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for some time, and as I have no reason to believe the opinion of the country is opposed to it, I did not think myself justified in reserving the measure, and I therefore gave my assent to it in Her Majesty's name. I have, &c, GLASGOW. The Eight Hon. the Marquis of Eipon, G.C.M.G., &c.

No. 13. (No. 41.) My Loed, — Government House, Wellington, 25th September, 1893. I have the honour to forward, at the request of certain honourable members of the Legislative Council of New Zealand, their protest upon the third reading of the Electoral Bill. I have, &c, GLASGOW. The Eight Hon. the Marquis of Eipon, G.C.M.G., &c.

Enclosure. My Loed, — Legislative Council, Wellington, 13th September, 1893. I have the honour, in compliance with the Standing Order of the Legislative Council noted in the margin, to transmit to your Excellency a protest against the third reading of the Electoral Bill of this session, and to request your Excellency may be pleased to forward it to Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State for the Colonies. I have, &c, H. J. Miller, Speaker, Legislative Council. His Excellency the Eight Hon. the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., Governor of New Zealand. We, the undersigned members of the Legislative Council of New Zealand, protest against the vote of the Council in favour of the third reading of the Electoral Bill, which provides for giving the franchise to women, on the ground that this political and social revolution has been carried on the eve of a general election, although the principle of such an important change in the Constitution has not been submitted to the electors for their decision on the subject. W. D. H. Baillie. Samuel E. Sheimski. G. S. Whitmoee. W. Swanson. . ... W. B. D. Mantebl. L. Walkeb. Mathew Holmes. C. C. Bowen. J. A. Bonae. W. C. Walkee. Moegan S. Geace. Edwaed Eichaedson. J. T. Peacock. John Eigg. G. McLean. Heney Feldwick. Wahawaha Eopata. James Keee. Bth September, 1893.

No. 242.

No. 14. (No. 42.) My Loed, — Government House, Wellington, 28th September, 1893. I propose, with your permission, in the month of February, to spend three weeks in a visit to the Cook Group of Islands, in the Government vessel "Hinemoa." As you will remember, these islands are to a rather indeterminate extent under the protection of New Zealand, and yet no visit has been paid to them by any one in authority in New Zealand, and I propose to go there, accompanied by one of the Ministers. A circumstance has occurred which appears to me to bring into prominence the unsatisfactory position held by these islands in the anomalous nature of their protectorate; it is, that a Deputy Commissioner of the West Pacific has lately held a Court in the island of Earotonga to determine as to certain claims made by the natives of Penrhyn against the firm Donald, Edenborough, and Co., in the former island. As this raises the question of the jurisdiction of the High Commissioner in the group, I have referred the despatches I have received from Mr. Moss with reference to this subject to Sir John Thurston for his opinion, and as soon as I receive his reply I shall have the honour to report fully to you on the subject, and ask your instructions.

No. 29.

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