TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND.

77

A.—No. la.

6. The " Barossa" left Japan on 19th March, to visit the Marshall, Gilbert and Solomon Islands, and, should any unforeseen opportunity offer for your communicating with this vessel before she returns to China, their Lordships hereby authorize you to detain her and take her under your orders. 7. Copies of the Instructions suggested by the Colonial Office for the guidance of the Officers under your command, also of the Instructions issued to the Governors of the Australian Colonies, and of the South Pacific Islanders Protection Act of 1872, and of the Queensland Act of 1868, are transmitted in my letter of yesterday's date, No. 111. I have, &c, Commodore Stirling, H.M.S. " Clio," Sydney, N.S.W. Eobeet Hall.

Enclosure 3 in No. 73. Copy of Telegram sent sth July to Commodore Stieling. (In cypher to Point de Galle by Wire, thence by Packet to Sydney.) Sydney, New South Wales. With reference to your letter No. 32, endeavour to hire two or three suitable vessels for suppressing illegal labour traffic; also employ four men-of-war for the same purpose, keeping one for New Zealand, and one, perhaps " Basilisk," for Cape York. Instructions by next mail.

Enclosure 4 in No. 73. Commodore Stirling to the Seceetaey to the Ajdmiealty. Employment of Schooners for the Prevention of Kidnapping. Sie ,— " Clio," at Sydney, 18th May, 1872. Referring to your letter of the 14th February last, No. 17 M., directing me to report whether small swift schooners could be hired or purchased to be employed in preventing kidnapping in the South Sea Islands, I beg to state, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that since my arrival in this port, I have been prosecuting inquiries on this subject, and I find that there are no vessels ready built which could be adapted to this service without considerable expensive alterations. 2. Schooners for this service could be built at an expense of about from £25 to £30 per ton ready for sea, and I strongly recommend that this course should be followed, as in my opinion schooners are in every way superior to gun-boats. 3. The difficulties of sending coal up to meet the gun-boats at different groups of islands would be very great, and the expenses of the coal would in a very short time amount to as much as the original cost of the schooners. 4. When done with, this class of schooners would command a very fair price in the colonial markets, being well adapted to the inter-insular traffic. 5. A shipbuilder of this city informs me that they could be delivered within four months of the receipt of the order. C. The vessels for this service should be schooners of from about 90 to 110 tons, carrying either a 20-pr. or 12-pr. Armstrong gun and two boats, should have accommodation for three officers and about twenty-five men, provisions for about three or four months, and from four to six tons of water. The guns for these vessels would have to be sent out, as there are only one 12-pr. and one 9-pr. in store. 7. If their Lordships decide on the course which I now recommend, a telegram directing me to proceed with their construction would save much time. 8. In my letter, No. 32 of 22nd April last, I suggested six as the number to be employed, viz.: — Two amongst Solomon Islands and about coast of New Guinea. One amongst Santa Cruz, and New Hebrides, and off Loyalty Islands. One in Caroline Group, which is 1,500 miles in extent. One in Marshall and Gilbert Groups. One amongst Ellice, Samoa, Friendly, and Fiji Islands. 9. With these six vessels and proper arrangements, kidnapping could be almost suppressed in eighteen months, among the groups of islands above named. I have, &c, F. H. Sterling, Commodore. P.S. —Eeferring to par. 3 of this letter respecting the difficulties which would be experienced in sending coal for the use of gun-boats, I may state I have been informed this morning that men refuse to join vessels going to the islands on such voyages, for fear of being murdered by the natives, and therefore require higher inducements to go. The Secretary to the Admiralty. F.Ii.S.

Enclosure 5 in No. 73. Mr. Holland to the Seceetaey to the Admiealty. Sib,— Downing Street, 9th July, 1872. In reply to your letter of the sth instant, in which the Earl of Kimberley is requested by their Lordships to cause them to be furnished with any special instructions which he may consider necessary for the guidance of the officers commanding the vessels to be employed in the suppression of the illegal traffic in the Pacific Islands; lam directed by his Lordship to submit the following suggestions for their Lordships' consideration : —