can apply only to section 61, inasmuch as slavery (the main subject of the whole Act) has been abolished in India, Ceylon, and St. Helena. And in that case section 66, which is a mere definition, could be repealed also. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. Albert Gray.
No. 66. (Circular.) Sic, — Downing Street, 28th December, 1887. With reference to my predecessor's circular despatch of the 29th oi December, 1885, relative to the authentication of extradition papers required by section 5 of the Act passed in August, 1882, by the United States Congress, I have the honour to transmit herewith, for your information, a memorandum embodying a copy of a form of authentication adopted in 1883. This certificate, with the certificate of the United States Minister in similar terms, was accepted, in the particular case, as sufficient by the United States Courts, and the same forms have been employed in subsequent cases without successful objection being raised to them. The memorandum also comprises an extract from a letter from the counsel to Her Majesty's Consulate-General at New York, concerning the particulars required by the United States Courts when a request for extradition for the crime of forgery is transmitted by telegraph. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
A.-2, 1887, Sess 1., No. 2.
Enclosure. Memorandum. —Authentication of Documents in United States Extradition Cases. In consequence of difficulties which had arisen as to the evidence in extradition cases, the United States Congress, in August, 1882, passed an Act "regulating Fees and Practice in Extradition Cases ; " and section 5 of this Act now contains the law as to the authentication of the documentary evidence offered in support of a demand for the extradition of a fugitive offender from the United States. The section is as follows :—Section 5 : " That in all cases where any depositions, warrants, or other papers, or copies thereof, shall be offered in evidence upon the hearing of any extradition case under Title Sixty-six of the Revised Statutes of the United States, such depositions, warrants, and other papers, or the copies thereof, shall be received and admitted as evidence on such hearing for all the purposes of such hearing, if they shall be properly and legally authenticated so as to entitle them to be received for similar purposes by the tribunals of the foreign country from which the accused party shall have escaped; and the certificate of the principal diplomatic or consular officer of the United. States resident in such foreign country shall be proof that any deposition, warrant, or other paper, or copies thereof, so offered, are authenticated in the manner required by this Act." The following form of certificate for the authentication of extradition papers was prepared by the Home Office and attached to the papers in a case which occurred in 1883 : "I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the signatures ' Chas. Lister 'on the annexed warrant of arrest, and on the annexed information and depositions on which the warrant was granted, are the signatures of Charles Lister, Esq., one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the City of Manchester, having authority to issue and receive the same, and I further certify that such documents so signed by a Magistrate having jurisdiction in the place where the same were issued and taken, and authenticated by a Minister of State and sealed with his official seal, would bo received as evidence of the criminality of a fugitive criminal from the United States charged before a tribunal in Great Britain with an extradition crime under the Extradition Treaty between Great Britain and the United States. —(1.5.) A. F. 0. Liddell, Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department. Whitehall, 4th May, 1883." The above Home Office certificate of the 4th May, 1883, and the certificate of the United
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States Minister which followed the terms of the Home Office certificate, were accepted in this case as sufficient by the United States Courts. The same forms of certificate have been employed in all subsequent cases, and, so far as the Home Office is aware, no successful objection has been raised to them. The following is an extract from a letter from Messrs. Marbury, counsel to Her Majesty's Consulate-General at New York, concerning the particulars required by the United States Courts when a request for extradition for the crime of forgery is transmitted by telegraph: " 1. It is of prime importance, where a person is apprehended upon a telegraphic despatch, to have as far as possible complete particulars of the character of the offence committed, to secure his detention until the depositions and documentary evidence shall be received. In cases of forgery the despatch should contain a description of the instrument claimed to be forged, date, amount, if draft or bill upon whom drawn, name of payee, place of utterance, name forged or character of forgery, and the person defrauded, or as much of these as can be furnished, and more to be supplied as soon as obtained. Where adequate particulars are contained in the despatch which is the foundation for the complaint, there will be no difficulty in having the accused remanded until the arrival of the papers."
No. 67. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 31st December, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, an extract from the London Gazette containing copies of the procesverbaux of the meetings of the International Conference on the Sugar Industries, which met in London on the 24th ultimo, together with a cojjy of the protocol signed by the members of the Conference, and the draft Convention annexed thereto. You 'will observe that the Conference has adjourned until the sth April next, in order to give the different foreign States which took part in it the necessary time to formulate laws and regulations for the purpose of carrying out the Convention. Her Majesty's Government attach importance to the adhesion of the colonies to the Convention ; and I trust, therefore, that before that date I shall receive from your Government a notification of its readiness to enter into the Convention, either by abolishing all taxes on sugar, or by binding itself not to allow on any exported sugar,.either raw or refined, any drawback, repayment of duty, or allowance in respect of duties paid or loss of bulk. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Enclosure. [Extract from the London Gazette of Friday, 23rd December, 1887.] Foreign Office, 22nd December, 1887. The Marquis of Salisbury has received the following documents relative to the proceedings of the International Conference on the Sugar Question : — The Bbittsh Delegates to the Marquis of Salisbury. My Lokd,— London, 19th December, 1887. We have the honour to transmit to your Lordship the protocol signed to-day by the delegates of the Powers represented at the Conference which met in London on the 24th of last month, to which is annexed the draft of a proposed Convention for the complete suppression of bounties on the exportation of raw and refined sugar. We have also the honour to submit to your Lordship the proces-verbaux of the sittings of the Conference. We have, &c, Heney de Woems. C. M. Kennedy. Onslow. F. G. Walpole.
