9

A.—l

No. 22. (No. 80.) Sir, — Government House", Wellington, 6th October, 1902. In reply to your despatches, No. 40 of the 30th April and No. 56 of the 18th June, 1902, on the question of the lease of Suwarrow Island, I have the honour to enclose you a draft lease for the remaining term, which I trust will be found satisfactory. I should be glad if you would submit the draft for the consideration of the licensees. My Government would require to be satisfied that the original license has been cancelled, and they consider that the licensees should pay the reasonable costs of the Crown for the renewal, namely, three guineas. I have, &c, The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, RANFURLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1903, Nos. 11, 24,

No. 23. (No. 82.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 7th October, 1902. I have the honour to inform you that the Acting-Premier (Sir Joseph Ward) has asked me to request that one of His Majesty's ships should be placed at my disposal in April next to convey me and the Minister in charge of the extended boundaries, round the Cook Islands, Penrhyn, Suwarrow, Niue, &c. As this is the first visit by the Minister responsible for the government of these islands, my Advisers consider that it would be best, in the interests of future government, for the Natives to see that this visit was fully indorsed by His Majesty, as taking place in a man-of-war. The visit in question will be entirely official, and the stay at each will be only of such duration as will enable the Minister to deal with all matters necessary, and to make himself acquainted with the requirements and needs of the natives. As the arrangements for such a visit, owing to the difficulty of communication, will take a considerable time, I should be glad to have a reply by cable. I have, &c, The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, RANFURLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 24. (No. 84.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, Bth October, 1902. With reference to your despatch, No. 71, dated the 29th July, 1902, A ._ 2) 1903, regarding the case of the s.s. " Waikato," I have the honour to inform you that No - 32 - -my Government report to me as follows : — " The Magistrate before whom the charge against the firemen of the ' Waikato ' was heard held that the vessel was subject to section 7 of ' The Shipping and Seamen's Act Amendment Act, 1894,' which provides a manning scale for vessels engaged in the coastal or intercolonial trade. The interpretation which the Marine Department places upon the words ' engaged in the coastal trade ' is that a vessel must ship passengers or cargo at one New Zealand port and land them at another port in the colony; and if this is correct, and the ' Waikato' did not ship passengers or cargo in the colony for conveyance to a New Zealand port, she would not be subject to the New Zealand manning scale. The Magistrate having, however, given his decision against the master, the latter could, if he considered it wrong, have appealed against it." I have, &c, The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, RANFURLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies. 2—A. 1.