A.—2b

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2. It will be seen that the object of this memorandum is to urge the importance of issuing instructions that " Her Majesty's ships shall visit, whenever practicable, the groups of uninhabited or unfrequented islands which lie, more or less, on the outward and homeward tracks of vessels trading between Great Britain and the Australasian Colonies, in order that relief may be afforded to shipwrecked persons, should such be found thereon." 3. Sir James McCulloch further observes that the recent " discovery of a number of persons saved from the missing ship ' Strathmore,' on the Crozets [in the Southern Indian Ocean], after six months' privation and suffering, coupled with the fact that at least one other passenger vessel for Australia is now given up as lost, has invested this subject with fresh and painful interest." I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon, &c, &c. G. F. Bowen.

Enclosure in No. 1. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. (No. 566.) Sir James McCulloch has the honor to submit to his Excellency the Governor that it is advisable to communicate at the earliest opportunity with the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with a view to the issue of instructions to officers commanding Her Majesty's ships to visit, whenever practicable, the groups of uninhabited or unfrequented islands which lie, more or less, in the outward and homeward tracks of vessels trading between Great Britain and the-Austra-lasian Colonies, in order that relief may be afforded to shipwrecked persons, should such be found thereon. His Excellency will probably recollect that in 1868, after the rescue of the survivors in the case of the " General Grant," which vessel was wrecked long previously on tho Auckland Islands, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were good enough to say, in reply to a letter from the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, that periodical visits should in future be made by the ships on the Australian Station to the islands in the neighbourhood of New Zealand. Whether the directions then given continue to be observed this Government is not aware. In any case, no reference was made at that time to the islands situated between the Cape of Good Hope and Australia, which late events have shown to demand equal attention. Recent telegraphic intelligence of the discovery of a number of persons saved from the missing ship " Strathmore," on the " Crozets," after six months' privation and suffering, coupled with the fact that at least one other passenger vessel for Australia is now given up as lost, has invested the subject with fresh and painful interest. Had it been the practice of Her Majesty's ships to examine the " Crozets " and other islands in the Southern Indian Ocean when navigating those waters, it is more than probable that the unfortunate persons alluded to would have been relieved from their distressing position at a much earlier date, and possibly many lives would have been saved. Sir James McCulloch, therefore, begs to request that His Excellency will be so good as to write to Lord Carnarvon on the subject by the outgoing mail. He feels persuaded that it has only to be brought under the notice of Her Majesty's Government to insure immediate attention. It is suggested that ships of war should receive orders to make a careful examination of the various islands when sailing in adjacent seas; and that the officers commanding at the nearest naval stations shall cause like examinations to be made by the ships at their disposal as frequently as the exigencies ofthe service will permit. Melbourne, 3rd March, 1876. James McCulloch.

No. 2. The Colonial Office to the Admiralty. Sir, — • Downing Street, 15th May, 1876. I am directed by the Earl of Carnarvon to transmit to you, for the consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Victoria,* with a ministerial memorandum, urging the importance of issuing instructions to the officers in command of Her Majesty's ships to visit, whenever practicable, the groups of uninhabited or unfrequented islands lying more or less on the outward and homeward tracks of vessels trading between Great Britain and the Australasian Colonies. I have, &c, The Secretary to the Admiralty. R. H. Meade.

No. 3. The Admiralty to the Colonial Office. Sir,— Admiralty, 18th May, 1876. With reference to your letter of the 15th instant,t and the despatch of the Governor of Victoria, in regard to the importance of Her Majesty's ships visiting, whenever practicable, the groups of uninhabited or unfrequented islands lying, more or less, on the outward and homeward tracks of vessels trading between Great Britain and the Australian Colonies, I am commanded by my Lords * No. 1. t No. 2.