A.—No. I.

: NO. -57. V J; . ■" " JV;!! '""7 '< "■■■' J Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G-. F. ; Bp^BN < .;'^;;C^"|^^|Qa| Right Hon. the Earl of Eimberley. i< , ;. ~ *, j (No. 33.) Government House, Wellington, - My Lokd,— New Zealand, 27th March, 1872. ■ I have the honor to transmit herewith, for your Lordship's information, copies of correspondence which has passed with Her Majesty's Consul in. the. Eiji Islands, in consequence of that gentleman having alleged that men were heing enlisted in New Zealand for military service in Eiji. 2. I caused strict inquiry to he made, with the advice of the AttorneyGeneral, and it willhe perceived, from the official report (Enclosure 4), that there is no foundation for the rumours referred to hy Consul March. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. ' : v G. E. BOWEN.; ',;;'

Enclosure 1. Consul March to Governor of N.Z., Dec. 11, 1871. Enclosure 2. Governor of N.Z. to Consul March, Jan. 22, 1872. Enclosure 3. Opinion of the Attorney- General of N.Z., Feb. 12, 1872. Enclosure 4. Police Keport, March 15, 1872. Enclosure 5. Governor of N.Z. to Consul March, March 27, 1872.

Enclosure 1 in No. 57. Consul Maech to the Goteenoe of New Zealand. ■■; A tlf 111 I'd .~ i : ■'~-. . ' ' ■-■>.-,., >: ■ r, ■ ~,).,-' Sic, — ; ,„■■■ ■ H.B.M, Consulate, Fiji and Tonga, Overlan, 11th December,lB7l, From what has come to my knowledge, I have reason to believe that the so-styl l ed h Government of Fiji are endeavouring to raise, among Her Majesty's colonial subjects, a biody,of men for military service under Thakombau, one of the kings or chiefs of Fiji. . .Each volunteer is^o receive a grant of land in return for his services. It is stated that several recruits have already been made at the Thames and in Auckland, and that a member of the staff of the " Thames Volunteers "is taking a leading part in the enlistment. Tour Excellency is doubtless aware of the mpyement initiated for the establishment of a Government in these islands. The group has always been under the control of several independent chiefs; and although Thakombau's axlvisers have lately "proclaimed him" iKlirig of Fiji," his right to that title is disputed. It is to compel these independent- chiefs to submit to him that an army is being raised. - . , I deem it my duty to report this' circumstance to your Excellency, as I believe it-involves a breach :of the Foreign Enlistment Act, i I have, &c, ••■->*■/ >His Excellency Sir George F, Boweri, G.C.M.'G., -' '»J ».■>■■ ;-r •, ~ ,<.Edw,abdiM,abch, Governor of New Zealand: - . ~ ; i x <* ■r,■ . i H.M. Consul. X.!!i . .;<;fi'; ; -~■;.-;;:,,:- ~ q , .. ' '~^ '■■■■'■■•:■■■ 1 ■:-; 1: ..'.;.,.. ■-,] -~ A -^-,.^> «.:. - -* 1 ' i ! . ' ''

Enclosure 2 in N6v Tis7.!•■■':•■••-■' '<-'■.' .■•■„ tb v*i hr® ■ ,-uS, 1 aisidn * ' .;,.<,.The >Goveenoe of New ZEA£iN»"t6 Consul' 'Ma'bcß;':i' f ..laUf '; - h...-.!,:%,., Sic, — Government House, Wellington; New Zesflatid,'22nd January, 1872. : ( ~ | .. lihave the.honor to acknowledge the receipt, oil this day, of ypug jletteß of the.JlthPecember ultimo,, stating that you have been informed that s.e-yeral,, r^psnitss. have been made in this Colony, at the Thames and at Auckland, for the;service,of Thakoml^au, of Fiji; and that a member of th'6'staff"of the -'ThaiAes Volunteer's "■ is -taking a leading part in thei enlistment."'■ \, hi;/,.* ',■ , Wjj . ~The Cplp,ni.a]- Qoyernment .will -cause inquiry to: be: made asi't© 'these alleged,.facts,.-ani.^o, take the,opinipn of the Attorney-General on the questions <jf r .law;ifivdlv#d( - ' 't, 1 "'■ ■" ,„ , ~'.!- . ' I have, &"c.,' c: BdwaVa'MarcH, Bsq.vH.'B.M.!s Consul, Fiji.: ;/'■ 90 #. F. 'Bowia-. hm

Enclosure 3 -in No.; 57vA ;?i i .b.aj3 ?.ixt X <-..f> h ; ,:v,-.,,w K'i j f,f ,■•--■,,■ -« r , ■.f .4 ■jOpiniojt ojf Attorney-Geneeal. .2f-aEo ''■- ": ■■ f *-<•'-' Wellington, 12% fitam, 1872., " I think the alleged enlistment, if without the consent of Her Majesty, is a breach of" The Foreign Effisiinen^Acfcv l!87O:" ; ' i .'Hie • Act provides that if any- person without the license 6f Her Majesty, and' being a British subject/ aeaep^s. anj. engagement, in the,military servide '.of any "^Foreign" State." at war wa£h any", Foreign^ State " at peace with Her Majesty, or, whether a British subject o^-nqt, ixj^uces^pthers to-enter such service, he shall be guilty of an offence. i ;>„, . j - The term " Foreign' State "irfcHides any "Foreign Prince" or any part'<s any* Province' of 'people?! or any person exercising or assuming to exercise powers of Government in any foreign country or over any part of any Province or people. These- words igeem sufficient to include the state of things, existing in the Fiji Islands. I think,therefore, that inquiry should be made, and if it be found'to* be'true that 1 any such'enlisting has been practised, that,a notice shpuld be issued, warning the-public against it, and the officer of.Volunteers referred to, if found out", should be* warned against proceeding in such ,a matter ; if, notwithstanding the #ariling,:fthe'pra'ctice is' continued,, I think that a prosecution should be instituted. If on iitquii'y the allegations contained in this letter are! not borh'e outfit'will-be1' unnecessary Mr take any steps. I think the writer should be informed of what Ji&3ifl;i;ejided'jfco'_bedqße, jafylj.thafnfegij; for his information. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. J. Peendeegast.

64

DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR OF