A.-2

15

No. 13. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normaney. My Lord, — Downing Street, 18th October, 1878. I have the honor to transmit to your Lordship a copy of a despatch, with its enclosures, addressed by the Acting Deputy Commissioner in Samoa to the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, reporting the result of an inquiry which he had instituted into certain alleged cruelties to Polynesian labourers on the estate of an English, proprietor in the Navigators Islands. As Mr. Maudslay's report shows that the estate on which these cruelties have been practised is worked by an agent of Messrs. McArthur and Co., of Auckland, I request that you will bring the subject under the serious consideration of that firm, in order that the necessary steps may be taken with a view of putting an end to the abuses which have been shown to exist on their plantation. I have, &c, M. E. HICKS BEACH. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanbv, G.C.M.G, &c.

Enclosures in No. 13. (For Enclosures see Appendix to Journals of House of Representatives, Session 1., 1879, A.-6, pp. 4-10.)

No. 14. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 51.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 19th October, 1878. I duly received and communicated to the Board of Trade your Despatch No. 32, of the 18th of July, replying to the inquiries contained in my despatch of the 6th of Eebruary as to certain irregularities said to exist in the Australasian Colonies with reference to the shipping of sailors without their being first brought before a shipping-master; and I have the honor to inform you in reply that the Board of Trade has no further observations to make upon the subject, as the practice in New Zealand seems to be unobjectionable. I have, &c, M. E. HICKS BEACH. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, G.C.M.G., &c.

No. 15. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach to the Oeeicer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 21th October, 1878. An application having been recently made for the recognition of an officer in the Government Service of one of the colonies as Consul of a foreign State, I have the honor to inform you that Her Majesty's Government are of opinion that such appointments are undesirable, and have decided to make it the rule in future that public officers will not be allowed to act in a consular capacity for a foreign State. I have, &c, M. E. HICKS BEACH, The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.