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he has been brought out at the expense of the Colony. Moreover, in New Zealand there are special circumstances which render it inexpedient that any portion of the European inhabitants should be excused from local military service. A portion of its territory is still occupied by a semi-civilized race not altogether satisfied with the altered state of things, and it is chiefly to the increased preponderance of the European population, liable as it is to militia service, that the Colony may fairly look for gradual relief from the burden of its permanent defensive force. It is still possible that the occurrence of a Native outbreak might render the services of the able-bodied male population, or at least of the Militia of the North Island, indispensable. My Advisers do not believe that in such a contingency Germans would plead their nationality as an excuse for abstaining from taking part in the defence of their homes or of the country in which they have settled; but they do not think that any portion of the community should be entitled to do so. They would have me also point out that in New Zealand, aliens are allowed by law to hold land, and that it is, therefore, of doubtful justice to exempt them from the usual obligations of citizens in respect of judicial and municipal functions. 2. I would therefore ask Her Majesty's Government to consider the propriety of excepting from the operation of the proposed convention, subjects who may have settled in Colonies, at least in respect of local military and municipal service. 3. There are none of the Nations with whose Governments similar conventions have already been entered into, from whom any great number of immigrants are likely to settle in British Colonies; but already the numbers of Germans in this and other Colonies are considerable, and would be largely increased but for the impediments at present created by the German Government. I have, &c, JAMES EERGUSSON, The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. Governor.

No. 21. Copt of DESPATCH from Governor the Right Hon. Sir J. Eergttsson, Bart., to the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. (No. 1.) My Lord, — Dunedin, New Zealand, 4th January, 1874. I have the honor to inform you that yesterday morning, upon the receipt of a telegram from the local authorities, that an emigrant ship named the " Surat " had been wrecked upon the coast about fifty miles south of this place, Captain Jacquemart, commanding the Erench man-of-war "La Vire," at once undertook to proceed from Port Chalmers, where his ship was at anchor, to render assistance. It appears that the crew and passengers, the latter amounting to 300, had been landed without loss of life, being able, however, to save but few of their effects. A small steamer reached the spot about the same time as "La Vire," by means of which the whole of the passengers were placed on board of the latter, though not without difficulty, as rather a high sea was running. They were safely landed in Port Chalmers to-day, the utmost kindness having been shown them by the captain, his officers, and crew. Captain Jacquemart had before his departure declined to be furnished with provisions and other supplies for the relief of the shipwrecked persons, and entertained them handsomely from his own supplies. 2. I went to Port Chalmers this afternoon, and on board of "La Vire," for the purpose of thanking the Captain for his prompt and generous assistance, but for which the passengers must have suffered considerable hardship if not loss of life. ■ 3. Her Majesty's Government may perhaps deem Captain Jacquemart's conduct worthy of their acknowledgment to the Erench Government. I have, &c, JAMES EERGUSSON, The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. Governor.