7

A.—l

Enclosures. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 24th August, 1908. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister presents his compliments, and in returning G.H. 492/1908 of the 22nd May, attaches "hereto a memorandum from the Hon. the Minister for Marine, which explains the position regarding the question of establishing a lighthouse and fog signal station on the Auckland Islands. J. G. Warp

The Rt. Hon. the Prime Minister. After the wreck of the " Dundonald " on the Auckland Islands in March 1907, the Court of Enquiry into the wreck recommended the erection of a lighthouse and fog-signal on the Snares, suggesting that the cost of construction and maintenance should be distributed between Great Britain, the Commonwealth and the Dominion. The opinion of the Imperial Authorities, who have had the Court's report before them, is that their General Lighthouse Fund is not available for establishing a lighthouse and fog-signal on an island which is a part of the possessions of the Dominion, and ask whether our Government proposes to take any action in the matter. The Government of the Commonwealth, after the enquiry mentioned, was communicated with, and asked whether it would contribute towards erecting a lighthouse on the Snares, the reply being that the Commonwealth Government had not as yet taken over the control of lighthouses, but intended to do so shortly, and that when it had assumed control, the erection of a light on the Snares would be one of the matters to be attended to first. From this it would seem that there is a consensus of opinion that the Snares, and not the Auckland Islands, should be lighted. ( s gd) J- A. Millar. • 17/8/08.

No. 18. No. 67. My Lord, Government House, Wellington, 28th August 1908. I have the honour to inform you that I have been requested by my Prime Minister to transmit to your Lordship the accompanying copy of a memorandum from the Minister for Lands relative to certain land at present in the legal possession of the Imperial Government. 2. The land in question is comprised in Sections numbered 226 and 233, City of Wellington, upon which a drill-shed in Buckle Street has recently been erected. 3. My Ministers desire me to request that the two areas described in the enclosed schedule may be transferred to the Governor of New Zealand. I have etc., The Right Honble PLUNKET, The Secretary of State for the Colonies. Governor.

Enclosures. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 21st August, 1908. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister presents his compliments and transmits herewith a memorandum from the Minister for Lands relative to certain land at present in the legal possession of the Imperial Government, and desires that His Excellency will ask His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies to transfer the two areas described in the schedule accompanying the Minister's communication, to the Governor of New Zealand. (sgd) J. G. Ward. Department of Lands, Wellington, 17th August, 1908. The Rt. Hon. the Prime Minister. A communication has been received from the Council of Defence, stating that it is proposed to vest in trustees the land on which the new Drill-shed in Buckle Street is erected, viz., Sections Nos. 226 and 233, City of Wellington. The land is at present in the legal possession of the Imperial Government, as is also an adjacent area known as the Mount Cook Reserve, the former area having been granted to the Secretary of State for War on 31st May, 1858, and the latter having been granted to the Principal Officers of Her late Majesty's Ordnance on 9th July, 1850. On 20th May, 1880, Lord Kimberley, then Secretary of State for the Colonies, in a despatch (copy attached) to Sir Hercules Robinson late Governor of New Zealand, suggested that a legal transfer of the lands should be effected, and stated that he was prepared to take the necessary steps to vest the lands in the Governor of New Zealand, in the manner provided by " The Colonial Fortifications Act, 1877."