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Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon leaves in H.M.S. " Tauranga " on the 3rd instant, and arrangements have been made with Captain Browne, R.N., senior naval officer, New Zealand, to so time his arrival at Rarotonga as to permit of Lieut.Colonel Gudgeon landing there on the 12th September. I have officially notified Mr. Moss of this by mail, due at Rarotonga on or about the Bth September, and I have accepted his resignation as from the 12th September, the date of Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon's appointment. Owing to the business of the parliamentary session my Ministers did not desire me to absent myself from New Zealand at the present time, though, had it not been the parliamentary session they expressed their complete concurrence in the advisability of my personally installing him. This I intended doing after this session, but, owing to the continued unsatisfactory despatches from the Cook Islands, I felt that any delay was only adding to the difficulties of the situation. Colonel Gudgeon informed me that my personal presence would add considerably to his mana, but that if the arrangements I named to him for his installation were carried out, that he considered an official visit to those islands a few months later would have a good effect. I therefore arranged with Captain Browne, R.N., H.M.S. " Tauranga," that he- should read the Broclamation with full honours, also a message from myself introducing Colonel Gudgeon to the people. I fixed the hour of noon on the 12th September for this event, and in my despatch to Mr. Moss have asked him to have the Arikis, natives, and foreigners duly notified of the fact. I have, &c, The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, RANFURLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosure No. 1. Lieutenant-Colonel Gudgeon's Sebvices. 3rd Septeniher, 1865. —Ensign, Wanganui Militia, and attached to Native Contingent. 4th January, 1866. —Lieutenant, Wanganui Militia, and attached to Native Contingent. 15th September, 1868. —Captain, New Zealand Militia. October, 1868. —Sub-Inspector, Armed Constabulary Eorce. 7th November, 1868. —Mentioned in despatch from Lieutenant-Colonel Whitmore to LieutenantColonel Haultain : " Captain Gudgeon and Mr. E. McDonnell, who, though unable to bring on their men, followed Kemp to the field, and shared the honours which he has won." 1878. —Seconded from Constabulary Force, and appointed Resident Magistrate for Waiapu District, which post he held eighteen months. 1879. —Rejoined Constabulary, then under orders to proceed to the West Coast, on account of the disturbed condition of Native affairs. He took part in the operations at Parihaka. He served in Constabulary till Acting Under-Secretary for Defence, from 18th November, 1885, to 31st March, 1887. sth January, 1887, to 30th June, 1890. —Commissioner of Police, a post he had temporarily occupied before, in 1885, during Colonel Reader's illness. Ist July, 1890, to 11th September, 1898. —Judge of Native Land Court. 25th August, 1898. —Lieutenant-Colonel, New Zealand Militia. 12th September, 1898. —British Resident, Cook Islands, vice Mr. Moss, resigned.

Enclosure No. 2. My Loed, — Government House, Wellington, 23rd August, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th instant, informing me that I had been appointed Resident at Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Had circumstances permitted your Lordship to visit the group at the present time, I feel assured that the visit would have had the best possible effect, and would have assisted me materially in meeting difficulties which I may possibly have to encounter. I need hardly say that the Maori may always be influenced by the presence of any one holding the high position of Governor of a British colony, since he is proud to accept the fact as a compliment to himself. I would, moreover, point out that the people of the Cook Islands will recognise and appreciate my position among them just so far as they can perceive that I am supported by you. I would therefore sugggest, for your consideration, that the public service would benefit greatly by your visiting the islands of the group, inasmuch as it would be proof conclusive to the Maori mind that Her Majesty's representative took a personal interest in their welfare. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon.