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1881. NEW ZEALAND.

DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of Sis Excellency.

Schedule of Despatches from the Secretary of State to the Governor of New Zealand.

Date and Number. Subject. q3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1880. 3 June (No. 10) 11 June (No. 11) 30 June (No. 16) 2 July (Circular) 3 July (No. 17) 5 July (Circular) 8 July (Circular) Military Graves at Taurauga Royal Humane Society's medal for Mr. Brownloe Forwarding information relative to Civil Service of Great Britain, &c. Suspension of certificates under Merchant Shipping Acts Acknowledging receipt of Census of 1878. As to Census of 1881 Asking for copies of patent and trade-mark laws, &c. As to adoption of test for colour-blindness in candidates for certificates as master, &c, in the mercantile marine As to dock accommodation for II.M ships at Auckland Treaty of Friendship and Commerce with Servia As to the Treaty with Servia being applicable to New Zealand Acknowledging receipt of despatch in re F Gleieh, au absconding bankrupt Regulations relating to remission of duties on articles imported into colonies for use of IT.M. troops Notifying appointment of Commissioners to inquire into state of defences of colonial ports and coaling-stations, &o. As to Treaty of Commerce and Navigation with Rouinania Acknowledging receipt of despatch containing Speech on opening of Parliament, and Addresses in Reply Suggesting appointment of centre where examinations in Australian Colonies for cadetship at Royal Military College may be held For information as to system of conveyancing by registration by title in New Zealand Acknowledging receipt of copies of Report of West Coast Native Commissioners For information as to hours of meeting, duration of sittings, &c, of House of Representatives Forwarding Order in Council amending Article 4 of Western Pacific Order in Council of 14th September, 1879 Forwarding letter from Registrar of London University as to matriculation examination Has read with much interest Final Report of West Coast Native Commissioners Forwarding suggestions by Sir J Hooker for Colonial Governments appointing Superintendents of Botanic Gardens, &c. Acknowledging despatch as to statement by Sir G. Grey that Governor's promise that Maori prisoners should be tried in January or February had been violated Asking for report on Native Disturbances which led to passing of Maori Prisoners Act Acknowledging despatch announcing assumption of government by Chief Justice Prendergast pending Sir A. Gordon's arrival Acknowledging despatch announcing prorogation of Parliament 1 1 2 4 5 5 8 9 10 11 21 July (No. 18) 22 July.(Circular) 22 July (Circular) 24 July (Circular) 7 7 12 31 July (Circular) 13 3 A ug. (Circular) 14 15 5 Aug. (Circular) 17 Aug. (No. 23) 9 9 16 24 Aug. (No. 24) 17 1 Sept. (No. 27) 10 18 4 Sept. (No. 28) 10 19 10 Sept, (Circular) 11 20 14 Sept. (No. 30) 11 21 7 Oct. (No. 31) 11 22 12 Oct. (No. 32) ., 12 23 16 Oct. (Circular) 13 24 22 Oct. (No. 35) U 25 22 Oct. (No. 36) 14 2G 28 Oct. (No. 38) 28 Oct. (No. 39) 15 27 15

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Schedule of Despatches, &c. — continued.

2 ■» & I Date and Number. Subject. br. * 28 29 1880. 1 Nov (General) 3 Nov (No. 41 ) As to new seal, with matrix, for New Zealand Government Further correspondence re matriculation examination of London University in New Zealand Transmitting copy of Imperial Act for taking census on 3rd April, 1881, &c. As to importance of uniformity of armaments in Imperial and Colonial Services Covering letter from Gilchrist Educational Trust stating that scholarship has been awarded to Mr. H. W Herbert Treaty with Switzerland for mutual surrender of fugitive criminals prolonged 16 19 30 25 Nov (Circular) 19 81 3 Dec. (Circular) 20 32 29 Dec. (No. 44) 22 33 29 Dec. (Circular) 2:! 1881. 18 Jan. (Circular) That certain information be obtained for Italian Government when census is taken Acknowledging despatch announcing assumption of government by Sir A. Gordon As to desirability of applicants for pilots' licenses, &c, passing test for colour-blindness Acknowledging despatch, with opinion of Attorney-General, as to reswearing members of Executive Council on appointment of new Governor Forwarding Warrant authorizing use of new seal, &c. Notifying Her Majesty's consent to Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage 34 23 35 27 Jan. (No. 4) 25 36 1 Feb. (Circular) 25 37 2 Feb. (No. 5) 2~> 38 30 17 March (General) 19 March (No. 7) 26 26

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1881. NEW ZEALAND.

Presented to loth Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir Hercules Robinson. (No. 10.) Sir, — Downing Street, 3rd June, 1880. I have the honor to transmit to you the accompanying newspaper report of a question asked in the House of Commons by Mr Onslow, M.P., on the 25th ultimo, and of the reply given by the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, respecting the present state of the graves of officers and non-commissioned officers of Her Majesty's 43rd and 68th Regiments at Tauranga. I request that you will be good enough to supply me with a report upon the subject. I have, &c, Governor Sir Hercules Robinson, G.C.M.G., KIMBERLEY; &c, &c, &c.

Enclosure in No. 1. [Extract from Times, 25th May, 1880.] Military Graves in New Zealand. Me,. Onslow asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there was any recent information in the Colonial Office regarding the present state of the graves of officers and noncommissioned officers of Her Majesty's 43rd and 68th Light Infantry buried at Tauranga, in New Zealand, and, if not, whether he would cause inquiries to be made. Mr Grant Duff.—ln reply to the honorable member, I have to say that we have no information upon the subject ; but, if the honorable member will communicate with me, we will make any inquiries which he may desire.

No. 2. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir Heucules Robinson. (No. 11.) Sir, — Downing Street, 11th June, 1880. I have the honor to forward, for transmission to Mr George Brownlee, of Oamaru, the accompanying bronze medal of the Royal Humane Society, and I shall be glad if you will cause it to be presented to him publicly I enclose a copy of the letter addressed to this department by the Secretary of the Society sending the medal, and you will be good enough to obtain Mr. Brownlee's receipt, to be returned to the Society I have, &c, Governor Sir Hercules Robinson, G C.M.G., KIMBERLEY. &c, &c, &c. I—A. 2.

DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND

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Enclosure in No. 2. The Royal Humane Society to the Colonial Office. Royal Humane Society Office, No. 4, Trafalgar Square, Sir,— 4th June, 1880. I have the honor to forward the honorary bronze medal of this Society, which has been awarded to a cadet in the Government Railway Department, named George Brownlee, residing at Oamaru, New Zealand, for bravery in attempting to save the lives of two children from drowning The Committee direct me to ask if the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies will kindly allow the medal to be forwarded through the Colonial Office, although the case was not sent through that source. I have, &c., J W Home, The Assistant Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, Secretary. Downing Street.

No. 3. Copt of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir Heectjles Robinson. (No. 16.) Sir, — Downing Street, 30th June, 1880. I duly received your Despatch No. 19, of the 27th of March last, enclosing an application from, your Government for certain papers and information relative to the Civil Service of Great Britain and India, required for the use of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the organization of the Civil Service of New Zealand. I have caused communications to be addressed to the Treasury and to the India Office, with the view of obtaining the information desired by your Government, and I now have the honor to transmit copies of the replies from those departments, which I trust will be sufficient for the purpose. A copy of the previous letter referred to in the reply from the Treasury, which was addressed to this department in August, 1879, in connection with an application from the Officer Administering the Government of New South "Wales for similar information, is also enclosed. I have, &c, Governor Sir Hercules Robinson, G C.M.G., KIMBERLEY &C, &C.j &C.

