A.—3

Sess. 11.—1887. NEW ZEALAND.

FEDERATION AND ANNEXATION. (FURTHER PAPERS RELATING TO THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.) [In Continuation of A.-3, 1887, Session I.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. The Agent-General to the Premier. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 14th January, 1887. I transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch which is going by this mail from the Secretary of State to His Excellency the Governor, on the subject of appointing an officer at Rarotonga i of consular rank who will act at the same time as Agent for your Government. You will see that just before his death Lord Iddesleigh had decided that such an officer should be a full Consul, with a salary of £500 a year; and that, if New Zealand would undertake to pay that salary for ten years, with an office allowance of £200 a year, and also to provide a consular house if required, the Consul would be appointed. I need not refer to the importance of this step as an indication of the willingness of Her Majesty's Government to entertain the principle of concerted action between the Imperial and colonial authorities in the Eastern Pacific, which was first raised by New Zealand several years ago in the case of Rapa, and which yourself and your predecessors in office have so constantly desired to see affirmed. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

A.-2, 1887, Session 11., No. 15.

No. 2. The Agent-General to the Premier. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 25th January, 1887. After sending my letter of the 11th instant, No. 31, respecting the appointment of an ] officer of consular rank at Rarotonga, it seemed to me desirable for you to have the earliest information on the matter, and I sent you the telegram of which a copy is enclosed. On looking at my letter I see it did not refer to the late Lord Iddesleigh's wish for further information as to the duties that would belong to the Consul if he were allowed to act also in the character of Agent of your Government; I took care, however, to mention it in the telegram. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

No. 1.

Enclosure. To Premier, New Zealand. (Telegram, despatched 15th January, 1887.) Rarotonga. Despatch, Governor. Consul will be appointed provided salary and expenses, seven hundred appropriated ten years, also house built when desired. Secondly, before finally deciding Consul act your Agent further statement proposed duties wanted. F. D. Bell.

No. 3. The Agent-General to the Premier. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 21st February, 1887. I had the honour to receive in due course your telegram of the 7th instant, in reply to mine of the 15th January, relating to Rarotonga, instructing me that you adhered to the proposal for the appointment of a consular officer there which you had made in the memorandum to the Governor enclosed in your letter to myself of the 7th November, 1885. For the present, therefore,

I—A. 3.