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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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Reference :-

C.O. 882

5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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6. In the meantime fresh difficulties have arisen from the personal differences between the Governor and the Lieutenant-Governor, each of whom imputes to the other conduct and action wholly inconsistent with propriety and duty. The administration of public business has consequently been seriously impeded, with much injury to the credit and efficiency of the Government; and, while reluctant to take a step involving of necessity some further excitement of local opinion, as well as some pain to those principally concerned, Her Majesty's Government have felt that the peace and prosperity of the island would be gravely imperilled by any prolongation of the existing disquiet, and they have accordingly decided that a thorough inquiry into the administration of the government, and into the principal complaints made by persons unconnected with the government, must be held without further delay.

7. I have then to request that you will examine and report upon :—

(1.) The personal relations of the Governor with the Lieutenant-Governor and with other high officers of the Government, with special reference to the despatches and letters respecting these matters which have been placed in your hands.

(2.) The alleged interference of the Governor at the election of members of the Council of Governinent, by inducing a candidate to withdraw on promise of a nomination to a seat in the Council.",

(3.) The charges brought against Mr. H. Cockburn-Stewart, Assistant Colonial Secretary, and the propriety and justice, or otherwise, of his suspension after the recent inquiry.

8. In addition to these particular matters I shall be obliged by your taking into consideration:-

(4.) The representations of the memorial addressed to the Secretary of State by some unofficial members of the Council of Government. If, as they undertake, they reduce those representations into a more specific form, you will deal with each complaint which appears to you to require particular investigation; under- standing that you are invested with full discretion to decline to enter upon any charge which may appear to you either frivolous or not sufficiently important to come within the purview of your Commission.

(5.) The alleged revival of antagonistic feeling between the different races of

inhabitants, and the causes of such a condition of affairs, if it actually exists. (6.) The general condition of the finances of the Colony.

7.) The alleged increase of crime, and the extent to which the sentences of the Courts have been, as is alleged, varied or set aside by the exercise of the prerogative of pardon.

(8.) The necessity, or otherwise, of special measures for obviating any evil from the presence in the Colony of large numbers of Indian immigrants without fixed residence or occupation.

(9.) Any other matters relating to the administration of the Government which may be brought under your notice by persons of responsibility, and which you may judge to be deserving of your inquiry and report.

9. Your long acquaintance with Colonial Administration in all its forms renders it unnecessary for me to instruct you in detail as to those parts of the Colonial Regulations and of the Royal Instructions which, under other circumstances, it would be desirable that I should refer to, as bearing upon the matters which will come before you; and I need only add, in conclusion, that I am satisfied that you will fully appreciate the anxiety of Her Majesty's Government that harmony and confidence should be, as soon as possible, re-established in the Legislature and the Civil Service of Mauritius, as well as throughout the community. The loyalty and law-abiding spirit of the people have always been most gratifying to the Queen and to Her Majesty's advisers, and I observe with pleasure that Natives of the island now hold a large proportion of the higher posts in the public service, and that the Council of Government has been reconstituted in such a manner as to give the people, through their elected representatives, a larger and more direct influence in connexion with legislation, finance, and public affairs generally. I sincerely trust that after personal investigation you will find yourself able to remove most, if not all, of the differences and misunderstandings which now impede the welfare and good government of the island, and to make such recommendations as may restore efficiency and public confidence to the administrative system of Mauritius.

I have, &c. (Signed) EDWARD STANHOPE. Į

Sir Hercules Robinson.

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SIR,

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No. 25.

THE RIGHT HON. EDWARD STANHOPE, M.P., to the RIGHT HON.

SIR HERCULES ROBINSON, G.C.M.G.

Downing Street, September 29, 1886.

I HAVE the honour to transmit to you a Commission passed under the Royal Sign Manual and Signet, appointing you to be Her Majesty's Commissioner to inquire into the affairs of the Colony of Mauritius.

I have the honour also to transmit, for your information, copies of the instruments noted in the margin.*

Sir Hercules G. R. Robinson.

have, &c. (Signed)

EDWARD STANHOPE.

Enclosure in No. 25.

MAURITIUS.

COMMISSION passed under the ROYAL SIGN MANUAL AND SIGNET, appointing the RIGHT HON. SIR HERCULES GEORGE ROBERT ROBINSON, P.C., G.C.M.G., to be HER MAJESTY'S COMMISSIONER to inquire into the Affairs of the COLONY of Mauritius.— Dated September 25, 1886.

VICTORIA R.

VICTORIA, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India: To Our right trusty and well- beloved Councillor Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, Knight Grand Cross of Our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Our Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Our Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, in South Africa, with its Territories and Dependencies, greeting.

Whereas it is expedient that diligent and full inquiry should be made into the state of affairs existing in Our Colony of Mauritius, and into the relations between the Governor of our said Colony and the public officers thereof, and in other matters relating to the peace, order, and good government of Our Baid Colony.

Now, therefore, We do by this Our Commission, under Our Sign Manual and Signet, appoint you, the said Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, to be during Our pleasure Our Commissioner for the purposes of and to make such inquiry.

And we do hereby empower and require you, as such Our Commissioner, to take all such measures and to do all such things as in the interest of Our service appear to you to be advisable for the effective prosecution of such inquiry, according to such instruc tions as you may receive from Us through one of Our Principal Secretaries of State: and especially We do authorise and empower you to summon all such persons as you may think fit to give evidence before you, and to require them or any of them to produce any books, records, or other documents relating to Our Service which you may require to have before you.

And We do require you with as little delay as possible to report to Us, through one of Our Principal Secretaries of State, stating fully what you shall have done in the matters hereby entrusted to you, and submitting to Us such recommendations upon the enid matters as may appear to you to be proper and expedient.

And we do hereby command and require the Governor of Our said Colony and all Our Officers, Civil and Military, and all other inhabitants of Our said Colony, to be aiding and assisting unto you, the said Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, in execution of this Our Commission.

Given at Our Court at Balmoral, this Twenty-fifth day of September 1886, in the ̋ Fiftieth year of Our Reign.

By Her Majesty's Command,

Not printed.

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