Enclosure 1 in No. 3* The Treasury to the Colonial Office. Sir, — Treasury Chambers, 24th June, 1880. I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Bramston's letter of the 19th ultimo, stating that an application has been received by the Secretary of State from the Governor of New Zealand for the supply of copies of the Civil Service Acts, and the regulations in force under them in Great Britain and India, these documents being required for the purposes of an inquiry into the organization of the Civil Service of the colony; and that the Earl of Kimberley proposes, with the concurrence of their Lordships, to forward to the Governor a copy of the Treasury letter to the Colonial Office of the sth August last, with reference to a somewhat similar application from the Governor of New South Wales. My Lords concur in the suggestion of the Secretary of State, and they desire me to transmit herewith another set of the papers which accompanied the Treasury letter referred to. I am to add that, as regards trading by Civil servants, the Select Committee of the House of Commons, referred to in the letter from this Board of Ist August, 1879, was interrupted by the recent dissolution, after reporting only the evidence collected in the first session of their appointment (see House of Commons Paper No. 344, Session 1879) The enclosed copy of correspondence between the Home Office and the Treasury bears upon the only part of the question which concerns the purely Executive Government—namely, the combination of any private with official employment. This is quite a separable consideration from the effect of this or that private employment on third parties. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. R. R. W Lingen

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Enclosure 2 in No. 3. The Inhia Office to the Colonial Office. Sir,— India Office, S.W., 25th June, 1880. I am directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to acknowledge receipt of Mr. Bramston's letter of the 19th ultimo, requesting to be furnished, for the information of the Government of New Zealand, with Acts, and regulations under them, connected with the Civil Service of India. In reply, I am desired by the Marquis of Hartington to state that admission to the Covenanted Service of India is governed in this country by open competition, under regulations issued in conformity with section 32 of 21 and 22 Viet., c. 106, and that much information regarding the selection and training of the candidates thus appointed to the service is contained in the accompanying Blue Book, presented to Parliament in 1876. I am to add that, in addition to the covenanted Civil servants, the Civil administration of India is conducted by uncovenanted European and Native servants and by military officers, who are appointed and serve under various conditions. Should the Government of New Zealand desire to obtain more precise information on this subject, Lord Hartington will be happy to supply it either from this department or by application to the Government of India. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. Louis Mallet.

Enclosure 3 in No. 3. The Treasury to the Colonial Office. Sis,, — Treasury Chambers, sth August, 1879. I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 19th ultimo, wherein, by direction of the Secretary of State, you inform my Lords that an application has been received from the Governor of New South Wales for the supply of any official regulations which may exist relating to the conduct of Civil officers in this country, and particularly for the supply of copies of all regulations affecting different branches of the Civil Service, and of any special orders or instructions as to Civil servants acting as directors of banks or private companies, taking part in Parliamentary elections, or writing in political newspapers ; and also with copies of any law or regulation defining the position of any class of the Civil servants in relation to the right of voting for members of Parliament; and wherein you go on to request that Sir Michael Hicks Beach may be supplied with such information as may be in the possession of my Lords on these points, for transmission to the Governor of New South Wales. As the Secretary of State is, no doubt, aware, there does not exist any general code of regulations for the Civil Service as a body, the practice having been to leave to the several Ministers, or other authorities at the heads of the Executive Departments, great freedom as to the regulations which they think fit to prescribe for the government of their officers, all of whom, without distinction of rank, hold their offices at the pleasure of these same several authorities. As regards the conduct of Civil officers generally, it is hardly necessary to say that their character for the time being depends upon tradition and example far more than upon any artificial regulations, however skilfully they may be framed. No doubt, however, the practical independence of their tenure of office in the United Kingdom, combined with their legal tenure of it at pleasure only, is well calculated to create in them a spirit of self-respect and of obedience, which are among the most valuable features of a public service, and could not possibly exist in the same degree in such a service if its personnel changed with the Parliamentary Government of the day, or if promotion within its ranks were determined in any serious degree by considerations of party. The Service, being that of the Crown, is less affected in its collective interest by a change of Ministry than many —perhaps than most —other classes of society Another powerful element in determining the character of the Service is by the system of superannuation, whereby a Civil servant may be said to give bail for diligence and fidelity—at least to this extent, that his obtaining a pension at the end of his service depends upon his producing a certificate from the head of his department that he has been diligent and faithful in the discharge of his duty Fixed statutory conditions and scales of pension (which can only be increased for special service, or diminished for special demerit, and which are hardly ever raised in either direction) tend further, by the exclusion of favouritism and caprice, to impress the Civil Service with a respectable and stable character So far as conduct generally goes, my Lords are of opinion that a permanent and pensionable Civil Service offers the best guarantees for good behaviour, and the; think that the attention of the Colonial Government may be usefully drawn to the permanent character of the Imperial Civil Service, and to the Superannuation Acts of 1834 and 1859, the last (17th) section of which connects pensions with the certificates of the Civil Service Commissioners. The constitution of this Commission—an independent body, not changing with the Ministry of the day, and watching over the observance of the rules laid down for admission into the Civil Service —has a powerful effect in determining and maintaining its character, The last (twenty -

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second) report of the Civil Service Commissioners contains, inter alia, copies of the more material of the Orders in Council bearing on this part of the subject. The orders dated 4th June, 1870, and 12th February, 1876, are principally deserving of attention. As regards the particular points on which the Colonial Government desires information, I am to transmit to you herewith copies of the documents specified in the margin.* As regards trading by Civil Servants, a Select Committee of the House of Commons is now sitting on the question, and it is possible that further regulations may be founded upon the report. I am to add that no disability from voting in Parliamentary elections is now imposed on persons in the immediate service of the Crown in Great Britain, those which formerly existed having been removed by the Acts 31 and 32 Viet., c. 73, and 37 and 38 Viet., c. 22. One exception must be made to this last statement in respect of the Royal Irish Constabulary, which, although in the direct service of the Crown, is disqualified from voting for members of Parliament in Ireland. The County Constabulary and the Borough Police in Great Britain are not in the direct service of the Crown, but the members of it are disqualified from voting for members of Parliament in the counties or boroughs where they are employed. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. R. R. W Lingen

No. 4 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular) Sir, — Downing Street, 2nd July, 1880. With reference to my predecessor's circular despatch of the sth January last, relative to the detention in the colonies, in certain cases, of certificates suspended under the Merchant Shipping Acts, I have the honor to transmit to you, for your information, extracts from a correspondence with the Board of Trade, from which you will perceive that the time during which certificates suspended in the colony under your Government may be retained may, in the opinion of the Board of Trade, be extended to six months. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY. of New Zealand.

