JL—No. la.

30

DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE

No. 34. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 13.) Sir, — Downing Street, 24th Eebruary, 1872. I have the honor to acquaint you that I have had great pleasure in submitting the names of William Eitzherbert, Esq., late Colonial Treasurer of the Colony of New Zealand, and Julius Vogel, Esq., now holding that office, to Her Majesty, for the honor of the Third Class or Companions of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, and that Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to approve of that recommendation. The grant of the dignity, with the insignia, will be conveyed to those gentlemen by the Secretary of the Order. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. KIMBERLEY.

No. 35. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 29th Eebruary, 1872. With reference to my Circular Despatch of 25th January, I have to inform you that the Secretary of State for Eoreign Affairs has communicated to me a Despatch from Lord Lyons, in which he states that the French Minister of Justice had brought in a Bill to establish convict stations at the Peninsula of Ducos, in New Caledonia; at the He dcs Saintes dite Terre en Haut, in the West Indies ; as well as at the lie dcs Pins, and (conditionally) at the He Mare, in New Caledonia. Lord Lyons adds that the Bill was declared to be urgent; that it will in all probability be passed in a short time; and that it is to be presumed that, under its provisions, the convicts sentenced to transportation for taking part in the Paris insurrection will be sent to one or other of the places named. There does not, however, appear to be at present any reason to suppose that persons will be transported without trial, or that the number will be extremely large. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. KIMBERLET.

No. 36. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir G. 3F. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 14.) Sir, — Downing Street, sth March, 1872. I have to acknowledge your Despatch No. 111, of 24th November, informing me of the death of Bishop Patteson, and forwarding Addresses to the Queen from both Houses of the New Zealand Parliament on the subject of the deportation of Natives of the South Sea Islands. I had previously received, with deep regret, the announcement of Bishop Patteson's death. The Queen was pleased to receive the Addresses from the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives very graciously ; and I request that you will inform both Assemblies that a Bill has been introduced into the Imperial Parliament for the purpose of checking the abuses which have sprung up in connection with the emigration of Polynesian labourers. Her Majesty's Government notice with satisfaction the offer of assistance in the Address of the House of Representatives in the suppression of the evils complained of. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. KIMBERLEY.