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A.—3

at least three months is to be given. The notice is to be affixed on the notice-board of the Courthouse. The " Grundbuch " authorities can dispense with the measures prescribed in the preceding paragraph in case the applicant or any legal predecessor in ownership has been in undisturbed possession of the land in question for the last three years at least. § 12. The provisions of No. 4 of the Declaration respecting reciprocal freedom of trade and intercourse in the German and English possessions and Protectorates in the Western Pacific of the 10th April, 1886, are not affected by § § 7 and the following. But the provision in the last paragraph of § 10 is to apply to the claims of British subjects as soon as they have been established by the decision of the Mixed Commission provided for in No. 4 of the said Declaration. § 13. The provisions of this decree do not oppose the issue of subsequent provisions introducing restrictions on rights of property for the protection of natives, or otherwise in the public interest. This decree is to come into force on the Ist October, 1887. Given under our hand and seal, Bad Gastein, the 20th July, 1887. William. Count Bismaeck.

A.-5, 1887, Sess. 1.,N0. 5.

No. 6. The Agent-Genebal to the Premise. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 16th September, 1887. I beg to enclose a variety of extracts from recent newspapers relating to the Pacific islands. In the House of Commons, on the Bth instant, Sir James Fergusson, Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, announced the receipt of intelligence from Samoa, through the Governor of New Zealand, to the effect that the German Consul, supported by the squadron then at Apia, had deposed Malietoa and set up Tamasese in his stead. On the 12th Sir James further informed the House that the British Consul at Samoa had been ordered to observe a strict neutrality, and that Her Majesty's Government had received assurances from the German Government that their action at Samoa did not affect the relations with the three Powers who had made treaties with Malietoa. A leading English paper, referring to the incident, says that Germany must be admitted to have the strongest claim to be the " mandatory Power " in Samoa, and that, if she cares to take the responsibility, no obstacles should be thrown in her way. But this takes no account of the United States, whereas their Government are seriously dissatisfied at this high-handed proceeding of Germany, and do not seem inclined to submit to it: indeed, a change has suddenly come over the position as it existed in May, when I was saying that the United States might be expected to throw their weight into the scale in favour of Germany being chosen as the " mandatory Power." Sir John Thurston, who had gone from Fiji, as you are aware, to attend the Washington Conference, was sent for by the Colonial Office, and arrived here three weeks ago; we were talking together over Pacific Island affairs only a few hours before the news came of the fresh complication that had just arisen at Samoa. Nothing has yet been done at Washington. I lately sent you Sir Charles Mitchell's report, with the proceedings at the inquiry held by him upon the affairs of Tonga. Sir Henry Holland has told the House of Commons that, while he would not overrule the High Commissioner's action, the Eev. Mr. Baker had been warned that he was under the jurisdiction of that officer, and might be deported from the islands at any moment. A short discussion took place in the House of Commons (while in Committee of Supply on the Civil Service votes) respecting the arrangement come to with Queensland about New Guinea; but I suppose New Guinea affairs have ceased to be of much interest to New Zealand. The French Government are paying more attention than heretofore to the Island of Eapa. The Governor of Tahiti has lately made an official inspection round the islands under his Government, and, while he was at Eapa, visited a coal-mine which had been discovered by the croppingout of lignite. The island is now to be placed under the Administrator of Tubuai. The French Colonial Office has told the Governors of New Caledonia and Guiana to report upon a scheme for encouraging colonisation in these possessions. State aid is to be given, and agricultural centres to be created capable of receiving five or six hundred people. Convicts are to make roads, clear land, and build villages. The cost is to be shared between the Mother-country and the colony, and the cleared land is to be sold to colonists on deferred payment. The scheme is treated as chimerical at Paris, on the ground that official colonisation has been tried over and over again at Algiers and elsewhere, and always with the same result of total failure. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

No. 4.

Enclosures. [Extract from the Times, Saturday, 3rd September, 1887.] New Guinea. Sir G. Campbell asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in the event of the compliance of the Australian Colonies with the terms on which Her Majesty's Government have expressed their willingness to annex the portion of New Guinea not claimed by Germany or Holland, Her Majesty's Government propose to act on the opinion of their law advisers (quoted at