Enclosures in No. 4. Extract of a Letter from the Board of Trade to the Colonial Office, dated 2nd April, 1860. (M-5060.) " The Board of Trade see no objection to the term for which certificates may be retained in the colony being extended to six months in the case of those colonies to which, on account of their distance from the United Kingdom, it would be impossible for the Board of Trade to return them within that period. " The Court will not, of course, retain certificates except with the knowledge and consent of the officers interested, for whose benefit only this departure from the strict letter of the law is sanctioned." Extract of a Letter from the Colonial Office to the Board of Trade, dated 24th May, 1880. " I am to request to be informed whether the Board of Trade wish a supplementary circular to be issued modifying, in accordance with your letter above referred to, or otherwise, the terms of your letter of the 2nd December, 1879, appended to Sir Michael Hicks Beach's circular despatch of the sth January last; and, if so, to what colonies it should be sent.'" Extract of a Letter from the Board of Trade to the Colonial Office, dated 3rd June, 1880. (M-10143. " With regard to your inquiry whether the Board of Trade wish a supplementary circular to be issued modifying, in accordance with their letter of the 2nd April, or otherwise, the terms of their letter of the 2nd December, 1879, I am to state that the Board see no objection to the extension of the term of three months to six months in the case of the colonies named in the margin,f and they would be glad to know whether Lord Kimberley is of opinion that the names of any other colonies should be added to this list."

* Treasury minute, 30/11/68 : Bankruptcy and insolvency. Treasury minute, 3/11/71 : Security from Civil Servants. Treasury minutes, 6/73 and 2/75 : lie communications to newspapers, correspondence 1877, and minute 1849, directors of companies, &c. t The Australian Colonies, Tasmania, Fiji, Hongkong, Straits Settlements, Ceylon,

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Extract of a Letter from the Colonial Office to the Board of Trade, dated 12th June, 1880. " I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd instant (M-10143), respecting the arrangement for the retention in the colonies for a certain period of certificates of masters and other officers of British ships which have been suspended by colonial Courts under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts. " In reply, I am to request that you will state to the Board of Trade that Lord Kimberley would suggest that the Falkland Islands, Labuan, and the Province of British Columbia (Dominion of Canada) should be added to the list of colonies in which the certificates should be retained for a period not exceeding six months; and, if Ceylon is to be included in that list, His Lordship thinks that Mauritius, and perhaps the Cape of Good Hope and Natal, should be added." The Board of Trade to the Colonial Office. Board of Trade (Marine Department), Whitehall Gardens, S W., 28th June, 1880. Sift, — Certificates. I am directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant suggesting that the Falkland Islands, Labuan, and the Province of British Columbia (Dominion of Canada), the Mauritius, and the Cape of Good Hope and Natal should be included in the list of colonies in which certificates which have been suspended by a Court of Inquiry should be retained for a period not exceeding six months. "In reply, lam to state, for Lord Kimberley's information, that the Board have no objection to the possessions referred to being included in the list, provided that Courts have been established in them which possess power to deal with certificates granted under " The Merchant Shipping Act, 1854," or "The Merchant Shipping (Colonial) Act, 1869." I have, &c, Tiios. Gray

No. 5. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir Hercules Robinson. (No. 17.) Sir, — Downing Street, 3rd July, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the copies of the census of New Zealand taken upon the 3rd of March, 1878, which were forwarded in your Despatch No. 17, of the 25th of March last. I should be glad to learn whether your Government contemplate taking a census in 1881 with the rest of the Empire, to which matter your attention has been directed by my predecessor's circular despatch of the 27th of April last. I have, &c, Governor Sir Hercules Robinson, G C.M.G., KIMBERLEY. &c, &c, &c.

No. 6. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular) Sir, — Downing Street, sth July, 1880. I have the honor to acquaint you that frequent applications are made to this office and to the Patent Office for information respecting patents and trademarks in the colonies, and, in order to enable such inquiries to be answered, it is desirable that some office in this country should be in possession of complete information on the subject. 2. With the view of securing this object, I have been in communication with the Commissioners of Patents, and I have received an assurance from them that if they are supplied with the necessary information the Patent Office will gladly undertake the duty of answering all inquiries on the subject. 3. I have, therefore, the honor to request that I may be furnished, for the use of the Patent Office, with copies of any laws on the subject of patents and trade-marks which may be in force in the colony under your government, and also with copies of any notifications or regulations which may have been issued under such laws.

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4 I should also be glad to receive, for transmission to the Patent Office, complete sets of specifications of patents and lists of trade-marks which may have been published in the colony under your government, and I have, farther, to request that your Government will give such instructions as will insure that copies of all such documents are in future transmitted, as soon as they are published, to the Commissioners of Patents, through the medium of the mail-bags of this office. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY of New Zealand.

No. 7 Copt of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimbeuley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular ) Sir, — Downing Street, Bth July, 1880. With reference to the Earl of Carnarvon's circular despatch of the 9th of August, 1877, relative to the adoption by the colonies of the test for colourblindness to which candidates for certificates of competency as master, mate, or engineer in the mercantile marine are now subjected, I have the honor to transmit to you a copy of a further letter (2nd July, 1880) which has been received from the Board of Trade, pointing out that only a few of the colonies have replied to the circular, and enclosing an amended circular recently issued by that department relative to the colour test. In compliance with the desire of the Board of Trade, I have to request that, if your Government have not already adopted the colour test, you will urge upon them the desirability of doing so with as little delay as possible, and that you will also invite them to adopt the plan of indorsement of certificates in the case of the failure of a candidate to pass the colour test, as set forth in the enclosure to the letter of the Board of Trade. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government of KIMBERLEY. New Zealand.

Enclosure in No. 7 The Board of Trade to the Colonial Office. Board of Trade (Marine Department), Whitehall Gardens, S.W., 2nd July, 1880. Sir, — Certificates. I am directed by the Board of Trade to request that you will be good enough to draw the attention of the Earl of Kimberley to the letter from this department to the Colonial Office dated the 11th of July, 1877, forwarding a circular relative to the test for colour-blindness then in use in the United Kingdom in the case of candidates for masters' and mates' certificates of competency, and suggesting the adoption of a similar test by those colonies to which the provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Colonial) Act of 1869 had been extended by Order in Council. With regard to the above suggestions, I am to state that replies have only been received in this department'from the colonies named in the margin ; * and, as it is important in the interests of life and property, as well as in order that colonial certificates may have the same value as those issued by this Board, that this subject should form part of the examination in the colonies as in the United Kingdom, I am to suggest that, if Lord Kimberley sees no objection, the necessity of adopting a colour test should be again urged upon those colonies from which no replies have yet been received. I am also to transmit herewith copies of an amended circular (Circular 180) recently issued by this department relative to the colour test, and to request that you will be good enough to move Lord Kimberley to take the necessary steps to cause copies to be forwarded to all colonies, including those to which the provisions of " The Merchant Shipping (Colonial) Act, 1869," have been extended, with an invitation to the authorities to adopt the plan of indorsement of candidates' certificates therein mentioned in cases of failures to pass the test, which should apply equally to certificates already in the possession of candidates, whether granted by the colonial Governments or by this department. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Thomas Gray

* Victoria, Canada, South Australia, Newfoundland.

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No. 8. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir Hercules Robinson (No. 18.) Sir,— Downing Street, 21st July, 1880. I caused to be forwarded, for the consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of your Despatch No. 27, of the 23rd April last, with its enclosures, respecting dock accommodation for Her Majesty's ships at Auckland. 1 have now the honor to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a letter from the Admiralty on the subject. I have, &c, Governor Sir Hercules Robinson, G C.M.G., KIMBERLEY &c, &c, &c.

