A.—6.

The Temps had an article discrediting the rumour, as its correspondent at Noumea had just written that only forty men remained at each of the posts, and the rest had been sent back to New Caledonia. The Temps says that the Queensland telegram was only meant to keep alive the old agitation about the Hebrides. The Journal dcs Debats also says it has no confirmation of the report. . I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosure. [Extract from the Times, Saturday, 19th February, 1887.] The New Hebrides. Brisbane, 18th February. The labour schooner " Helena," which has arrived here from the New Hebrides, brings intelligence that the French are about to construct three forts, to increase the number of their troops, and to build new barracks at Port Sandwich. It is added that sites have also been selected for the erection of small batteries at the heads of Uraparapara.

[Extract from the Times, Wednesday, 23rd February, 1887.] The New Hebrides. In answer to Mr. G. 0. Morgan, Commander Bethell, and Mr. Johnston, Sir J. Fergusson said: There has been no confirmation received by Her Majesty's Government of the statement that the French are about to construct new forts, to increase the number of their troops, and to build new barracks in the New Hebrides. On the contrary, Her Majesty's Government have been informed that the French posts have been much reduced. Her Majesty's Government are in correspondence with the French Government with a view to arrangements under which they will be removed altogether.

No. 3. The Premier, New Zealand, to the Premier, Queensland. Sir,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 3rd March, 1887. N O , i. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th ultimo, forwarding copy of a letter from the Government Agent of the Queensland Pacific Islands labour schooner " Helena " with reference to the movements of the French authorities in the New Hebrides. I have to thank you for your attention, although I had already seen the substance of the Agent's letter published in the newspapers. I have, ka., The Hon. the Premier, Queensland. Robert Stout.

No. 4. The Agent-General to the Premier. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 10th March, 1887. The French company interested in the acquisition of land made for some time past in the New Hebrides has just decided to send out a number of families to that group of islands. This is only another step in the policy which has long been steadily pursued in France, and which can only end, unless soon met by some reasonable arrangement, in her taking virtual if not formal possession of the group. Lord Harrowby has given notice in the House of Lords to call attention to the state of affairs in the New Hebrides, and to ask what course is proposed to be taken by Her Majesty's Government. ... I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. £>. Bell.

No. 5. The Moderator, Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, to the Premier. Dear Sir, — Remuera, Auckland, 12th March, 1887. I have been requested by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand to write you, as Premier, re the threatened annexation of the New Hebrides by the French, and tc again urge that the influence of the Government of the colony may be used to prevent any such attempt. We are exceedingly grateful for your courtesy and interest as manifested in your letter last year; but our missionaries are anxious that another and even stronger protest should be given against any encroachment by France upon the New Hebrides. The devoted and successful labours of Presbyterian missionaries in those islands during many years are well known, and anything like an annexation by France would, we fear, mean destruction—at least very great injury—to our missions. The missionaries do not seem to put much emphasis upon the assurances of France that protection would be given to Protestant missions, and believe that French annexation would mean the establishment of Romanism. Be this as it may, there are political reasons why France should not be permitted to annex the New Hebrides. If France owned those islands they would doubtless soon become convict settlements, and this would be a great calamity to the whole of the Australasian Colonies.

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