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VH. -New Caledonia.

Secretary for the Colonies, to the effect that a telegram had been sent to Lord Lyons requesting him to intimate to the French Government that any action may be suspended for the present, pending the receipt of further advices from New Zealand. I have, &c. Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. Agent-General.

Its Convicts.

;:?/T-@Biffip,AL to the Pbemieb, Sin,—- . : minster Chambers, London, 22nd March, 1880. lief erring to my letter of the 26th February, advising you of the steps I had taken in connection with your telegraphic communications respecting the arrival in the colony of Communists and convicts from New Caledonia, I now have the honour to' forward, for your information, copy of a despatch I have since received on the subject from the Colonial Office. I have, &e. Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure. The Ukdeb-Secketauy tor the Colonies to the Agent-General. Sir, — Downing Street, 13th March, 1880. With reference to your letters -of the 23r3 ■ and 24th February, enclosing telegrams from the Premier of New Zealand relative to the influx of convicts from'New Caledonia into that colony, I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to inform 'you that a telegram, on. the same subject was subsequently received from the Governor of New South Wales, and that Her Majesty's Ambassador at Paris was instructed on the 3rd instant to urge the French Government to take all the measures in their power to prevent assistance being given to time-expired convicts in Now Caledonia in emigrating to any of the Australasian Colonies. 2. I am at the same time to enclose a copy of a telegram, dated the 6th instant, from the Governor of New Zealand, containing a representation on the part of the Government of that colony upon the subject, together with a copy of the reply which has been returned to it. 3. I am to add that a letter has been addressed to the Foreign Office, requesting that this further telegram may be communicated to Lord Lyons, with any additional instructions which may be thought proper. i. Sir Michael Hicks Beach desires me to add that ho will be glad to receive the particulars respecting the recent arrival of convicts in Auckland, to which allusion is made by Sir H. Robinson as having been communicated to you. I have, &c, The Agent-General for In cw Zealand. Robt. G. W. Hebbeet.

Sub-Enclosures. His Excellency the Governor to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Eight Hon. Sir Michael. Hicks Beach, Bart. Colonial Office. Sixth March. — Ministers request mo to solicit the good -offices of Her Majesty's Government, in remonstrating with the French Government against making New Zealand a receptacle for liberated Communists and convicts from New Caledonia. The recent arrival of a considerable number of such men lias caused much dissatisfaction; and demands that the colony shall legislate, for its own protection, against further additions of this kind, have been made from various quarters. Full particulars respecting recent arrivals in Auckland were forwarded to the Agent-General by the last Frisco mail. Govbrnor, Wellington.

Paraphrase of Teleqhaji from the Secretary of State to the Govebnok of New South Wakes. March 13. for reply to 3'our telegram respecting liberated convicts from New Caledonia,, instructions have been given to Her Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, to urge French Government to take steps to prohibit assistance being given to them in emigrating to Australasian Colonies. Please in-form Sir Hercules Robinson of above.

No. 14. The Colonial Secbetaby to the Agent-General. Sib, — Premier's Office, "Wellington, N.Z., 28th February, 1880. I have the honour to forward herewith copies of telegrams* that have passed between us respecting the arrival in New Zealand of liberated Communists and criminals from New Caledonia. 2. The circumstances which caused my telegrams were these : —On the 18th instant, the Government received information from the Minister resident in Auckland, that the schooner "Griffin," "chartered by the French Government," had arrived in the Manukau Harbour from New Caledonia, bringing " eleven political offenders and nine convicts for criminal offences," all of them having been conditionally released. Subsequently, the Minister made further inquiries, and reported that, so far as he could ascertain, the information first sent was correct. He also transmitted to the Government an extract from a letter written by a British shipping agent in New Caledonia, stating specifically that he had "booked for Auckland" a number of passengers who were waiting for passages by a schooner expected from Hiscock Island, and that, " should favourable news be received here from the passengers per ' Griffin,' there w rill be a number more to go from this place." I hereupon telegraphed to the Governments of New South Wales/Queensland, and Victoria, repeating^fche information before stated, and asking whether those colonies had been similarly treated, and whether they would join New Zealand in urgiag the Imperial Government to remonstrate with France against permitting a repetition, on the part of its representatives in New

* For all enclosures, see those to No. 9.