TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND.

35

A.—No. la.

yourself to the liot lakes and the country of the Arawas. I have read with much satisfaction your account of the loyal reception of His Royal Highness by the Maoris and the good effect produced by his visit. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G. KIMBERLEY.

No. 60. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. Earl of Keuberley to Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 28.) Sir, — Downing Street, 13th March, 1871. With reference to your Despatch No. 142, of 23rd October, and to mine of 27th January, No. 14, on the subject of a proposed contribution from New Caledonia to the expense of the Mail Service between Auckland and Europe via San Francisco, I transmit to you a copy of a note which has been received through the Foreign Office from the French Government, declining, for the present, to entertain the proposal which Lord Lyons was instructed to make to them. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G. KIMBERLEY.

Enclosure ia No. 60. If. Ciiandoedy to Lord Lyons. M. l'Amhassadettr, — Votre Excellence fait rhnnnour de me transmettre le 19 Janvier dernier, copie dune note dv Postmaster-General de la Nouvelle Zelande relative a l'organisation dune ligne de navigation a vapour gui relierait Auckland ;i l'Europe, par la voie de San Francisco et de New York et desservirait au moyen dun embranchement les lies Eidji et la Nouvelle Oaledonie. Le Gouvernement de S.M.B. desirerait savoir si nous serious disposes a contribuer, par une subvention annuellc, a l'etablissement dv nouveau service dont la Nouvelle Caledonie so trouverait appelee a beneficicr. Je me suis empresse de soumettre la question aM. le Ministre de la Marine et dcs Colonies. Dans sa reponse, M. l'Amiral Pothuan me fait observer que certaines difficulties s'opposent ii cc quo la proposition dont il s'agit puisse etre accuillie, dcs moms quant a present. Dune part, en elt'ct, le Gouverneur de la Nouvelle Caledonie vient de mettre on adjudication l'entreprise dun service do paquebots a vapour entre Noumoa et Sydney se rattachant a la ligne d'Australie en Europe par Suez, de sorte que le but de la combinaison suggeree par le Postmaster de la Nouvelle Zelaude se trouverait deja, atteint en co gui nous concerne. Dun autre cote, n'ayant pu reussir jusqu'a present a conelure une Convention postale avec les Etat Unis nous ne sauvions emprunter le parcours dv Chemin de Eer de San Erancisco a. New York pour le transit de nos depeches, et nous ne beueficerons pas dcs lois dv service postal dirige par cette voie. Toutefois M. le Ministre de la Marine et dcs Colonies se reserve de reprendre l'examcn de cette question dcs que les circumstances les permettront. Agreez, etc., Votre Excellence Le Lord Lyons, G.C.B. Chandokuy.

No. 61. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir G. F. Bowbn, G.C.M.G. (No. 30.) Sir, — Downing Street, 15th March, 1871. I have to acknowledge your Despatch No. 4, of sth January, enclosing a further Memorandum from youv Ministers respecting the position of New Zealand should this country be involved in war with a Foreign Power. I communicated to you in my Despatch No. 13, of 27th January, the views of Her Majesty's Government as to the naval defence of the Colony, and I therefore need not recur to that part of the subject. But the Memorandum raises the further question, whether the Colony could be treated as neutral in a war in which Great Britain was engaged ? On this I would remark, that if a British Colony is to remain neutral when England is a belligerent, the following among other questions would require to be considered, Could the other belligerent be expected to recognize that neutrality ? Would the people of England be content to remain under the obligation of resenting injuries offered to that Colony in time of peace ? In what manner and in what terms is it proposed upon this hypothesis to