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No. 22. The Peemiee, New South Wales, to the Peemiee, New Zealand. Sir, — Treasury, Sydney, 15th July, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the Ist instant, forwarding a No. 20. copy of certain resolutions relating to the New Hebrides Islands, passed on the 30th ultimo by your House of Eepresentatives. 2. I note that you expected that on the day following the date of your letter similar resolutions would be adopted by your Legislative Council. 3. I shall be glad to be informed of all action taken by your colony in this matter, and would ' feel obliged by your forwarding me a copy of your Hansard containing the report of the debates on each occasion on which the subject referred to has been under the consideration of your Parliament. I have, &c, P. A. Jennings, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington, New Zealand. Premier.

No. 23. The Premier to the Agent-General. Sir,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 17th July, 1886. In continuation of my letter of the Ist instant, I now have the honour to forward the jj Oi jg. resolutions passed by the Legislative Council relative to the New Hebrides on the 7th. " 1. That it is of importance to Great Britain, and of especial importance to the Australasian Colonies, that a satisfactory understanding should be come to between the several States having interests in the Western Pacific as to their respective rights and claims. " 2. That the most pressing question at present requiring settlement is that between Great Britain and France in reference to the New Hebrides. " 3. That the most satisfactory settlement of this question which now appears to be practicable would be a treaty between Great Britain and France, whereby Great Britain should withdraw all opposition to the acquisition by France of the New Hebrides Islands, on condition— (a.) That no more convicts of any class be sent by France to any of her possessions in the Western Pacific. (b.) That protection, religious freedom, and peaceable possession of their rights and properties be guaranteed to all British subjects residing in or resorting to the New Hebrides, and especially to the missions established there, (c.) That freedom of trade and commerce be guaranteed to British subjects equally with those of France, (d.) That the Island of Eapa be ceded by France to Great Britain." You will observe that they are in substance the same as the resolutions passed by the House of Eepresentatives, with the exception that the House considered it desirable that the Islands should not be annexed by either England or France. I do not know that I can add anything to what has been already said upon the subject, except to report that we rely on your best endeavours to secure a satisfactory termination of this vexed question. I have, &c, Sir F. Dillon Bell, K.C.M.G., C.8., Agent-General. Eobert Stout.

No. 24. The Peemiee, New Zealand, to the Premise, New South Wales. Sib,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 22nd July, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th instant, and I No. 22. now beg to enclose the resolutions relating to the New Hebrides passed by the Legislative Council on the 7th. I have only to add that we have forwarded them to the Eight Hon. the Secretary of State through the Governor, and also to the Agent-General, with the other resolutions passed by the House of Representatives, a copy of which I forwarded you on the Ist instant; but we have No. 20. done nothing further. As requested, I forward copies of the debates in both Houses as reported in Hansard. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Sydney, New South Wales. Eobeet Stout.

No. 25. The Peemiee, New Zealand, to the Peemiee, Victoria. Sib,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 22nd July, 1886. Eeferring to my letter of the Ist instant, I have now the honour to forward for your No. 20. information copy of the resolutions relative to the New Hebrides which were adopted by the No. 19. Legislative Council on the 7th. Copies of these, with the resolutions passed by the House of Representatives, have been forwarded to the Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies by His Excellency the Governor, and to the Agent-General; but we have not taken any further action in the matter. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Melbourne, Victoria. Eobert Stout. 3—A. 5.