A.—2,

7

No. 15. Copt of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberlet to Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 3.) Sic, — Downing Street, 13th January, 1873. I have received your Despatch, in which, in reply to my Circular Despatch of the 30th of January, 1872, you forward carefully prepared returns entitled " Gaols and Prisoners," showing in detail the state of prison discipline in the various Provinces of the Colony under your Government. On referring again to my Circular Despatch, you will perceive that those returns headed " Gaols and Prisoners " are not the forms therein enclosed for the purpose of being filled up, but one of two sets of draft forms enclosed in my previous Circular, of the 13th March, 1871. The only return enclosed in my Circular of the 30th January, 1872, was one entitled " Criminal Statistics." A form entitled " Gaols and Prisoners " was by a Circular Despatch of even date sent to Colonies not having responsible Governments ; but I had decided not to ask Governments of the class of New Zealand to fill up that form, but merely the form entitled " Criminal Statistics," which, whilst going less into detail, shows more fully the general state of crime in the Colony. I highly appreciate the readiness of your Government to co-operate with Her Majesty's Government in the collection of this important information, and I transmit to you herewith six copies of the return of " Criminal Statistics," the compilation of which will, I doubt not, prove less laborious than that of the return enclosed in your Despatch under acknowledgment. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G. KIMBEELEY.

No. 16. Copt of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberlet to Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 4.) Sir, — Downing Street, 18th January, 1873. On receipt of your Despatch No. 41, of the 2nd of May last, I caused an application to be made to the Foreign Office for the information with which you desired to be furnished, respecting Treaty engagements with the United States as to the extradition of criminals. The annexed copies of letters from the Eoreign Office and the Memorandum enclosed in it, and of the correspondence which passed in consequence of the receipt of that letter with the Governor-General of Canada* appear to furnish the required information, and to show what legislation will be desirable. With reference to the concluding paragraphs of the Eeport of the Minister of Justice enclosed in the Governor-General's Despatch, I have to inform you that I have recently received a Despatch from Lord Dufferin stating the nature of the further legislation which it is proposed to introduce into the Canadian Parliament with a view to give more ready effect in the Colony to the Treaties of Extradition between this country and Germany and Belgium respectively. This Despatch has been referred to the Foreign Office, and I propose to communicate to you a copy of it, and of the reply of the Eoreign Office, when received, for the information and guidance of your Ministers. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G. KIMBERLEY.

Enclosure 1 in No. 16. Mr. Hammond to the Under Secretary, Colonial Office. Sir,— Foreign Office, 17th August, 1872. I have laid before Earl Granville your letter of the 9th instant, enclosing copy of a Despatch from the Governor of New Zealand, in which he asks for information as to Treaty