Enclosure in No. 8. The Admiralty to the Colonial Office. Sir,— Admiralty, 6th July, 1880. With reference to your letter of the 14th ultimo, transmitting a copy of a despatch from the Governor of New Zealand, with enclosures, relative to dock accommodation at Auckland, on which subject the Auckland Harbour Board are desirous of obtaining information, I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of Lord Kimberley, that, looking to the existing facilities for docking Her Majesty's ships on the Australian station, their Lordships are not prepared to recommend that assistance should be given from Naval funds towards the construction of a new dock at Auckland, with a view to the provision of further dock accommodation for the squadron. I have, &c., The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. E. N Swainson

No. 9. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular No. 1.) Sir, — Downing Street, 22nd July, 1880. I have the honor to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a Treaty of Friendship and Commerce, dated the 7th February, 1880, which has been entered into between this country and Servia, together with a copy of a despatch from the British Minister at Belgrade, notifying that Belgrade and Vrania have been designated by the Government of Servia as the places where goods liable to ad valorem duties are to be imported. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY. of New Zealand.

No. 10. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular No. 2.) Sir, — Downing Street, 22nd July, 1880. I have the honor to acquaint you that the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce which has been concluded with Servia, and which is communicated to you in my circular despatch of this day's date, was inadvertently concluded, under instructions from the late Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, before my predecessor had had an opportunity of considering the bearing of its provisions upon colonial interests. As, however, it is very similar to the proposed treaty with Roumania, which was transmitted for the consideration of the colonies in my predecessor's circular despatch of the sth June, 1878, and to the terms of which

your Government raised no objection, I anticipate that your Ministers will have no objection to its having been made applicable to the colony under your government. If, however, your Ministers should desire that the colony under your government should be exempted from the operation of the treaty, and will inform me of their wishes before the end of next September, an endeavour will be made by Her Majesty's Government to procure the exemption, by a protocol to be submitted to the Servian Legislature in its next session, of such colonies as may desire it. I have to add that steps have been taken to insure that in future every treaty of commerce which may be entered into by this country, before the wishes of your Government shall have been ascertained, shall contain the article for applying such treaties to the colonies which was enclosed in the Earl of Carnarvon's circular despatch of the 22nd January, 1878. I have, &c, KIMBERLEY. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 11. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir Hercules Robinson (No. 20.) Sir, — Downing Street, 24th July, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 11, of the 10th March last, enclosing copies of memoranda from the Premier of Zealand respecting the case of Frederick Gleich, an absconding bankrupt from South Australia, which was brought before the Supreme Court of the colony in May, 1879. It was not found possible to bring before Parliament this session the proposed Bill respecting fugitive offenders, to which reference is made in your despatch. It is not, however, intended to abandon the Bill. I have, &c.j KIMBERLEY. Governor Sir Hercules Robinson, G.C.M.G., &o.j &c, &c.

No. 12. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular) Sir,— Downing Street, 31st July, 1880. With reference to my predecessor's circular despatch of the sth of February, 1879, I have the honor to transmit to you, for your information, copies of amended regulations relating to the remission of duties in the colonies on articles imported for the use of Her Majesty's troops. These regulations have been drawn up by the War Office after considering all the suggestions made in reply to my predecessor's circular, and they will be promulgated on the Ist of August. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY. of New Zealand.

No. 13. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 3rd August, 1880. With reference to my predecessor's circular despatch of the 21st October, 1879, I have the honor to transmit to you a copy of a Commission which the

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Queen has been pleased to issue under the Royal Sign-Manual and Signet, appointing the Right Hon. the Earl of Camperdown and Samuel Whitbread, Esq., M.P., to be Commissioners to inquire into the state of the defences of the more important colonial jiorts and coaling-stations, and to consider the apportionment of the cost of such defences , in the place of the Right Hon. Hugh Culling Eardley Childers, M.P., and Thomas Brassey, Esq., M.P., who have been discharged by Her Majesty from further service as such Commissioners. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY. of New Zealand.

No. 14. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular) Sir, — Downing Street, sth August, 1880. I have the honor to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, copies of a Treaty of Commerce and Navigation, dated the sth April, 1880, which has been concluded between this country and Roumania, and of which the draft was communicated to you for the concurrence of your Government in my predecessor's circular despatch of the sth of June, 1878. If your Ministers should desire —which, however, I do not anticipate to be likely—that the colony under your government should be exempted from the operation of the treaty, I have to request that you will inform me of their wishes as speedily as possible, in order that Her Majesty's Government may take the necessary steps to procure the exclusion, under the protocol which is annexed to the treaty, of such colonies as may desire it. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY. of New Zealand.

No, 15. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir Hercules Robinson. (No. 23.) Sir, — Downing Street, 17th August, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 34, of the 4th June last, enclosing a copy of the speech with which you opened the Second Session of the Seventh Parliament of New Zealand, together with Addresses in Reply presented by both Houses of Parliament. I have, &c, Governor Sir Hercules Robinson, K.C.M.G., KIMBERLEY. &c, &c, &c.

No. 16. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (No. 24.) Sir, — Downing Street, 24th August, 1880. With reference to my predecessor's Despatch No. 11, of the 25th February last, respecting the allocation of one cadetship per annum at the Royal Military College to students of each of the colonial Universities to which a Charter by Letters Patent has been granted, I have the honor to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a correspondence which has taken place between this department and the War Office relative to these appointments, and to the further proposal that colonial candidates for the army who are not 2—A. 2.

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members of any University should be exempted from the preliminary examination held in London by the Civil Service Commissioners on their producing a certificate showing that they have passed an equivalent examination in Australia. You will observe that the Civil Service Commissioners have intimated that they would be willing to hold preliminary examinations (except as regards geometrical drawing) in Australia, by means of papers sent out from this country, so as to relieve colonial candidates from the expense and inconvenience entailed under the present arrangement. It would be desirable to facilitate the task of the Commissioners, by selecting a common centre for the Australian Colonies where such examinations might be held, and I should be glad if you would invite your Government to place themselves in communication with the Governments of the Australian Colonies, with the view of determining what place shall be selected for this purpose, should the colony under your Government desire to participate in the concession which has been proposed for the convenience of the sons of colonists in Australasia. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBEELEY of New Zealand. [For enclosures to Despatch No. 24, see New Zealand Gazette No. 106, of 11th November, 1880.]

No. 17 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (No. 27 ) Sir, — Downing Street, Ist September, 1880. On the 25th February, 1870, Earl Granville addressed to the Governors of the Australian Colonies and of New Zealand a circular despatch respecting the working and progress of the system of conveyancing by registration of title as established in those colonies. I now have the honor to transmit to you a copy of an address which has recently been presented to Her Majesty on the same subject, and I request that you will enable me to comply with the terms of the address, so far as it relates to the colony under your government. I enclose a copy of the return of the Bth May, 1872, for convenience of reference. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBEELEY of New Zealand.

Enclosure in No. 17 Registration of Title (British Colonies) House of Commons, Thursday, 26th August, 1880. Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty that she will be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid before this House a return supplementary to those laid upon the Table of this House, and ordered to be printed on the Bth day of May, 1872, reporting on the working and progress of the system of " conveyancing by registration of title," in operation in the Colonies of South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia, New Zealand, British Columbia,.and Fiji; such returns to be made up to the 31st day of December, 1879. Ordered, That the said Address be presented to Her Majesty by such members of this House as are of Her Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council. T Ebskine May, Cleric, House of Commons.

No. 18. Copy of a DESPATCH from tlie Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (No. 28.) Sir, — Downing Street, 4th September, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Sir H. Eobinson's

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Despatch No. 45, of the 16th of July, enclosing six copies of the report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the causes of discontent amongst the Natives of the west coast of the North Island. Her Majesty's Government have read this report with great interest. I have, &o.j The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY. of New Zealand.

