A.—l

12

Zealand having the right to nominate the officer, and paying his salary ; (2) the independence of the Hervey Group to be secured; (3) negotiations entered into with France for the cession of Rapa; (4) the Pelew Islands annexed by Great Britain; (5) the independence of the New Hebrides maintained; and (6) the Kermadec Islands declared part of the Colony of New Zealand. Wellington, 28th October, 1885. Robert Stout.

No. 11. (No. 122.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 18th November, 1885. With reference to the despatch from the Colonial Office, f 59, dated the 19th September last, concerning the appointment of Mr. A. H. Shipley as Consul for the United States, Auckland, I have the honour to report that I am not aware of any objection to his appointment, and have provisionally recognized him in that capacity until the arrival of the exequatur. I have, &c, Wm. E. DRTJMMOND JEEVOIS. The Eight Hon. Colonel Stanley, M.P.

No. 12. (No. 123.) Sir, — Christchurch, sth December, 1885. With reference to your Despatch No. 53, dated the 14th August last, concerning the Federal Council of Australasia, I have the honour to transmit herewith copies of a memorandum, dated the 20th November, which I have received from my Ministers, recapitulating what has been done by this colony regarding Federation, and explaining the reasons why New Zealand cannot be represented at the Council. I have, &c., Wm. c. detjmmond jeevois. The Right Hon. Colonel Stanley, M.P.

A.-2, 1886, No. 5.

Enclosure. Memorandum for His Excellency. In returning the Right Hon. Colonel Stanley's Despatch No. 53, of the 14th August last, on the subject of the Act recently passed by the Imperial Parliament for constituting a Federal Council for Australasia, the Premier has the honour to inform His Excellency that Ministers consider it may not be inexpedient to recapitulate what has been done by this colony regarding Federation. 2. It will be remembered that in July, 1883, consequent on the refusal of the Imperial authorities to ratify and approve of the annexation of New Guinea which had been made by the Government of Queensland, that colony proposed the holding of a Convention of colonial delegates. The matters that were to be discussed at the Convention were stated as being the annexation of islands in the Pacific, and the proposed federation of the Australasian Colonies j so that joint action might be taken on questions of general colonial interest. It was arranged that a meeting of delegates should be held on the 28th November. 3. On that day the Convention, consisting of His Excellency the Governor of Fiji, and delegates from New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia, met at the office of the Colonial Secretary at Sydney, and, after transacting other business of importance to the colonies generally, adopted a draft Bill to constitute a Federal Council of Australasia; which Bill, with but slight alteration, is now " The Federal Council of Australasia Act, 1885." The delegates to the Convention from this colony were the Hon. the then Premier (Major Atkinson) and the Hon. Sir Frederick Whitaker, K.C.M.G., M.L.C. 4.. On the assembling of Parliament in June, 1884, Ministers announced that they intended to propose the consideration of this draft Bill; but the prorogation and subsequent dissolution of the House of Representatives at the end of that month prevented this being done. 5. It was thought that during the elections some expression of opinion would be given as to the proceedings of the Convention, or that the candidates for Parliament would in their election speeches discuss the project; but the greatest apathy was displayed by both electors and candidates, and little or no interest was manifested in Australasian Federation. 6. When Parliament reassembled in August further action was stayed by the immediate resignation of the Ministry; and it was not until the present Ministry took office that anything could be done. The papers relating to the proceedings of the Convention were presented to