DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1892 Session I, A-01

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1892. NEW ZEALAND.

DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. (No. 39.) My Lokd— Wellington, 30th May, 1891. On the Ist of April last the Premier of Victoria transmitted to the Premier of New Zealand a copy of certain correspondence which took place in the years 1889 and 1890 in reference to the admission of officers of the colonial naval forces on board Her Majesty's ships for instruction, among which is contained a communication from Admiral Lord Charles Scott, dated the 28th January, 1890, signifying the approval by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to certain arrangements with the view of carrying out the wishes of the Victorian Government. Although this Government has not at present any naval officers on active service, they are desirous of knowing whether, in case the time should arrive when they would wish to avail themselves of these privileges, they will be accorded to this colony as well as to Victoria. I have therefore to request your Lordship to cause me to be informed on this point. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

Enclosure 1. The Premier to His Excellency the Governor. Premier's Office, Wellington, 29th May, 1891. The Premier begs to submit for His Excellency's perusal correspondence from the Premie* of Victoria on the subject of the admission of officers of the colonial naval forces on board Her Majesty's ships for instruction, with correspondence between the Agents-General of Victoria and New Zealand on the same subject. The Premier also forwards copy of a letter he has this day addressed to the Agent-General, and, with a view to future probabilities, respectfully recommends that the matter may be brought under the notice of the Eight Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies. P. A. Buckley, (For the Premier.)

Sub-enclosure 1. The Premier, Victoria, to the Premier, New Zealand. Sir, — Premier's Office, Melbourne, Ist April, 1890. I have the honour to transmit herewith, for your information, the accompanying copy of certain correspondence which has taken place between this Government and the Imperial naval authorities respecting a proposal by the late Minister of Defence, Sir James Lorimer, that officers of the local forces should be allowed to exchange places temporarily with officers of the Imperial fleet for the purpose of gaining experience and instruction. Sir James Lorimer pointed out (vide his memorandum of the 25th July, 1889) the "great importance that the officers of our Permanent Naval Force should be given opportunities of gaining greater experience and fuller instruction than is possible to be obtained in a small local force, confined, as ours is, to harbour defence." 2. It will be observed from the letter of Eear-Admiral Lord Charles Scott, dated the 28th January, 1890, that, while the Admiralty do not approve of the exchange of officers of the Imperial and local forces, their Lordships have so far acceded to the proposal as to consent to officers of I—A. 1.

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the local forces being received on board the Imperial ships to acquire experience and instruction. It is, however, stipulated that the officers so taken on board Her Majesty's ships will not be allowed to take a watch or to perform responsible duties. 3. The Hon. the Minister of Defence has pointed out that these limitations deprive the privilege which has been conceded of much of the advantage to the colonial officers which it was particularly sought to obtain for them. I have accordingly addressed a memorandum to His Excellency the Governor, requesting a reconsideration by the Lords of the Admiralty of this point. 4. Of course, it is not alone the Colony of Victoria that is interested in opportunities being given to colonial naval officers to acquire training and instruction on board Her Majesty's ships. Several other colonies have small permanent naval forces, and all have raised naval brigades or reserves, and great difficulty must be experienced in giving the officers of those forces sufficient training and experience in the duties on board a man-of-war. 5. I would now, therefore, submit the accompanying correspondence to your consideration, and invite your Government to join in representations to the Imperial Government, with a view to the adoption of a scheme by which officers of the permanent naval forces and the naval reserves of the colonies may be appointed to Her Majesty's ships on the station for certain periods of training. 6. In the event of your agreeing to co-operate, I would suggest that, besides making representations through His Excellency the Governor, it would be well also to instruct the Agent-General of your colony to act with the other Agents-General in pressing the matter upon the consideration of Her Majesty's Government. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, New Zealand. D. Gillies, Premier.

(1.) The Minister of Defence to the Premier. (Memorandum.) Defence Department, Melbourne, 25th July, 1889. It is of great importance that the officers of our Permanent Naval Force should be given opportunities of gaining greater experience and fuller instruction than is possible to be obtained in a small local force confined, as ours is, to harbour defence. These officers, while they have obtained experience at sea in the merchant service, and can be locally instructed in drills, are deficient in the training required for the management of men and for organization and discipline generally, as well as for the performance of their duties as officers in charge of watches, which training can only be acquired by service in a ship of war at sea with a full complement of officers and men. Bringing our officers into contact with the Imperial service would be the means of enabling them to overcome these deficiencies. Captain Mann is of opinion that six months in one of the ships of the squadron would be more beneficial than the same time spent in a gunnery or torpedo training ship in England. In view, therefore, of the great benefit that would be derived by the colony from the higher training of our officers, I would suggest that His Excellency the Administrator of the Government be moved to communicate with the Bear-Admiral, Commander-in-Chief on the Australian Station, in order to ascertain if he would approve of an occasional exchange of a lieutenant from the Victorian Naval Force with a lieutenant of one of the ships of the squadron. By this means, the lieutenants of our local force might each in turn have the benefit of six months' (or such other term as may be considered advisable) experience and training in one of Her Majesty's ships. If such a course is, in the opinion of Admiral Fairfax, practicable, the colony would bear any extra expense that might be entailed by the arrangement. James Lorimer, Minister of Defence.

(2.) The Admiral Commanding on the Station to the Administrator of the Government of Victoria. Sir,— H.M.S. " Orlando " (at Sydney), 6th August, 1889. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 2nd August, with enclosure from the Hon. the Minister of Defence of the Colony of Victoria, suggesting a plan for enabling officers of the local forces to obtain training and experience by being lent to one of Her Majesty's ships for a certain time. I will forward the letter and enclosed suggestion to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, as I consider that some such plan might be introduced with advantage, but I shall not be able to express concurrence with the proposed temporary exchange between officers of Her Majesty's navy and local forces; as, now that the complements of Her Majesty's ships are so arranged that the numbers borne are only sufficient for proper performance of the duties, the services of an experienced officer could not well be spared, nor could his place be filled by an officer who, being borne for instruction, has presumably not the knowledge or experience required. I have, &c., H. Fairfax, Bear-Admiral and Commander-in Chief. His Excellency Sir William F. C. Bobinson, G.C.M.G., &c., Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Victoria.

