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[written in left margin] Queensland Secret
Downing Street 4 Janaury 1876
Sir
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch marked Confidential of the 30th August last, forwarding, with other papers, a report by the Members of the late Royal Commission relating to the Native Police Force of Queensland.
I have learnt with satisfaction that measures are about to be taken with a view to the improvement of the Force, and trust that the training depot, which it is porposed to establish, may have the effect of improving the efficiency of both officers and men.
With regard to the course suggested by the Attorney General in his report of the 28th June in order to meet the difficulty of the non-admissability of native evidence in the Colonial Courts, I have the honour to inform you that as it is
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within the competency of the Colonial Legislatures of the Australian Colonies to effect the object in view, by local enactment, Her Majesty's Government would not hink it proper to recommend the Legislature of this country to deal with the question by an Imperial Act.
I have etc (signed) Carnarvon
Governor Cairns CMG etc etc etc
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242
Sr
I have the honor to inform you Excellency that I have communicated with the Comm. of Police on the subject of the establishment of a training depot for the Native Police, referred to in Despatch of the 4th January last, from Lord Carnarvon. Such a depot, and its annual maintenance, would be considerable, and for this reason I am unable, at present, to recommend the adoption of plan suggested by the Comm. of Police.
I remain &c