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No. 21. (No. 54.) My Loed, — Government House, Wellington, 19th June, 1886. I have the honour to transmit herewith newspapers giving accounts of the recent volcanic eruption at Lake Eotomahana (Anglice, Hot Lake) and Mount Tarawera, in this Island, of which no doubt telegraphic information has already been published in the English newspapers. I also enclose maps showing approximately the area of the volcanic region of the northern Island of New Zealand, and the positions of the various hot springs within that area. I may mention that when I visited the hot-lake district, about two years ago, I made a panoramic drawing of Eotomahana, including Mount Tarawera and the worldrenowned terraces, and that it is now in the New Zealand Court of the Indian and Colonial Exhibition. The drawing does not pretend to any artistic merit, but, as the terraces are now gone, and the lake has become a seething mass of mud, with volcanoes rising therefrom, whilst Mount Tarawera, which has been regarded as an extinct volcano, has broken out in active eruption, it may now possess some interest. It is, I understand, the only picture which shows at one view the lake and its surroundings as they existed before the eruption. I have, &c, W. F. DEUMMOND JEEVOIS. The Eight Hon. the Earl Granville, K.G.

: Evening Post, 19 June.

No. 22. (No. 55.) My Loed, — Government House, Wellington, 19th June, 1886. With reference to paragraph No. 6 of my Despatch No. 40, of the 20th ultimo, wherein 1 reported that a Committee of the House of Eepresentatives had been appointed to consider the question of the relations of this colony with the Pacific Islands, I have the honour to enclose a copy of the report of that Committee, dated the 28th ultimo. 2. On the 10th instant Sir George Grey moved that the report should be adopted by the House, and a debate ensued, of which I enclose a report. 3. Since then the debate has been adjourned from time to time, and has not yet been concluded. 4. On the date of Sir George Grey's motion Mr. Scobie McKenzie moved the following amendment: — " (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 interest 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 Presbyterian mission 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." This amendment is now before the House, and is in precisely the same terms as resolutions moved by Sir Frederick Whitaker, a former Premier, in the Legislative Council. 5. Two days subsequently Mr. Ormonde gave notice of another amendment, as follows : "this House desires to convey to the Home Government its opinion " that, in effecting a settlement of the questions at issue between Great Britain " and France in connection with the Pacific Islands, the chief point of interest to

No. 11.

Hansard, Vol. 54, p. 404 to p. 427.