A.—l.

arising partly from the view that the distance between New Zealand and Australia is too great and the climate too different to make any arrangement like that now existing in the Canadian Dominion desirable, and partly from the disagreement among the advocates of federation as to details, some desiring that the Council should be a legislative, others only a deliberative body. 3. Again, with reference to New Guinea, it is agreed that, though it is possible that a trade, may arise between this colony and India by the Torres Straits, the direct interest of New Zealand in that country is very slight, and the readiness with which the colony has taken part in the movement as regards the New Guinea protectorate may be attributed to its being regarded as a step towards annexation in the Western Pacific. Thus the Government, whilst declining to advise Parliament to contribute anything further than a proportionate part of the sum originally asked for, have determined to propose next session that this colony shall guarantee the cost incident to the acquisition of the Samoa and Tonga groups of islands, which they hope may be effected. 4. Considerable interest is exhibited in New Zealand concerning the Western Pacific islands. This arises partly from fears connected with the French Recidiviste Bill and the possible occupation of those islands by other European Powers, and partly from tlie hope that an extensive trade with them may arise. 5. A memorandum by the Colonial Treasurer, Sir J. Vogel (of which I enclose copies), has been adopted by my Ministers as expressing their views on these subjects. 6. Your Lordship will perceive that in that memorandum reference is made to "The New Zealand Confederation and Annexation Act, 1883" (which I transmitted with my Despatch No. 66, of the Bth September, 1883), to which my Government are anxious that Her Majesty's assent should be given. 7. The following resolutions were introduced by the Government into the Legislative Council and House of Representatives respectively : — " Whereas, at a meeting of delegates from the following colonies —namely, " Fiji, New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, " Victoria, and Western Australia • — held in Sydney during November and " December, 1883, the following resolutions were agreed to: — " ' (1.) That further acquisition of dominion in the Pacific, south of the " ' equator, by any foreign Power, would be highly detrimental to the safety and " ' well-being of the British possessions in Australasia, and injurious to the " ' interests of the Empire : " ' (2.) That this Convention refrains from suggesting the action by which " ' effect can best be given to the foregoing resolution, in the confident belief " ' that the Imperial Government will promptly adopt the wisest and most " ' effectual measures for securing the safety and contentment of this portion of " ' Her Majesty's dominions : " ' (3.) That, having regard to the geographical position of the Island of New " ' Guinea, the rapid extension of British trade and enterprise in Torres Straits, " ' the certainty that the island will shortly be the resort of many adventurous " ' subjects of Great Britain and other nations, and the absence or inadequacy of " ' any existing laws for regulating their relations with the native tribes, this " ' Convention, while fully recognizing that the responsibility of extending the " ' boundaries of the Empire belongs to the Imperial Government, is emphatically " ' of opinion that such steps should be immediately taken as will most con- " ' veniently and effectively secure the incoi'poration with the British Empire of " ' so much of New Guinea and the small islands adjacent thereto as is not " ' claimed by the Government of the Netherlands : " ' (4.) That, although the understanding arrived at in 1878 between Great " ' Britain and France, recognizing the independence of the ~New Hebrides, " ' appears to preclude this Convention from making any recommendation in- " ' consistent with that understanding, the Convention urges upon Her Majesty's " ' Government that it is extremely desirable that such understanding should give " ' place to some more definite engagement, which shall secure those islands

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