9

A.—6.

The Hon. the Chief Secretaey, Victoria, to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetart, New Zealand. (No. 5,001.) Sin, — Chief Secretary's Office, Melbourne, 31st October, 1873. I have the honor to inform you that, since the despatch of my letter of the 23rd instant, this Government has been obliged to take the course of prohibiting the landing in Victoria of stock from New Zealand, without first communicating their intention of doing so to you. It is probable that a proclamation would have become necessary sooner or later (as the New Zealand Legislature declined to pass the Bill brought in by the Government), in order to prevent persons evading the prohibition on the direct importation of stock from Europe by shipping it to Australia via New Zealand, but the matter was precipitated by a Press telegram from Sydney announcing that, in consequence of Victoria having declined to join in keeping out stock from New Zealand, the Government of New South Wales had issued a proclamation to prevent stock entering her territory from Victoria. No official notice was given that this procedure was contemplated by New South Wales, and her sudden action at a time when numerous intending buyers of Victorian cattle were in Melbourne, attending the annual show of the National Agricultural Society, would have done great injury to the interests of the breeders of pure bred stock, if steps had not at once been taken to get the proclamation rescinded. A telegraphic correspondence accordingly ensued, which resulted in New South Wales withdrawing the proclamation against Victoria, upon our undertaking to prohibit imports of stock from New Zealand. This we agreed to do, and a proclamation accordingly was published in the Victorian Government Gazette of the 24th instant, of which I enclose a copy. 1 should mention that I now find from the actual text of the Sydney proclamation, since come to hand, that it was not precisely what it was represented to be in the Press telegram; for it was directed really against the importation into New South Wales of New Zealand cattle by way of Victoria, not against cattle bred in Victoria. In the telegraphic correspondence between this Government and the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, no attempt was made by Mr. Parkes to clear up the error into which this Government had been led, although I should have imagined it would have been apparent. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New Zealand. J. G. Feancis. Copies of correspondence enclosed. —J. G. F. Enclosures. For the first two enclosures, see enclosures to letter of the Hon. the Chief Secretary, Victoria, of date 2nd August, 1873, No. 3,798, ante page 7. Colonial Seceetaet, New South Wales, to Chief Seceetaet, Victoria. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sydney, New South Wales, Sie ,— 14th August, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant, stating, in reply to my communication of the 22nd ultimo, that the Government of Victoria do not intend to issue a proclamation against the importation of stock, &c, from New Zealand. I have, &c, Henet Halloean, The Hon. the Chief Secretary, Victoria. (for the Colonial Secretary). Telegeah from Chief Seceetabt, Victoria, to Colonial Seceetaet, New South Wales. Peess telegram from Sydney yesterday states that you have prohibited importation of stock and fodder from Victoria, because we have have not shut out importations from New Zealand. We shall issue Gazette Extraordinary this afternoon, prohibiting importation from New Zealand ; will you, therefore, be good enough at once to remove prohibition as against Victoria. Please reply. 24th October, 1873. J. G. Fbancis. Telegeam from Colonial Seceetaet, New South Wales, to CniEF Secretary, Victoria. Upon your telegraphing me that your proclamation has issued, our prohibition will be forthwith removed. 24th October, 1873. Heney Paekes. Telegeam from Chief Seceetabt, Victoria, to Colonial Secbetaet, New South Wales. Peoclamation has issued in Gazette Extraordinary last night. 25th October, 1873. J. G. Feancis. Proclamation. [Prohibiting the Introduction into Victoria of Cattle, Sfe., from New Zealand."] By His Excellency Sir Geokge Feeguson Bowen, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of Victoria and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, <fee, &c, &c. Wheeeas by an Act of the Parliament of Victoria, passed in the 31st year of Her Majesty's reign (31 Viet. No. 310), intituled "An Act to amend the Laws relating to or affecting Public Health," it is amongst other things enacted that the Governor in Council may from time to time make, alter, or vary, and may revoke, such orders as may seem to bo necessary for the purpose of prohibiting or regulating the introduction into Victoria, from any country or colony, or part of a country or colony 2—A. 6.