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No. 14. The Agent-General to the Premier. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 26th January, 1887. I transmit to you herewith copy of a letter I have received from the Colonial Office, covering a circular despatch from the Secretary of State to the Governors of the Australasian Colonies and the Acting High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, announcing the assumption by Germany of a protectorate over that part of the Solomon Islands group which came within the sphere of German influence under the delimitation agreement of the 6th April last, and also covering a letter of protection granted by the German Emperor to the New Guinea Company in relation to the islands in question. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosure. Sm, — Colonial Office, Downing Street, 20th January, 1887. With reference to the letter from this department of the 3rd of May last, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Stanhope to transmit to you, for your information, a copy of a circular despatch which he has addressed to the Governors of the Australasian Colonies and to the Acting High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, with its enclosures, respecting the assumption by Germany of the protectorate of a portion of the Solomon Islands, and the letter of protection issued by His Majesty the Emperor of Germany to the New Guinea Company in relation to those islands. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Eobert G. M. Herbert.

Sub-Enclosures. Sic, — Downing Street, 11th January, 1887. With reference to the declaration of the 6th of April, relating to the demarcation of British and German spheres of influence in the Western Pacific, a copy of which accompanied my despatch of the 3rd of May last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, with its enclosure, announcing the assumption by Germany under that declaration of the protectorate of a portion of the Solomon Islands. I also transmit to you copies of a letter from the Foreign Office containing the letter of protection issued by His Majesty the German Emperor to the New Guinea Company with respect to these islands, and of a further letter from that department enclosing a despatch addressed to Her Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin in regard to the issue of certain prohibitions within the protected territory. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. Edwakd Stanhope.

The Foreign Office to the Colonial Office. Sir, — Foreign Office, sth January, 1887. With reference to my letter of the 31st ultimo, I am directed by the Earl of Iddesleigh to transmit to you, for the information of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, the accompanying copy of a despatch which has been addressed to Her Majesty's ambassador at Berlin in regard to the issue of a prohibition by the German Government against the acquisition of new territories and the sale of arms or spirits to the natives in that part of the Solomon Islands which has been added to the protected territory belonging to the German New Guinea Company. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. J. Pauncefote.

Lord Iddesleigh to Sir E. Malet. Sir, — Foreign Office, 24th December, 1886. With reference to your Excellency's Despatch No. 512, of the 18th instant, I have to acquaint you that the German charge d'affaires at this Court called hero to-day, and stated that he had been instructed to inform Her Majesty's Government that in that part of the Solomon Islands which has been added to the protected territory of the German New Guinea Company it has been forbidden for the present to acquire new territories from the natives, or to sell arms, munitions of war, or spirits to the natives. I have, &c, His Excellency Sir E. Malet, G.C.8., &c. Iddesleigh.

The Foreign Office to the Colonial Office. Sik, — Foreign Office, 23rd December, 1880. I am directed by the Earl of Iddesleigh to transmit to you, to be laid before Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, the accompanying copy of a communication from the German Ambassador at this Court, announcing the assumption by Germany of the protectorate of the Solomon Islands under the Anglo-German declaration of the 6th April, 1886. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. P. W. Cubbie.