A.—3

14

Pabt I. Despatches from the G-OYernor.

Ministerial Memorandum, and also a copy of a Resolution adopted by the Legislative Council of New Zealand, respecting the Navigator Islands. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. G. F. Bowen.

No. 2. (No. 56.) Government House, Auckland, My Lord, — New Zealand, 26th June, 1872. At the request of my Responsible Advisers, I have the honor to transmit herewith the enclosed Ministerial Memorandum from the Postmaster-General of New Zealand (Mr. Vogel, C.M.G.), respecting certain questions connected with the Navigator Islands. 2. I have no means here of procuring any information on this subject in addition to that furnished by Mr. Vogel in the accompanying papers. 3. I have already communicated to my Ministers your Lordship's Despatch No. 10, of the 23rd February ultimo, stating the views of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the Navigator Islands. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. G. F. Bowen.

Memorandum No. 2, page 2. Appendix, 1872 : A. 1, page 96.

Ho. 1, page 19.

No. 3. (No. 65.) My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, Ist August, 1873. I am requested by my Advisers to inform you that they have had under consideration your Lordship's Despatch No. 78, of the 18th December, 1872, covering certain correspondence between the Foreign Office and the Colonial Office on the subject of the agreement between the United Sates Naval Officer and the Chief of the Navigator Islands, for giving to the United States an exclusive right to establish a naval station and coaling depot in the harbour of PangoPango. 2. It appears probable to my Advisers that, as Mr. Webb's line of steamers has been discontinued, the attention of the United States Government may be temporarily diverted from the Navigator group, for Mr. Webb's grant of water-frontage to the harbour was made, it is believed, to depend on his continuing the line of steamers. 3. Captain Meade's agreement was made to depend on its ratification by the Government of the United States, and although, highly recommended by the Government, it does not appear that the Senate has yet taken action. A Special Commissioner, accredited by the United States Government, has lately visited Honolulu, and it is stated in a paper published in that city, that he was to proceed to the Navigator Islands and to Fiji. 4. My Advisers have specially called my attention to the reference made by Captain Meade to the agreement in these terms: —" That on the 17th February the chief of Pango-Pango, Maunga, signed a treaty or agreement with me, 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/ as stated in a letter from Mr. Webb to the Hon. Mr. Vogel. 5. In these circumstances, my Advisers are very desirous that the Imperial Government should at once take steps to prevent the Navigator Islands falling into foreign hands, or should allow the New Zealand Government to make such arrangements with the chiefs of the islands as will protect New Zealand interests. The group is too near New Zealand to make it desirable that the islands should be subject to such an arrangement as Captain Meade clearly contemplated, or that they should be annexed by any foreign Power. lam therefore moved to represent that immediate action in the matter is extremely desirable. 6. There is, I am informed, reason to believe that the German Government contemplated annexing these islands, and would have done so but for Captain Meade's action; and there is reason to fear that, in the event of the United States Government not desiring to carry out its agreement with the chiefs, action by that Government may yet be taken. 7. In communicating the views of my Advisers to your Lordship, they desire that I will request Her Majesty's Government to grant to this Colony the right to negotiate directly with the chiefs of the Navigator group, in the event of Her Majesty's Government deciding not to take action themselves. 8. My predecessor, in his Despatch No. 56, 1872, transmitted to your Lordship, as an enclosure from the Colonial Postmaster-General, a report by an officer of this Government, who had been sent on a mission to the Samoan group, of the extraordinary capabilities of the harbour of Pango-Pango. In spite of the unfavourable replies which they have already received to their former representations on this subject, they would earnestly solicit the aid of Her Majesty's Government to prevent this Colony, whose trade and external transactions bid fair, at no remote period, to be extensively developed, from being deprived of these advantages which by

Memorandum No. 3, page 4.