94
No. 39.
MESORI. H. LECLEZIO, V. NAZ, and Others to COLONIAL office.
(Received January 6, 1887.)
TELEGRAPHIC.
WE, the majority of unofficial members of the Mauritius Council protest against the sudden and uncalled-for suspension by Royal Commissioner of Governor Hennessy, before the inquiry was completed. Governor had presented his defence. Petition to the Queen and address to Governor are being signed. Mauritius, 21st December 1886.
(Signed)
LECLEZIO, NAZ, ADAM,
ARLANDA, Edwards, GUIBERT, PORTAL, JEFFROY.
95
under the power conveyed to me in the same Commission, nominated General Hawley, the officer commanding the troops, to succeed me, and he will from that date assume the administration of the government of the Colony.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
The Right Hon. Edward Stanhope, M.P.,
&c.
&c.
&c.
No. 43.
HERCULES ROBINSON.
No. 40.
THE RIGHT HON. EDWARD STANHOPE, M.P., to the RIGHT HON.
SIR HERCULES ROBINSON, G.C.M.G.
TELEGRAPHIC.
*
7th January. Following telegram* received from Hennessy.* Telegraph any suggestions. He has been ordered home, with reference to your report, by telegraph sent 1st January.†
ADMINISTRATOR THE RIGHT HON. SIR HERCULES ROBINSON, G.C.M.G., to the RIGHT HON. EDWARD STANHOPE, M.P. (Received January 11, 1887.) (No. 2.)
Government House, Mauritius, December 17, 1896.
SIR,
BEFORE leaving this Colony, I have thought it desirable that General Hawley should have as his chief adviser an officer of large colonial experience who has taken no part in the recent conflicts between Sir John Pope Hennessy and those who have found themselves opposed to him.
2. I have been unable, on looking around me, to find anyone who could fulfil these conditions with the exception of Mr. Round, the present Secretary to the Royal Commission.
3. I have accordingly invited him to remain on here temporarily as Acting Colonial Secretary until you are able to decide on the permanent appointment of an officer in the room of Mr. Clifford Lloyd
4. Mr. Round has been good enough to consent, although his remaining here is inconvenient to him, and I think Her Majesty's Government are under an obligation to him for the sacrifice he has made of his personal inclinations.
5. The appointment, as far as I can judge, appears to give general satisfaction. Mr. Round has this day been sworn in as Aoting Colonial Secretary, and a member of the Executive Council of Mauritius.
I have, &c.
(Signed) HERCULES ROBINSON.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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Reference :-
C.O. 882
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
No. 41.
THE RIGHT HON. SIR HERCULES ROBINSON, G.C.M.G., to the RIGHT HON. EDWARD Stanhope, m.p. (Received January 8, 1887.)
TELEGRAPHIC.
8th January. Yours 7 January. Wrote by French mail of 20th December to Sir R. Herbert explaining fully circumstances which obliged me Hennessy's defence, which he failed to give me, although I remained a fortnight beyond to leave without specified time. I told him he was free to send it after me, and that his suspension was on general grounds which would not be affected by his defence. In my opinion his removal from Mauritius was indispensable in the interest of Queen's service, and his defence could only affect the personal question whether he should be re-employed, pensioned, or removed without pension. The majority of the 34 official witnesses for defence, referred to, had as far as I could ascertain, no real existence. Hennessy's two friends, Beyts and De Joux, gave me two lists of English officials who they thought would give evidence in his favour: all on these lists who were willing to come forward, 16 in number, were examined, and their evidence collectively was rather damaging to Hennessy, than otherwise. My report, with evidence and all connected papers, will go to you by next mail of 12th January.
No. 42.
Administrator the RIGHT HON. SIR HERCULES ROBINSON, G.C.M.G., to the RIGHT HON. EDward stanHOPE, M.P. (Received January 11, 1887.) (No. 1.) SIR,
Government House, Mauritius, I HAVE the honour to inform you that, under the authority entrusted to me by
December 15, 1886. the Commission under the Royal Sign Manual and Signet dated the 25th September last,§ I have this day assumed the government of Mauritius and its Dependencies.
2. I propose leaving for the Cape on Saturday next, the 18th instant, and I have,
• See No. 38.
↑ No. 37.
† No. 40.
Enclosure in No. 17.
The
&c.
&c.
Right Hon. Edward Stanhope, M.P.,
&c.
No. 44.
SIR J. POPE HENNESSY, K.C.M.G., to the RIGHT HON. EDWARD STANHOPE, M.P. (Received January 11, 1887.)
Mauritius, December 18, 1886.
SIR,
WITH reference to the despatches noted in the margin,* I have the honour to inform you that the inquiry into the affairs of Mauritius has been somewhat abruptly terminated by my suspension from office, and Sir Hercules Robinson's departure for the Cape, where it seems his presence was required.
2. The necessary legal powers were conferred on the Commissioner by Ordinance No. 7 of 1886, to which I assented on the 10th of November, the day the examination of witnesses began.
3. Though the majority of the unofficial members of the Council of Government entertained doubts as to the necessity and objects of the inquiry, I was able to induce them to pass the Ordinance and the subsequent money vote for the expenses of the Commission, without any comment.
4. The few meetings of the Legislature that I called whilst the Commission was sitting were occupied in debating the estimates of next year, and getting through routine work. We avoided all reference to the Commission. The debates were practical and businesslike. Though some extra labour was thrown upon me personally, the Government of the Colony was conducted smoothly. The enclosed schedulet of my despatches show that you were informed as usual of such details of my administration as it was necessary to report, from the arrival of the Commissioner until his recent act.
5. No doubt when the announcement of the Commission first came, and the telegrams from the Australian newspapers reached Mauritius, there had been some excitement in the island, for it was then stated that the Colonial Department in London had prejudged
† Not printed.
• Nos. 28 and 35.
M 4