15

A.—l

Soundings taken in s.s. "Hinemoa."

No. 14. (No. 9.) My Loed, — Government House, Auckland, 2nd April, 1895. In view of the fact that there is a certain quantity of indifferent land in the colony in various parts overrun with gorse, a section of the agriculturalist part of the community are considering the advisability of utilising it as fodder for their stock, and experiments have been made in that direction. As it is understood that in parts of Spain, and, possibly, in other countries, gorse is so used with success, I have to request that your Lordship will be pleased, through the channels at the disposal of the Foreign Office, to cause reports to be drawn up, giving such information on the subject as can be obtained, and I am persuaded that the result will be much prized by the settlers in question. The Eight Hon. the Marquis of Eipon, G.C.M.G., GLASGOW. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 15. (No. 10.) My Loed, — Government House, Auckland, 16th April, 1895. At the request of my Ministers, I have the honour to draw your a.-i, ism, attention to my despatch No. 22, ofthe Bth June, 1893, on the extension of No - 5 - " The Coinage Act, 1870," and of section 2 of the Act of 1891, to this colony. 2. In that despatch I signified the concurrence of my Government in the proposed extension of " The Coinage Act, 1870," to the Australian Colonies. 3. My Government would wish to be informed if any Imperial action has taken place on my despatch. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Marquis of Eipon, G.C.M.G., GLASGOW. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 16. (No. 11.) My Loed, — Government House, Auckland, 16th April, 1895. There is no provision in this colony for the Government conferring any decorative distinction for saving human life ; but provision has been made by Order in Council, dated 10th March, 1869, which received Her Majesty's approval (vide Lord Granville's despatch No. 102, ofthe 2nd October, 1869), for conferring a decorative distinction on such members of the Militia, Volunteers, and Armed Constabulary as might particularly distinguish themselves by bravery in war, called the New Zealand Cross. My Ministers think that there should also be power to grant a similar decoration to civilians and others for bravery in saving human life, under regulations to provide that only in the most exceptional cases should it be so granted, and that there should be a distinction

Date. Soum ling. ;om. le. iongi le. Feb. 3, 1895 . 4, _ „ 9, „ ,; 15, . „ 19, „ „ 22, ,, „ 23, „ „ 23, „ . 24, „ „ 24, „ 86 fathoms 196 95 550 47 260 319 345 301 56 Coral and broken shell Not ascertained; lead lost Coarse black sand Bine black gravel, and sand Grey sand, and broken shells Yellow mud, and sand Green clay, and sand Green mud, and sand Shell Shell, sand, and coarse gravel 48° 31' S. 49° 37' S. 51° 0' S. 51° 0' S. 44° 9' S. 44° 5' S. 43° 56' S. 43° 52' S. 43° 42' S. 43° 41' S. 166° 24' E. 166° 15' B. 166° 2' B. 174° 10' B. 176° 30' W. 177° 45' W. 179° 10' B. 177° 57' E. 173° 52' E. 173° 36' E. * Although the aboirevented any more wo: '6 list of soundij :k being done. igs is a small one every opportunity for sounding was takei a Bad weather