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The Cook Group possesses, apparently, no safe harbours; but I have caused letters to be addressed to the Foreign Office and the Admiralty requesting to be supplied with more detailed information respecting these islands than I at present possess. I have, &c, EKED. STANLEY. Governor Sir W. E. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

No. 23. (New Zealand, No. 73.) Sir, — Downing Street, 23rd November, 1885. I have received from the Chamber of Commerce at Auckland six copies of a report by Mr. J. L. Kelly on the South Sea Islands. I have read with much interest this valuable report, which will be of great advantage to me in dealing with matters connected with these islands. I request that you will forward twelve further copies of the report for the use of this department. I have, &c, ERED. STANLEY. Governor Sir W. E. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

No. 24. (New Zealand, No. 74) Sir, — Downing Street, 2nd December, 1885. I referred to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty a copy of your Despatch No. 90, of the 18th of July last, with the memorandum from your Ministers which accompanied it, in which it is requested that the sum of £3,000, charged for eight 64-pounder M.L. guns recently supplied to New Zealand by the Naval Commander-in-Chief on the Australian Station, may be remitted, and the guns be regarded as lent to the colony until returned into store. I have now the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, copies of two letters which have been received from the Admiralty on this subject, from which you will perceive that the wishes of your Ministers have been acceded to. I have, &c, FRED. STANLEY. Governor Sir W. P. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-IA, 1885, No. 63.

Enclosure 1. Sir,— Admiralty, S.W., 21st September, 1885. With reference to Mr. Bramston's letter of the 31st ultimo, relative to the question of remitting the charge of £3,000 against the New Zealand Government on account of eight 64--pounder M.L. guns recently supplied to the colony by the naval Commander-in-Chief on the station, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that my Lords, in view of the guns in question being War Office stores, have communicated with the War Department, and have requested that the wishes of the New Zealand Government may be met. 2. I am to add that, upon the receipt of a notification of Mr. Secretary Smith's concurrence in my Lords'" views, directions will be given for the removal of the guns from New Zealand to Sydney, to be stored at the depot. I have, &c., Evan Macgregor. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, S.W.

Enclosure 2. Sir,— Admiralty, S.W., 13th November, 1885. In continuation of the letter from this department of the 21st September, relative to the question of the remission of the charge of £3,000 against the New Zealand Government on account of eight 64-pounder M.L. guns recently supplied to the colony by the Naval Commancler-in-Clrief on the station, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that this sum of £3,000 will be returned to the New Zealand Government if already paid, but that if payment has not yet been made no claim on account of the guns will be put forward against the colony. I have, &c, The Uuder-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Evan Macgregok.