§ MR. P. A. TAYLORsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether, in accordance with the suggestion of Lord Belmore in his Despatch of May 17, 1869, it is intended to strengthen the Australian squadron, as the only way of checking the irregularities on the part of masters of ves- 877 sels engaged in the deportation of South. Sea Islanders?
MR. GHILDERSSir, the Australian squadron is, really, the Australian and New Zealand squadron, and, unless in case of special emergency in New Zealand, is sufficiently strong to carry out the objects contemplated in Lord Belmore's despatch. At the present time there is no absolute necessity to strengthen it; but we have determined to detach next season from other service an additional ship for special duty in preventing the irregularities complained of between New Caledonia, Fiji, and the islands to the north, and we shall then be able to judge whether the squadron requires permanently this addition.