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(6.) That an Administrator of the Government should be appointed, with that title, at a salary to be determined by agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Queensland, to whom, with two or more other persons, should be delegated legislative powers under the Acts above cited.

(7.) That no purchase of land should be allowed to be made by private persons,

except from the Government or purchasers from it.

(8.) That no deportation of natives should be allowed either from one part of the Colony to another, or to places beyond the Colony, except under Ordinances sanctioned by Her Majesty's Imperial Government.

(9.) That trading with the natives in arms, ammunition, explosives, and intoxicants

should be prohibited, except under Ordinances passed with the like sanction. (10.) That the foregoing three Articles should be made part of the Constitution of the Colony, preferably by Orders in Council made contemporaneously with the assumption of sovereignty, or else by Ordinances to be passed immediately afterwards by the Legislative Council under instructions from Her Majesty's Imperial Government; and that standing instructions should be given to the Governor of Queensland and to the Administrator of British New Guinea to observe the conditions of these Articles.

(11.) That an estimate of probable revenue and proposed expenditure for each year should be submitted by the Administrator to the Governor of Queensland for approval before being submitted to the Legislative Council of British New Guinea.

(12.) That all accounts of receipts and expenditure should be audited by officers of

the Queensland Government. (13.) That the Administrator, in the exercise of his legislative and administrative functions, should (subject, of course, to Her Majesty's power of disallowance of proposed laws) be subject to the instructions of the Governor of Queensland.

(14.) That the Governor of Queensland should be directed to consult his Executive Council upon all matters relating to British New Guinea, and be guided by their advice within the limits of his instructions.

(15.) That the Government of Queensland should consult the Governments of the other contributing Colonies in all matters other than those of ordinary administration, and report to them all action taken.

17. I infer from the address delivered to the Agents-General by Colonel Stanley on his resignation of the office of Secretary of State for the Colonies, and I have otherwise reason to believe, that a scheme substantially to the foregoing effect would have met with his approval; and I shall be glad if it should, with such modifications as may suggest themselves upon further consideration, commend itself to the Colonies generally, and should prove a practical solution of the present difficulty.

S. W. GRIFFITH.

15.

JOHN DOUGLAS, Esq., C.M.G. (New GUINEA), to the RIGHT HON. THE EARL GRANVILLE, K.G. (Received June 14, 1886.)

MY LORD,

Brisbane, April 26, 1886.

In reference to the negotiations now pending as to the proportionate contribu- tions of the Australasian Colonies to the cost of the New Guinea Protectorate, and as to the contemplated proclamation of sovereignty, I have to report that I have lately visited both Sydney and Melbourne, and that I have seen the Governors of New South Wales and Victoria, as well as the leading members of the Government in both Colonies.

2. Mr. Griffith, the Prime Minister of Queensland, is now in Sydney, by appointment, to discuss certain matters of interest with the Prime Ministers of New South Wales and Victoria.

I do not doubt that at this meeting some decision will be arrived at which will result in a proposition being made to Her Majesty's Government in reference to New Guinea.

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Pending this meeting I thought it desirable to address to the Government of Queens- land a letter in reference to certain matters touched upon in a memorandum lately drawn up by Mr. Griffith, and submitted in a circular despatch to the Australasian Čolonies. I now furnish your Lordship with a copy of my letter.

4. It appertained, it seemed to me, to my duty, to make such representations to the Government of Queensland as were in accordance with what I believed to be the require- ments of the Protectorate, in the event of Her Majesty's sovereignty being pro- claimed.

5. My letter to Sir Arthur Palmer sufficiently explains what I conceived these to be, and I trust that the negotiations will be carried out to a successful issue.

I have, &c. (Signed)

The Right Hon. Earl Granville, K.G.

&c.

&c.

&c.

Enclosure in 15.

NEW GUINEA.

JOHN DOUGLAS.

Queensland Club, Brisbane, April 21, 1886.

SIR,

ADMIRAL Tryon has invited Mr. Griffith to meet Mr. Gillies and Si Patrick Jennings at Sydney, on the 26th inst., in order to discuss a project of naval defence for the United Colonies of Australasia. This meeting will also afford an opportunity for the further discussion of the New Guinea question; and it appears to be most desirable that some decision on it should be arrived at which will adinit of the whole case being submitted to Her Majesty's Government.

2. I had the honour addressing Sir Anthony Musgrave in a memorandum on this subject, bearing date the 24th of March. Since then, Mr. Griffith, on the part of the Government of Queensland, has submitted a memorandum to the Australasian Govern- ments which has summarised the whole position in a manner so explicit that it may be readily grasped in all its bearings.

3. I am anxious, however, to direct the attention of your Excellency to one or two points in connexión with Mr. Griffith's memorandum and my own, which ought, I think, to be further discussed before a final decision is arrived at.

4. With that suggestion which is contained in the 12th paragraph of Mr. Griffith's memorandum I cordially agree.

It seems to be most expedient that one of the Australian Colonies should, on behalf of all of them, become responsible for the whole amount required to meet the expenses of Administration in British New Guinea, and it appears to be most fitting that Queens- land should be the Colony so responsible. I cannot, however, come to the conclusion which Mr. Griffith has arrived at when he assumes that much less than 15,000l. will suffice for the annual contributions to be supplied by the Australasian Governments, if a real attempt is to be made to apply an efficient administration. I have been enabled, it is true, by the considerate assistance of your Government, to make provisional arrangements for the service of the Protectorate, by the chartering of the schooner "Clara" and the small steamer which is likely to be stationed in Torres Straits on the Thursday Island establishment will do something to secure supervision in the western portion of the Protectorate; but the coast line of British New Guinea cannot be estimated at less than 1,000 miles, without including the outlying islands of the Trobriand, Woodlark, D'Entrecastreaux, and Louisiade groups. It seems to me to be essential for the purposes of any efficient supervision over this area that a steam vessel should be at the disposal of the Special Commissioner or the future Administrator. Her Majesty's ships of war, no doubt, patrol the coast at certain times, and it is possible that this service will be ultimately undertaken by these ships of war, which may be maintained at the cost of the Australian States; but I cannot come to the conclusion that the services of a steam vessel at the disposal of the Commissioner can be dispensed with, and I cannot, therefore, regard the expenditure as unnecessary.

5. Nor do I think that the salary of the future Administrator, which has been named at 2,5007. per annum, is excessive, if he is to be placed on a par in position with the other Australian Governors. His responsibilities will be great. He ought to be a man of experience, versed in affairs. The demands made upon his judgment will certainly not be less than any made upon Her Majesty's Representatives in Australia, and he will M m

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