TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND.

9

A.—No. la,

Enclosure in No. 15. Mr. E. Hammond to the Under Seceetaet op State, Colonial Office. Sib — Foreign Office, 28th October, 1868. I am directed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to transmit to you, for the information of the Duke of Buckingham, the accompanying copy of a Despatch which has been received from the Acting British Consul at Havre, relative to an accusation brought against Captain La Baste, of the French barque "Winslow," by the Wellington Independent newspaper, of assisting tho evasion of convicts from New Zealand. I have, &c., The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office. E. Hammond.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 15. Mr. Bowell to Lord Stanley. Mi Lord,— Havre, 22nd October, 1868. I have tho honor to enclose herewith a copy of a letter I have received from the owner of the Erench whaler "Winslow," Captain La Baste. In an article published by the Bombay Gazette, taken from the Wellington Independence, and likewise in other periodicals, it is asserted that on the sth July last the "Winslow" assisted in the evasion of 180 convicts from ono of the Government prisons in New Zealand, supplied them with arms, carried them to a place called Poverty Bay, and then stood out to sea during the night. The " Winslow " arrived here on the 14th of July last, and therefore could not, by any possibility, have been any way in the vicinity of New Zealand at the time above mentioned. At the request of the owner I thought it advisable to inform your Lordship of these facts, in case any remonstrance should be made, on the part of Her Majesty's Government, for this act of piracy imputed to the " Winslow." I have, &c, Lord Stanley, M.P. John Goulsey. Bowell,

Enclosure. Captain Danandabet to Mr. Bowell. Monsieur, — Havre, lo 19 Octobre, 1868. Dans le journal la Gazette de Bombay du 14 Septembre dernier que j'ai eu l'honneur de vous communiquer vous avez vu qu'il y est reproduit un article de Vlndependent de Wellington qui accuse le baieinicr Francais " Winslow," Capt. La Baste, d'avoir dans lajoiirnee du 5 Juillet dernier pris a son bord a l'ile Chatham 180 prisonniers revoltcs contre les gardes, de leur avoir fourni des armes et transporter en suite ii Pauvrete Bay ou il les aurait debarques le 9 suivant dans la soiree avec baggage et provisions et il serait reparti de ce point avant qu'il fut jour le 10. Le Capitaine La Baste n'est pas un ennemi du Gouvernement de la Nouvelle Zelande et il laisse a ceux qui out voulu le montrer comme lui etant hostile, la responsabilite de leur agissement. II est heureux qu'il soit evident que le rapport qui lui attribue cet acte soit de tout point une infame calomnie puisque le "Winslow" rentrait au Port du Havre le 14 Juillet, e'est a dire cinq jours apres la date do l'acte incrimine. Comment aurait on pu la repousser si ce navire etait reste plus longtemps dehors ? on fremit a cette pensee. Heureusement il n'en est point ainsi mais l'effet de cette mechante allegation subsiste et pour le repousser jo viens M. le Consul, protester contre cette imputation, et vous prier au nom de Capitaine La Baste et des proprietaires du dit navire de vouloir bien nous donner par une lettre une attestation de son arrivee dans le port le 14 et de plus en rendant publique la faussete de cette assertion nous aider a, effacer la facheuse impression qu'elle a laisse dans les esprits non seulement en Europe mais dans tous les pays ou il s'imprime des journaux, et surtout a la Nouvelle Zelande ou nous avons des interets majeurs a menager. Veuillez agreer, &c, T. Danandaret, M. le Consul Britannique au Havre. Ancien Cap. au L.C.

No. 16. Copy of a DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Buckingham to Governor Sir G. P. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 124.) Downing Street, 18th November, 1868. (Beceived at Wellington, 27th January, 1869.) Sir 3 — (Answered, No. 21, 12th February, 1869.) I referred for the consideration of Secretary Sir John Pakington a copy of your Despatch No. 73, of the 31st July, with its enclosures, on the subject of a Resolution of the House of Representatives, to the effect that Her Majesty should be petitioned to make New Zealand the sanatorium of the invalided troops of the British army. I transmit to you, for your information, a copy of a letter from the War Office, conveying Sir John Pakington's reply. I have, &c, BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS. Governor Sir G. P. Bowen, G.C.M.G. 3