THE ST. GILES'S MISSION (CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING AN ASSOCIATION IN LONDON KNOWN AS), AND ITS OPERATIONS AS AFFECTING NEW ZEALAND.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1889 Session I, H-21

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1889. NEW ZEALAND.

THE ST. GILES'S MISSION (CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING AN ASSOCIATION IN LONDON KNOWN AS), AND ITS OPERATIONS AS AFFECTING NEW ZEALAND.

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

No. 1. The Hon. Mr. Hislop to the Agent-General. Sic,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 29th May, 1888. A question having been asked in the House of Eepresentatives (cop}' enclosed) respecting the operations of an association called the St. Giles's Mission Society, I have the honour to request that you will be good enough to obtain information as to the constitution, objects, and work of that association, and to endeavour to ascertain whether this colony is likely to be injuriously affected thereby in the. direction indicated by Mr. Pyke's question. I have, &c,, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. T. W. Hislop.

Tuesday, the 29th May, 1888. —Mr. Vincent Pyke to ask the Colonial Secretary, Whether the Government have any information respecting the operations of an association called *" The St. Giles's Mission," in London, which, as reported by English papers, is engaged in the charitable work of exporting convict expirees to the Australasian Colonies ?

No. 2. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Colonial Secketaey. Sib,— 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 20th July, 1888. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th May, No. 71. respecting an association called the St. Giles's Mission Society. This society is one of the charitable organizations that exist here for the relief of people in distress, and there can be little doubt that it sends out of this country, now and then, convicted criminals who have served their sentences; but the society will not acknowledge it is engaged in such a work, and whatever it does of the kind is done as much as possible in secret. Its officials will not give any information about its objects or proceedings, and have no hesitation in eludingquestions put to them by any one not a friend. After getting an evasive answer to my first inquiry, I asked the secretary for a distinct denial of what was imputed to his society, but could get nothing out of him, as you will see from his letters. Perhaps the police may be able to give me particulars. In any case, however, the instances in which criminals could be spirited away can only be few compared to the aggregate numbers of the emigration that is always going on; and it would be difficult to devise any way of preventing the practice, even if it would be worth while making the attempt to do so. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosure 1 in No. 2. The Seceetaky, Agent-General's Department, to W. Wheatley, Esq. Snt,— 7, Westminster Chambers, 10th July, 1888. I am directed by the Agent-General to request you to kindly furnish him with information as to the constitution, objects, and work of the St. Giles's Christian Mission, and whether any emigration to the colonies is conducted under its auspices, and, if so, to what extent. I have, &c, Waltee Kennaway, Secretary, Agent-General's Department. W. Wheatley, Esq., St. Gies's Christian Mission.

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Enclosure 2 in No. 2. W. Wheatley, Esq., to the Secretary, Agent-General's Department. St. Giles's Christian Mission, Dear Sir,— Brooke Street.. E.G., 11th July, 1888. In answer to your queries, it has been my lot for many years to be closely associated with the above mission, and I never knew any real deserving case of distress refused assistance. If there are any persons you are interested in, please give name and address for further inquiries, and oblige Yours, &c, W. Kennaway, Esq., 7, Westminster Chambers. Wm. Wheatley.

Enclosure 3 in No. 2. The Secretary, Agent-General's Department, to W. Wheatley, Esq. Dear Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, 18th July, 1888. The Agent-General desires me to thank you for your note of the 11th instant. The point, however, on which he is desirous of obtaining information is one not referred to by you. A statement appeared some time ago in some of the English papers to the effect that the St. Giles's Mission was in the habit of assisting convicts who had served their sentences in this country to emigrate to the Colonies of Australia and New Zealand, a statement which attracted some attention in those colonies. As it is desirable that rumours of that kind should either be confirmed or contradicted, the Agent-General would be much obliged if you could enable him to convey an authentic denial of the same to the Government of New Zealand. I am, &c, W. Wheatley, Esq., St. Giles's Christian Mission. Walter Kennaway.

Enclosure 4 in No. 2. W. Wheatlby, Esq., to the Secretary, Agent-General's Department. Deak Sib,— St. Giles's Christian Mission, E.C., 19th July, 1888. I am in receipt of your letter of the 18th instant, and beg to inform you that I do not see that I can add anything to what I have already stated. I am, &c, W. Kennaway, Esq. Wm. Wheat-ley.

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