No. 19 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular) Sir, — Downing Street, 10th September, 1880. I have the honor to inform you that a desire has been expressed in the House of Commons for information respecting the usual hours of meeting and adjournment, and the general duration of the sittings of the Representative Chambers, in the more important foreign and colonial Legislatures, and the period over which the sessions of those Legislatures ordinarily extend. I shall be obliged by your supplying me with these particulars in relation to the House of Representatives of New Zealand, and that you will transmit me a copy of the Standing Orders of that House, and any information respecting the working of the cloture, or any analogous mode of abridging or summarily terminating discussion, which may have been established. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY. of New Zealand.

No. 20. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (No. 30.) Sir, — Downing Street, 14th September, 1880. I have the honor to transmit to you an Order of the Queen in Council, dated the 6th of September, amending Article 4 of the Western Pacific Order in Council of the 14th of August, 1879, providing for the appointment of an Assist-ant-High Commissioner for the Western Pacific. I request that this order may be duly published in the Gazette of the colony under your government. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY. of New Zealand. [For enclosure, vide New Zealand Gazette, 2nd December, 1880.]

No. 21. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (No. 31.) Sir,— Downing Street, 7th October, 1880. I caused to be forwarded to the Registrar of London University a copy of your Despatch No, 52, of the 13th of August, enclosing a memorandum from

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the Department of the Minister of Education reporting the arrangements which were made for the matriculation examination of the University I have now the honor to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a letter from Mr Milman on the subject. It will be observed that Mr Milman expresses an opinion that the Senate may not admit to matriculation candidates " whose examination has been con- " ducted so long after the time fixed by the regulations." It would, however, have been impossible, owing to the late date on which the examination-papers were forwarded to this department, to have held the examination so soon as seems to have been expected, and I shall cause a communication to be addressed to Mr Milman to that effect, and shall communicate further with you on the subject. I have, &c, EDWARD WINGEIELD, (Eor the Secretary of State.) The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure in No. 21. The University of London to the Colonial Office. University of London, Burlington House, W., Sir,— October 6th, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of the sth instant enclosing a despatch from the Governor of New Zealand and a memorandum from the Department of the Minister of Education on the subject of the matriculation examination in that colony It appears from this memorandum that the matriculation examination, instead of having been held on June 21st, or immediately afterwards, was postponed until September 6th, and that it is proposed that the answers of candidates then sitting should be accepted as though the examination had been held in June. I do not think that the Senate will assent to such an arrangement, or will admit to matriculation candidates whose examination has been conducted so long after the time fixed by the regulations. As I believe that a mail to New Zealand is made up to-morrow, I think it might be convenient if you would be so good as to inform the Governor of New Zealand of the difficulty which will probably arise, and to suggest that it might perhaps be advisable to send out, when the time comes, the papers for the matriculation examination of January next, in case the colonial authorities should wish that examination to be held in substitution for the recent June examination, the arrangements for which have miscarried. I will communicate with the Gilchrist Trustees in reference to so much of the memorandum of the Minister of Education as refers to their scholarships; but may say at once that it was their intention that a scholarship should be awarded "biennially" and not "annually," and that the latter word was, as suggested, left unaltered in the regulations by inadvertence. I may add that all the arrangements in regard to the Gilchrist Scholarships are made by the Gilchrist Trustees independently of the University; and we had no reason to doubt that they had been made in the present case before the papers were, on the application of the Trustees themselves, sent out. I have, &c, Arthur Milman, Edward Wingfield, Esq., &c. Registrar.

No. 22. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (No. 32.) Sir,— Downing Street, 12th October, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Sir H. Robinson's Despatch No. 48, of the 11th August, enclosing copies of the Final Report of the Royal Commissioners appointed under the Confiscated Lands Act for the settlement of the difficulty on the West Coast,

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I have read this report with much interest, and trust that the labours of the Commissioners, and the legislation which may follow their recommendations, will result in the settlement at no distant period of this difficult question. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government IQMBERLEY of New Zealand.

No. 23. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimbekley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular No. 2.) Sir,— Downing Street, 16th October, 1880. I have the honor to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, copies of a paper which has been drawn up by Sir Joseph Hooker, Director of the Botanic Gardens at Kew, containing suggestions for the information of colonial Governments about to appoint superintendents of botanic gardens, and for the guidance of the superintendents themselves. I have communicated this paper to you as your Government may be glad to know the rules existing in the botanic gardens in the Crown colonies. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY of New Zealand.

Enclosure in No. 23. Suggestions for the Information of Colonial Governments about to appoint Superintendents of Botanic Gardens, and for the Guidance of the Superintendents themselves.. The superintendent's time should be occupied by the duties of the gardens in the interests of the colony and Mother-country These duties include not merely the keep and cultivation of the plants, but correspondence with other gardens in the colony and elsewhere, and activity in procuring by means of travellers, visitors, ships' officers, &c, all plants that it may be desirable to introduce, whether for use or ornament, and botanical information generally 2. The gardens should be both useful and attractive to the general public, and should contain— (a.) A conspicuously-ticketed collection of the plants, shrubs, and trees of the colony; (b.) A collection, also Avell ticketed, of all such useful plants as can be cultivated in the colony; (c.) A collection of useful and ornamental plants for distribution, exchange, &c. 3. The superintendent should keep a catalogue of all the plants cultivated and that have been cultivated in the garden; a monthly journal of operations, which may be consulted by persons desirous of forming gardens; and a brief meteorological abstract of the mean maximum and mean minimum temperature of the month, with its humidity, clearness, or cloudiness, amount of rain, &c. He should annually prepare a report on the progress and condition of the garden, of its receipts and expenditure, donations, donors' names, and those of the more important plants distributed from it : this report should be printed by the Government. It is also desirable that the superintendent should keep an arranged and named herbarium of the flowering plants and ferns of the colony; and a public museum, containing named specimens of the colonial woods and other useful vegetable products, should be attached to every garden. 4. A library of botanical books of reference should be attached to the garden, and catalogued in duplicate; and no book should be lent out of the library on any pretext whatever. Of this catalogue one copy should be kept in the library, and the other should be deposited in some Government office, and these should be annually compared. The fact and date of comparison should be stated in the annual report, and all losses and additions recorded. 5. No superintendent or other officer of the garden should be permitted to sell any plants or garden produce without the written orders of the Government, nor should they be permitted for their own personal emolument to sell or trade in plants of any kind, indigenous or cultivated, nor to take apprentice or other fees.

