7

A.—sa

No. 46. The Premier, New Zealand, to the Premier, Victoria. New Hebrides : Our view is that proposed agreement to cede New Hebrides on condition of convictism being stopped to all French possessions, Opara ceded, and Earotonga to be open to British annexation, most favourable arrangement, and such as the colony should heartily approve if no objection stood in way. But we think that the Presbyterians have undeniable claims to object to cession, their missions having been formed on faith of denationalization ; and, before recommending proposal, we think their consent should be obtained. I have addressed letter to Church, recognizing magnitude of sacrifices they would make, but appealing to them not to stand in the way of white population of Australasia obtaining priceless boon of stopping convict deportation to Pacific. I have : sent you copy of my letter. llth May, 1886. Eobert Stout.

: No. 40. No. 44a.

No. 47. The Premier to the Agent-General. Hebrides : Take up this position : Cannot at present recommend cession, because Presbyterians established mission faith denationalization; otherwise consider conditions most favourable. Have appealed to Church to consent. llth May, 1886. _______________________ Eobert Stout.

No. 48. The Premier, Victoria, to the Premier, New Zealand. Be New Hebrides : Your telegram states that the cession should be approved of if no objection stood in the way, but that you consider that the Presbyterians have undeniable claims to object. Am I correct in understanding that you will oppose French proposals unless Presbyterians waive their objection? D. Gillies, llth May, 1886. Premier.

No. 49. The Premier, New Zealand, to the Premier, Victoria. I think you will best understand our position by seeing the telegram we have sent to our AgentGeneral, which is as follows : " Hebrides : Take up this position : Cannot at present recommend cession, because Presbyterians established mission faith denationalization ; otherwise consider consider conditions most favourable. Have appealed to Church to consent." 12th May, 1886. Eobbrt Stout.

No. 50. The Moderator of the Oamaru Presbytery to the Premier, Sir, — Manse, Papakaio, Otago, llth May, 1886. On behalf of the Presbytery of Oamaru, I have the honour to send you the enclosed resolutions of Presbytery as its memorial; and respectfully request you to lay the same before your Government, and transmit them to the Colonial Ministry of Britain. I have, &c, John Steven, Moderator of Oamaru Presbytery. The Hon, B. Stout, Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Enclosure. The Presbytery of Oaruaru, having had their attention called to the subject of French empire in the New Hebrides, and its possible results, as seen in connection with a French settlement of convicts in New Caledonia, resolve : (1.) That the matter profoundly affects the interests of Christian missions which have been carried on in these islands for many years, with great success and at great cost, with privilege of martyrdom, on behalf of British and other Protestants, who have a natural claim upon the protection and favour of Great Britain in that region. (2.) The matter affects the moral and social order not only of that archipelago, but of all the islands of the Southern Ocean, with mainlands adjacent. For the preservation of that order there is need of the protectorate of some one Power practically omnipresent over that ocean, in a position of competency to superintend the general police of the whole region, in the interest of mankind. That, under certain conditions, might be accomplished through a joint protectorate of great Powers. But it might be made insuperably difficult by the establishment of any one imperial Power in the region which is not effectively present in the region all over. (3.) Irrespectively of patriotic attachment to our nation, and solicitude for its interest, we submit that the protectorate of the Southern Ocean is, in large measure, an office of Great Britain, which she cannot decline or abandon without dishonour as well as loss, and to which she is apparently called by an overruling Providence, in the interest of civilization and humanity. (4.) The Presbytery observes, with grateful satisfaction, the hitherto successful endeavours, for prevention or remedy of evils thus suggested, by the British Government. It gives them special gratification to observe, in this relation, the enlightened zeal and public spirit