(3.) The Admiral Commanding on the Australian Station to the Governor of Victoria. My Lord,— " Orlando " (at Auckland, N.Z.), 28th January, 1890. Beferring to the letter of Bear-Admiral Fairfax, dated the 6th August, 1889, addressed to your predecessor, I have the honour to inform your Excellency that I have received a letter from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, in which they state they cannot agree to the exchange of officers between Her Majesty's ships of the Australian squadron and ships of the colonial navy,

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as proposed in Sir James Lorimer's memorandum of the 25th July, 1889, but that they are favourable to any arrangement which may be entered into, with my approval, for lending officers of the local forces of Victoria to Her Majesty's ships for a short course of instruction when available accommodation can be provided. 2. Under these circumstances, I beg to acquaint you that one officer can be received in the " Bapid " and one in the " Boyalist " for a period of three to six months' instruction. These officers will not be able to take charge of a watch, or perform responsible duties. They must also abstain from communicating with the public press under the same Queen's Begulations that govern the conduct of officers in Her Majesty's ships, and of which I enclose a copy. 3. Should this proposal meet with your concurrence, the officers selected could be received about the Ist April next, and I would suggest that they should wait upon the commanding officers of the " Bapid " and " Boyalist " on the arrival of those ships at Melbourne early in March, to ascertain details as to messing, &c. I have, &c, C. T. Scott, Bear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency the Earl of Hopetoun, G.C.M.G., Governor and Commander-in-Chief. Extract from " Queen's Begulations and Admiralty Instructions." Article 637.—" All persons belonging to the fleet are forbidden to write for any newspaper on subjects connected with the naval service, or to publish or cause to be published, directly or indirectly, in a newspaper or other periodical any matter or thing relating to the public service."

(4.) The Minister of Defence to the Premier. (Memorandum.) Defence Department, Melbourne, 21st March, 1890. . . . . In view, however, in future, of other officers from the Victorian naval forces being sent to Her Majesty's ships for a course of instruction, I would point out that the difficulty in procuring for them the training and experience in the duties of a man-of-war which are most required is not fully met by the privilege now accorded. It was particularly pointed out in the memorandum of my predecessor above referred to that, although the officers entered in the Permanent Naval Force have already acquired considerable experience at sea in the merchant service, they are deficient in the training required for the management of men, and for organization and discipline generally, as well as for the performance of their duties as officers in charge of watches. Bear-Admiral Lord Charles Scott states, in his letter to His Excellency the Governor, that the officers lent from the local forces of Victoria will not be able to take charge of a watch, or perform responsible duties. As our officers can be locally instructed in their drills, the further training required is more particularly in the discharge of those responsible duties which His Excellency the Bear-Admiral states could not be intrusted to them. I would respectfully urge a further consideration of this question, and that a representation may be made to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty with a view to their agreement, under certain conditions, to the removal of these restrictions. It is very desirable that advantage should be taken of the advent of the ships of the new Australian Squadron, subsidised by the colonies, to increase for the officers of the colonial naval forces the opportunities of training and instruction on board Her Majesty's ships. I should strongly advocate the consideration of a scheme by which such opportunities would be conferred on officers both of the permanent naval forces and of the reserves. Special facilities are now being granted in England to officers of the Boyal Naval Beserve to be borne on Her Majesty's ships for courses of instruction, and the rules regulating their duties when on board might equally be extended to officers of the colonial naval forces. The officers of the Victorian Permanent Naval Force are required, before entry, to have gained a master's certificate from the Mercantile Marine, and are therefore qualified to take charge of vessels. If the legal position of these officers on board Her Majesty's ships, as affecting discipline, is one reason that precludes them from performing responsible duties, I would suggest that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty be moved to give full consideration to the question of arriving at a satisfactory determination of the status of colonial officers when serving in Her Majesty's ships. Unless some arrangement, as requested, can be effected, there would appear to be no other way of affording to the officers of the colonial navy an opportunity of acquiring the experience that is considered requisite to fit them to thoroughly discharge the duties that may be required of them. James Bell, Minister of Defence.

(5.) Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. Premier's Office, Melbourne, 25th March, 1890. The Premier presents his duty to your Excellency, and has the honour to return herewith His Excellency Bear-Admiral Lord Charles Scott's letter of the 28th January last (dated 25th July, 1889, No. 1231), communicating the views of the Admiralty on a proposal made by the Hon. the Minister of Defence for enabling officers of the local forces to obtain training and experience on board Her Majesty's ships on the Australian Station. 2. The Government accepts the offer to receive one officer on board the " Bapid " and one on board the " Boyalist " for a period of six months. Arrangements will accordingly be made for two officers to join the ships named during the second week in April, which is as early a date as possible after the annual Easter training, for which their services are required. The officers will be duly instructed to comply with the Queen's Begulations as regards communication with the public Press. 3. Mr. Gillies now asks that your Excellency will be pleased to convey the thanks of this

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Government to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, as well as to Lord Charles Scott, for the response made to the proposals contained in Sir James Lorimer's memorandum of the 25th July, 1889. 4. While making this acknowledgment, however, it becomes necessary to point out, •with reference to the privilege granted, that the limitations by which it is accompanied deprive it of much of the advantage to the colonial officers which it was particularly sought to obtain for them. 5. An extract is enclosed herewith from a memorandum on the subject by the Hon. the Minister of Defence (dated 21st March, 1890, No. 624), in which he explains the matter fully, and Mr. Gillies will be much obliged if your Excellency will be so good as to request a reconsideration of the subject from this point of view. D. Gillies, Premier.

Sub-enclosure 2. The Premier, Victoria, to the Premier, New Zealand. Sir, — Premier's Office, Melbourne, 3rd October, 1890. With reference to my circular of the Ist April relative to the admission of colonial naval officers for training on board Her Majesty's ships on the Australian Station, I have now the honour to forward herewith, for your information, a copy of a despatch received by His Excellency the Governor, dated the 30th June, 1890, from which you will see that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have made arrangements whereby the privileges desired for the officers in question are fully conceded. It does not appear quite clear from the despatch whether the matter has been regarded as an application on behalf of Victoria only, or whether the other Australasian Colonies are embraced in the concession ; but on this point you will doubtless be able to obtain information from the Imperial Government, if you have not already done so. Arrangements are now being made for two of the officers of the Victorian naval forces to avail themselves of the facilities afforded by the Imperial authorities. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. D. Gillies, Premier.

My Lord, —■ Downing Street, 30th June, 1890. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's Despatch No. 42, of the 27th of March, with its enclosures, respecting certain proposals made by the Minister of Defence for enabling officers of the colonial forces to obtain training and experience on board Her Majesty's ships on the Australian Station. Your Government will perceive from the accompanying copy of a correspondence between this department and the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty what steps their Lordships have so far been enabled to take in this direction. I have, &c, Governor the Bight. Hon. the Earl of Hopetoun, G.C.M.G., &c. Knutsford.

