A.—6.

the vessels, yet New Zealand requires some distinct treatment from the rest of Australasia. You will observe that we have impressed this on the Admiral in the memoranda that we have submitted to His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand. We think that, if we undertake to pay part of the cost of the Australian squadron, New Zealand should be dealt with specially, at any rate in time of peace. .. 4. We have received a memorandum from Mr. Griffith. We incline to agree with him that the present Australian squadron is inadequate as a defence for the colonies. His suggestions are definite ; but we do not like to commit ourselves even to the cost which he proposes without further information. We shall reply to his letter to-day, and will forward you a copy of our reply. 5. The whole subject requires careful negotiation and consideration by all the colonies. We are obliged to you for forwarding your memorandum. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New South Wales. Bobeet Stout.

No. 31. The Peemiee, New Zealand, to the Peemiee, Queensland. Sie, — Premier's Office, Wellington, 15th August, 1885. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd June, enclosing a memorandum of the Ist June on naval defences. 2. The subject has engaged our attention for some time past, and memoranda have passed between us and His Excellency the Governor for transmission to Admiral Tryon and the Secretary of State for the Colonies. We enclose you copies of these memoranda. 3. Before the receipt of your letter we had received a letter from the Premier of New South Wales, a copy of which you have, no doubt, also received. To that we have replied by letter to-day, a copy of which we enclose. 4. You will observe that we consider the questions of cost and of the disposition of the ships to be of first importance, and that these points should be well defined before a definite conclusion is come to. r 5. We are favourable to recommending Parliament to undertake some portion of the cost of the naval defence of the colonies, independent of what may be termed the local naval defence. 6. We also think that the ships should be under the control of the Imperial naval authorities. We approve also of your suggestion of having a separate flag, and of the admission of Australasian boys as cadets on the ships of the Australasian fleet. 7. As to a dockyard, we believe that two, if not more, ports in New Zealand will have docks sufficient for docking almost any of the vessels that will form part of the squadron. 8. And we would urge that Auckland should be the head-quarters of a portion, at all events, of the fleet, as it is a convenient place for vessels coming from the eastern Pacific Islands. It is inadvisable, however, to go into further details until the question of cost is more nearly settled. You will observe from our memoranda that we have pressed, and still press, on the Imperial Government for definite proposals. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Queensland. Bobeet Stout.

No. 24.

Nog. 21 & 26,

No. 32. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jeevois, K.C.M.G., C.8., to the Bight Hon. Colonel Stanley. Sie, — Government House, Wellington, 21st August, 1885. I have the honour to transmit herewith the following papers with reference to the naval defence of New Zealand :— No. 1, a memorandum from my Ministers, dated the 25th May last; No. 2, a correspondence between Bear-Admiral Tryon, C.8., and His Excellency the Governor of Victoria, which was forwarded to me by the Admiral; No. 3, a memorandum from my Ministers, submitted to me after they had read that correspondence ; No. 4, a letter from Bear-Admiral Tryon, dated 24th June, with reference to these two memoranda from my Ministers, which had been forwarded by me to him; No. 5, a letter from me to Bear-Admiral Tryon, dated this day, forwarding a memorandum from my Ministers on the Admiral's letter. I have, &c, The Bight Hon. Colonel Stanley, M.B. Wm. F. Deummond Jeevois.

No. 21, No. 25. No. 26. No. 28.

Enclosure 5. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jeevois, G.C.M.G., C.8., to Bear-Admiral Teyon, CB. Sie, — Government House, Wellington, 21st August, 1885. I have the honour to transmit herewith a memorandum by my Ministers with reference to your letter of the 24th June. 2. You will observe that, whilst recognizing the force of many of your observations therein contained, they take exception to the view that a port on the Continent of Australia should be regarded as the sole base of operations of Her Majesty's navy in these seas. 3. They represent that, whilst naval squadrons may act efficiently from such port for the protection of the lines of commerce to the westward, they would not meet the case of an attack by hostile vessels coming from the northward or eastward. They are of opinion that it is therefore necessary that the headquarters of a section of the fleet should be in New Zealand ; and they state, in paragraph 7 of the memorandum, that it is a mistake to suppose that New Zealand is unable or 4—A. 6.

No. 29,

21