7

A.—2

for the information of the Earl of Carnarvon, that great difficulties exist in the way of placing a depot on these islands, as they are all " iron-bound," and, as a rule, inaccessible. Landing anywhere, even under favourable auspices, is precarious. The weather as a rule is extremely boisterous, accompanied with fogs, and there is only one known anchorage in the whole group, and this is a small and open one on the leewardmost island. 2. The group consists of five islands or clusters of islets, the largest of which is about 13 miles in length and 7 in breadth, and they occupy an area included in 35 miles of latitude and 2 degrees of longitude. 3. My Lords desire me here to observe that the " Strathmore " w ras lost on the northernmost of the group, which appears to be the smallest cluster, so that depots on any other of the islands would, in the case of that ship, have been wholly useless. To place depots on each of the islands would therefore appear to be the only solution of the proposal recommended, and to do this would involve much risk and a great outlay of time. 4. Their Lordships further consider that it would be very undesirable to carry out the suggestions made in the communications before referred to, as ships can have no possible excuse for nearing the Crozets when making a passage to Australia or New Zealand, and, if depots were provided there, it would be tantamount to offering a premium for them to navigate in the neighbourhood. There is abundance of ocean room to the northward of these islands, and in their Lordships' opinion it is a dereliction of duty in any captain going near them, considering the fogs and tempestuous weather that prevail in their neighbourhood, and further, that in the lower latitude of 40 deg. S., or thereabouts, finer and more favourable winds are found. 5. In conclusion, my Lords would remark that, in all the discussion which has been brought about by the lamentable affair of the " Strathmore," the fact that this ship was more than eighty miles out of her reckoning at the time of the wreck appears to have been entirely lost sight of. I have, &c, The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Eobeet Hall.

No. 9. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby to the Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon. (No. 16.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 27th April, 1877. I have the honor to inform you that Her Majesty will not be advised to exercise her power of disallowance with respect to the following Acts of the Legislature of New Zealand, transcripts of which accompanied your Despatch No. 60, of the 13th of December last, viz.:— No. 1. "An Act to amend' The Disqualification Act, 1870 ;' " No. 12. "An Act to enable a Crown Grant to be made to No. 2. " An Act to make provision for the office of Deputy the Trustees appointed by the General Synod of Superintendent of the Province of Wellington ;" the Church of England of a piece of Land at No. 3. "An Act to apply a Sum of Money out of the Waiuku;" Public Account to the Service of the Year ending No. 13. "An Act in Amendment and Supplement of ' The the Thirtieth day of June, One thousand eight Stewart Island Grants Act, 1873 ;' " hundred and seventy-seven j" No. 14. "An Act to provide for the Disposal of certain No. 4. "An Act to make provision for the Management of Reserves in the Province of Wellington, and for certain Rivers in the Province of Wellington ;" other purposes ;" No. 5. "An Act to authorize the Municipal Council of the No. 15. "An Act to apply a Sum of Money out of the City of Auckland to raise Money for the purpose Public Account to the Service of the Year ending of completing the Waterworks for the supply of the Thirtieth day of June, One thousand eight the City with Water ;" hundred and seventy-seven ;" No. G. "An Act to authorize the Municipal Council of the No. 16. "An Act to relieve certain Members of the Execuincorporated Town of Naseby to raise the Sum of tive Council from any penal consequences under Eive Thousand Pounds for the construction or ' The Disqualification Act, 1870 ;' " purchase of Waterworks for the supply of the No. 17. "An Act to amend ' The Stamp Act, 1875 ;' " Town of Naseby ;" No. 18. " An Act to extend the Currency of certain Treasury No. 7. " An Act to set certain doubts at rest and to validate Bills ;" certain Proclamations of the Superintendent of No. 19. "An Act to amend ' The Masterton and Greytown Otago constituting the Municipalities of South Lands Management Act, 1871;' " Dunedin and St. Kilda ;" No. 20. "An Act to change the Purposes for which certain No. 8. " An Act to amend ' The Census Act, 1858,' and the Reserves were set aside in the City of Dunedin ;" several Acts amending the same ;" No. 21. "An Act to vest portions of certain Public ReNo. 9. "An Act to validate a Conveyance from the Super- serves in the Town of Lyttelton, now vested in intendent of the Province of Otago to ' The the Lyttelton Borough Council, in the SuperinOtago Presbyterian Church Board of Property ;' " tendent of the Province of Canterbury j" No. 10. "An Act to provide for the Sale and Leasing of No. 22. "An Act to vest a certain Reserve in the Lawrence certain Educational Reserves iv the Province of Athenseum and Mining Institute, and to provide Canterbury ;" for leasing the said Reserve ;" No. 11. "An Act to make provision for the Management of No. 23. "An Act to vest certain Lands in the Town of Rivers in the Province of Hawke's Bay j" Lawrence in Trustees for the Recreation of the