A.—No. la,

36

DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OE STATE

me by Sir J. Manners Sutton, suggesting that the Auckland Islands and other uninhabited islands lying in the track of trading or passenger ships, should be occasionally visited by Her Majesty's ships, and by those belonging to other Powers, and that depots of provisions should be established on the islands for the subsistence of the crews of wrecked vessels. I also annex copies of a correspondence between this Department and the Admiralty on the subject. As the Auckland Islands are now attached to the Colony of New Zealand under the Act of Parliament, 26 Victoria, cap. 23, it rests with the Government of that Colony to take what steps are required in the matter mooted by the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, so far as regards the provision of food or shelter for persons who may be shipwrecked on the islands. I enclose the copy of a letter which I have received from Mr. Charles Enderby, giving certain information respecting the Auckland Islands, and offering his servicesin the selection of a suitable spot for the establishment of a provision depot. I have, &c, BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS. Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G.

Enclosure 1 in No. 45. Mr. President Hastes* to Sir J. H. JF. Mannees Sttttojst. Chamber of Commerce, Sib,— Melbourne, Ist February, 1868. I do myself the honor, on behalf of the Committee of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, to ask, that your Excellency will be good enough to represent to the Imperial authorities the advisability of issuing instructions to Commanders of Her Majesty's ships visiting these seas, or to the Commodores on the Australian and New Zealand Stations, to avail themselves of any opportunity which may offer to examine any of the uninhabited or even sparsely peopled islands and rocks lying in the ordinary tracks of passenger ships or trading vessels, and on which shipwrecked persons may by possibility be found. I need scarcely say that the recent discovery of the lamentable shipwreck of the " General Grant," and the protracted sufferings of the survivors, for eighteen months, on the inhospitable Auckland Islands (the second occurrence of the kind), has directed the attention of the Chamber to the necessity of remedial or preventive measures being adopted, in order to avert similar calamities in future. The Chamber are anxious to secure the periodical examination of those islands which are most likely to be the scene of shipwrecks, once at least in every six mouths, and they very respectfully suggest that instructions should be given to that effect, and that the vessels detached for the service from either of the Naval Stations should carry materials for erecting iron huts, and should also have orders to deposit in each place a cache of provisions and necessaries for castaways, or examine deposits previously made. The Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, with great deference, conceive that these services might be rendered more efficiently by Her Majesty's ships than by any other means, and that the additional duties might be performed without entailing additional expense upon the Admiralty. The Committee would further respectfully suggest that Her Majesty's Government should communicate with the Government of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of the French, and with the Government of America, with a view to obtain their co-operation in carrying out the above suggestion. I have, &c, B. Mabtin-, His Excellency Sir J. H. T. Manners Sutton, K.C.8., &c. President.

Enclosure 2 in No. 45. Sir F. Rogeks to the Seceetaex to the Admibalty. Sib,,— Downing Street, 3rd April, 1868. I am directed by the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos to transmit to you, for theconsideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the copy of a Despatch, from the Governor of Victoria, with a letter from the Chairman of the Committee of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, suggesting, with reference to the case of the wreck of the " General Grant," on the Auckland Islands, a periodical visitation by Her Majesty's ships, and by those of other Powers, of uninhabited islands which lie in the track of passenger ships and trading vessels. I am, &c, The Secretary to the Admiralty. F. Rogeks.

No. 5, January 31, 1868.

Enclosure 3 in No. 45. Mr. C. Ekdebby to the Under Secbetaey of State, Colonial Office. Sie,— Eoyal Institution, 14th April, 1888. The recent melancholy shipwrecks which have occurred on the Auckland Islands, which, it is to be feared, may be more frequent from the daily increasing communication with Australia and New