The Colonial Office to the Admiralty. Sir,— Downing Street, 12th May, 1890. I am directed by Lord Knutsford to transmit to you, for the consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Victoria (No. 42, 27th March), with its enclosures, respecting certain proposals made by the Minister of Defence for enabling officers of the local forces to obtain training and experience on board Her Majesty's ships on the Australian Station. I am to suggest, for the consideration of their Lordships, that it would be sufficient, and preferable to the present system, to leave it to the discretion of the commanding officer whether any particular duty should or should not be assigned to the colonial officer on board, and that, if the written or unwritten rules of the service prevent a colonial naval officer from discharging any responsible duties whatever, it should be considered whether the stringency of such a prohibition could not be relaxed in such a manner as to make it possible for such colonial officers to acquire training and experience in the actual duties of a man-of-war. I am, &c., The Secretary of the Admiralty. Edward Wingfield.

The Admiralty to the Colonial Office. Sir,— Admiralty, 24th June, 1890. I have had laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your letter of the 12th ultimo, enclosing a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Victoria relative to the employment of officers of the colonial naval forces in Her Majesty's ships for instructional purposes, and to their status while so employed. 2. In reply, I am directed by their Lordships to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that they attach great importance to the attainment of the object so clearly defined by the Government of Victoria, and that the subject is under consideration with a view to obtaining the desired result. 3. A communication has, with this object, been sent to the Commander-in-Chief on the Australian Station to the effect that the proper status will be given to these officers by conferring upon them acting commissions and appointments, and dealing with the question of the duties to be intrusted to them. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Evan Macgregoe.

Sub-enclosure 3. The Premier, New Zealand, to the Premier, Victoria. Sir,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 20th October, 1890. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 90/3926, of the 3rd instant,

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and to thank you for the copy of the despatch relative to the admission of colonial naval officers for training on board Her Majesty's ships forwarded therewith. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Melbourne, Victoria. H. A. Atkinson.

Enclosure 2. The Agent-General to the Premier. Sir, — Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., 3rd April, 1891. I beg to enclose copy of a correspondence with Sir Graham Berry, Agent-General for Victoria, arising out of a letter addressed a year ago by Mr. Gillies, Premier of Victoria, to the Premiers of the other Australasian Colonies respecting the colonial naval forces. Not having received any instructions from your predecessor, I have taken no step in the matter here. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Sir,— Victoria Office, 15, Victoria Street, 17th March, 1891. I have the honour to inform you that I received from my Government, in April of last year, copies of a letter which has been addressed to the Premiers of all the Australasian Colonies with reference to a proposal that officers of the local naval forces should be received from time to time on board Her Majesty's ships on the Australian Station for the purpose of gaining experience and instruction. As the subject is one which requires co-operation to be successful, I should feel obliged by your informing me whether you have received any instructions from your Government. If you have not received a copy of the letter addressed by Mr. Gillies to the Premier of your colony I shall be pleased to send you my copy for your perusal. I have, &c, Sir Francis Dillon Bell, K.C.M.G., C.8., Graham Berry. Agent-General for New Zealand.

Sir,— 13, Victoria Street, S.W., 20th March, 1891. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th instant, relating to a proposal respecting the local naval forces of the Australasian Colonies. I thought that perhaps instructions might be received here by the " Doric's " mail yesterday ; but none came. I should be much obliged if you would be kind enough to let me peruse your copy of the letter addressed by the Hon. Mr. Gillies to the Premier of New Zealand. I have, &c, Sir Graham Berry, K.C.M.G., Agent-General for Victoria. F. D. Bell.

Sir,— Victoria Office, 15, Victoria Street, S.W., 23rd March, 1891. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th instant, and to enclose for your perusal, as requested, a copy of the letter addressed by Mr. Gillies to the Premier of your colony on the subject of the proposal referred to in my letter of the 17th instant, respecting the local naval forces of the Australasian Colonies. I have, &c, The Agento-General for New Zealand, 13, Victoria street, S.W. Graham Berry.

Enclosure 3. The Premier to the Agent-General. Sir,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 29th May, 1891. Beferring to your letter No. 523, of the 3rd April last, enclosing copy of a correspondence with the Agent-General for Victoria respecting the colonial naval forces, I have the honour to inform you that the subject was brought under the consideration of this Government by the Premier of Victoria, but as we had no naval officers on active service no action was taken. In October last the Premier of Victoria forwarded copy of a despatch from Lord Knutsford (Victoria, No. 30th June, 1890), from the enclosures to which we learn that naval officers can be received on board Her Majesty's ships to obtain training and experience, and while so engaged will receive acting commissions and appointments. It is not clear from the correspondence whether the privilege is conceded to the Colony of Victoria only, or whether the other Australasian Colonies are embraced in the concession; and perhaps it would be as well if you would ascertain exactly the decision of the Imperial Government in the matter. Although, as I have said, we have no naval officers in our employ at present, the time may come when we shall be glad to avail ourselves of the privilege. I have, &c, P. A. Buckley, Sir F. Dillon Bell, K.C.M.G., C.8., Agent-General. (For the Premier.)

No. 2, (No. 42.) My Loed, — Wellington, 24th June, 1891. I have the honour to inform your Lordship that on the 11th instant I opened the second session of the eleventh Parliament of New Zealand.

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I enclose copies of the Speech which I delivered on the occasion, and of the Addresses in Eeply which I have received from both Houses. The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

No. 3. (No. 43.) My Lobd, — Wellington, 24th June, 1891. I have the honour to enclose copies of an address which I received from the House of Representatives. I cannot find that there are any special regulations for the colonies in force as to the admission of boys and young men into Her Majesty's navy ; but your Lordship will doubtless communicate with Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty on the subject. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

Enclosure. Address from the House of Bepresentatives. To His Excellency the Bight Hon. the Earl of Onslow, a member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Brivy Council, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Governor of New Zealand, &c. May it please your Excellency,— We, the House of Bepresentatives of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, respectfully request that your Excellency may be pleased to communicate with Lord Knutsford asking that alterations may be made in the regulations affecting the admission of boys and young men into Her Majesty's Australasian Naval Squadron, in the direction of permitting one or two of the vessels to be partly or wholly recruited, as vacancies may occur, from persons of New Zealand birth, of sound constitution, good morals, and who shall have passed an educational examination equal to that' of the Sixth Standard of the public schools of the colony, and such other examinations as the Lords of the Admiralty may prescribe. House of Bepresentatives, 18th June, 1891. W. J. Steward, Speaker.

No. 4. (No. 44.) My Lobd,— Wellington, 25th June, 1891. With reference to your Lordship's circular despatch of the 10th March, and to your telegram of the 4th March, last, relating to the proposed uniform system of buoys and beacons, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that I have nothing to add to my telegram of the 27th March. My Ministers request me to state that steps are now being taken to introduce the new system (so far as it is to be adopted in this colony) on the date arranged—namely, the Ist September next. • I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

A.-2, 1891, Sess. 11., No. 15.

