A.—s.

Session 11. 1906. NEW ZEALAND.

NEW HEBRIDES (DRAFT CONVENTION RESPECTING THE), SIGNED IN LONDON, 27th FEBRUARY, 1906.

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

PuOTOCOLB. Les Soussignes, Marcel Saint-Germain, Secateur, President dv Conseil d'Administration de I'Office Colonial au Ministere dcs Colonies, Officier de I'lnstruction Publique, Titulaire de la Medaille Coloniale; Edouard Picanon, Inspecteur General de Premiere Classe dcs Colonies, Gouverneur de la Guyane Fraricaise, Officier de la Legion d'Honneur, Officier de I'lnstruction Publique; Eldon Gorst, SousSecretaire d'Etat Adjoint dcs Affaires Etrangeres, Chevalier Commandeur dv Tres-Honor-able Ordre dv Bain; Hugh Bertram Cox, SousSecretaire d'Etat Adjoint dcs Colonies, Compagnon dv Tres-Honorable Ordre dv Bain, delegues respectivement par le Gouvernement de la Republique Francaise et par le Gouvernement de Sa Majeste Britannique a l'efiet de preparer, en execution de la Declaration dv 8 Avril 1904, concernant les Nouvelles-Hebrides, un arrangement gui mette fin aux difficultes resultant de P absence de juridiction sur les indigenes dcs Nouvelles-Hebrides et permette de regler les differends fonciers de leurs ressortissants respectifs dans les dites lies, sont convenus dcs" dispositions suivantes, qu'ils out resolu de soumettre a l'agrement de leurs Gouvernements respectifs ; —-

Peotoool. The undersigned, Eldon Gorst, Assistant Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath; Hugh Bertram Cox, Assistant Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath; Marcel Saint-Germain, Senator, President of the Council of Administration of the Colonial Office at the Ministry of the Colonies, Officer of the Order of Public Instruction, Holder' of the Colonial Medal; Edouard Picanon, Inspector-General of the Colonies of the First Class, Governor of French Guiana, Officer of the Legion of Honour, Officer of the Order of Public Instruction, delegated respectively by the Government of His Britannic Majesty and by the Government of the French Republic, in order to draw up, in conformity with the declaration of the Bth April, 1904, concerning the New Hebrides, an arrangement which shall put an end to the difficulties arising from the absence of jurisdiction over the Natives of the New Hebrides and settle the disputes of their respective nationals in the said islands with regard to landed property, have agreed to the following provisions, which they have resolved to submit for the approval of their respective Governments : —

Peeambule. Le Gouvernement de la Republique Francaise et le Gouvernement de Sa Majeste Britannique, desirant modifier, en co gui concerne les Nou-velles-Hebrides, la Convention dv 16 Novembre 1887, relative aux Nouvelles-Hebrides et aux lies Sous le Vent de Tahiti, en vue l'exercice de leurs droits de souverainete aux Nouvelles - Hebrides et d'y renforcer pour l'avenir la protection dcs personnes et dcs b.iens, spnt convenus dcs Articles suivants :—

I— A. 5.

Preamble. The Government of His Britannic Majesty and the Government of the French Republic, being desirous of modifying, as far as the New Hebrides are concerned, the Convention of the 16th November, 1887, respecting the New Hebrides and the islands leeward of Tahiti, in order to secure the exercise of their paramount rights in the New Hebrides and to assure for the future the better protection of life and property in the Group, have agreed on the following articles ; —-