25

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fairly started, the convicts could erect the mairie, school, and other public buildings, and would then be withdrawn to begin the same process elsewhere. This is certainly an ingenious plan of emigration made easy, all the pioneering being done by convicts; but if Frenchmen cannot be induced to go to Algeria they are not likely to be tempted to Guiana or New Caledonia.

No. 7. The Agent-General to the Premier. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 4th October, 1887. A Press telegram from Sydney appeared in the Times of to-day to the effect that Malietoa had been put on board the German gunboat " Adler," which had thereupon left Samoa under sealed orders. Another telegram also appeared, from New York, that Mr. Bayard, Secretary of State, had announced that there was nothing in the treaty between the United States and Samoa to call for interference on Malietoa's behalf by the United States Government, so long as American interests were not molested by his deposition. I do not think there is any doubt of the same line being taken here by the Foreign Office. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosures. [Extracts from the Times, Tuesday, 4th October, 1887.] Samoa. Sydney, 3rd October. Accoeding to advices from Samoa, King Malietoa, against whom the Germans recently declared war owing to rohheries having been committed by his people on German plantations, has now yielded and been sent into exile. He was taken on board the gunboat " Adler," which sailed with sealed orders. Before leaving Malietoa wrote to the British and American Consuls, declaring that he was disappointed at not having received support. All was quiet at Samoa.

The United States and Samoa. New York, 3rd October. The New York Herald publishes a telegram from Washington stating that Mr. Bayard, Secretary of State, referring to the action of Germany in Samoa, has declared that there is no doubt that the Germans have treated the Samoans harshly. He was previously informed that Germany would take her recent action, but was at the same time assured that America's interests would be protected, and that it was Germany's intention not to annex Samoan territory, but only to punish King Malietoa. Mr. Bayard concluded by stating that there was nothing in the treaty between Samoa and the United States to call for interference on the part of the American Government so long as American interests were unmolested.

No. 8. The Agent-General to the Premier. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 16th December, 1887. Eecent Press telegrams will have made public the appointment of Sir John Thurston to be Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner of the Western Pacific. He leaves for his government in a few days, and I feel sure, from repeated conversations with him, how much concurrence his views would have met with in New Zealand if he could have visited you on his way. You will also have learnt from Press messages of the departure of 300 more convicts from the lie de Eho for New Caledonia. I see that some of the Australian newspapers affect surprise at this, and urge new protests being made against the action of France. No one in New Zealand, I imagine, will have shared in that surprise, or have been blinded to the fact that France has had her way throughout in the recent negotiations, and really obtained all she had played for when she sent her troops to the New Hebrides. New regulations have lately been promulgated by the President of the French Eepublic respecting the rttcidivistes, but I hardly think New Zealand will take much interest in such matters now. A Press telegram appeared here a few days ago, to the effect that some account of the course taken by the United States at the recent Conference on Samoan affairs had been allowed to transpire. You will not have been surprised at the altered attitude of the American Government to Germany, after the latter's high-handed proceedings at Apia. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosures. [Extract from the limes, Wednesday, 7th December, 1887.] French Convicts fob New Caledonia. La Eochelle, 6th December. Three hundred convicts embarked this morning at St. Martin de Be for New Caledonia. 4—A. 3.