A.-2,1892, No. 1.

■■■■naWHMa«alHaal)ValHa^BHVa«aaala^aVMaMaMpH«M No. 5. (No. 45.) My Lobd, — Wellington, 25th Juno, 1891. I have the honour to inform your Lordship that my Ministers are desirous of securing the appointment of a suitable officer as Commandant of the Defence Forces of this colony. The Agent-General has been instructed to select such an officer from among those at present serving in Her Majesty's army, and all particulars as to qualifications, salary, duration of appointment, &c, have been sent to him. I have to request your Lordship, when the selection has been made, to communicate with His Eoyal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, with the view of obtaining his sanction to the appointment and his permission for the officer to be seconded during his service here under the rules laid down and specified in the letter dated the 19th November, 1886, from the Treasury to the War Office, which was included in No. 74 of the papers laid before the Colonial Conference. The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c, ONSLOW.

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No. 6. (No. 46.) My Lobd,— Wellington, 7th July, 1891. I have the honour to forward herewith copies of the Financial Statement made in Committee of Supply of the House of Bepresentatives by the Colonial Treasurer, the Hon. Mr. Ballance, on the 16th June last. I have, &c, The Bight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

No. 7. (No. 47.) My Lobd,— Wellington, Bth July, 1891. With reference to your Lordship's circular despatch of the 2nd April on the subject of readmission to British naturalisation, I have the honour to inform you that the practice suggested by your Lordship will in future be followed in this colony. I have, &c, The Bight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

N.Z. Gazette, July 9, 1891, p .793.

No. 8. ■-.-■. (No. 48.) My Lobd,— Wellington, 9th July, 1891. With reference to your Lordship's Despatch No. 11, of the 15th April last, and to previous correspondence on the subject of the issue of licenses, under the Pacific Islands Protection Acts, to masters of vessels to carry native labourers, I have the honour to report that I have given instructions that everything shall be done to expedite the forwarding of applications to me, and the making of the inquiries necessary to justify me in granting the license. I desire, however, to point out that delays must often be inevitable. If the master of a vessel makes his application in .Auckland when I am in Dunedin, for instance, it is obvious that a considerable time must elapse before he can receive his license. On this account, and because I venture to think that the matter comes more properly within his jurisdiction, I have directed the Commissioner of Customs (on whose recommendation I grant the licenses) to encourage owners and masters to apply to the High Commissioner rather than to me, especially in cases where the vessel is-not owned in this colony. I have further, acting on a hint thrown out by Sir J. B. Thurston in his despatch to your Lordship of the 2nd February, directed the Commissioner of Customs to intimate to owners that it is very improbable licenses will be granted for vessels of under 50 tons register unless there are white seamen on board, which I believe is very seldom the case with vessels of that size. I have also directed that copies of all licenses granted by me shall be forwarded at once to the High Commissioner. I have, &c, The Bight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

A.-2,1892, No. 3.

Enclosure to A.-2,1892, No. 3.

No. 9. (No. 49.) My Lobd,— Wellington, 13th July, 1891. I have the honour to enclose further papers relating to the Cook Islands. From these your Lordship will see that great progress has been already made in the establishment of a regular system of government, and I feel sure that your Lordship will entertain the same feeling of admiration as myself for the ability and rapidity with which Mr. Moss has effected these important results, involving as they do considerable modification of many of the ideas and feelings which were deeply rooted in the native mind. That the Council has been established quietly and with satisfaction to both natives and Europeans is, I think, clear from the correspondence ; but I desire to point out that Mr. Moss's efforts were materially assisted by two circumstances —

A.-3a,1891, Sess. 11., Nos. 1 to 6.

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(1) the loyal co-operation of Makea and her husband Ngamaru, and the powerful influence which their position in the group enabled them to exercise, Makea being Ariki of Avarua, the principal port and largest village in Earotonga, and a woman besides of great force of character, and Ngamaru being in his own right Lord Paramount of Atiu, Mauki, and Mitiaro ; (2) the presence of H.M.S. " Goldfinch," which, besides enabling Mr. Moss to pay his first visit to the various islands with ease and rapidity, lent dignity to the proceedings which took place during the visit, and reminded the natives of the power of England and of her consideration for the native races-which came under her influence. It is to be hoped that the laws recently passed will insure a firm and stable government, and that the tax on imports now to be imposed for the first time will produce a revenue sufficient to maintain the Executive, which is greatly necessary to perform the ordinary functions of government, and especially to keep the administration of the liquor law on its present satisfactory footing. I have, &c, The Bight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

No. 10. (No. 50.) My Loed,— Wellington, 14th July, 1891. I have the honour, at the request of the Premier, to forward herewith a copy of a letter which he has addressed to the Agent-General for this colony respecting the conveyance of poisons in vessels sailing from Great Britain to the colonies, and I venture respectfully to request your Lordship to apply to the proper authorities to take such steps as may be necessary to prevent the evil complained of. I have, &c, The Bight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

Enclosure. Sir,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 10th July, 1891. In the House of Bepresentatives, on the 7th instant, Mr. Pinkerton asked the Government " If they will take into consideration the question of poisons being carried on board ship, with the view of having casks, boxes, or jars containing poisons to be so marked as to plainly indicate the nature of their contents. Also, that all such casks, boxes, or jars be of such size and weight as to admit of easy handling." This question, it is presumed, had reference to a case which occurred towards the end of last year, when some arsenic got mixed with tapioca in the ship's hold. It was understood that the case containing the poison was inadvertently stowed among the cases of tapioca, and was accidentally damaged, so that the arsenic escaped during the voyage from England. I undertook to represent the matter to the Imperial authorities with a view to such steps being taken as might appear to be necessary to secure the greater care being taken in the shipping and conveyance of such commodities in the future, and I shall be obliged if you will bring the matter under the notice of the proper authorities with that object. I have, &c, Sir F. Dillon Bell, Agent-General. J. Ballance.

No. 11. (No. 52.) My Lobd,— Wellington, 11th August, 1891. I have the honour to enclose a copy of a memorandum from the Premier, to which I would venture respectfully to draw your Lordship's attention. Yours Slc The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &o. ONSLOW.

