A.—s

1890. NEW ZEALAND.

ANNEXATION OF MACQUARIE ISLANDS (PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Message from His Excellency the Governor..

Onslow, Governor. The Governor forwards herewith, for the consideration of the Legislative Council and the House of Eepresentatives, copy of correspondence respecting the proposed annexation of Macquarie Island, and the adjacent islets to New Zealand. Wellington, 10th September, 1890.

No. 1. Sir W. P. D. Jeevois to the Eight Hon. Lord Knutsfoed. My Loed Government House, Wellington, 24th January, 1889. I have the honour to enclose herewith a copy of a memorandum which I have received from my Government urging that, for the sake of the conservation of the seal-fisheries of the colony, 'Macquarie Island and the islands adjacent thereto should bo annexed to New Zealand. This small group lies to the south of New Zealand, between the latitude of 54° and 56° S., and longitude 159° and 160° E. The other islands in that region—namely, the Campbell, Antipodes, and bAuckland Island, already form part of this colony, and I think it desirable that Macquarie Island, with its adjacent islets, should also be included. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. W. F. Deummond Jeevois.

Enclosure. Memoeandum for His Excellency. It being desirable, in connection with the conservation of the seal-fisheries belonging to the colony, that Macquarie Island and the islands adjacent thereto should form part of this colony. His Excellency the Governor is respectfully advised to move the Secretary of State for the Colonies to cause the necessary steps to be taken to have the British flag hoisted and the Queen's sovereignty proclaimed over these islands, with a view of their being annexed to New Zealand. H. A. Atkinson, Government Buildings, Wellington, 16th January, 1889. Premier.

No. 2. The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsfokd to the Eight Hon. the Earl of Onslow. My Loud — Downing Street, 7th May, 1889. * In reply to Sir William Jervois's Despatch No. 2, of the 24th of January last, respecting the proposed annexation of the Macquarie Islands, I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a letter which I caused to be addressed to the Admiralty on the subject, and of their Lordships' reply. Her Maiestv's Government are willing that the annexation should be effected ; and the most convenient mode of carrying out this object would probably be for the Colonial Government to despatch a vessel with one of their officers on board to hoist the British flag at the islands, and to proclaim Her Majesty's sovereignty over them; and on your report that this has been done and when the New Zealand Parliament has adopted a joint address praying for the annexation of the islands to the colony, steps shall be taken for issuing the necessary letters patent, for the Impose. I accordingly authorise you to propose this course to your Government and, when adopted by them to "ive instructions to.some suitable officer of the Government to declare Her Majesty s sovereignty over the islands inquestion, subject to the condition that no evidence- ls'-found on the spot of the islands being claimed by any foreign Power. ~,.,« A~n « Zou should cause a notification of the annexation to be inserted in the-Government Gazette; and I enclose for your guidance a description of the islands with which I have been furnished by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. I have, &c, Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Onslow, G.C.M.G., &c. Kntjtbfobd.