EL—l9.

Enclosure 10 in No. 7. Major Gudgeon, Commissioner of Police, to the Acting Minister of Defence. (Telegram.) Auckland, 10th October, 1838. I did not advise French Consul to give saloon passage to Walker. I remember telling him that a detective was not equal in rank to a first-class military warder, and not entitled to the allowances given to such men. W. E. Gudgeon.

No. 8. Sir,— Wellington, 7th-March, 1889. I have the honour to inform you that it is the wish of my Government that the correspondence re extradition of certain prisoners should not be published, pending the consideration of the question by the metropolitan competent authorities. I have, Ac, Jouffroy d'Abbans, Hon. Sir Harry Atkinson, Premier, Wellington. Vice-Consul de France.

No. 9. Sir,— Wellington, 4th July, 1889. I have received an address from the House of Representatives of New Zealand requesting that I would direct that there be laid before the House a copy of a correspondence between my predecessor (Sir William Jervois), the late Vice-Consul for France (Count Jouffroy d'Abbans)", and the late Minister for Education (Mr. Fisher), relative to the escape of the convict Gasparini. On examination of the correspondence in question, I observe that on the 7th March last M. Jouffroy d'Abbans wrote to the Premier requesting that the publication of the correspondence might be deferred " pending the consideration of the question by the metropolitan competent authorities." It appears, however, that the papers in question have been printed without the knowledge or sanction of the Officer Administering the Government, and apparently on the authority only of Mr. Fisher, at that time Minister for Education, without consulting his colleagues. Some two hundred copies of the print referred to have been already struck off, and are no longer to be found in the possession of the Government. I have to express my deep regret, and that of my Ministers, that the fulfilment of M. Jouffroy d'Abbans's wish should thus have been frustrated by the unjustifiable act of Mr. Fisher. I have already communicated the facts and similar expressions of regret to the Secretary of State. The communications on the question of extradition of criminals between the Governments of Her Majesty and of the French Republic, to which I am led to believe M. d'Abbans referred to in his letter of the 7th March, appear, from a despatch received by me a few days since, to have been now brought to a conclusion. I propose, therefore, to accede to the request contained in the address from the House of Representatives, but before doing so I shall be glad of any observations which you may feel disposed to address to me. I have, Ac, M. de Lostalot de Bachoue, Vice-Consul for France, Wellington. Onslow.

No. 10. Vice-Consulat de France en Nouvelle-Zelande, Wellington, le 5 Juillet, 1889. Monsieur le Gouverneur, — Nous partageons sans reserve les regrets que votre Excellence a bien voulu nous manifester dans sa lettre du 4 Juillet dernier, au sujet de la publication abusive de la correspondance echangee entre Sir William Jervois, le Comte de Jouffroy d'Abbans et M. Fisher lors de l'evasjon du condamne Gasparini. La demande actuelle de I'ancien Ministre de l'lnstruction Publique, transmise a votre Excellence par l'intermediaire de la Chambre des Representants de la Nouvelle-Zelande, n'est que la continuation facheuse de procedes injusticiables qu'il eut sans doute et6 preferable d'arreter net; mais votre Excellence, nous le reconnaissons, se trouve en presence d'une situation dont la responsabilite ne lui incombe pas, et dans ces circonstances nous ne pouvons que nous en remettre au tact et a la courtoisie dont elle nous a donne des preuves repetees. agreer les assurances du respect avec lequel j'ai l'honneur d'etre, Monsieur le Gouverneur, De votre Excellence le tres-obeissant serviteur, A son Excellence Lord Onslow, F. J. dk Lostalot, Gouverneur de la Nouvelle-Zelande.

[Translation.] — Sir, — Vice-Consulate of France in New Zealand, Wellington, sth July, 1889. We unreservedly share with your Excellency the feelings of regret which you have been good enough to express to us in your letter of the 4th July last, as to the unwarranted publication of the correspondence exchanged between Sir William Jervois, Count Jouffroy d'Abbans, and Mr. Fisher at the time of the escape of the convict Gasparini.

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