Enclosure. Memorandum for His Excellency. The Premier presents his compliments to His Excellency, and begs respectfully to request that the notice of the Bight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies may be drawn to the fact that in "The Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act, 1890," no provision appears to have been made for the appointment of officers, or declaration as to what officers shall exercise the like powers as were exercised by the officers of the Vice-Admiralty Court. The Act came into force in New Zealand on the Ist July, 1891, and the existing rules of the Vice-Admiralty Court, which are left alive by section 16 of the Act, require certain duties to be performed by a Marshal. The question therefore

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arises, What officer of the Supreme Court can perform the duties ? By section 35 of " The Supreme Court Act, 1882" (New Zealand), it is provided that the Governor may appoint such Eegistrars, Deputy Eegistrars, Clerks, criers, and other officers as may he required for the conduct of the business of the Court ; and, an immediate necessity for the appointment of a Marshal having arisen, the Government has been advised that that authority should be read with " The Courts of Admiralty Act, 1890;" and, acting upon the advice, the Eegistrars of the Supreme Court at each of the Cities of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Duuedin have been appointed a Marshal of such Court in respect of its jurisdiction as a colonial Court of Admiralty. As some doubts, however, exist as to the strict legality of the course followed, the attention of the Imperial Government should be drawn to the point, so that a declaratory Act might be passed to the effect that, in the exercise of Admiralty jurisdiction, the officers of the Supreme Court who discharge analogous duties in the ordinary civil jurisdiction should also discharge like duties in the Admiralty jurisdiction. Premier's Office, Wellington, 30th July, 1891. J. Ballance.

No. 12. (No. 53.) My Lobd,— Wellington, 19th August, 1891. I have the honour to enclose the translation, and to forward separately the original and signatures, of a petition addressed to Her Majesty the Queen by a number of the Maoris resident in what is known as the " Hot Lakes District " of New Zealand. With reference to this petition, my Ministers request me to state to your Lordship that, in their opinion, the representative council sought by the petition to be established would not be productive of benefit to the Maoris. The Native interests of this colony are already represented in Parliament by four Maoris in the House of Bepresentatives and two in the Legislative Council, who take an active interest in general politics, and especially in all measures affecting their people, and have every facility for influencing legislation as far as is desirable, or for their own good. I have, &c, The Bight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

Enclosure. To the most permanently exalted in place as in rank : To Her Most Boyal Majesty Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of her colonies of Australia and New Zealand, and all her dependencies, and Empress of India. Salutations to you, the bright and shining Kahurangi,* the noble shelter-affording Bata, I and the bond of union with your Maori subjects. Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness, let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together. May it please your Majesty,— Herein is the matter which we humbly ask that your Majesty, in your great wisdom and love for your Maori subjects, may be pleased to favourably consider—namely, that the means of producing peace and good-will may be granted them. Firstly : May it please your Majesty to grant and authorise the formation of a representative council, to be elected by your Maori subjects, as a mountain of rest from which all measures affecting the Maori people can be clearly reviewed, and all matters also affecting the Natives can be dealt with by that council, previous to their submission to your Majesty and the New Zealand Parliament for consideration. Should such steps be found productive of good and peace, final effect can then be given thereto. Secondly : Let not your mind be troubled, as in this action there is no intention or tendency to disregard your power or to separate the two races, but rather that the members of the Native race may become still more united under you our Queen; as your Majesty has already concluded with us a glorious bond of union in the Treaty of Waitangi, the terms of which, however, have not been given full effect to by the different Governments of New Zealand. This has filled the minds of your Maori people with misgiving lest the conditions embodied in that treaty should be altogether lost sight of. It is therefore on that account that your Maori people are steadfastly looking to you to afford them relief. Thirdly : This petition is not only made on behalf of the Natives resident in districts free from European laws, but also on behalf of those residing among Europeans, they being still more burdened by the laws. Fourthly : We, the members of the churches of New Zealand, in our pain and groaning by reason of the oppressive nature of some of the laws affecting the Maori people, most humbly pray that your Majesty may be pleased to grant what we now ask for. Fifthly: Should your Majesty be in doubt respecting the pain which your Maori people are suffering from, may it please your Majesty, by virtue of your royal authority, to send hither one of your leading subjects, who is not in any way in sympathy with the Government of New Zealand, to inquire into the nature of these grievances above set' forth. We are unanimous in submitting to you the matters above mentioned, and in witness whereof we have hereto attached our names. God Save the Queen.

* A kind of stone highly valued by the Natives of New Zealand, and used by thorn as an ornament. I One of the principal trees of the New Zealand forest, Metrosideros robusta.

2—A. 1.

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No. 13. (No. 54.) My Lobd,— Wellington, 21st August, 1891. With further reference to the question of Australasian Federation, and to my Despatch No. 29, of the Bth May, I have to inform your Lordship that the Constitution Bill for the Commonwealth of Australasia, which has been submitted to other colonies in Australia, has not been brought before the Parliament of New Zealand, but that on the 3rd August Sir George Grey, one of the delegates representing New Zealand at the Convention held in Sydney, submitted the following resolutions : " (1.) That a " form of federation should be adopted " which will enable adjacent British colonies to federate for their common welfare, " such federation to be validated, if necessary, by an Act of the British Parlia- " ment. (2.) That a system of federation should also be adopted to enable all " parts of the British Empire to join in a common federation, whilst each retained " its own autonomy. (3.) That treaties should be concluded between English - " speaking nations for a defensive alliance, and for remitting all differences and " matters of common interest to a General Conference composed of delegates " from each of the contracting parties, who shall each agree to take within its " own jurisdiction all measures necessary to give effect to the decision of the " General Conference." Sir George referred only incidentally to the proposals contained in the Constitution Bill. He was followed by Captain Bussell, the other delegate from New Zealand, who is also a member of the House of Bepresentatives. Captain Bussell, while expressing himself generally favourable to any scheme of federation which could be practically entertained by New Zealand, added, " We have in this Constitution granted power to the Federal Parliament " to take, in case of need, the whole Customs revenue, to levy direct taxation in " any other form, and to pledge the credit of the Commonwealth. Here we are, " with i 4,800,000 of interest to pay every year on our debt, and pow r er is " to be granted to take away the whole of our Customs revenue, and the greater " portion, if not the whole, of our property-tax into the bargain. We are to " allow the Federal Parliament with one swoop to take the whole of our Customs " duties of a million and a half away from us. How, then, are we to meet our " engagements ? We cannot possibly meet them if we give away that power. " Seeing that they will have the power to take our Customs revenue, to impose " direct taxation, and to borrow further, and that they may take away our power " of raising money to pay our debts if any emergency arises, I believe the Eng- " lish bondholder will at once complain if we part with our security, as we shall " in joining the Federal Union, unless some other provision is made for securing " our English creditors. Then comes the question as to whether we can make " any provision. Here is what the Convention did: ' The Parliament of the " 'Commonwealth may, with the consent of the Parliaments of all the States, " ' make laws for taking over and consolidating the whole or any part of the " ' public debt of any State or States, but so that a State shall be liable to " ' indemnify the Commonwealth in respect of the amount of a debt taken over, " ' and that the amount of interest payable in respect of a debt shall be deducted " ' and retained from time to time from the share of the surplus revenue of the " ' Commonwealth which would otherwise-be payable to the State.' Well, Sir, " that is not nearly sufficient. It seems to me, before we decide, or before any " of the weaker colonies decide, to join the Federation, that some comprehensive " scheme must be agreed to by which the whole of the financial liabilities of the " colonies shall be—not only 'may be' —merged into one. Unless it is provided " that there shall be a common responsibility in addition to a Commonwealth " throughout the colonies, I venture to say that federation will not take place " —at any rate, that we in New Zealand cannot join in such a Federation." Captain Bussell was followed by the Premier, Mr. Ballance, who opposed the idea of federation with Australia, and concluded his speech with the following words: " Looked at from every point of view—legislative, political, " judicial, and fiscal—and bearing in mind the extent of the liberties that are " enjoyed in this country from the fact of the colony remaining in its present " state of relationship with the rest of the Empire, I say that, if this colony

