30

D.—2

debarques dans un etat de deniiment complet au milieu dun pays presque sans population. La nouvelle dv sinistre ayant etc expediee a la capitale de la province, Dunedin, leg autorites de la ville firent appel au capitaine Jacquemart, commandant de la " Vire," gui stationnoit dans cc moment la a Port Chalmers. Cet officier, avec la promptitude la plus lovable leur offrit son aide, et se rendit avec son vaisseau a, l'entree de Catlin's Bay. Les naufrages furent, avec l'assistance dun petit bateau a vapeur de la localite et dcs canots de la " Vire," embarquus sur cc dernier vaisseau, et transportes a Port Chalmers, d'ou ils se rendirent en surete par le chemin de fer a, Dunedin. 3. Le Gouvernement de la Nouvelle Zelande desire vivement exprimer combien il apprecie le secours aussi important qu'opportun apporte par le capitaine Jacquemart, les officiers et l'oquipage de la " Vire " dans cctte deplorable circonstance ; et je suis charge d'offrir a cet officier, avec l'assentiment .que M. le Ministre de votre Excellence, a bien voulu accorder sur ma demande, un service en argent de la part dv Gouvernement de la province d'Otago. 4. Le capitaine Jacquemart, repondant a l'adresse qu'on lvi a presentee a Dunedin a dit, dans un langage digne de la marine francaise depuis longtemps habituee a se signaler par dcs actes d'hero'isme et d'humanite, qu'il n'avait fait que rempler le devoir gui incombe a, tout officier francais en se hatant d'aller au secours de ceux gui avaient si grand besom de son aide, et que e'etait au gouvernement francais et ala nation francaise qu'etaient dus les remerciments qu'on lvi avait adresses. C'est pour me conformer a Tesprit de ces nobles paroles, Monsieur le Marechal, que j'ai l'honneur de presenter a votre Excellence, comme chef dv gouvernement de la France, et de ses armees de terre et de mer, les remerciments dv Gouvernement et dv peuple de la colonie de la Nouvelle Zelande. Daignez agreer, Monsieur le Marechal, l'expression dv profond respect avec lequel j'ai l'honneur d'etre De votre Excellence, le tres-humble serviteur, I. E. Featheeston, Agent-General pour la Nouvelle Zelande. A Son Excellence Monsieur le Marechal de McMahon, President de la Republique Francaise. [Teanslation.] 7, "Westminster Chambers, "Westminster, S.W., Sic,— 25th September, 1874. I have the honor to inform you that I have received a despatch from the Hon. Julius Vogel, Prime Minister of New Zealand, directing me to convey to your Excellency the thanks of the Government of that colony for the services rendered to its people by the French war steamer " Vire," Captain Jacquemart commanding, on the occasion of the wreck of the emigrant ship "Surat" off the coast of Otago, on the morning of the Ist of January. 2. The " Surat" sailed in October last from the port of London, with 270 emigrants on board, and had made a prosperous voyage until close to the coast of New Zealand, when, on the 31st of December, she struck a rock near the mouth of Catlin's River. Next morning the ship began to sink, and was run ashore in Catlin's Bay, where the emigrants were landed in a destitute condition in a sparsely settled country. Intelligence of the disaster having been communicated to the provincial capital, Dunedin, the local authorities appealed for aid to Captain Jacquemart, of the "Vire," then stationed at Port Chalmers, and that officer with the utmost promptitude offered his services and proceeded with his ship to the bar of Catlin's Bay, where the shipwrecked people were, with the aid of a small local steamer and the life-boats of the "Vire," taken on board that vessel and safely landed at Port Chalmers, whence they were carried by train to Dunedin. 3. The Government of New Zealand desire to record their sense of the most valuable and timely service rendered by Captain Jacquemart and the officers and men of the ship " Vire " on this distressing occasion, and I am charged to present to that officer, with the assent of the Minister of "War and of your Excellency's Government, for which I have already successfully applied, a service of plate on behalf of the Government of the Province of Otago. 4. I observe that in his reply to an address presented to him at Dunedin, Captain Jacquemart stated, in language worthy of a service long and often distinguished by deeds of heroism and of humanity, that he had only discharged a duty incumbent on all French officers when ho hastened to succour those who were in need of help, and that it was to the French Government and nation the thanks of those who addressed him were really due. It is in this spirit, Monsieur le Marechal, that I have the honor to tender to your Excellency, as head of the Government of Franco and of its forces by sea as well as land, the thanks of the Government and people of the Colony of New Zealand. I have, &c, I. E. Featheeston, Agent-General. To His Excellency M. le Marechal de McMahon, Due de Magenta, President of the French Eepublic.

No. 55. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Minister for Imhigeation. (No. 1680). 7, "Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sic,— Ist October, 1874. In continuation of my letter of 7th August, No. 1508, respecting the steps I am taking to carry out your instructions for the publication of the New Zealand Handbook, I have the honor to