A.—No. 1a

16

DESPATCHES EROM THE SECRETARY OP STATE

August IC, 1870.

I request that you will give effect to the Queen's wishes, and will report what sum would be necessary for the education of the child. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. KIMBEELEY. P.S.—Sir T. Biddulph informs me that he has sent to the Colony the sum of £7 10s. stated to be due for the child's instruction at the Orphan Home at Auckland.

No. 18. Copt of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. Earl of Kimbeiiley to Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 81.) Sir, — Downing Street, 19th August, 1870. I have to acknowledge your Despatch No. 46, of 13th April, respecting the use of the flag of New Zealand. I referred your Despatch to Mr. Secretary Cardwell, and I transmit to you, for your information, a copy of a letter upon the subject which has been received from the War Office. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (for the Earl of Kimberley).

Enclosure in No. 18. Sir E. LtrGABD to Sir I\ Rogebs. Sib,— "War Office, 16th August, 1870. I have laid before Mr. Secretary Cardwell your letter of the 25th ultimo, with its enclosed extract of a Despatch from the Governor of New Zealand, requesting to be informed whether the flag of the Colony should be used only by vessels belonging to the Government, or whether it should also be hoisted on the forts or batteries garrisoned by Colonial forces, and used by the Colonial forces in the field. In reply, I am to request that you will state to the Earl of Kimberley that, in the opinion of Mr. Cardwell, the flag to be mounted on the forts and batteries of a colony, whether there be an Imperial garrison or not on the spot, should be the Union flag usually employed in the service. Mr. Cardwell is not aware that any flag is used in the field. Regiments of Imperial infantry (except the 60th Regiment and the Rifle Brigade) carry colours, one being the Queen's colour, the other the regimental colour; but it is not, the Secretary of State apprehends, usual to carry any flag or ensign ■with a force. The Colonial flag is a local ensign used for the sake of convenience, and would probably be carried by vessels having a Colonial registry; but the Imperial flag should be the distinctive mark or ensign of a British possession, thereby indicating the nationality of the inhabitants and their allegiance. Because a colonyj enjoys free institutions and Parliamentary government, and has no Imperial garrison, it does not appear to Mr. Cardwell to follow that the nationality and allegiance are altered, or that the distinctive national emblems should be changed for a flag unrecognized among the different Powers of the world. A colour is a distinctive mark of nationality, and Mr. Cardwell does not think that any colony or dependency can abandon such emblems, or adopt a local flag, whilst forming a portion of the Queen's dominions. I have, &c, Sir Frederic Rogers, Bart. Edwabd Lttgaed.

No. 19. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. Earl of Kimbekley to Governor Sir G. P. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 2nd August, 1870. Her Majesty's Government heing desirous of obtaining information as tothe laws in force in the Colonies as to trespass, and also as to the preservation of game, I have to request that you will furnish me, as soon as you conveniently can, with copies of any enactments in force in the Colony of New Zealand on these subjects, accompanying them with any observations which you may think necessary in order to render such enactments intelligible. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBEELEY. of New Zealand.