A.—4c.

tain very little hope of moving his Lordship unless a broader view is taken than I have as yet seen any indication of in Australia upon our future relations with France and Germany on the whole Pacific question. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. P. D. Bell.

No. 22. The Premier to the Agent-General. Confederation Bill, number fifty, eighty-three. Endeavour impress Colonial Office importance promptly assenting. 14th October, 1884. Eobebt Stout.

No. 23. The Agent-General to the Premier. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 15th October, 1884. I transmit to you herewith an extract from the Times of yesterday, from which it seems that it is supposed in Berlin that some private arrangement has been come to between Her Majesty's Government and the German Government respecting New Guinea and other unoccupied places. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. P. D. Bell.

Enclosure. [The Times, Tuesday, October 14, 1884.] New Guinea. Berlin, October 13. Richer than usual in semi-official communiques, the North German Gazette of this evening has the following : " We learn that, in view of the endeavours (of the British colonial authorities) to take possession of all territories still unoccupied in the South Sea, the Imperial Government some time ago took steps in London for the purpose of assuring German commercial interests in the western portion of the South Sea; and we now hear that the friendly exchange of ideas on this subject, with primary reference to New Guinea, has resulted in a resolution of the English Government only to place under British protection the south coast of New Guinea and the islands in the immediate neighbourhood of this coast. A further agreement also may be hoped for with respect to other points where English and German interests might clash." The short and the long of this is that Mr. Gladstone's Government has already come to a private agreement with Germany about New Guinea, and that negotiations are now pending between these two parties with respect to other still 'unoccupied tracts. __

No. 24. The Agent-General to the Premiee. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 16th October, 1884. I have the honour to transmit herewith copy of a letter from the Colonial Office, covering a communication addressed to the Admiralty on the Bth instant respecting the first steps to be taken for proclaiming the protectorate over the south coast of New Guinea. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosure. The Colonial Office to the Agent-General. ■Sir,— Downing Street, 15th October, 1884. I am directed by the Earl of Derby to transmit to you a copy of a letter which has been addressed from this department to the Admiralty respecting the steps to be taken in regard to the proclamation of the protectorate which, as was announced in the House of Commons in August last, it has been decided to establish over the southern coast of New Guinea. 2. His Lordship will also shortly transmit to you a copy of a despatch which he is about to address to the Governors of the Australasian Colonies. 3. I am to add, in reply to your joint letter of the Bth instant, that Lord Derby will be happy to see you, with the other Agents-Geneial of the Australasian Colonies, on his return to town. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. John Bramston.

No. 25. The Agent-Geneeal to the Premier. Number fifty.—From what passed yesterday, think Colonial Office will continue suspend assent until you decide respecting Convention Bill. 15th October, 1884. F. D. Bell.

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