162

THE following communication is published for general information:—

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Auckland, 21st April, 1863.

Sir,—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the number and date quoted in the margin, (No. 370-29, 26th March, 1863,) enclosing a Provincial Gazette, containing a Proclamation exempting from mining operations the Township of Lawrence, Tuapeka, and, in reply, I have to convey to you Honor the approval of His Excellency the Governor of such exemption.

I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,

READER WOOD,
In the absence of Mr. Domett.

His Honor the Superintendent,
Dunedin.

REPORTED SLAVE TRADING ON THE WEST COAST OF SOUTH AMERICA.

His Honor the Superintendent directs the publication of the following correspondence for general information:—

Dunedin, 30th April, 1863.

Sir—I have the honor to forward copy of a letter, with enclosure, received from the Chilian Consul at Melbourne, respecting a rumor of Chilian vessels being engaged in the Slave Trade; and, as therein desired by the Consul, beg to request your Honor to make known the despatch of the Chilian Government by publishing the same in the local Government Gazette.

I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,

E. QUICK,
Acting Consul for Chili.

To His Honor
John Hyde Harris, Esq.,
Superintendent of the Province of Otago.

(copy referred to above.)

Chilian Consulate,
Melbourne, 18th April, 1863.

Sir—I beg to enclose you copy of a notice in the Victoria Government Gazette of the 10th instant, publishing translation of a dispatch received by me from the Government at Chili.

In order to further the desire of that Government to check the practices referred to therein, I shall feel obliged by your bringing the despatch under the notice of your Local Government, with a view to its publication in the Government Gazette, and to the obtaining such information as may come to their notice.

I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
(Signed) J. D. WERE,
Consul.

To E. Quick, Esq.,
Acting Consul for Chili,
Dunedin, N. Z.

(copy referred to above.)

The subjoined translation of a dispatch from the Government of Chili, to the Consul for Chili at Melbourne, is published for general information.

It is requested that any persons in possession of information on the subject referred to in the dispatch will have the goodness to communicate the same to the Consul for Chili.

By His Excellency’s command,
(Signed) JOHN O’SHANASSY,
Chief Secretary’s Office,
Melbourne, April 8th, 1863.

(TRANSLATION.)

Santiago, October 30th, 1862.

It has become known to Government, through the medium of the British legation, that a ship called the David Thomas, assumed to be a Chilian, has attracted by stratagem, about 200 savages, inhabitants of the island of Peurhyn, and from thence has conveyed them to Callao, where they have been sold as slaves. At the time, it appears the vessel hoisted on its passage the Chilian flag, changing it for another on arrival at Callao.

Through the same channel, the Government has been subsequently made aware that several vessels, among which are two Chilians named Bella Margarita, and Eliza Mason, were getting ready to proceed to the above-named island with a similar intent to the David Thomas, attracted no doubt by the remunerative although odious profits that are supposed to have been realized by the last-named vessel.

The Government desiring to be made acquainted with the probability of such statements, has directed me to address you, and to request that you will spare no means to ascertain the truth of such reports, and that you will communicate to me whatever information you have collected on the subject.

At the same time, you are requested to adopt all such means as are at your disposal, in the sphere of your consular agency, to