A.-l, 1891, Sess. { 11., No. 21. ,

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" surrenders to any federal body that may be set up the powers it now possesses, " the people will become discontented, just as has happened in the case of Ireland, " and of other countries similarly situated. Looked at, then, from every point of " view, the whole weight of the argument is against New Zealand entering into " any federation except a federation with the Mother-country." From the extracts which I have given, your Lordship will gather that I have nothing to add to the opinion expressed in my despatch of the Bth May already The Bight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

No. 14. (No. 55.) My Lobd, — . Wellington, 3rd September, 1891. With reference to your Lordship's circular despatch of the 11th June, respecting candidates from colonial universities for commissions in the Imperial army, I have the honour to inform you that my Government are prepared to adopt the suggestion made by the War Office referred to in your Lordship's despatch. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

A.-2, 1892, No. 11.

No. 15. (No. 57.) My Lobd, — Wellington, sth September, 1891. In reply to your Lordship's Despatch No. 23 of the 26th June, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that my Government are not aware of any objection to the appointment of Mr. John Hamann as Acting German Consul at Dunedin, and I have accordingly gazetted him provisionally in that capacity pending the arrival of the exequatur. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

A.-2, 1892, No. 12.

No. 16. (No. 59.) My Lobd, — Wellington, Bth September, 1891. I have the honour to forward herewith the documents specified in the enclosed schedule, which I hope will adequately supply the information required by your Lordship's circular despatch of the Bth June. I should mention that the Bureau of Industries was formed here some three months ago under the direction of the Minister of Industries, Mr. W. P. Beeves, and the accompanying documents were selected by the officer in charge. The bureau is believed to be doing good and satisfactory work, but it has not yet been in existence long enough for any printed report of its operations to be issued. I have, &c, The Bight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

A.-2,1892, No. 9

Enclosure. Statistics of New Zealand, 1889 ; Statistics of New Zealand, 1890; Men employed upon Beliefworks, 1889 ; Men employed upon Belief-works, 1890; Unemployed who applied for Work in 1884; Works on which Unemployed were engaged, 1887; Sweating Commission on Employes and Employers, 1890; Expenses of the Sweating Commission, 1890; Beport of Begistrar of Friendly Societies, 1890; Correspondence concerning Bailway Employes, 1890 ; Employment of Females Acts, 1878; Beport of Mr. Holloway to English Agricultural Union, 1875 ; Beport of Commissioners on Grey Valley Coal-mines, 1891.

No. 17. (No. 60.) My Lobd, — Wellington, 9th September, 1891. With reference to your Lordship's Despatch No. 13, of the 18th April, t I have the honour to enclose two letters from Messrs. Donald and Edenborough, i from which it will be seen that they have now reduced their claim from, its original amount of £5,663 6s. 4cl. to .£1,563 6s. 4d.—viz., by £4,100.

A.-l, 1890, N0.12.

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The letter of the 2nd September explains the nature and reasons of the reductions, and the letter of the sth September, to which I would specially invite your Lordship's attention, points out that Messrs. Donald and Edenborough, in the hope of obtaining a speedy settlement of their claim, have appointed a London firm of solicitors to act as their fully-accredited agents in the matter. I have, &c, The Bight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

Enclosures. My Lord, — Auckland, New Zealand, 2nd September, 1891. We have the honour to acknowledge your communication of the 22nd June last, relative to our claim against the German Government in respect of our steamer " Bichmond." We would have replied to your Excellency sooner but for our Mr. A. B. Donald's absence from New Zealand upon business in the South Seas. For us to seek redress by action against the German Government before the German tribunals would involve, we suppose, amongst other things, a suit in the German Courts in Germany—many thousands of miles from where our cause of complaint arose, and where we and our witnesses dwell; the leaving of our business, our homes and families, in this hemisphere, personally to attend in Europe, there to prosecute and maintain our claim ; long journeyings to and fro ; great injury to our business in the meanwhile; the conveying.of our witnesses to Germany and back again from these southern seas (assuming their willingness voluntarily to attend the German Courts, which we could not compel); their long absences from their daily avocations; their maintenance and remuneration in the interval; the delays incident to legal proceedings ; great loss of time; great cost and expenditure of money; and many other serious inconveniences. It was to save or diminish these inconveniences that we ventured to suggest more than two years ago that our claim should be submitted to a Court of Arbitration to be holden at Auckland; more especially as it was in these southern seas that (as already mentioned) our cause of complaint arose, and that we and our witnesses dwell and carry on our avocations. The proposed arbitration at Auckland w r ould also have permitted a proper scrutiny of our claim. But to force us to seek redress from the German tribunals in Germany would, as we respectfully submit, for the reasons above alluded to, only be to inflict great additional loss and hardship upon us. We therefore prefer to accept the suggestion that we understand Lord Salisbury was good enough to make—viz., to reduce our demand, in order to obtain, if possible, a speedy settlement of our long-standing claim by diplomatic means. Accordingly, we beg leave to state that under the circumstances we shall be prepared to settle upon the following basis—viz.: Item No. 1 of the particulars of our claim, as printed and already furnished, to be reduced to £100; item No. 2to remain at £119 6s. 4d.; item No. 3to remain at £44; item No. 4 to remain at £250; item No. 5 to be reduced to £250 ; item No. 6to be reduced to £250; item No. 7 to be entirely struck out ; item No. Bto be allowed at £350; item No. 9to be reduced to £200 : total, £1,56365. 4d. ; thus leaving our total claim at, say, £1,560. Concerning the foregoing items, perhaps we need only make the following remarks : As to item No. 7, our solicitor, Mr. Coleman, advises us that the grievance therein complained of would probably be considered as a purely sentimental one; and, on his advice, w r e consent to abandon it altogether. As to item No. 5, we are advised that the damage, though actually sustained by us, is probably too remote. But, as we sustained a clear actual cash loss of £800 by the wreck of our brigantine "Ada C. Owen" (having shortly before paid £2,000 cash for her, and only receiving £1,200 insurance), £250 by the loss of her uninsured cargo, £150 in bringing home her wrecked master and crew, and for their maintenance and wages in the interval, besides the other special loss and damage to our orange trade mentioned in our claim, we respectfully submit that we have, at all events, a fair, moral, equitable claim against the German Government in respect of this item, and that it ought not to be assessed at less than £250. As to item No. 6, on looking back more calmly after this lapse of time, we admit that this item ought to be reduced; but we respectfully submit that we are fairly entitled to not less than £250 in respect of it. As to item No. 7, it has been already dealt with. Item No. 8 will not be any less than £350, and we shall have to disburse fully that sum. As to item No. 9, we admit now that it ought to be reduced, but respectfully submit that we are fairly entitled to something under this head by way of exemplary damages or as a solatium, and that the £200 now claimed would be but a small compensation. Having, then, reduced our claim to the small sum of £1,560, may we venture to request the favour of your Excellency's good offices-towards obtaining its speedy settlement by diplomatic means. We should be glad to get the matter finished as soon as may be; and it is with the object of preventing complications that we have hitherto so steadily declined the suggestions of many to bring our grievance prominently under the notice of the Imperial Parliament and of the Parliament of this colony. To facilitate the settlement that we anticipate, and to save, if possible, the long delays incident to communicating with us in New Zealand, we are authorising Messieurs Shaen, Boscoe, Massey, and Co., solicitors, of No. 8, Bedford Bow, London, Mr. Coleman's London agents, to represent us in England as fully as if we were personally present. Those gentlemen have full power and authority from us to receive all communications intended for us in this matter, to reply to the same, to negotiate for us, to receive and give a discharge for all moneys coming to us, and generally to settle and conclude this business on our part.

