A.—2,

No. 3

(No. 41.) Sik, — Downing Street, Bth October, 1881. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 47, of the 10th of August, enclosing copies of a report by Sir William Pox, the Commissioner appointed under " The West Coast Settlement (North Island) Act, 1880." I have received this report with much satisfaction. I have, &c, Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, G.C.M.G., KIMBEIILEY. &c, &c, &c.

No. 4. (No. 47.) Sik, — Downing Street, 7th November, 1881. With reference to your Despatch No. 53, of the 22nd of August, respecting the inability of the New Zealand Assembly to pass a Bill "to provide for the execution of warrants of apprehension issued in other colonies," I have the honor to invite your attention to my circular despatch of the 25th ultimo, which enclosed a copy of "The Fugitive Offenders Act, 1881" (44 and 45 Viet., c. 69). I have, &c, Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, G.C.M.G., KIMBEELEY. &c, &c, &c.

Eeply. A.-l, No. 14.

No. 5. (General.) Sic, — Downing Street, 19th November, 1881. With reference to the concluding paragraph of my despatch general of the 17th March, and to your Despatch No. 48, of the 10th of August, I have the honor to return, for presentation to your Government, the silver seal of New Zealand, which has been defaced by Her Majesty in Council. I have, &c, Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, G.C.M.G., KIMBERLEY. &c, &c, &c.

Eeply. A-l, No. 12.

No. 6. (Circular.) SlEj— Downing Street, 9th November, 1881. I have the honor to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a despatch from the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, enclosing a return showing the number of cases in which an inquiry has been made into outrages committed by natives in the West Pacific Islands, and the action taken in each instance. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY. of New Zealand.

Enclosure in No. 6. Sir A. G-obdon lo the Seceetaky of State for the Colonies. My Lohd, — 'Wellington, New Zealand, 22nd July, 1881. In my Despatch No. 35, of the 18th June, I have said, with reference to the punishment of outrages committed by Datives in the "Western Pacific, "I have never, except in the case of the 'Dauntless,' had any previous knowledge of the steps about to be taken by the Naval authorities for that purpose." This, so far as the actual punishment of offences complained of, is the case ; but the sentence may be understood to mean, not only that I was unaware of the particular steps about to be taken, but whether any steps were going to be taken at all. This would be an error, and I hasten to correct any such impression. In a great majority of cases of outrages reported to the Commodore, communication has been had with mo by letter or telegram before action was taken, as appears by the accompanying return. I think that in every case I have agreed with the Commodore on the question whether punishment should or should not be inflicted. The nature of the punishment to be inflicted has not often been communicated to me beforehand; but that imposed by the Commodore, or by his orders, has, when brought to my knowledge, appeared to me in all cases judicious and satisfactory. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Abthttb Gobdon,

2