SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

7

E.—No. 2

The whole question is of importance. The leading Chiefs or Kings of the principal of the Polynesian groups are in the habit of communicating with each other. Kamehameha, of the Hawaiian ;»*roup, for instance, has taken very great interest in the proceedings of Cakobau in Fiji, and has sent congratulations to him. The Postmaster-General was recently informed in Australia, upon very good authority, that negotiations had been opened between Chiefs of the Navigator Islands and King Cakobau, with the view of bringing the Samoan group under the Government of Fiji. Maafu, the most powerful Chief, next to Cakobau, in the Fijian group, and who will most probably succeed that King if the Fijian Government remains intact, is next heir to the sovereignty of the Tongan group. In short, it is possible that the Fijian, Samoan, and Tongan groups may, at no very distant date, be formed into one powerful kingdom. It need scarcely be pointed out how very serious a matter it would be for the Australasian Colonies if, with such a kingdom as has been indicated, it were permitted to foreign countries to make Treaties similar to that described to Mr. Webb, by the Commander of the " Narragansett." The Postmaster-General has reason to think that, supposing that Treaty to be of an unusual nature, it is so rather as a result of accident than of design. He has been informed that the object of the United States was only to secure a convenient port in which facilities could be afforded to American shipping, and that the action taken was certainly not dictated or influenced by unfriendly feeling towards the Australasian Colonies. The Postmaster-General thinks, therefore, that if representations were made to the United States Government, Great Britain would be allowed to participate in the Treaty under consideration, so that Pago-Pago would not be made a harbour available only for use by American shipping. As to the second letter from Mr. Webb, the Captain of the German war-ship " Nymphe" informed the Postmaster-General, in Sydney, that there was no truth in the rumours prevalent there, during the vessel's stay in that port, that the German Government intended to take possession of the Fijian or the Samoan group. The Postmaster-General repeated the information to Mr. Webb ; but that gentleman seems by his letter to be of opinion that there was some truth in the rumours current in Sydney. The Postmaster-General has lately been told, upon good authority, that the German Consul at PagoPago protested strongly against the Treaty which was being made by the Chiefs with the Commander of the " Narragansett." If His Excellency should see fit to forward to the Secretary of State for the Colonies this Memorandum and its enclosures, it is respectfully requested that he will, at the same time explain, that in bringing under notice this Treaty question, the Postmaster-General has not been actuated by a desire to interfere in a matter with which he has officially no concern ; but that he considered it to be his duty to place the information in the possession of His Excellency, leaving him to make such use of it as he might consider desirable. The Postmaster-General also appends hereto, for the information of His Excellency—and for transmission to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, should His Excellency see fit—a copy of the report of Mr. William Seed, the Secretary of Customs, respecting the visit made by him a few months since to the Navigator Islands. Julius Vogel. Wellington, sth June, 1872.

Enclosure 1 in No. 11. Mr. W. 11. Webb to the Hon. J. Vogel. Sib, — Steamer " Nebraska," at Sea, 4th April, 1872. Having had the good fortune to meet the steamer 4i Nevada," on my trip homeward from Auckland, on the night of 20th March, I boarded her, and among the letters for me then obtained, I found one from Commander Eichard W. Meade, commanding the United States steamer " Narragansett," dated at Pango-Pango, Tutuila, 10th March, 1872, communicating the official intelligence " that on the 17th February, the Chief of Pango-Pango, ' Maunga,' signed a treaty or agreement with jae, granting the exclusive right to the United States Government to use this harbour as a coaling and naval station for your line, and our ships of war, and binding himself not to grant a like privilege to any other power than the United States." Commander Meade says further, " All the Chiefs of the eastern division on Tutuila have, in my presence, signed articles of confederation, and have recognized the flag hoisted by Maunga on the 2nd March, which I saluted with fifteen guns . . . and have solemnly agreed to keep the Port Eegulations of Pango-Pango." He also says, " We have made a careful survey of the bay, placed buoys on the rocks, and in every way made the harbour ready for your line of steam-ships." On the evening of the 31st March, I entered the harbour of Pago-Pago with the " Nebraska," with the view of selecting and arranging for a suitable coaling station, detaining the steamer a few hours only. I have, &c, The Hon. J. Vogel, Commissioner of Customs, W. H. Webb. Wellington.

Enclosure 2 in No. 11. Mr. W. H. Webb to the Hon. J. Vogel. Dear Sic, — Notwithstanding the remark made to you by the Commander of the Prussian man-of-war "Nymphe," while lying in the harbour of Sydney, when questioned as to the reported intentions of his Government in regard to the Samoan group, I am now more satisfied than before his late visit to the group, that those reports were well founded, and that the Prussian Government had instructed him to secure the control of Pago-Pago harbour, and perhaps the whole group.