Pbotocol. The undersigned, delegates of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Eussia, and Sweden, met at London on the 24th November, 1887, to consider the bases of an agreement relative to the suppression of bounties on the exportation of sugar. In the course of the deliberations set forth in the minutes of the sittings, an agreement was come to on the principles laid down in the report of the Committee. In order to give to this agreement a practical application, the President of the Conference placed before them a draft Convention, which they have examined, and which they engage to submit to the consideration of their respective Governments, together with a request that those Governments will make known to the 7—A. 2.
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Government of Her Britannic Majesty, before the Ist March, if they give their adhesion to the principles of this draft Convention, which is subjoined to the present protocol. Every Government replying affirmatively will communicate to the British Government before the above-men-tioned date a draft statement indicating the bases of application of the system of taxation on the quantities of sugar produced. The draft shall state with what limitations and in what cases use would be made of saccharometry. Each Government will, at the same time, declare whether, for the sake of uniformity, it would be disposed to admit what is known as the French method, generally employed in the commerce of several nations. As regards Article 111. of the aforesaid draft Convention, the French delegates, being of opinion that the system proposed for Belgium does not present those guarantees for the suppression of bounties with which the high contracting parties are bound to protect themselves, accept this article with every possible reservation. The delegates of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Russia support the reservations made by the French delegates. Henry de Worms. Dv Jardin. T. Catalani. Onslow. D. de Sinet. Pistorius. C. M. Kennedy. Lange. G. Eschauzier. F. G. Walpole. Anto. Batanero. B. Reiger. Jordan. Dupuy de Lome. C. van de Yen. Jaehnigen. Ch. Sans-Leroy. G. Kamensky. Kuefstein. Florian. Robert Dickson. Guillaume. London, 19th December, 1887.
Annex to the Pkotocol of the 19th December, 1887. Draft of Convention. The high contracting parties, desiring to bring about the total suppression of bounties, open or disguised, on the export of sugars, have resolved to conclude a Convention to this effect, and have appointed, as their Plenipotentiaries the following, to wit: who, after having communicated to each other their Ml powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following articles: — Aeticle I.—The high contracting parties engage to take, or to propose to their respective Legislatures, such measures as shall constitute an absolute and complete guarantee that no bounty, either open or disguised, shall be granted on the exportation of sugars. Article ll.—The high contracting parties engage to take, or to propose to their respective Legislatures, a system of duty on the quantities of sugar produced and delivered for home consumption, as the only system by which the suppression of the bounties in question can be attained, and to place under the same regime glucose factories and factories for the .extraction of sugar from molasses. Aeticle lII.—As Belgium is not in the same condition with regard to the application of the system of duty on the quantities of sugar produced, the existing regime established in that kingdom may be maintained, subject to the following modifications : The amount of the duty shall be reduced from 45fr. to 25fr. from and after the day when this Convention shall come into force. The legal yield of contract factories shall be raised from 1,500gr. to 1,700gr. Aeticle IV. —There shall also be admitted to this Convention all such States, or colonies and foreign possessions of the high contracting parties, which, though not adopting the system described in Article 11., do not impose duties on sugars, or who undertake not to accord to sugars for export, either raw or refined, any drawback, repayment, nor discharge of duties or quantities. Aeticle V. —In case any State which does not impose duties upon sugar should establish them, such State shall be bound to levy these duties upon the quantities of sugar produced and delivered for consumption, or to give no drawback, repayment, nor discharge of duties or quantities. Aeticle VI. —The high contracting parties shall communicate to one another the laws which may have been already passed, or may in the future be passed, in their respective States, in relation to the purpose of the present Convention. Aeticle VII. —The States which have not taken part in the present Convention are permitted to join in it on application. Their accession shall be announced through the diplomatic channel to Her Britannic Majesty's Government, and by it to the other signatory Powers. Aeticle VIII. —The stipulations of the present Convention shall be applicable to the colonies and possessions of Her Britannic Majesty, with the exception of those hereinafter named, to wit: India, Canada, Newfoundland, the Cape, Natal, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, and New Zealand. The stipulations of the present Convention shall, however, be applicable to any of the colonies or possessions above mentioned from the date at which the Government of Great Britain shall notify the accession of such colony or possession to the other contracting Powers. Any one of the colonies or possessions above-named which may have acceded to the present Convention retains the power of withdrawal in the same way as the contracting Powers. In the case of any one of the said colonies or possessions desiring to withdraw from the Convention, a notification to that effect will be made by the British Government to the contracting Powers. Aeticle IX.—The present Convention shall come into force on and after . It shall remain in force for ten years from that date; and in the event of no one of the high contracting parties having given notice, twelve months before the expiration of this period of ten years, of its intention to bring it to an end, it shall continue in force for another twelve months, and so from year to year. Should one of the signatory Powers denounce the Convention, its denunciation will affect only the Power making it.
