217

8.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TILICO. 885

5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

MEMORANDUM for HIS EXCELLENCY.

Ministers have the honour to return herewith the telegram from the Governor of South Australia forwarding a telegram from the Secretary of State concerning New Guinea expenses, which his Excellency submitted for their consideration on the 19th of August.

last.

The conclusion at which Ministers have arrived after again considering the subject is that they cannot say more than they have already conveyed to his Excellency in their nemorandum of the 7th July last, in which they stated their views for submission to nis Excellency Major-General Scratchley, and their willingness to submit to Parliament a resolution to the effect that this Colony should undertake to pay its share of 15,000%. a year on certain conditions.

Wellington, September 5, 1885.

7.

(Signed)

ROBERT STOUT.

GOVERNOR SIR G. C. STRAHAN, K.C.M.G. (TASMANIA), to COLONEL THE RIGHT HON. F. A. STANLEY, M.P. (Received November 3, 1885.)

SIR,

Government House, Hobart, September 14, 1885.

WITH reference to my Despatch of the 20th ultimo, reporting the receipt of a telegram* transmitted by you to me through the Governor of South Australia, respecting the expenses connected with the Government of British territory in New Guinea, I have the honour to forward to you a memorandum which I have received from the Premier upon the subject.

The memorandum referred to in the concluding paragraph of the memorandum now forwarded was transmitted in my Despatch of 2nd May last.‡

I have, &c.

Col. the Right Hon. Frederick A. Stanley, M.P.,

&c.

&c.

&c.

Enclosure in 7.

(Signed)

G. C. STRAHAN.

MEMORANDUM for His Excellency the Governor.

Premier's Office, Hobart, August 20, 1885. THE Premier has the honour to return to your Excellency the telegraphic message from the Secretary of Stale, received through the Governor of South Australia on the 16th instant, respecting the Imperial contribution towards the cost of maintaining the sovereignty over the British territory in New Guinea.

If the proposal is that the Imperial authorities should contribute the cost of a suitable vessel" of not less than 18,000," as mentioned in the message now under acknowledg- ment, and thereafter be relieved of the responsibility of defraying any portion of the annual expenditure, the whole burden of which would then fall on the Australasian Colonies, this Government are not prepared to recognise such an arrangement, as being, in their opinion, inequitable. They would, however, be quite ready to recommend the payment of the share proportionate to the population of Tasmania in conjunction with the other Australasian Colonies, assisted by an adequate contribution from Imperial funds.

In connexion with this subject the Premier desires to refer your Excellency to the concluding paragraphs of his memorandum of the 30th of April last, returning General Scratchley's letter of the 25th of March.

ADYE DOUGLAS.

* No. 150 in [C.-4584], August 1885.

(Signed)

† Not printed.

The AGENT GENERAL FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA to COLONIAL OFFICE.

Office of Agent General for South Australia,

8, Victoria Chambers, Westminster,

London, S.W., 21st December 1885.

SIR,

I HAVE the honour to transmit hereunder copy of a telegram that I have this day received from the Government of South Australia, relative to the New Guinea subsidy, viz. :-

"21st December 1885, 5.20 p.m. (Adelaide time). "South Australian Government decline paying New Guinea Subsidy after Financial period ending June 30th 1886.”

I have, &c. (Signed) ARTHUR BLYTH,

Agent General.

The Under Secretary of State for the Colonies.

9.

GOVERNOR SIR F. NAPIER BROOME, K.C.M.G. (WESTERN AUSTRALIA), to COLONEL THE RIGHT Hon. F. A. STANLEY, M.P. (Received March 9, 1886.)

SIR,

Government Cottage, Rottnest Island,

January 16, 1886.

have the honour

REFERRING to my Despatch of the 10th of September last, to call your attention to the fact that the Government of South Australia has notified that the contribution paid by that Colony towards the expenses of administering the Protected Territory in New Guinea will cease on the 30th of June next.

2. I think that the Legislature of this Colony would probably object to any increase of the West Australian contribution for the purpose of making up the deficit caused by the withdrawal of South Australia.

3. As the whole question of the Administration of New Guinea appears to be in an uncertain, and probably a transitory, state, and as its future depends largely on the as yet undetermined action of the Eastern Colonies of Australia, I do not feel in a position to enter further into the matter.

Col. the Right Hon. F. A. Stanley, M.P.,

&c.

Stc.

&c.

10.

I have, &c.

(Signed) F. NAPIER BROOME.

JOHN DOUGLAS, Esq., C.M.G. (NEW GUINEA), to the RIGHT HON. THE EARL GRANVILLE, K.Ġ. (Received April 30, 1886.)

TELEGRAPHIC.

Brisbane, 30th April. Queensland, jointly with New South Wales, Victoria, prepared guarantee 15,000/." annually for five years on account of New Guinea. Proposc Her Majesty's Government contribute capital sum special requirements of Protectorate.

Full details by post shortly.

ཅ་

↑ No. 120 in [C.-4584], August 1885.

Kk 2218

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