ANNEXATION OF THE KERMADEC ISLANDS (FURTHER PAPERS RELATING TO THE). [In continuation of A.-11, 1886.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1887 Session I, A-10

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1887. NEW ZEALAND.

ANNEXATION OF THE KERMADEC ISLANDS (FURTHER PAPERS RELATING TO THE). [In continuation of A.-11, 1886.]

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

No. 1. The Agent-General to the Premier. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 22nd April, 1886. I transmit to you herewith copy of a letter I have received from the Colonial Office, covering copy of a despatch addressed by Lord Granville to His Excellency the Governor, respecting the annexation of the Kermadec Islands. You will observe that the Admiralty will order the Admiral on the Australian Station to hoist the British flag on the islands and proclaim the Queen's sovereignty there ; and that when the New Zealand Parliament has adopted an address to Her Majesty praying for the annexation of the islands to the colony, steps will be taken for the issue of the necessary Letters Patent for that purpose. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. E. D. Bell.

Enclosure. Sin — Downing Street, 20th April, 1886. I am directed by Earl Granville to transmit to you a copy of a despatch which has been addressed to the Governor of New Zealand respecting the proposed annexation of the Kermadec Islands. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New 7 Zealand. John Bramston.

A.-11, 1886, No. 1.

No. 2. The Agent-General to the Premier. Sir,— 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 14th May, 1886. In continuation of my letter of the 24th ultimo, No. 560, I beg now to transmit copy of a letter I have received from the Colonial Office, stating that instructions were sent to the Admiral on the 30th April to hoist the British flag at the Kermadec Islands. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Confidential.

Enclosure. Sik,— Downing Street, 11th May, 1886. With reference to the letter from this department of the 20th ultimo, I am directed by Earl Granville to acquaint you that his Lordship is now informed by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that instructions were sent on the 30th ultimo to the Commander-in-Chief on the Australian Station, directing him to order one of Her Majesty's ships to proceed to the Kermadec Islands, for the purpose of hoisting the British flag and proclaiming the Queen's sovereignty. I have, &c., The Agent-General for New Zealand. Edward Wingfield.

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No. 3. T. H. Hodge to the Commissioner of Customs. Sir, — Currie Street, Port Chalmers, 9th June, 1886. I telegraphed to you this morning in re the Kermadec Group. I have noticed in the newspapers that some members of the Legislature fail to see the good those islands would bring by annexation to New Zealand. I know the group well. If those gentlemen had seen as much of this group as I have, they would be only too ready to annex them. There is a lagoon in the centre of Baoul, an extinct volcano; but the gigantic trees, and shrubs in full foliage, and the abundance of grass around its banks warrant me in saying that any material eruption must be of very distant date. The island will carry ten sheep to the acre, abounds in fruit, and sugar known as tea-root cane is of prolific growth. It will grow potatoes all the year round. It has five good anchorages in West Bay. There is a flat of large acreage, and^a large plantation of bananas, with plenty of water. On the north-east side there is a snug little harbour in one of the inlets, where a vessel could moor in safety, and not be seen. I surveyed the island, and have riiy itiap now before me. Macaulay and Curtis Islands are also productive, but abound in goats. I have, &c, The Hon. W. H. Eeynolds, Minister of Customs, Wellington. Thos. H. Hodge.

No. 4. The Agent-General to the Premier. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 22nd July, 1886. I find I have not yet sent you copy of a letter I received last month from the Colonial Office respecting the annexation of the Kermadec Islands. I beg leave now to supply the omission. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, AVellington. P. D. Bell.

Enclosure. Sir, — Colonial Office, Downing Street, 18th June, 1886. With reference to the letters from this department of the 20th of April and the 11th ultimo, respecting the proposed annexation of, the Kermadec Islands, I am directed by Earl Granville to transmit to you a copy of a despatch, with its enclosures, which has been addressed to the Governor of New Zealand on the subject. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Edward Wingfield.

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A.-2, 18S7 No. 4G.

No. 5. The Agent-General to the Premier. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 23rd August, 1886. I transmit to you herewith copy of a letter I have received from the Colonial Office covering an extract of one from the Commander-in-Chief on the Australian Station dated 14th June, reporting that H.M.S. "Diamond" would shortly visit the Kermadec Islands, when the Queen's sovereignty would be proclaimed in the group. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosures. , The Colonial Office to the Agent-General. Sir, — Colonial Office, Downing Street, 16th August, 1886. With reference to the letter from this department of the 17th June, and to previous correspondence respecting the proposed annexation of the Kermadec Islands, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Stanhope to transmit to you an extract of a letter from the Commander-in-Chief on the Australian Station dated the 14th June, reporting that the " Diamond " would shortly proclaim the Queen's sovereignty in the group. This information will be duly communicated to the Governor of New Zealand by the earliest opportunity. I have, &.., The Agent-General for New Zealand. Edward Wingfield.