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Trusting this arrangement may have the approval of your Excellency and of the authorities in England who have to do with this affair, We have, &c, Donald and Edenborouoh. His Excellency the Bight Hon. the Earl of Onslow, G.C.M.G., &c, Governor of the Colony of New Zealand. In view of this communication forming the basis of a settlement of Messrs. Donald and Edenborough's claim against the German Government, I officially certify the signature thereto to be the genuine signature of the firm of Messrs. Donald and Edenborough.— Wm. Coleman, Notary Public, Auckland, New Zealand.

My Lord, — Auckland, New Zealand, sth September, 1891. We beg leave to refer again to our last letter to your Excellency, of the 2nd September instant, for the purpose of more particularly and distinctly requesting your Excellency, with all respect, to be so good as to cause Messrs. Shaen, Boscoe, Massey, and Co., solicitors, of No. 8, Bedford Bow, London, named in our last letter, and the respective members of their firm, to be officially recognised by the British Government, and the German Government, and all others concerned, as our fully-accredited agents in London, and as having the fullest powers to represent and act for our firm of Donald and Edenborough in all things concerning the matter of our claim against the German Government. We are sending Messrs. Shaen, Boscoe, Massey, and Co. a full power of attorney by the outgoing mail, and have the honour to be, My Lord, &c, Donald and Edenborough. His Excellency the Bight Hon. the Earl of Onslow, G.C.M.G., &c, Governor of the Colony of New" Zealand.

No. 18. . (No. 62.) My Lobd, — Christchurch, Ist October, 1891. I have the honour to inform your Lordship that on the 25th September I prorogued by Proclamation the second session of the eleventh Parliament of New Zealand. I have, &c, The Bight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

No. 19. (No. 65.) My Lobd, — Christchurch, 6th October, 1891. In reply to your Lordship's circular despatch of the 23rd June, requesting information as to the liability of foreigners, and particularly of Consuls, to serve on juries in this colony, I have the honour to enclose a copy of a memorandum on the subject prepared by the Solicitor-General. I have, <fee, The Bight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

A.-2, 1892, No. 12.

Enclosure. By " The Juries Act, 1880," which is the general enactment in force relating to juries, it is provided that no person who is not a natural-born or naturalised subject of the Queen shall be qualified to serve on any jury in any Court or on any occasion. The law makes no special provision in respect of the consular representatives of foreign Powers, and if such persons are subjects of the countries which they represent they would be exempt from serving on any jury under the enactment above referred to. I may add that by the same Act the former right of an alien to be tried by a jury de medietate lingua is taken away, and now an alien would be triable in the same manner as if he were a naturalborn subject. 29th September, 1891. W. S. Beid.

No. 20. (No. 67.) My Lobd,— Christchurch, 7th October, 1891. I find that urgent and pressing affairs of a somewhat complicated nature connected with my property in England demand my presence there at an early date. Under these circumstances I have to request your Lordship to submit to Her Majesty the Queen my resignation of the office of Governor and Com-mander-in-Chief of the Colony of New 7 Zealand.

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I hope it may be in consonance with the convenience of Her Majesty's Government to relieve me of my duties here not later than the end of February, 1892. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

No. 21. (No. 70.) My Lobd, — Christchurch, 30th October, 1891. I have the honour to forward for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure copies of the Acts passed during the late session, together with a synopsis of the same prepared by the Solicitor-General. No Acts were passed during the first session of this Parliament. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

No. 22. (No. 74.) My Lobd, — Christchurch, 28th November, 1891. With reference to your Lordship's Despatch No. 42a, and to previous correspondence on the subject of the admission of colonial boys into the Boyal navy, I have the honour to report that my Government agree to the arrangements proposed in the letter from the Admiralty enclosed in your Lordship's despatch. My. Government are, further, anxious that distinct regulations should be made stating to whom applications for admission to the Australian Squadron should be addressed, and how often they may be forwarded, in order that no complications may arise hereafter. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

A.-2, 1892, No. 25.

No. 23. (No. 75.) My Lobd,— Christchurch, 30th November, 1891. With reference to your circular of the 13th May, I have the honour to inform you that at the International Eailway Congress, fixed for 1892, the Government of New Zealand will be represented by Mr. John Blackett, C.E., Consulting Engineer at the office of the Agent-General for the colony in London. I hi vp (xo The Bight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

A.-2,1892, No. G.

