A.—3b

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colonies, would be necessary to justify Her Majesty's Government in interfering with the arrangements sanctioned by the Legislature (two-thirds of which is elective) for the very limited immigration now proposed. It does not appear to be alleged that any of the Chinese hitherto introduced into Western Australia have passed into the other colonies ; while, on the other hand, each of those colonies already contains a much greater number of Chinese than Western Australia will have after the new immigrants have arrived. I should not, of course, desire to see a large Chinese population introduced into Western Australia, and I shall carefully watch the results of the small immigration to which my attention has been called by the Conference; but, under the circumstances as at present known to me, I am not prepared to interfere with the action of the West Australian Legislature. I have, &c, Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, G.C.M.G. Kimberley.

No. 4. The Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. (No. 15.) Sir,— Downing Street, 11th May, 1881. In the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Intercolonial Conference held at Sydney in January last, I observe a resolution on the subject of the naval and military defences of the Australian Colonies and New Zealand. Her Majesty's Government have noticed with much satisfaction that part of the resolution which pledges the members of the Conference to use all legitimate endeavours to procure the efficient fortification and land defence of the Australian ports at the cost of the colonies interested. They are, however, unable to express similar satisfaction at the suggestion that the outlay for naval defence of the Australian Colonies should be increased., and at the same time that it should continue to be exclusively a charge upon the Imperial Treasury. On this point I am glad to see that the representatives of South Australia place on record their opinion that the colonies ought to contribute to the cost of maintaining the Australian Squadron. I have, &c., Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, G.C.M.G. Kimberley.

No. 5. The Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. (No. 16.) Sir, Downing Street, 12th May, 1881. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 9, of the 21st of February last, enclosing a memorial signed by members of the Intercolonial Conference respecting the action taken by the Government of Western Australia for the introduction of Chinese immigrants to that colony. I have expressed my views on this subject in the despatch which I addressed to you and to the Governors of the other Australasian Colonies on the 1 lth instant. I have, &c, Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, G.C.M.G. Kimberley.

Authority : Gr. Didsbubt, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBl.