A—3d

1884. NEW ZEALAND.

CONFEDERATION AND ANNEXATION. PAPERS RELATING TO NEW CALEDONIA, ITS CONVICTS, AND THE RECIDIVISTES BILL.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. The Agent-General for Queensland to the Colonial Office. Queensland Government Office, 1, Westminster Cham.l ers, Sir,— Victoria Street, London, S.W. July 26, 1883. I have the honour to forward you the copy of a telegram I have received to-day from the Hon. Sir Thomas Mcllwraith, Premier of Queensland, for the information of the Eight Hon. the Earl of Derby : " Can only extradite French escapees on application French authorities. Hitherto they have applied, but now refuse. Three escapees Noumea discharged to-day, through this. Espresent Minister." I have, &c. Thos. Ahcher, The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. Agent-General.

No. 2. The Colonial Office to the Foreign Office. Sib.— Downing Street, August 10, 1883. I am directed by the Earl of Derby to transmit to you, to be laid before Earl Granville, a copy of a letter from the Agent-General for Queensland, forwarding a telegram from the Premier of the colony, in which he desires that the attention of Her Majesty's Government may be called to the refusal of the French authorities in New Caledonia to apply for the extradition of criminals who have escaped from Noumea. 2. In connection with this matter, I am to request Lord Granville's early consideration of the enclosed copy of a joint letter, from the Agents-General of New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, and Victoria, on the subject of New Guinea and the New Hebrides, in which it is strongly urged that measures should be taken to prevent the consequences anticipated from the declared intention of the French Government to transport large numbers of the worst class of criminals to New Caledonia, where they would be free on arrival. 3. Considering the grave importance of this question to the welfare of the Australian Colonies, it appears to Lord Derby to be necessary to obtain immediate explanations from the French Government as to the course contemplated—(l) in regard to the number of convicts proposed to be sent out, and their position after arrival, and (2) the failure of the Government of New Caledonia, in the eases just reported, to demand the extradition of criminals whom they have permitted to escape ; and Lord Derby will be glad to be enabled to assure the Government of Queensland that Her Majesty's Government has not failed to give prompt attention to the serious representation which has been made to them, and has communicated with the French Government. 4. I am also to request that Lord Granville may be reminded that, in 1881, the Queensland Legislature passed a Bill, to prevent the influx of foreign and other criminals into the colony, which was the subject of correspondence between this Department and the Foreign Office. This Bill did not at that time receive Her Majesty's assent, as objection was taken to the unequal incidence of certain of its provisions; but, under the circumstances now reported, and having regard to the contemplated increase in the number of French convicts to be transported to the Western Pacific, it appears to Lord Derby that it will not be possible to continue to resist such legislation. -%, I am, &c. The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office. E. H. Meade.

See A.—3. p. 128.

Note. —Except as regards letters or telegrams to or from the Agent-General for New Zealand, the contents of this paper have been extracted from Imperial Blue Books. I—A. 3d.