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6. The superintendent should not be permitted to cultivate vegetables for the table of any public officer or private individual but his own, or that of other persons employed in the garden; and in all such cases the value of this perquisite should be calculated as part of the salary or wages of the individual who enjoys it. He should not cultivate for his own table rare or expensive fruits, such as take much care or time, or offer temptation for pilfering With regard to supplying occasionally or periodically the table of the Governor with vegetables, fruit, flowers, &c, this, as a duty imposed on the superintendent, is in every respect objectionable; but, on the other hand, a superintendent must be ineligible or inefficient who has not a sufficient supply of flowers to send frequently to the Governor's house, if not far distant, or who does not use every effort to gratify those institutions or persons, public or private, who actively promote the interests of the gardens. Under no circumstances are fees for such objects to be accepted. 7 A sufficient stock of all useful and ornamental plants should be kept for interchange with other gardens in the colony, and elsewhere; and, further, the superintendent may often be required to cultivate a large stock of certain plants for distribution in the colony or elsewhere. In the case of interchange, a sufficient return, in kind or otherwise, should be required, at the discretion of the superintendent; but no general distribution should ever take place except •under the orders of Government, which should further decide under which of the following conditions the stock should be distributed : — (a.) By sale by auction, or otherwise ; (b.) Gratis, under guarantee that the recipient of the plants will devote a certain amount of land, time, and labour to their cultivation; (c.) Gratis to Government establishments, or to colonists or others who have benefited the gardens directly or indirectly Specific information regarding any of the above points may be had by application to the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, who will be glad to recommend the books most suited to each colonial garden, and the best and least expensive way of procuring them. He will also give assistance towards naming dried specimens of the plants of the colony for the superintendent, provided the latter keeps up an herbarium, and a proper correspondence in plants, &c, with the Royal Gardens. Jos. D. Hooker, Director, Royal Gardens, Kew

No. 24. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (No. 35.) Sir,— Downing Street, 22nd October, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Sir Hercules Robinson's Despatch No. 51, of the 13th of August last, with its enclosures, respecting a statement made by Sir George Grey that the Governor had given a promise to the Maori members of the House of Representatives that the Maori prisoners in gaol should be tried in January or February, and that the word of the Crown had in this respect been violated. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY. of New Zealand.

No. 25. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (No. 38.) Sir,— Downing Street, 28th October, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 57, of the 9th ultimo, reporting your assumption on that day of the government of New Zealand, pending the arrival of Sir A. Gordon, G O.M.G I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY of New Zealand.

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No. 26. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (No. 39) Sir,— Downing Street, 28th October, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Sir Hercules Robinson's Despatch No. 55, of the 31st of August last, reporting the prorogation on that day of the Second Session of the Seventh Parliament of New Zealand. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY of New Zealand.

No. 27 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor the Hon. Sir Arthur Gordon. (General.) Sir, — Downing Street, Ist November, 1880. I have the honor to inform you that, on the receipt of Sir Hercules Robinson's Despatch No. 24, of the 22nd of April, the necessary steps were at once taken for the preparation of a new seal of steel, with matrix, for the use of the Government of New Zealand, and I now transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, a copy of the correspondence which has joassed on the subject. 2. It will be seen, from Mr Wyon's letter of the 21st October, that he hopes to complete the seal in about two months from that date, provided that no accident occurs to the steel in hardening or otherwise. 3. The seal, when completed, will have to be submitted for the approval of the Queen in Council, it will therefore be some few months before it can reach the colony, but no time will be lost in transmitting it to you as soon as the necessary formalities have been completed. I have, &c, Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, KIMBERLEY GC.M.G

Enclosure 1 in No. 27 The Colonial Office to Mr A. B. Wyon Sir,— Downing Street, 23rd June, 1880. I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you a copy of a despatch from the Governor of New Zealand enclosing a memorandum from his Ministers intimating the wish of the Colonial Government to obtain a new public seal made of steel, with matrix, for the colony, in substitution for the silver seal which is at present in use. lam to enclose the facsimile of the seal which has been sent Home from the colony, and I am to request that you will furnish Lord Kimberley with an estimate of the cost of preparing a seal of steel with matrix in exact accordance with the device of the present seal, an impression of which, it is concluded, is in your possession. I am, further, to ask you to state whether you think the press used for the present seal will be suited to the proposed new seal, and., if not, I am to request that you will furnish an estimate of the cost of a lever-press adapted to the requirements of the new seal. I have, &c, A. B. Wyon, Esq. Robert G W Herbert.

Enclosure 2 in No. 27 Mr. "Wyon to the Colonial Office. 287, Regent Street, London, W., and My Lord, — 2, Langham Chambers, Portland Place, W., 26th June, 1880. In accordance with your instructions of the 23rd instant, I beg herewith to submit an estimate for engraving a new seal in steel for the Government of New Zealand. To take embossed impressions of the seal it will be necessary to use a screw-press, the seal

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being too large for a lever-press, with the seal and counters properly fitted to it. I have, therefore, included the mention of a suitable press in my estimate. Awaiting the favour of your Lordship's commands, I have, &c, Alfked B. Wyon, Chief Engraver of Her Majesty's Seals. The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley, &c, &c, &c.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 2 in No. 27 287, Regent Street, London, W., and 2, Langham Chambers, Portland Place, W., 26th June, 1880. Estimate for engraving a seal of steel, with the device of the present seal £ s. d. of the Government of the Colony of New Zealand . 63 0 0 Suitable screw-press 16 16 0 Four copper counters fitted to seal and press . 5 5 0 Box for holding seal and counters when not in use, secured by two locks 5 5 0 Packing, if required, extra. £90 6 0

Enclosure 3 in No. 27 The Colonial Office to Mr Wyon Sir, — Downing Street, Ist July, 1880. I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th of June, furnishing an estimate of the cost of engraving a new seal of steel for the Government of New Zealand. I am to state that the estimate of £90 6s. for the new seal, press, &c, appears to the Secretary of State to be in excess of those previously furnished by you, and I am to request to be informed why the seal, &c, for New Zealand should cost so much more than seals supplied for the Governments of other colonies in similar circumstances, especially as no fresh device is required I am, &c, A. B. Wyon, Esq John Bramston

Enclosure 4 in No. 27. Mr. Wyon to the Colonial Office. 287, Regent Street, London, W., and My Lord, — 2, Langham Chambers, Portland Place, W., sth July, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from the Colonial Office of the Ist instant, respecting my estimate of the 26th June. In reply, I beg to state that the price for engraving a seal depends altogether upon the character of the design adopted. In the seal for New Zealand the design requires work of greater care and skill than that which has been necessary in seals after many designs which have been adopted of late. But my present estimate for the steel seal now required is the same (within sixpence) as the sum paid for the seal for the Government of New Zealand prepared by my late father in 1848, and forwarded to the colony (apparently) in 1852. The price in 1848 included £10 10s. 6d. for the making of the silver seal, as distinct from the engraving, but this difference is more than compensated by the greater hardness of the metal (steel) in which the seal is now required, necessitating longer time in the engraving. To this must be added the risk of fracture in hardening the seal and making the counters, which risk I undertake; and the generally increased cost of artistic labour now, as compared with that of thirty-two years ago. My estimate for the press is precisely the same as in former instances, when presses of the same size have been supplied. The other items are lower than in former cases. Hoping that this statement will prove entirely satisfactory to your Lordship, I have, &c, Alfred B. Wyon, The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley, &c. Chief Engraver of H. M. Seals.

Enclosure 5 in No. 27 The Colonial Office to the Agent-General for New Zealand. Sir,— Downing Street, 9th July, 1880. I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you a copy of a despatch (No. 34 ; of 22nd April, 1880) from the Governor of New Zealand, intimating the wish of his Govern-

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merit to obtain a new public seal, made of steel, for the colony, in substitution for the present seal, which is of silver. I am also to enclose a copy of the instructions (Colonial Office, 23rd June, 1880) given to Mr. Wyon to submit an estimate of the cost of supplying the new seal, together with a copy of his reply; and I am to inquire whether you are in a position to say whether it would be desirable to send a screw-press to New Zealand with the seal, or whether such press could be obtained in the colony, if required. I am to add that, in accordance with the usual practice, the cost of supplying the new seal will have to be borne by the colony I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. John Bramston

Enclosure 6 in No. 27 The Agent-General to Mr. Bramston Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 20th July, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, on the subject of procuring a new public seal for New Zealand, for which I have to thank you. I am not aware if a suitable screw-press is readily obtainable in the colony, and I think it would be better to supply a new one. As you state that it is in accordance with the usual practice in such cases that the cost should be defrayed by the colony, I shall be happy to pay it in the present instance for my Government. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, John Bramston, Esq., &c. Agent-General for New Zealand.

