Under certain historical circumstances, a major power's consular representation would take on various degrees of administrative roles, not unlike a colonial resident minister.
This would often occur in territories without a formal state government (thus warranting a full diplomatic mission, such as an embassy).
When a state falls under the "amical" protection of a stronger (often colonial) power, the latter is usually represented by a high ranking diplomatic and/or gubernatorial officer, such as a Resident general, Resident Minister or High Commissioner.
In German Kamerun, 6 July 1884 – 26 June 1885, provisional consul Heinrich Randad filled the void between the first Reichskommissar (titled—for West Africa, 5–6 July 1884 only) and the subsequent series of regular incumbents In parts of present Nigeria, British Consuls were in charge of the following West African protectorates: From 7 November 1889, Samoa, previously a Polynesian kingdom, was governed by the joint German-British-U.S. Samoa Tripartite Convention, which made Samoa a protectorate of those three powers.
On 10 June 1899, a provisional (colonial) government sui generis was formed, consisting of the consuls of the three protecting powers: This arrangement lasted until 1 March 1900, when most of the archipelago was annexed by Imperial Germany.