5

A.—2

provide that no " payments are to be made by Consular Officers on account of British colonial subjects, unless under authority from the Governor of the colony to which such persons belong." The British Consul, rather than incur the grave responsibility which would have resulted from the death of the person for want of immediate relief, incurred the necessary expense without waiting to obtain the authority of the Governor of the colony to which the person belonged. In these circumstances, the Earl of Derby has, with my concurrence, issued the enclosed Circular to Her Majesty's Consuls, providing that the stringency of the instructions, enjoining a reference to the Governor of a colony before relief is given to a colonial British subject, shall be somewhat relaxed in cases in which the withholding of all relief would result in the death of the distressed person. Though reluctant to assent to an addition to regulations which have been arrived at after consulting Colonial Governments, without again referring to them, I felt that the course proposed to be adopted was so obvious and desirable that I could assume the assent of all colonies. I have, &c, CARNARVON. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure in No. 5. (Circular.) Sir,— Foreign Office, 27th February, 1877. With reference to the Circular Despatch from this office of the 26th February, 1869, I am directed by the Earl of Derby to acquaint you that his Lordship has arranged with the Secretary of State for the Colonies that the stringency of the instruction, enjoining a reference to the Governor of a colony before relief is given to a colonial British subject, shall be somewhat relaxed in cases in which the withholding of all relief would result in the death of the distressed person. In such cases, you are authorized to give relief sufficient to enable the distressed person to procure the actual necessaries of life, pending the receipt of a reply from the Governor of the colony concerned. I have, &c, Her Majesty's Consul.

No. 6. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 7.) My Lord, — DoAvning Street, 14th Eebruary, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 61, of the 14th of December, informing me of certain changes in the Administration of New Zealand. I regret that loss of health should be the reason through which the colony loses the services of Sir Donald McLean, a gentleman whose ability in dealing with Native affairs has been very conspicuous, and whom but recently I had the great satisfaction of recommending to the Queen for a mark of Her Majesty's favour. I have, &c., CARNARVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., &c, &c.

No. 7. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 10.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 12th March, 1877. I have received with deep regret the intelligence conveyed in your Despatch No. 1, of the 6th January, of the death of Sir Donald McLean.