ANNEXATION OF MACQUARIE ISLANDS (PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE). [In Continuation of Papers A.-5 of 1890.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1891 Session II, A-05

A.—s

Sess. 11.—1891. NEW ZEALAND.

ANNEXATION OF MACQUARIE ISLANDS (PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE). [In Continuation of Papers A.-5 of 1890.]

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

No. 1. Telegram from the Peemier, Tasmania, to the Pbemieb, New Zealand, 2nd October, 1890. Regret to inform you that last evening Assembly negatived Government proposal to transfer Macquarie Island to New Zealand.

No. 2. The Hon. the Peemieb, Tasmania, to the Hon. the Peemieb, New Zealand. Sir, — Premier's Office, Hobart, 23rd October, 1890. In confirmation of my telegram of the 2nd instant, I regret to have to inform you of the adverse decision of Parliament in regard to the proposal to transfer Macquarie Island to your Government. The question of securing some protection for the seals which frequent this island was referred to the Commissioners of Fisheries, to whom power is given under the Tasmanian Act, 53 Vict., No. 11, to deal with this matter, and they have suggested that your Government may be asked to make any suggestions for the framing of regulations which would be of practical utility in assisting them in preventing M-icquarie Island being used as a base of poaching seals On the Auckland and other Islands now unc'ar the jurisdiction of New Zealand. In the samo manner it may be practicable to protect the sea-birds frequenting Macquarie Island under the provisions of the Game Protection Acts, 42 Vict., No. 24, and 52 Vict., No. 40, copies of which I enclose herewith, together with the Fisheries Act, 53 Vict., No. 11. I have &c, The Hon. the Premier of New Zealand. P. O. Fysh.

No. 3. The Hon. the Pbemieb, New Zealand, to the Hon. the Peemier, Tasmania. Sir,— 29th November, 1890. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd ultimo, with reference to the Macquarie Islands, and in reply to state that it would appear that the only way in which your Government could at present assist this colony in the protection of seals would be for you to prohibit the taking of seals, sea-lions, and sea-elephants on the Macquaries, as vessels sometimes leave New Zealand ports ostensibly for the purpose of taking sea-elephants on the Islands, but really for the purpose of sealing on the Auckland and Campbell Islands. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier of Tasmania. H. A. Atkinson.

No. 4. The Secretary of State to the Governor of New Zealand. My Lord, Downing Street, 20th November, 1890. With reference to previous correspondence respecting the proposed transfer of the Macquarie Islands from Tasmania to New Zealand, I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a despatch from Sir Robert Hamilton with its enclosure on the subject. I have, &c, Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Onslow, G.C.M.G. Knutsfobd.

A.—s

2

Enclosure in No. 4. Sir R. Hamilton to Lord Knutsfobd. My Loed, — Government House, Hobart, 9th October, 1890. I have the honour to forward to you herewith a memorandum from my Prime Minister on the proposed transfer of Macquarie Island, referred to in your despatch, No. 8, of 28th February last, and to state that I share in the regret expressed by my Government that Parliament has not agreed to the transfer of that island to the Government of New Zealand. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies. R. G. C. Hamilton.

Sub-enclosure in No. 4. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. In reference to the Secretary of State's despatch, No. 8, of the 21st February, 1890, on the subject of the transfer of Macquarie Island to the Government of New Zealand, a.nd to the request by telegram of that colony to be informed of the decision of Parliament in regard to the address to Her Majesty, submitted by Ministers with that object, the Premier regrets to have to inform your Excellency that on Wednesday last, the Ist instant, the motion was negatived in the House of Assembly. The Government are, however, in communication with the New Zealand authorities with respect to securing the protection for seals and sea-birds in that remote dependency of Tasmania, for which provision is made in the Fisheries Act of 1889, and the Game Protection Act of 1879, 53 Vict., No. 11, and 42 Vict., No. 24. P. 0. Fysh. Premier's Office, 7th October, 1890.

No. 5. The Hon. the Premier, Tasmania, to the Hon. the Pbemieb, New Zealand. Sib, —- Premier's Office, Hobart, 25th April, 1891. Referring to previous correspondence on the subject of the protection of seals on the Macquarie Islands, and more particularly to your letter of the 29th November last, I have now the honour to transmit, for the information of your Government, copies of regulations framed by the Commissioners of Fisheries of this colony under the provisions of "The Fisheries Act, 1889," 53 Vict., No. 11, which were approved by the Governor in Council on the 20th instant, and published in the Hobart Gazette of the following day. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier of New Zealand. P. O. Fysh.

Enclosure in No. 5. The Governor in Council has been pleased, in accordance with section 12 of " The Fisheries Act, 1889," 53 Vict., No. 11, to approve of the following regulations made by the Commissioners of Fisheries under the authority of that Act. By His Excellency's command. P. O. Fysh. Chief Secretary's Office, 20th April, 1891.

Regulations. 1. The taking of seals, whether known by the names of seals, sea-elephants, or sea-lions, or any other local name, upon Macquarie Island, and the islands adjacent thereto in the South Pacific Ocean, being dependencies of the Colony of Tasmania, is hereby prohihited. 2. Any person committing any breach of the aforesaid regulation, or who shall buy or sell, or cause to be bought or sold, or have in his possession or control any seal so taken, shall be liable to a penalty of £5, and the forfeiture of all boats, engines, or other instruments used in committing a breach of these regulations.

Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, nil; printing (1,300 copies), £1 4s.

Authority: Geobgb Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB9l.

Price, 3d.]