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No. 5. The Agent-General to the Premier. Sir,— 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 8.W., 29th April, 1886. I received in due course your telegram of the 24th instant, inquiring whether there would ' now be any objection to printing for Parliament my telegram of the 18th August last, and my letter of the 20th August, relating to acquiring the German interests at Samoa. I replied at once that the papers might be printed, and I took the opportunity of adding to my message what I had already reported to you in my letters of the 26th March, No. 395, and the Bth April, No. 424, that the German companies were now asking £500,000 for their claims. I have, Sea., The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. P. D. Bell.

A.-3, 1886, Nos, 6 and 7.

Nos. 3 and i.

No. 6. The Premier to H. H. Lusk, Esq. Sir,— Bth May, 1886. As one of the representatives of the syndicate formed to prosecute the claims of Mr. Cornwall at Samoa, I have the honour to inform you that His Excellency the Governor has received a telegram from the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, directing His Excellency's attention to the Neiu Zealand Herald of the 11th December last, in which it is stated that Messrs. Tisdale, Sinclair, and yourself had proceeded to Samoa with the intention of occupying the land held by McArthur and Co., and defying the power of ejection, and His Excellency has been requested to caution the parties concerned against employing violence. I need hardly point out to you how very necessary it is for all persons who have any dealings in the Pacific, to abstain from any acts that might lead to an embroglio with the natives. I have, &c, H. H. Lusk, Esq., Auckland. Bobert Stout.

No. 1

No. 7. The Secretary of State, Samoa, to the Premier, New Zealand. Sir, —■ Government House, Apia, 18th May, 1886. I am commanded by the King of Samoa to inform you that His Majesty has placed Samoa temporarily under the protection of the United States of America. The reasons which compelled the King of Samoa thus to act were many and serious. I will not weary you with details, but shortly say that the attitude and actions of the German Consul-General, and of Admiral Knorr, Commanding His Imperial Majesty's squadron cruising in these waters, were so hostile to Samoa, and the probable advent of civil war consequent thereupon became so imminent, that the King of Samoa, acting under the advice of his Ministers, called upon Mr. Berthold Greenebaum, the able and courageous Consul for the United States in Samoa, to fulfil the obligation of his Government under the fifth article of the treaty between Samoa and the United States. Mr. Greenebaum without hesitation acceded to the request, and the Samoan flag was placed under American protection. The King regrets very deeply the failure of the efforts repeatedly made to join Samoa to the British Empire, and trusts that by the aid of New Zealand the Governments of England, Germany, and America may be induced to consent to the proposed temporary government of this country upon the basis laid down in the enclosure marked " A." The necessity which exists here for a settled and organised Government is absolute. His Majesty is fully aware of the impossibility of making and enforcing wise laws for Samoa without the aid of educated Europeans, and the consent of the Great Powers whose subjects form the bulk of the commercial and employing classes in these islands, and I am therefore desired to request most earnestly and humbly the assistance of New Zealand. In other ways, also, New Zealand can be of assistance to Samoa while it benefits itself. The trade of your colony with Samoa and the other islands of these seas is rapidly increasing, but this commerce could be still more speedily and widely extended. One step towards the accomplishment of this end would be the regular calling of the mail steamers on the San Eranoisco line at Apia. I am informed by competent authority that the smail loss in time would be quite repaid in money, but beyond this the results would be very great. For commerce, for the peace and well-being of the community, for legislation, for comfort, the effects would be of great value, while the proposed movement would draw closer and closer the bonds between Samoa and New Zealand. I have, &c, Selu, The Hon. E. Stout, Premier of New Zealand. Secretary of State.

Enclosure A. Proposed Temporary Constitution for. Samoa under King Malietoa. 1. A Legislature sha.ll be formed, consisting of forty-seven members who shall be appointed as follows : Three members, including the Consuls for the time being of the different nations, shall be appointed by the United States, England, and Germany respectively; in all nine. Two members shall be elected, by the white residents in the Islands of Upolu, Savaii, and Tutaila, and thirty-two members shall be elected by the Samoan natives, viz., four Tuamasaga, four Atua, four Aana, four Tutuila, four Fassaaleleaga, four Leitntane, four Itufafine, and four Manono. The remaining four

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