Enclosure 7 in No. 27. The Colonial Office to Mr. Wyon Sir,— Downing Street, 24th July, 1880. I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to request that you Avill at once proceed to supply a seal in steel for the Government of New Zealand, with the necessary accessories, iv accordance with the estimate submitted in your letter of the 26th June. You will, of course, take care that the roughness in the surface of the fac-simile of the present seal, which is referred to in the memorandum from the Government of New Zealand enclosed in the letter from this department of the 23rd June, is not reproduced in the new seal. I have, &c, A. B. Wyon, Esq. John Bramston

Enclosure 8 in No. 27. Mr. Wyon to the Colonial Office. 287, Regent Street, London, W., and My Lord,— 2, Langham Chambers, Portland Place, W., 27th July, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's instructions to engrave a steel seal for the Government of New Zealand^ and to prepare the necessary accessories. I will lose no time in carrying out your instructions. I have, &c, Alfred B. Wyon, The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley, &c. Chief Engraver of H.M. Seals.

Enclosure 9 in No. 27 The Colonial Office to Mr. Wyon Sir,— Downing Street, 20th October, 1880. With reference to your letter of the 27th July last, I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to request that you will inform me of the probable date when the new seal for the Government of New Zealand will be completed. I have, &c, A. B. Wyon, Esq Edward Wingfield.

Enclosure 10 in No. 27 Mr Wyon to the Colonial Office. 287, Regent Street, London, W., and SiR, — 2, Langham Chambers, Portland Place, W., 21st October, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th instant, and, in. 3—A. 2.

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reply, to state that I hope to complete the seal for the Government of New Zealand in about two months' time, provided no accident occurs to the steel in hardening or otherwise. I have, &c, Alfred B. Wyon, Edward Wingfield, Esq. Chief Engraver of H.M. Seals.

No. 28. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering- the Government of New Zealand. (No. 41.) Sir, — Downing Street, 3rd November, 1880. "With reference to my Despatch No. 31, of the 7th ultimo, and to previous correspondence respecting the matriculation examination of London University in New Zealand, I have the honor to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, copies of a letter which I caused to be addressed to the Registrar of the University upon the subject, and of Mr Milman's reply I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY. of New Zealand.

Enclosure 1 in No. 28. The Colonial Office to the University of London Sir,— Downing Street, 13th October, 1880. I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th instant, respecting the matriculation examination recently held in New Zealand in connection with the Gilchrist Scholarship. Lord Kimberley, while regretting that the examination should have been held so long a time after that fixed by the regulations, would point out that it was practically impossible for the authorities in the colony to arrange to have it held at an earlier date. The examinationpapers did not reach this department till the 22nd of May, so that, even had they been forwarded by the Brindisi mail of the 4th June, they could not have arrived at Wellington till after the middle of July It appears from Mr Habens's letter, enclosed in the Governor's Despatch No. 52 (a copy of which was forwarded to you in the letter from this department of the sth instant), that no intimation had been received in the colony of the impending examination, and that therefore it was not possible to give notice to all parts of the colony and to assemble candidates at one place until some time after the arrival of the papers. It could hardly therefore have been expected that the examination could have been held in the colony at an earlier date than that at which it actually took place, and Lord Kimberley trusts that, seeing that the colonial authorities did all in their power to carry out the directions contained in your letter of the 21st May last, the Senate of the University may not insist on cancelling the examination, but may allow it as valid. I am to request that you will be so good as to submit this letter to the Senate, and to inform his Lordship of their decision as soon as may be practicable ; since, if a second examination is to be substituted in January, the colonial authorities should be apprised by telegraph, and the examination-papers sent out at an early date. I have, &c, The Registrar of London University E. Wingfield.

Enclosure 2 in No. 28. The University of London to the Colonial Office. University of London, Burlington Gardens, W., Sik,— 28th October, 1880. Having submitted your letter of the 13th instant to the Senate at its meeting held yesterday, I am directed to request that you will be so good as to inform the Earl of Kimberley that the Senate, under the circumstances of the case, will not raise any objection to the matriculation examination recently held in New Zealand on the ground of the late date at which it took place, if it should appear that the examination was otherwise conducted consistently with the ordinary regulations of the University I have, &c, Arthur Milman, Edward Wingfield, Esq., &c. Registrar.

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No. 29. Copt of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular ) Sir, — Downing Street, 25th November, 1880. With reference to my predecessor's circular despatch of the 27th of April last (No. 37 of 1880), I have the honor to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of the Act which has been passed by Parliament for taking a census in this country on the night of the 3rd of April, 1881, together with copies of the Householders' Schedule issued under the provisions of the Act, showing the nature of the information which it is desired to obtain. I have to add that Her Majesty's Government have observed with much satisfaction the ready acquiescence of the colonies in the proposal made in my predecessor's circular that an endeavour should be made to obtain an enumeration of the people throughout the colonies simultaneously with that in this country. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY. of New Zealand.

No. 30. Copt of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular ) Sir, — Downing Street, 3rd December, 1880. I have the honor to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, with regard to the great importance of securing uniformity of armaments in the Imperial and colonial services. I also transmit to you a copy of the further correspondence on this subject noted in the margin,* together with one copy of each of the publications specified in the War Office letter of the 12th of November, which have been supplied by that department for the use of your Government, and which contain much valuable information relating to the several branches of warlike equipment. The enclosed correspondence will, I think, sufficiently show the great advantage to both the Imperial and colonial services of adopting measures to insure all possible uniformity in the armaments of both services, and I shall be glad to be favoured with the views of your Ministers on this very important question. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY. of New Zealand.

Enclosure 1 in No. 30. The Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad to the Colonial Office. Sir,— 13, Delahay Street, 15th October, 1880. With reference to your letter of the 31st July last, enclosing copies of a letter from the War Office of the 19th July, and of your reply of the 31st July, I am directed by the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad to inform you that, having taken evidence upon the subject, they entirely concur in the opinion of Lord Kimberley and of the Secretary of State for War as to the great importance of all colonial armaments being of such a description as would enable them to be used with the service stores and ammunition in time of war; and that measures should be taken to insure all possible uniformity in this respect. The importance of this view is impressed upon them, not only by the reasons given in the correspondence referred to, but also by the advantages which would be gained by securing that, when practicable, the stores, and especially ammunition for heavy guns and musketry, should be of such a nature that Her Majesty's ships may render and receive assistance at distant stations in the colonies ; and that Her Majesty's troops and forces levied in the colonies may not be embarrassed by complications of arms and stores when co-operating for any given purpose. The

* W. 0., 24th July, 1878 ; W. 0., 19th July, 1880 ; extract of CO. to W. 0., 31st July ; 12th November, 1880,

