P.—sb

1894. NEW ZEALAND

TELEGRAPH CABLES (FURTHER PAPERS RELATING TO). [In Continuation of F.-5a, presented on 8th October, 1894.]

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

PACIFIC CABLE. No. 1. The Hon. the Minister of Teade and Commbece, Ottawa, to the Hon. the Pkemiee, Wellington. Sir,— Minister's Office, Ottawa, 10th September, 1894. In further execution of directions given by the recent Colonial Conference respecting the proposed Pacific cable, copies of which were duly sent to you, it has been decided by the Government of Canada, after consultation with the Imperial Government, to send Sandford Fleming, Esq., C.M.G., C.E., in company with Mr W H. Mercer of the Colonial Office (who was selected for that duty by the Eight Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies), to Honolulu to confer with the Government of the Hawaiian Eepublic upon the subject of neutral landing-ground on some one of the islands of the Hawaiian Group. A copy of the Order in Council appointing Mr Fleming, and also a copy of his letter of instructions, are herewith enclosed. I have, &c, Mackenzie Bowell, Minister of Trade and Commerce. The Hon. the Premier of New Zealand, Wellington.

First Enclosure in No 1 Pbivy Council, Canada.—4Bl J Exteact from a Eeport of the Committee of the Honourable the Privy Council, approved by His Excellency on the 10th September, 1894. The Committee of the Privy Council have had under consideration a telegram, hereto attached, dated 4th September, 1894, from the Marquis of Kipon, setting forth that Her Majesty's Government cannot send any one as their representative to Hawaii with the object of entering into negotiations for the acquisition of an island for the purposes of the Pacific cable, but that his Lordship is willing to place at the disposal of your Excellency's Government Mr Mercer, who, as Lord Jersey's secretary, is conversant with the proceedings and wishes of the late Colonial Conference on this subject. The Minister of Trade and Commerce, to whom this despatch was referred, states that his report dated sth September, 1894, was submitted before its receipt. He accordingly recommends that the minute of Council based thereon be rescinded, and that Sandford Fleming, Esq., C.M.G., be authorized to proceed to Hawaii to conduct negotiations, without compromising Her Majesty's Government or the Government of Canada, for obtaining the exclusive use of an island by a nominee of Her Majesty's Government —Hawaiian rights being respected—for the purposes specified in the resolution adopted by the Colonial Conference convened at Ottawa on the 28th June, 1894 : — " Resolved, That, in the opinion of this Conference, immediate steps should be taken to provide telegraphic communication by cable, free from foreign control, between the Dominion of Canada and Australasia." " Resolved, That, in view of the desirability of having a choice of routes for a cable connection between Canada and Australasia, the Home Government be requested to take immediate steps to secure neutral landing-ground on some one of the Hawaiian Islands, in order that the cable may remain permanently under British control." The Committee, concurring in the recommendation of the Minister of Trade and Commerce, submit the same for your Excellency's approval. John J. MoGoo, Clerk of the Privy Council.