20

A.—3c

civil cases, as provided by the rules issued by the Court on the 3rd March, 1881, and ths May, 1881, but which were decided to be ultra vires. 202. As regards the labour trade, — We recommend—and consider it absolutely essential to the continued sufferance of the trade— that its regulation should be placed entirely under Imperial authority. To effect this, we advise —(1) the appointment of a greatly superior class of labour agents, to be nominated and paid by the Imperial authorities, conjointly with the owners of the labour vessels as before suggested; (2) that every colonial vessel starting on a labour cruise should be compelled, in the first instance, to report to the Deputy Commissioner of the district within which he proposes to recruit, and to receive from him a recruiting agent and a license, stating at what islands and for what number of men permission to recruit is given; (3) that when recruiting is completed the vessel should return to the Deputy Commissioner, discharge the labour agent, and report proceedings during the cruise, and that, after having discharged the labour agent, the vessel shall be bound under heavy penalties to proceed direct to her destination; (4) that, when labour is returned, a similar process should be gone through. 203. We recommend, further, that the recruiting of women should be limited strictly to wives or immediate relations of men recruited, and conveyed in the same vessel and at the same time as themselves. 204. We consider it to be very desirable that the marine survey of the islands should be prosecuted with diligence, with a view to the better knowledge of the localities. 205. We cannot conclude this report without again expressing our firm conviction that any considerable delay in placing upon a more satisfactory footing the control over British subjects in the Western Pacific, and the supervision of their relations and intercourse with the native races, will be perilous, and, in all probability, attended with calamitous results. The time has arrived at which to do nothing is, in fact, to take most momentous and most responsible action. We do not suppose that our recommendations, if adopted, will effect all that we desire, nor are we unaware that they may be easily susceptible of modification and improvement; but we trust that in no case will they be laid aside unconsidered, and that, if not adopted, their non-adoption will be due to the inauguration by Her Majesty's Government of a policy and measures calculated more effectually to attain the desired end, and not to any hesitation to recognize the importance of the subject of which they treat. . We have, &c. Arthur Gordon. A. H. Hoskins. The Eight Hon. the Earl of Derby. J. C. Wilson,

APPENDICES. APPENDIX A. The Colonial Office to the Seceetaby to the Westeen Pacific Committee. Sib, — Downing Street, October 11, 1883. I am directed by the Earl of Derby to transmit to you, to be laid before the Western Pacific Committee, a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, forwarding a translation of a note and its enclosure to the German Charge d'Affaires in this country, respecting the damages stated to be caused to German interests by the abuses which occur in connection with the labour traffic in New Britain and New Ireland. Lord Derby would be glad if he could have an opportunity of perusing the report of the Committee before he causes a reply to be returned to this communication, and I am accordingly to request to be informed when the Committee will able to submit the report, which it is very important should not be delayed any longer than is possible. I have, &c. The Secretary to the Western Pacific Committee. John Beamston.

Enclosure. The Foreign Office to the Colonial Ofice. Sic,— Foreign Office, September 24, 1883. I am directed by Earl Granville to transmit to you the accompanying translation of a note and its enclosure from the German Charge d'Affaires in this country, representing the damage caused to German interests by the abuses which occur in connection with the labour traffic in New Britain and New Ireland, and inviting the co-operation of Her Majesty's Government in checking them; and I am to request that you will move the Earl of Derby to favour Lord Granville with his views on the question. I have, &c. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. T. V. Listee.

Sub-Enclosure 1. Baron Plessen to Earl Granville. (Translation.) My Lord, — German Embassy, September 4, 1883. I have the honour, in pursuance of my instructions, to make your Lordship a communication upon the following matter. According to reports received by the German Imperial Government from the Imperial Consul,