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A.—3

That, as colonists of a country, inhabited by an aboriginal race, we view with abhorrence such practices, and look upon the continuance of this infamous traffic by our countrymen as a reproach and scandal to the British name, and a deep disgrace to our profession as Christian men. That the Mission to the Melanesian Islands having been originally established by the Bishop of New Zealand, and its head-quarters fixed in this Colony, we regard this Mission with peculiar interest. We therefore humbly pray that your Majesty will be pleased to cause such measures to be taken as will effectually put a stop to the recurrence of such nefarious practices.

Pact I. Addresses to Her Majesty.

No. 2. Most Gracious Sovereign,— We, your Majesty's faithful and loyal subjects, the Commons of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, beg to express the deep sorrow with which we have heard of the death of the Right Reverend John Coleridge Patteson, D.D., Bishop of Melanesia, and his missionary companions, the Reverend Mr. Atkin and an aboriginal islander, who, on the 20th September last, were martyred by the inhabitants of the Island of Nukapu, in the Southern Pacific Ocean. We have reason to believe that the cruel deed originated in the exasperation of the Natives at ill-usage received by them from certain persons, subjects of your Majesty, who, under colour of providing free labour for the Australian Colonies, have been guilty of acts inconsistent with the law of nations and the first principles of humanity. It is known that these persons have deceived natives by false pretences, and kidnapped them from their homes; and it is believed that the murder of the Bishop and his companions was an act of blind retaliation for the injuries so inflicted. One of the latest utterances of the good Bishop was a solemn protest against this iniquity, which he addressed to the Synod of his Church in this Colony, with a prediction of such results as that of which, too soon, he was himself the victim, —a copy whereof is herewith respectfully forwarded to your Most Gracious Majesty. We venture to submit to your Majesty, that a grave duty rests on the British Government: that of protecting the islanders of the Pacific against the infliction of wrongs by the hands of British subjects—wrongs little less grievous than those of the African slave trade. And we beg to assure your Most Gracious Majesty that we, the Commons of New Zealand, will at all times be ready to assist your Majesty's Government, by every means within our reach, in suppressing the practice referred to. And we pray that your Majesty may long live as the protector of the weak and defenceless in every part of the world.

Journals, 1871, page 327.

No. 3. Most Gracious Sovereign,— We, your Majesty's loyal and dutiful subjects, Members of the Legislative Council of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, desire to submit for your Majesty's consideration, — That, with a view to the better prevention of the iniquitous traffic in Polynesian labour, and to the better protection of British commerce in the Pacific, and especially the postal and commercial connection with Great Britain through the United States of America, which this Colony has made great sacrifices to create, it is of the greatest importance that your Majesty's authority should, as speedily as possible, be established in the Navigators Islands. That, in the event of the annexation or assumption of a protectorate over those islands by a foreign Power —a contingency which, from reliable information, appears to be imminent— British interests in the Australian Colonies would, in time of war, become seriously endangered. That, as these islands appear to be well suited for settlement, and the population desirous of being more closely connected with your Majesty's Empire, it is highly desirable that the group should be attached as a dependency to such one of the Australian Colonies as your Majesty may select. And we humbly pray that your Majesty will be pleased to create a naval station as early as possible in the group, which we believe to possess an excellent harbour, and to be otherwise well suited for the purpose.

Enclosures to Despatch from Sir G-. Bowen— Appendix, 1871: A. 1, pago 22. Journals of L.C. 1871, page 195.

lII.—DESPATCHES FROM HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR. No. 1. (No. 112.) Government House, "Wellington, My Lord, — New Zealand, 24th November, 1871. At the request of my Responsible Advisers, I have the honor to transmit herewith

Appendix, 1572: A. 1, page 23. Memorandum, No. 1, page 1.