THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 409

Downing Street, 17th April, 1869.
SIR,—I have the honor to transmit to you, for
your consideration, and for that of your Responsible
Advisers, the enclosed copy of instructions recently
issued by the Earl of Clarendon to Her Majesty's
Consul at the Fiji Islands, together with a copy of
a letter on the subject addressed to the Admiralty
by the Foreign Office.

You will perceive that the Foreign Secretary has
reserved for the present his decision as to the question
whether it is desirable to take steps for an extension
of the powers intrusted to Mr. March in his official
capacity.

I beg to call your special attention to the limits
within which the operations of the British Consular
and Naval Officers will be restricted; and I have to
instruct you not to afford any encouragement to
measures such as have been contemplated in some
recent instances, for the acquisition of land in the
Fiji Islands by individuals or companies. If the
promoters of any similar scheme were to apply to
you for letters of introduction to the British Officials
in those Islands, it appears to me that it will be
your duty to decline to accede to such request.

I have, &c.,
GRANVILLE.

The Officer Administering the Government
of New Zealand.

Mr. Murray to the Secretary to the Admiralty.
Foreign Office, 19th March, 1869.

SIR,—I am directed by the Earl of Clarendon to
transmit to you, to be laid before the Lords Commis-
sioners of the Admiralty, copy of a Despatch which
his Lordship has addressed to Mr. March, who has
been appointed as Her Majesty's Consul at Fiji, con-
taining general instructions for his guidance, both as
regards the Native chiefs and the British community
settled in the Islands.

Lord Clarendon does not doubt that the Lords of
the Admiralty will concur with him in the opinion
that it will be desirable that the British Naval
Authorities, as well as Her Majesty's Consul, should,
as far as may be practicable, confine themselves to
matters in these quarters where the legitimate
interests of British subjects are concerned, and
should abstain, except in very extreme cases, from
the employment of force, and from any measures
which could give a colour to the erroneous notions
current in regard to territorial acquisition in the
Islands.

Lord Clarendon, therefore, desires me to request
that you will suggest to the Lords of the Admiralty
that the Naval Authorities on the Australian Station
should be informed of the nature of the instructions
addressed to Mr. March, and should be instructed, as
far as may be consistent with the exigencies of the
service, to give to him the countenance and support
which will be afforded by the occasional visit of one
of Her Majesty's vessels of war.

I am, &c.,
J. MURRAY.

The Secretary to the Admiralty.

Lord Clarendon to Mr. March.
Foreign Office, 19th March, 1869.

SIR,—There are certain points connected with the
existing state of affairs in the Fiji Islands to which I
think it desirable to call your attention on your pro-
ceeding to your post, in order, if possible, to relieve
you hereafter from difficulty as to the course which
you should pursue.

The absence of a constituted Government will
deprive you of the support to which a Consular
Officer would, in ordinary cases, look, and as the
quarter in which he might appeal for redress in case
of injury to the interests which he is bound to
protect.

On the other hand, the British community with
which you will have to deal, will comprise within its
members many persons who, from their antecedents
and habits, may be more prone to adventure than
ready to conform to authority.

As regards the local chiefs, it is far from my inten-
tion to restrict you from the exercise of such
influence in the shape of friendly communications
and advice as you can exert for the benefit of an
uncivilized race. But you will clearly understand
that it will be your duty to avoid taking part in any
internal dissensions, or in any acts of partizanship
which would compromise the neutrality of your
position, and place you virtually, or even in appear-
ance, in a position of intervention in the disputes
amongst the chiefs.

As regards the British community, I trust that by
the exercise of tact and judgment you may be able
to deal with most cases when your intervention is
called for. Your powers of jurisdiction are, however,
limited, and it may be a matter for consideration
hereafter whether they may not beneficially be
extended. In the meanwhile there are various
matters which will call for your early attention, and
amongst these you will find the speculations set on
foot in the Australian Colonies, involving the con-
templated acquisition, by purchase, of large districts
in the Islands. As far as Her Majesty's Government
are concerned, steps have already been taken to
discourage enterprises of this description; but from
the last information which has reached me the scheme
has not been abandoned, and must be dealt with both
with reference to the tendency shown by British
settlers to extend their operations into the interior,
and to a growing disposition to treat the Islands in
the light of a colonial possession of the British
Crown.

It will be your duty, by your acts and language, to
discountenance any such erroneous notion, and you
will make it to be clearly and publicly understood
that your functions are confined to the limits of
your Consular duties, in watching over commercial
interests, and as far as may be contributing to the
order and well-being of the British community; but
that any attempt to form establishments in the
interior will be at the sole risk of the undertakers,
who, in withdrawing themselves beyond the bounds
of your legitimate influence, may expose themselves
to risk.

It is my intention to suggest to the Lords of the
Admiralty that the Naval Authorities on the
Australian Station should be directed, as far as may
be consistent with other requirements, to cause some
of Her Majesty's vessels of war occasionally to visit
the Islands for the purpose of giving weight to your
representations, and supporting your proper authority.

But you will understand that the presence of such a
vessel of war is not proposed with the view to its
being made serviceable for purposes connected with
native feuds, still less that any operations should be
undertaken which would be calculated to show an
intention to acquire for this country any territorial
possession in the Islands.

I am, &c.,
CLARENDON.

E. March, Esq.,
H.M. Consul, Fiji Islands.

Downing Street, 12th May, 1869.

SIR,—With reference to my Circular Despatch of
the 4th January, I have the honor to inform you
that, should more copies of the "Ships Captain's
Medical Guide" be required in the Colony under
your Government, they can be procured from the