No. 24. (No. 76.) My Lobd, — Christchurch, 9th December, 1891. I believe that representations have already been made to your Lordship by the Governor of Queensland on the subject of the introduction of rabies into British New Guinea. The question is a serious one for all the Australasian Colonies, especially for those which, like New Zealand, have direct intercourse with many of the islands of the Polynesian and other groups, and 1 have therefore been requested by my Government respectfully to urge upon your Lordship the desirability of communicating with the continental Governments having possessions in the Pacific— especially France, Holland, and Germany—with the view of having regulations framed to prevent the introduction of this terrible disease. I have, &c, Th Bight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

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No. 25. (No. 1.) My Lobd,— ■ Dunedin, 22nd January, 1892. In compliance with the request of the Hon. John Ballance, the Premier, I have the honour to transmit a memorandum addressed by the Hon. the Defence Minister to the Hon. the Premier requesting your Lordship to move His Boyal Highness the Field Marshal Commander in Chief to authorise the granting of a clasp to the New Zealand war medal for those who took part in the action fought at Waireka in 1860. I have, &c, The Bight Hon. Lord Knutsford, etc. ONSLOW.

Enclosure. Memorandum for His Excellency. The Premier begs respectfully to submit the attached letter from the Hon. the Defence Minister, recommending that Her Majesty the Queen may be pleased to authorise the granting of a clasp to the New Zealand war medal for the action fought at Waireka in 1860, with the request that His Excellency will be good enough to transmit it to the Secretary of State. Premier's Office, Wellington, 31st December, 1891. J. Ballance.

Sub-enclosure. * Sir, — Defence Office, Wellington, New Zealand, 31st December, 1891. I have the honour to request that you will place yourself in communication with the proper authorities with a view to His Boyal Highness the Field Marshal Commander-in-Chief being moved to grant a clasp to the New Zealand war medal for the action of Waireka, fought on the 28th March, 1860. The matter was brought before the House of Bepresentatives on the 11th August last, proceedings of which are attached. The battle of Waireka was the first occasion in which the colonial troops— i.e., soldier-settlers and Volunteers —took their share of the brunt of the battle in company with Her Majesty's Imperial forces. After a consultation with His Excellency the Governor (Colonel Gore Browne), a force of about fifty Taranaki Militia and a hundred Taranaki Volunteers, supported by a detachment of Her Majesty's 65th Begiment under Colonel Murray, and some blue-jackets and marines, of Her Majesty's ship " Niger," under Lieutenant Blake, 8.N., attacked the Native pa on the Waireka Hill. The weight of the action during its earlier stages was mainly borne by the Militia and Volunteers, who were hard pressed, until Captain Cracroft, of the " Niger," having landed a fresh party, made a determined onslaught on the stronghold, carrying all before him. Special importance is attached to the action at Waireka by the Taranaki settlers, owing to its being the first in which they took a leading part, the near proximity and strength of the Maoris' position—which was only about three miles and a half from New Plymouth—and most of all because of the very decided victory gained over an enemy whose numbers and boldness was becoming a serious menace to the very existence of the settlement. The Provincial Council of Nelson, on the 4th April, 1860, passed a resolution expressing "admiration at the very gallant conduct of the Taranaki Volunteers and Militiamen, and of Captain Cracroft and the officers and seamen of Her Majesty's ship ' Niger,' at the recent battle of Waireka—conduct which not only reflects credit upon them, but has placed all colonists of New Zealand under a lasting obligation." The Provincial Councils of Napier, Wellington, Auckland, Canterbury, and Otago passed similar resolutions, in which, besides expressing congratulations on the manly, selfreliant spirit shown, and admiration for their gallant conduct, voted very liberal sums of money from provincial exchequers for the relief of those settlers who had suffered loss in friends and estates. I venture to submit a design for the clasp, and beg to recommend the case for the favourable consideration of His Boyal Highness the Duke of Cambridge. I have, &c, W. P. Beeves, The Hon. the Premier. (For the Minister of Defence.)

No. 26. (No. 2.) My Lobd,— Wellington, 15th February, 1892. In compliance with the request of the Hon. the Premier, I have the honour to inform you that the sections of the Constitution Act referred to in your Lordship's despatch (General) of the 20th November last have ceased to have any effect, and my Ministers see no reason why they should not be specifically repealed, subject to the usual saving clause. I also transmit herewith for your Lordship's information a compilation of Acts relating to the Constitution and Government of New Zealand, which has just been reissued, and which takes notice of the present position of these sections. I have, &c, The Bight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

A.-2, 1892. No. 82.

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No. 27. • \ My Lobd, — Wellington, 15th February, 1892. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 12th December last, covering copy of a letter which you have addressed to the Officers Administering the Government in the Australasian Colonies, dealing with the exercise of the Queen's prerogative of pardon, which was discussed at the Colonial Conference of 1887, and at the request of the Premier of this colony to convey to you the satisfaction of my Government that Her Majesty's Government is prepared to adopt the suggestion made from here. I have, &c, The Bight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

A.-2, 1892, No. 33.

No. 28. My Lobd,— Wellington, 15th February, 1892. With reference to your despatch of the 16th November, 1891, stating that the present Fostal Union regime will be replaced by the Convention of Vienna, I have the honour to inform you that my Government adhere thereto, and respectfully request that you will give the required notice accordingly. I have, &c, The Bight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

No. 29. My Lobd, — Wellington, 15th February, 1892. With reference to your Despatch No. 160/91, of the 26th August, 1891, requesting information as to the potato-disease in this colony, I have now the honour to transmit herewith, for your information, a memorandum from the Hon. the Premier, embodying replies to the several queries contained in Circular Xo. 9326 from the Board of Agriculture. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

A.-2, 1892, No. 22.

Enclosure. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. Befekring to the circular despatch from the Bight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated the 26th August, 1891, No. 160/91, transmitting a list of queries with reference to the treatment of potatoes in the several colonies, His Excellency is informed that inquiries have been instituted in various parts of this colony, the results of which may be thus briefly summarised :— 1. The variety of potatoes usually grown. —Early crops: Lapstone kidneys, Fluke Vermont, Bresee's Prolific, Early Bose, Pink Eyes. General or main crop : Derwents, Brown Biver, Hobarts. 2. As to change of seeds, whether these are frequent or infrequent. —Changes of seed are usually made within the colony, in some districts every year, in others about every three years, and in others the change of seed is not properly attended to. 3. As to whether the tubers for seed are -planted wliole or cut in pieces, dtc, —Whole tubers are used if of medium size, or cut if over the size of a duck's egg. 4. How frequently are potatoes grown in the same land ? —Barely more than once in succession, preference being given to virgin land, or fresh-broken-up grass-land. 5. The methods of cultivation adopted, and particularly as to the practice of earthing. —After stubble, plough in autumn, and reploughin spring. Harrow and plant in October or November (for main crops); drills 27in. to 30in. apart. Before the plant comes into bloom, earth up with doublefurrow plough. 6. The manures generally used. —Manures not generally used; if used at all, generally stablemanure or bone-dust, but neither is ever used to grow good potatoes. Potato-disease (queries 7 to 11). —There has never been any general or widespread disease of the potato crops in New Zealand. Premier's Office, Wellington, 28th January, 1892. John Ballance.