2

A.—6

beforehand in a matter involving international complications with France, we asked, on the other hand, for a recognition of the right of the colonies to protect themselves against what might otherwise become an irremediable calamity. In reply, Colonel Stanley said that he was much gratified at our desire not to entangle the Imperial Government into specific promises beforehand; but, while reserving a necessary discretion to the Government for considering at the proper time whatever legislation the colonies might ultimately find it necessary to pass, he had no difficulty in assuring us of the hearty sympathy of Her Majesty's present Government with the colonies respecting the recidiviste scheme. It was very satisfactory to him to hear the renewed appreciation by the Colonial Governments of Lord Lyous's exertions in the cause ; and those exertions would undoubtedly continue to be used in the same spirit, and with the same watchful care, as we had seen in the past. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

No. 2. The Agent-General to the Premier. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 25th August, 1885. I transmit to you herewith copy of a letter from the Colonial Office, covering a further despatch from Lord Lyons on the subject of the Recidiviste Act. The opening of a credit for 1,550,000f. (£62,000) for the service of relegation of the first thousand recidivistes to be sent out, shows what the expense would have been if the numbers originally spoken of had been capable of being sent. You will be glad to see that New Caledonia is not yet mentioned. As it will be convenient to preserve a continuous record, step by step, of everything that is done about the Act, I shall shortly send you a translation of the documents forwarded by Lord Lyons. I have, &c., The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosure. The Colonial Office to the Agent-General. Sir,— Colonial Office, Downing Street, 19th August, 1885. With reference to previous correspondence respecting the French Habitual Criminals Bill, I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for your information, a copy of a further letter from the Foreign Office, with its enclosures on the subject. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. John Bramston.

Sub-Enclosure. The Foreign Office to the Colonial Offick. Sir,— Foreign Office, 31st July, 1885. With reference to my letter of the 20th instant, I am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to transmit to yon herewith, for the information of Secretary Colonel Stanley, a copy of a despatch from Her Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, forwarding a copy of a Bill brought into the Chamber of Deputies by the French Government, with a view to obtain a credit of 1,550,000f. to be applied in carrying out the Habitual Criminals Transportation Act, and enclosing also an unofficial summary of the ''Expose dcs Motifs" of the Bill. I have, &c., The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. J. Pauncefote.

My Lord,— Paris, 28th July, 1885. In my Despatch No. 483, of the 22nd instant, I had the honour to mention to your Lordship that the Government had brought into the Chamber of Deputies a Bill to grant a credit of 1,550,0001. to be applied to the execution of the law for the transportation of habitual criminals. I have not yet been able to obtain a copy of the Bill or of the " Expose dcs Motifs/ with which it was introduced, but I do myself the honour to transmit to your Lordship an extract from an unofficial newspaper which contains a summary of the " Expose dcs Motifs." If this summary is to be depended upon, it is intended to spend 400,000f. (£10,000) of the proposed credit upon the establishment of penitentiaries in France, to which habitual criminals are to be sent in order to prepare them for transportation. The remaining 1,150,000f. (£4-6,000), if the summary be correct, are destined to provide for the expense of sending a first batch of criminals to Guiana and of providing for their maintenance in that colony. No mention is made in the summary of New Caledonia or any other place hi the Pacific. I have, &c, The Marquis of Salisbury, K.G., &c. Lyons.