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Sess. 11.—1891. NEW ZEALAND.

ANNEXATION OF MACQUARIE ISLANDS (PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE). [In Continuation of Papers A.-5 of 1890.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. Telegram from the Peemier, Tasmania, to the Pbemieb, New Zealand, 2nd October, 1890. Regret to inform you that last evening Assembly negatived Government proposal to transfer Macquarie Island to New Zealand.

No. 2. The Hon. the Peemieb, Tasmania, to the Hon. the Peemieb, New Zealand. Sir, — Premier's Office, Hobart, 23rd October, 1890. In confirmation of my telegram of the 2nd instant, I regret to have to inform you of the adverse decision of Parliament in regard to the proposal to transfer Macquarie Island to your Government. The question of securing some protection for the seals which frequent this island was referred to the Commissioners of Fisheries, to whom power is given under the Tasmanian Act, 53 Vict., No. 11, to deal with this matter, and they have suggested that your Government may be asked to make any suggestions for the framing of regulations which would be of practical utility in assisting them in preventing M-icquarie Island being used as a base of poaching seals On the Auckland and other Islands now unc'ar the jurisdiction of New Zealand. In the samo manner it may be practicable to protect the sea-birds frequenting Macquarie Island under the provisions of the Game Protection Acts, 42 Vict., No. 24, and 52 Vict., No. 40, copies of which I enclose herewith, together with the Fisheries Act, 53 Vict., No. 11. I have &c, The Hon. the Premier of New Zealand. P. O. Fysh.

No. 3. The Hon. the Pbemieb, New Zealand, to the Hon. the Peemier, Tasmania. Sir,— 29th November, 1890. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd ultimo, with reference to the Macquarie Islands, and in reply to state that it would appear that the only way in which your Government could at present assist this colony in the protection of seals would be for you to prohibit the taking of seals, sea-lions, and sea-elephants on the Macquaries, as vessels sometimes leave New Zealand ports ostensibly for the purpose of taking sea-elephants on the Islands, but really for the purpose of sealing on the Auckland and Campbell Islands. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier of Tasmania. H. A. Atkinson.

No. 4. The Secretary of State to the Governor of New Zealand. My Lord, Downing Street, 20th November, 1890. With reference to previous correspondence respecting the proposed transfer of the Macquarie Islands from Tasmania to New Zealand, I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a despatch from Sir Robert Hamilton with its enclosure on the subject. I have, &c, Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Onslow, G.C.M.G. Knutsfobd.