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Abticle X.—The present Convention shall be ratified and the ratifications shall be exchanged in London within months at the latest, and sooner if possible.
No. 68. (Circular.) Sib, — Downing Street, 7th January, 1888. A question having recently arisen regarding the recognition of a Swedish Vice-Consul appointed on the application of a Consul for Sweden and Norway, I have the honour to inform you that powers are vested in Swedish Consuls to appoint Vice-Consuls in the districts over which their jurisdiction extends, without reference to their Government. When application is made, therefore, to a Governor of a colony by a Swedish Consul for the recognition of a Swedish Vice-Consul, if no objection to the latter is entertained by the colonial authorities, the Governor is at liberty to recognise the Vice-Consul at once, and a simple notification to Her Majesty's Government of the appointment will be sufficient. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
No. 69. (Circular.) Sic, — . . . Downing Street, 9th January, 1888. I have the honour to transmit to you, for publication in the colony under your Government, a copy of an Order of Her Majesty in Council, extending the provisions of " The Foreign Deserters Act, 1852," to the Eepublic of Paraguay. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
Enclosure. At the Court at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, the 29th day of December, 1887. Present: The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. Wheeeas by " The Foreign Deserters Act, 1852," it is provided that whenever it is made to appear to Her Majesty that due facilities are or will be given for recovering and apprehending seamen who desert from British merchant-ships in the territories of any foreign Power, Her Majesty may, by Order in Council stating that such facilities are or will be given, declare that seamen, not being slaves, who desert from merchant-ships belonging to a subject of such Power when within Her Majesty's dominions, shall be liable to be apprehended and carried on board their respective ships, and may limit the operation of such order, and may render the operation thereof subject to such conditions and qualifications, if any, as may be deemed expedient: And whereas it hath been made to appear to Her Majesty that due facilities for recovering and apprehending seamen who desert from British merchant-ships in the territories of the Eepublic of Paraguay will be given under a treaty between the Governments of Great Britain and Paraguay signed at Assumption on the 16th October, 1884 : Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by virtue of the powers vested in her by the said "Foreign Deserters Act, 1852," and by and with the advice of her Privy Council, is pleased to order and declare, and it is hereby ordered and declared, that, from and after the publication hereof in the London Gazette, seamen, not being slaves (and not being British subjects), who desert from merchant-ships belonging to the Eepublic of Paraguay within Her Majesty's dominions shall be liable to be apprehended and carried on board their respective ships : provided always that if any such deserter has committed any crime in Her Majesty's dominions he may be detained until he has been tried by a competent Court, and until his sentence (if any) has been fully carried into effect. And the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and the Secretary of State for India in Council are to give the necessary directions herein accordingly. C. L. Peel.
No. 70. (New Zealand, No. 1.) Sib, — Downing Street, 25th January, 1888. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 103, of the 16th of November, enclosing a resolution adopted by the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland and the Synod of the Anglican Church of Dunedin respecting the protection of missions in the New Hebrides.
A.-1,1888, N0.20.
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I request that you will inform the Synods that the missionaries will be protected by the Joint Naval Commission which is to be charged with the duty of maintaining order and of protecting the lives and property of British subjects and French citizens in that group. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &o.
No. 71. (Circular.) Hie, — Downing Street, 27th January, 1888. I have the honour to inform you that the Board of Trade has suggested that it might be of advantage to the colonies if the drafts of proposed enactments relating to bankruptcy or insolvency were communicated to the Board before they have finally passed the colonial Legislatures. Some disposition has been shown in various colonies to adopt substantially the provisions of the English " Bankruptcy Act, 1883 ;" but during the four years which have elapsed since that Act came into operation the experience of its practical administration has brought to light certain defects which may shortly be remedied by further legislation. The knowledge of these defects is not as yet practically accessible; and it would, therefore, probably be found advantageous for an opportunity to be afforded to the Board of Trade to draw attention to any provisions taken from the English Act which such experience has shown to be capable of amendment. This suggestion appears to me worthy of your consideration, in case an opportunity should arise for acting upon it. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.
No. 72. (Circular.) Sib, — Downing Street, 30th January, 1888. With reference to previous correspondence respecting the Convention entered into with the French Government in regard to the New Hebrides, I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Government, that the regulations for the guidance of the Joint Naval Commission are being drawn up by the two Governments, and will be sent to the British and .French naval commanders within four months from the signature of the Convention on the 16th of November last, at the expiration of which period the French Government have engaged to withdraw their military posts from the New Hebrides. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. [Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, nil; printing (1,375 copies), £35 Is.]
Authority: Geobge Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBB.
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Bibliographic details
DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND, Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1888 Session I, A-02
Word Count
39,721DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1888 Session I, A-02
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