Extract from General Letter of H.M.S. "Nelson," dated at Sydney, 14th June, 1886 (No. 283). The " Diamond " was at Samoa on 22nd May, and would call at Eiji about the middle of June. I have sent orders to Captain Clayton (which should arrive there on 22nd June) to revisit Samoa and protect British and German interests. Subsequently he will return to Sydney, so as to arrive before his stock of provisions is exhausted in August, and on the way the "Diamond" will visit the Kermadec Islands and proclaim the Queen's sovereignty there.

No. 6. The Secretary of State to the Governor. Sir,-— Downing Street, 20th January, 1887. With reference to your Despatch No. 65, of the 17th of July last, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith Letters Patent passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom for the annexation of certain islands known as the Kerinadec Group to the Colony of New Zealand. I have, &c, Governor Sir W. E. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c. H. J. Holland.

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Enclosure. New Zealand. (Kermadec Islands.) Letters Patent passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom, for the Annexation of certain Islands known as the Kermadec Group to the Colony of New Zealand. (Dated 18th January, 1886.) Victoria, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India : To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting. Whereas it is expedient that certain islands belonging to us, situated in the South Pacific Ocean, between the parallels of 29 degrees and 32 degrees south latitude and the meridians of 177 degrees and 180 degrees west longitude, and commonly known as the Kermadec Group, should be annexed to and form part of our Colony of New Zealand: And whereas the Legislative Council and House of Eepresentatives of our said colony have expressed their desire for such annexation, and have passed the following resolution : " We, your Majesty's loyal subjects, the Members of the Legislative Council (or House of Eepresentatives) of the Colony of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled, beg to express our great satisfaction on learning that your Majesty has been pleased to order that the British flag shall be hoisted on the Kermadec Group of islands; and we now respectfully pray that your Majesty will be further pleased to order that those islands be annexed to this colony:" Now, we do, by those our Letters Patent under the Great Seal of our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, authorize our Governor for the time being of our said Colony of New Zealand, by Proclamation under his hand and the public seal of the said colony, to declare that, from and after a day to be therein mentioned, the said islands shall be annexed to and form part of our said colony. 2. And we do hereby direct our said Governor not to issue any such Proclamation as aforesaid unless the Legislature of our said Colony of New Zealand shall have passed a law providing that the said islands shall, on the day aforesaid, become part of our said colony, and subject to the laws in force therein : Provided always that the application of the said laws to the said islands may be modified either by such Proclamation as aforesaid, or by any law or laws to be from time to time passed by the Legislature of our said colony for the government of the said islands so annexed. 3. And we do hereby reserve to ourselves, our heirs and successors, full power and authority from time to time to revoke, alter, or amend these our Letters Patent as to us or them shall seem meet. 4. And we do further direct and enjoin that these our Letters Patent shall be read and proclaimed at such place or places as our said Governor shall think fit within our said Colony of New Zealand. In witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made patent. Witness ourself.at Westminster, the eighteenth day of January, in the fiftieth year of our reign. By warrant under the Queen's sign-manual, Mote Mackenzie.

No. 7. The Agent-General to the Peemieb. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 28th January, 1887. I beg to enclose herewith the London Gazette of the 21st instant, containing the notification of the annexation of the Kermadec Group to New Zealand. In an article in the Journal des Debats a few days ago the annexation is referred to as follows :— "It is announced that the Kermadec Islands are annexed to New Zealand. Thus the circle is closing more and more round New Caledonia and the New Hebrides, and England is following the example of Germany in rounding off her possessions in Oceania. France, on the contrary, remains in the same position as regards the group to leeward of Tahiti, Eapa, and the New Hebrides, while her rivals are securing the ports on the great lines of communication between America and Asia. The Kermadec Group is on che direct line from New Zealand to the Sandwich Islands, and shuts up the route from New Caledonia to the Poumutu Islands and the Marquesas." I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosure. [Extract from tho London Gazette.] Downing Street, 20th January, 1887. The Queen has been pleased to direct Letters Patent to be passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom for the annexation of certain islands known as the Kermadec Group to the Colony of New Zealand. [Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, nil; printing (1,850 copies), i'2 55..J

Authority: Geobge Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB7.