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Enclosure. New Zealand. (Kermadec Islands.) Letters Patent passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom, for the Annexation of certain Islands known as the Kermadec Group to the Colony of New Zealand. (Dated 18th January, 1886.) Victoria, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India : To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting. Whereas it is expedient that certain islands belonging to us, situated in the South Pacific Ocean, between the parallels of 29 degrees and 32 degrees south latitude and the meridians of 177 degrees and 180 degrees west longitude, and commonly known as the Kermadec Group, should be annexed to and form part of our Colony of New Zealand: And whereas the Legislative Council and House of Eepresentatives of our said colony have expressed their desire for such annexation, and have passed the following resolution : " We, your Majesty's loyal subjects, the Members of the Legislative Council (or House of Eepresentatives) of the Colony of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled, beg to express our great satisfaction on learning that your Majesty has been pleased to order that the British flag shall be hoisted on the Kermadec Group of islands; and we now respectfully pray that your Majesty will be further pleased to order that those islands be annexed to this colony:" Now, we do, by those our Letters Patent under the Great Seal of our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, authorize our Governor for the time being of our said Colony of New Zealand, by Proclamation under his hand and the public seal of the said colony, to declare that, from and after a day to be therein mentioned, the said islands shall be annexed to and form part of our said colony. 2. And we do hereby direct our said Governor not to issue any such Proclamation as aforesaid unless the Legislature of our said Colony of New Zealand shall have passed a law providing that the said islands shall, on the day aforesaid, become part of our said colony, and subject to the laws in force therein : Provided always that the application of the said laws to the said islands may be modified either by such Proclamation as aforesaid, or by any law or laws to be from time to time passed by the Legislature of our said colony for the government of the said islands so annexed. 3. And we do hereby reserve to ourselves, our heirs and successors, full power and authority from time to time to revoke, alter, or amend these our Letters Patent as to us or them shall seem meet. 4. And we do further direct and enjoin that these our Letters Patent shall be read and proclaimed at such place or places as our said Governor shall think fit within our said Colony of New Zealand. In witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made patent. Witness ourself.at Westminster, the eighteenth day of January, in the fiftieth year of our reign. By warrant under the Queen's sign-manual, Mote Mackenzie.

No. 7. The Agent-General to the Peemieb. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 28th January, 1887. I beg to enclose herewith the London Gazette of the 21st instant, containing the notification of the annexation of the Kermadec Group to New Zealand. In an article in the Journal des Debats a few days ago the annexation is referred to as follows :— "It is announced that the Kermadec Islands are annexed to New Zealand. Thus the circle is closing more and more round New Caledonia and the New Hebrides, and England is following the example of Germany in rounding off her possessions in Oceania. France, on the contrary, remains in the same position as regards the group to leeward of Tahiti, Eapa, and the New Hebrides, while her rivals are securing the ports on the great lines of communication between America and Asia. The Kermadec Group is on che direct line from New Zealand to the Sandwich Islands, and shuts up the route from New Caledonia to the Poumutu Islands and the Marquesas." I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosure. [Extract from tho London Gazette.] Downing Street, 20th January, 1887. The Queen has been pleased to direct Letters Patent to be passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom for the annexation of certain islands known as the Kermadec Group to the Colony of New Zealand. [Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, nil; printing (1,850 copies), i'2 55..J

Authority: Geobge Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB7.