A.—l.

Sub-Enclosure. To the Bight Hon. the Earl of Deeby, Secretary for the Colonies. Youe Loedship,— The Mission Committee of the Presbyterian Church of Otago, New Zealand, as instituted by the Synod of the said Church, would respectfully solicit the attention of your Lordship and of the British Cabinet anew to the necessity and importance of Britain annexing or assuming the protectorate of the New Hebrides Islands, or otherwise securing their independence. To suffer these islands to fall into the hands of any other Power, and especially^ of France, which seeks to convert them into a penal settlement for its worst criminals, would seriously affect the interests of the Australasian Colonies, and even of Great Britain itself, both in time of peace and time of war. In time of peace it would expose the colonies to the inroads of escaped convicts, whereby their criminal population would be increased, and, as a consequence, a greater cost for protection against such would be required. In time of war it would supply to a foe of Britain a depot for coal and munitions of war and a rendezvous for ships and soldiers, from which a sudden descent might be made upon British possessions—a danger that would necessitate an increased expenditure for materials and means of war, even in time of peace, on the part of the Imperial and of the colonial authorities. In addition to these—the certain results of the occupation of these islands by France—the Committee would special direct the consideration of your Lordship to the serious effects it would have upon the interests of the aborigines and in relation to the efforts that have been made for many years, at great expenditure, by several British and colonial Churches, to educate and christianize, and thereby civilzie, the native population. On the one hand, the natives would be exposed to the evil example and influence of a degraded criminal class, to the frustrating of the good that has been accomplished by the Protestant missionaries that have laboured among them not without much success. On the other hand, there is the almost absolute certainty that these missionaries —British subjects, who have opened, by their presence there, these islands to commerce, and who alone have done aught to ameliorate the condition of the inhabitants—being, if _ not thrust forth from the islands, so hindered in their work as to render it futile for good to the natives, as has been the case in others of the islands of the South Pacific where French occupation has obtained, such occupation having had, uniformly, in its wain the domination of the Church of Borne, ever and elsewhere adverse to Protestant efforts and objects. Further, the natives are themselves opposed to French occupation, and are desirous to be subject to the Government of Britain, and to secure its protection. In view of these and other considerations that cannot fail to present themselves to your Lordship's mind, the Committee would respectfully urge that the prayer, coming alike from the colonies, the Churches engaged in evangelizing these islands, and from the natives themselves, may receive attention and obtain a favourable response from the Imperial Government. Imperial interests, not less than the interests of the colonies and the natives, appear to the Committee to demand that Britain should respond to the call thus addressed to it in the matter. I have, &c, Wm. Banneeman, Clerk of Synod and Convener of Mission Committee of the Presbyterian Church of Otago, New Zealand.

No. 37. (No. 45.) Mt Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 28th March, 1885. With reference to your Lordship's telegram concerning proposed arrangements as to mails, I have the honour to transmit herewith a copy of a memorandum from the Premier, Mr. Stout, stating that my Ministers are of opinion that it will not suit New Zealand to enter into any contract for the conveyance of her mails by Brindisi. I have, &c, Wm. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS. The Eight Hon. the Earl of Derby.

Enclosure. Memoeandum for His Excellency the Goveenoe. Ministees present their most respectful compliments to His Excellency, and beg to state that they have had under consideration the telegram from Lord Derby, relative to the proposed arrangement with reference to mails, returned herewith, and have decided that it will not suit New Zealand to enter into any contract for the conveyance of her mails by Brindisi. Her postal arrangements are not by that route. Ministers respectfully request that His Excellency will please reply to Lord Derby to the above effect. Wellington, 10th March, 1885, Bobeet Stout.

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