A.—o,

pay annually a sum, at a rate to be agreed on, to represent the ordinary depreciation of the vessels. Ministers are also of opinion that the whole annual cost of maintenance should be borne by the colonies. 6. With these modifications, they concur in the proposals made by the Admiralty, on the basis that the annual cost should be borne by the several Australasian Colonies in proportion to their population, and they will be prepared to invite the Legislature to make the necessary permanent appropriation for ten years for defraying Queensland's share of the expenditure. If New Zealand does not join in the proposed scheme, Ministers think that the number of the cruisers should be reduced to four. Provision should also in their opinion be made for giving two years' or three years' notice of the termination of the agreement. His Excellency the Administrator of the Government. S. W. Griffith.

No. 34. Ministers to the Governor. (Memorandum for His Excellency.) Premier's Office, Wellington, 17th May, 1886. Ministers have the honour to return the papers on naval defence laid before the meeting of Premiers of New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, with Admiral Tryon; and also the Admiral's letter to your Excellency. The ninth paragraph of the memorandum of Ministers, dated the 27th March, 1886, is open to the misconstruction the Admiral has placed upon it in his note. Ministers did not mean that the £20,000, which they thought a fair sum for New Zealand to pay, would cover the total cost of the two vessels they asked should be provided for Now Zealand. Ministers have nothing to add to what was stated in the memorandum of 27th March ; but, if His Excellency permits, they would suggest that the papers may be printed and laid before Parliament. Eobert Stout.

" Nos. SO, 81,

No. 29.

No. 35. The Premier to the Premier, Victoria. Sir,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 17th May, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the sth instant regarding the meeting of the representatives of New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria, held at Sydney, relating to naval defence. You will have seen in the printed papers our memorandum to the Governor, dated 27th March, 1886. That memorandum conveys our views, but the ninth paragraph is open to misconstruction. The Admiral assumes that we meant the contribution of New Zealand to be the full amount required for the maintenance of two ships on the New Zealand coast, but we meant it to be only half the amount. We have forwarded to His Excellency a memorandum, copy of which I enclose, pointing this out. Our views are the same as those of Victoria and Tasmania, that the total cost of the additional ships to be placed on the Australian and New Zealand stations should not be borne by the colonies. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Melbourne, Victoria. Eobert Stout.

No. 32.

No. 29.

No. 34.

No. 3G. The Premier, New South Wales, to the Premier, New Zealand. Sir,— Treasury, Sydney, 19th May, 1886. I have the honour to enclose copies of a memorandum addressed by me to His Excellency the Governor of this colony on the subject of the joint naval defence of Australasia. I have, &c, P. A. Jennings, The Hon. the Premier, New Zealand. Premier.

Enclosure. Memoeandum for His Excellency the Eight Hon. Lord Carrington, P.C., G.C.M.G., &c, as to the Joint Naval Defence of Australasia. Beferring to the recent personal communications to His Excellency the Governor on the subject of the meeting between His Excellency, Admiral Tryon, the Hon. S. VV. Griffith, the Hon. Duncan Gillies, and myself, which took place on the 2Gth and 27th April, on board H.M.S. " Nelson," with the view of securing a common course of action between the Imperial and Colonial Governments for the naval defence of the Australasian Colonies, it is now jny duty to submit to His Excellency a statement of the results of that meeting. 2. As the two Prime Ministers of Victoria and Queensland accepted the invitation of the Admiral to visit him at this place, it seemed to me my duty, at as early a period as possible, to put before the meeting the views entertained by His Excellency's Advisers on the important question which the meeting was called upon to discuss. I did this m the following memorandum, which I have prepared for the purpose (as it affirms) of defining our own opinions on the subject, and preventing misunderstanding: —

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