A.—3d

8

No. 22. The Peemiee, New Zealand, to the Agent-Geneeal. Guinea, Pacific Islands. Instruct you immediate co-operate heartily, vigorously, Agent-General, Victoria. May state, supposing necessary, Federal Council Bill remains undecided : £15,000, will recommend Parliament New Zealand pay proportion. Stout. ____^^^_^^_ Wellington, Oct. 3.

No. 23. The Peemiee, New Zealand, to the Peemiee, Victoria. Agent-Geneeal positively instructed immediately co-operate vigorously, heartily, with your Agent-General. Eobeet Stout. _________^^___ Wellington, Oct. 3.

No. 24. The Peemiee, Victoria, to the Peemiee, New Zealand. Heaett thanks for your cordial co-operation. It is a thousand pities Sydney is not with us, the future is so wrapt up in the present. Have you communicated with Stuart. If Sydney won't act, the more reason for the other colonies closing their ranks firmly. James Seevice, Premier. Melbourne, Oct 3.

No. 25. The Agent-Geneeal to the Peemiee, New Zealand. Pacific Islands. Am utterly unable imagine cause for message such peremptory terms. Victorian Agent-General and myself have throughout acted perfect concert, and had already devised course, supposing Sydney still refused join. Bell. London, Oct. 3.

No. 26. The Peemiee, New Zealand, to the Agent-Geneeal. Pleased acting with Victorian Agent-General. Induced send positive telegram, through Premier, Victoria, representing Melbourne newspapers stated declined act without Samuel. Stout. Wellington, Oct. 4.

No. 27. The Agent-Geneeal to the Peemiee, New Zealand. Thanks. All right. Bell. London, Oct. 4.

No. 28. The Agent-Geneeal for New Zealand to the Peemiee. Sic,— 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 27th June, 1884. I have already mentioned, in a letter to the Postmaster-General, the proposal of Prince yon Bismarck for the establishment of a line of German steamers to the Australias. That proposal has just led to animated debates in the German Parliament, condensed notices of which I have extracted from the Times, and now transmit to you herewith. In the course of yesterday, the Agents-General of Victoria, New South Wales, and New Zealand became aware that what took place in these debates had engaged the serious attention of the Colonial Office, and that Lord Derby was disposed, in consequence, to take more decided action in declaring a Protectorate over New Guinea and the adjacent islands, if he could learn for certain what answer the Colonies would give to his circular despatch of 9th May. The informal communications which took place yesterday were renewed to-day, and we have endeavoured to obtain Lord Derby's assent to a message being sant by us to our respective Governments, containing a distinct assurance that, provided the contribution of £15,000 mentioned in that despatch is guaranteed, he will at once declare Her Majesy's protection to be extended over New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland, and the Solomon and Santa Cruz Groups. I am not without hope that this may be done, but hardly think it will be settled in time to make any report to you of it by this mail, I have, &c. The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosures. {The Times, Tuesday, June 24.] Geeman Colonial Policy. Berlin, June 23. At this evening's private sitting of the Budget Committee, to which was referred the Bill for subsidizing, by an annual, grant of 4,000,000 marks, a, double line of steamers to Australia and China, the Government was interpellated as to its colonial policy, with especial reference to Angra Pequeiia; and Prince Bismarck, who was present, vouchsafed to reply.