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I had already, in my Despatch No. 7, of the 14th Eebruary, expressed to you the regret with which I had heard that Sir Donald McLean had been compelled to retire from office through loss of health, and the high sense I entertained of the ability with which he had for so long conducted the administration of Native affairs. It only remains for me therefore to say how sincerely I agree with the estimate you have formed of Sir Donald McLean's public services, and of the loss New Zealand has sustained by the death of one who had rendered such distinguished service during his public career, and who, when he retired from an active part in the administration of Native affairs, had, as I trusted, life and health yet left him to exercise a beneficial influence over that population for the welfare of which he had done so much. I have, &c, CARNARVON. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., &c, &c.

No. 8. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 12.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 17th March, 1877. I have received your Despatch No. 59, of the 12th of December, enclosing a memorandum from your Ministers, expressing their hope that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty will, in addition to the orders they have already given that any of Her Majesty's ships proceeding from the Cape of Good Hope to Australia shall when possible sight the Crozet Islands sufficiently near to examine them, issue further instructions that a depot of food and clothing shall be established on the Islands for the use of any persons who may unfortunately be wrecked there. 2. I have been in communication with the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty upon the subject, and I enclose a copy of the reply I have received from their Lordships. 3. Erom this letter your Ministers will learn that great difficulties exist in complying with their suggestion, owing to the inaccessible nature of the Crozet Islands, and moreover that depots would have to be established on e"ch of the Islands, owing to the scattered nature of the group, in order to insure that persons shipwrecked there would be able to avail themselves of them. 4. But, in addition to these difficulties, their Lordships again point out, as they did in their letter to the Secretary of Lloyd's, dated the 10th of May, 1876, to which your Ministers refer, that the Crozet Islands do not lie in the proper track of vessels trading to Australia and New Zealand, and that great and unjustifiable risks are incurred by those captains who persist in making their course in such high latitudes. 5. The opinions which their Lordships express appear to me to be conclusive, and, as it is desirable that their views should, be known as widely as possible, I propose to lay the correspondence which has passed on the subject before Parliament. I have, &c., CARNARVON. Governor the^Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., &c.

Enclosure in No. 8. Lords of Admiealtt to Colonial Office. Sib,— Admiralty, 10th March, 1877. With reference to your letter of the 21st February last, and its enclosures, relative to the establishment of a depot of food and clothing in the Crozet Islands for the use of any persons who may be shipwrecked there, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you,