A.—2

2

143 rd meridian of longitude; (2) the Islands or Archipelago of New Britain and New Ireland; (3) the Louisada Archipelago; (4) the groups of islands known as —the Friendly Islands, the Navigators Islands, the Union Islands, the Phoenix Islands, the Ellice Islands, the Gilbert Islands, the Marshall Islands or Archipelago, the Caroline Islands, the Solomon Islands, the Santa Cruz Islands; (5) all other islands in the West Pacific Ocean, not being within the limits of the Colonies of Fiji, Queensland, or New South Wales, and not being within the jurisdiction of any civilized power. The expression, " the waters of the Western Pacific Islands," means the waters within three miles of any of the islands or places included in the Western Pacific Islands. The word " arms " means every kind of firearms and any-part or parts of firearms. The word " ammunition " means every kind of ammunition for firearms and any material for the preparation thereof. The expression " explosive substance " means gunpowder, nitro-glycerine, dynamite, gun-cotton, blastingpowder, and every other substance used or manufactured with a view to produce a practical effect by explosion. 2. British vessels within the waters of the Western Pacific Islands shall not carry arms or ammunition. But this prohibition shall not be held to prevent or forbid the carriage by any such vessel for the protection of the same and of the persons therein, and otherwise for the ordinary lawful purposes of such vessel, of arms and ammunition, in quantities not exceeding those herein specified—namely: One rifle or shot-gun and one pistol for every member of the crew of such vessel, whose name shall be on the articles; one hundred rounds of ammunition for every such rifle, shot-gun, or pistol on board ; cannons or swivel guns forming part of the ordinary equipment of any such vessel, together with one hundred rounds of ammunition for every such gun. 3. British subjects within the Western Pacific Islands shall not give, sell, or otherwise supply any arms, ammunition, or explosive substance to any native of any island or place within the Western Pacific Islands. 4. Any British subject who shall carry or aid or abet the carriage of any arms or ammunition in any British vessel within the waters of the Western Pacific Islands, except as permitted by this regulation, shall be guilty of an offence against this regulation. 5. Any British subject within the Western Pacific Islands who shall give, sell, or otherwise supply, or aid or assist in supplying, any arms, or any single firearm, or any ammunition or explosive substance, to any native of any island or place within the Western Pacific Islands, shall be guilty of an offence against this regulation. 6. Any person guilty of an offence against this regulation shall, on conviction thereof, be liable to punishment as follows : (1) Imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months, with or without hard labour, and with or without a fine not exceeding £10; or (2) a fine alone not exceeding £10, without any imprisonment. 7. This regulation shall come into force on the first day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-four, and may be cited as " The Arms Eegulation, 1884." By command. John B. Thubston, Secretary to the High Commissioner.

No. 2. (Circular.) Bib, — Downing Street, 29th December, 1885. I have the honour to draw your attention to the accompanying section of the Act of Congress, 1882, section 5, cap. 378, respecting the authentication of depositions, warrants, &c, in extradition cases when the fugitive has taken refuge in the United States. I think it necessary to bring to your notice the requirements of the United States Courts in this respect, as cases of extradition have failed from the omission to attend to the provisions of the Act. I have, &c, FEED. STANLEY. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Section 5. That in all cases where any depositions, warrants, or other papers, or copies thereof shall be offered in evidence upon the hearing of any extradition case under Title sixty-six of the Eevised Statutes of the United States, such depositions, warrants, and other papers, or the copies thereof, shall be received and admitted as evidence on such hearing for all the purposes of such hearing if they shall be properly and legally authenticated so as to entitle them to be received for similar purposes by the tribunals of the foreign country from which the accused party shall have escaped; and the certificate of the principal diplomatic or consular officer of the United States resident in such foreign country shall be proof that any deposition, warrant, or other paper, or copies thereof, so offered, are authenticated in the manner required by this Act.