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evidence which the Commission have obtained indicates conclusively that the power of heavy guns will be greatly increased by changes which are taking place in the construction of ordnance and the manufacture of gunpowder; and that these changes, though not yet completely accomplished or officially announced, are virtually accepted. They therefore think it desirable that an intimation of the impending changes should without delay be given to the larger colonies who are now engaged in providing themselves with powerful armaments, in order that they may take measures to secure supplies of ordnance of the new type, and avoid the expenditure of large sums upon guns which, although good of the type now in general use, will very shortly be surpassed in power, and unable to compete on a footing of equality with those which are in course of introduction by foreign Governments as well as by our own. The Commission would therefore recommend, with regard to artillery, that it should be suggested to the various colonial Governments that they will find it for their convenience and advantage, before proceeding to the construction or purchase of any guns, to communicate with the Home Government, so that the War Office may have an opportunity of suggesting any change of detail which may tend to bring about the desired uniformity, and at the same time secure for the colonies the most approved description of ordnance. With regard to small arms, and other kinds of warlike stores, as in the previous case, they recommend that the colonial Governments should adopt the patterns in use in the Imperial service, unless for some well-matured and decided reasons they advisedly adopt another pattern, in which case they should inform the Government of the fact, and of the reasons which have led to the selection of the exceptional pattern, so that the Home Government may, if it be an improvement, consider the advisability of adopting it, or explain the reasons which militate against its adoption, or make representations which might induce the colonies to reconsider their decision. They would also suggest that each of the colonies should be furnished with a complete set of the War Office vocabularies and priced lists of all warlike stores, together with copies of all circulars which are issued embodying approved changes therein. When these circulars have been registered for information in the colonies, which it desirable should be done by that department in each colony which is responsible for advising on these subjects, the various Governments will be in a position to order all supplies of warlike stores of the most approved patterns. Should they decide upon obtaining their supplies from the trade, for which the Commission understand there are great facilities, it would be desirable that the War Department should continue to render every assistance to insure the supply of stores of the best quality and uniform in pattern with those in use in Her Majesty's service. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. Herbert Jekyll.

Enclosure 2 in No. 30. The War. Office to the Colonial Office. Sir, — Surveyor-General's Department, War Office, 24th July, 1878. In reply to your letter of the 16th instant, enclosing a copy of a despatch received from the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, respecting the supply of Martini-Henry carbines and ammunition, and also of ammunition, &c, for Krupp and Whitworth guns for the Transvaal Government, I am directed by Secretary Colonel Stanley to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the 300 carbines and 800,000 rounds of ammunition will be ordered at once. It is observed that carbine buckets are not asked for, but, in the event of their being required, they could probably be made up on the spot, as it would not, under any circumstances, be possible at present for this department to supply them. With regard to the projectiles, &c, for the Krupp and Whitworth guns, I am to state that a communication on the subject has already been received from the colony through the Com-missary-General of Ordnance at Cape Town, to which a reply has been made, as per enclosed copy I am to add that the practice of colonies providing themselves with arms and ammunition of various patterns is not unlikely, in the opinion of the military authorities, to give rise to serious disaster in the event of colonial and Imperial forces acting together in the field. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Ralph Thompson

Enclosure 3 in No. 30. The War Office to the Colonial Office. Sir, — Surveyor-General's Department, War Office, 19th July, 1880. I am directed by Mr. Secretary Childers to request that you will bring to the particular notice of the Earl of Kimberley that, whilst the Home Government are at all times glad to assist the colonies as far as may be possible with officers for the instruction and organization of local

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forces, the colonial authorities are apt, in some cases, to overlook an important point—viz., that they act independently in selecting their ordnance, small arms, and warlike material, and obtain supplies of other than approved patterns of the Imperial service. This independent action on the part of the colonies might lead to serious embarrassment in the event of war, as the local forces would not be in a position to render such effective assistance to the Imperial troops as might be expected if their armaments were uniform with those in use at Home, and, as regards reserves, there would be a difficulty in providing, on an emergency, from Home or elsewhere, the necessary supplies to keep up their equipments. Sudden demands for materiel of patterns not in use might entail on the colonies requiring them in an emergency great expense, which would be considerably reduced if they were able to draw on the large reserves kept by the Imperial Government. This subject was specially mentioned in the letters from this department referred to in the margin (24th July, 1878; 6th and 25th February, 1880), and Mr. Childers suggests, for Lord Kimberley's consideration, that the subject might with advantage be referred for the opinion of the Royal Commission on Defences for the Colonies. I have, &c., F A. Campbell, Major-General, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Director of Artillery and Stores.

Enclosure 4 in No. 30. Extract from a Letter from the Colonial Office to the War Office, dated 31st July, 1880. I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th July, drawing his Lordship's particular attention to the serious embarrassment which is likely to occur in the event of war from colonial Governments occasionally selecting for their local forces warlike stores which are not of the same pattern as those in use in the Imperial service; and you state that the Secretary of State for War would suggest that the subject should be brought under the consideration of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad. In reply, I am to request that you will acquaint Mr. Secretary Childers that Lord Kimberley entirely concurs in the opinion that it is most important that all colonial armaments should be of such a description as would enable them to be used with the service stores and ammunition in time of war; and he will cause a copy of your letter under reply, and of the previous War Office letter of the 24th July, 1878, respecting the supply to the Government of the Transvaal of military stores of other than the approved pattern, to be laid before the Royal Commission.

Enclosure 5 in No. 30. The War Office to the Colonial Office. Surveyor-General's Department,, War Office., •Sir,— 12th November, 1880. I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd ultimo, relative to a proposed communication to the colonies possessing Parliamentary Governments, on the subject of the desirability of securing uniformity of armaments in the Imperial and colonial services. In reply, I am to acquaint you, for the information of Lord Kimberley, that Mr Childers fully concurs in such communication being made, and he would especially observe upon the importance of carrying out the suggestion of the lloyal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad —namely, that, before proceeding with orders for guns and other warlike equipments which are liable to change and improvement, the colonial Government should communicate with the Home Government, so that this department may have the opportunity of assisting with information and advice as to the latest approved patterns. In accordance with the request contained in your letter, I am to forward herewith six copies of the latest priced Vocabulary of Stores used in Her Majesty's service; also six sets of the periodical lists of changes in patterns (issued since January, 1878), and of the Treatises on Ordnance Carriages and Ammunition respectively, which contain valuable information relating to these several branches of warlike equipment. Additional copies can be furnished, if required, and arrangements could be made for the supply of future issues and editions, as published, either direct to the colonies, or through the Colonial Office, as Lord Kimberley may desire. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. H. G. Deedes.

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No. 31. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimbeeley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (No. 44.) Sir, — Downing Street, 29th December, 1880 I duly caused to be forwarded to the Registrar of London University a copy of your Despatch No. 60, of the 11th September last, enclosing the exami-nation-papers of one candidate for the Gilchrist Scholarship. I have now the honor to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Gilchrist Educational Trust, stating that the scholarship has been awarded to Mr H. W. Herbert, of Canterbury College. I request that you will cause a communication to be addressed to Mr Herbert, in the sense of Dr Carpenter's letter, forwarding the copy of regulations enclosed therein. I also enclose a copy of a letter from the Registrar of the University, relating to the examination, and returning the certificate of Mr Herbert's birth. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY. of New Zealand.

Enclosure 1 in No. 31. Dr. Carpenter to the Colonial Office Gilchrist Educational Trust. Sir,— 4, Broad Sanctuary, S.W., 22nd December, 1880. I have the honor to request that you will inform the Government of New Zealand by the next mail that the Gilchrist Scholarship has been awarded to Mr. Henry William Herbert, of Canterbury College, and that he will be expected to present himself at the office of the Trust on the Ist October, 1881 I have to request also that you will be good enough to transmit for his use the enclosed copy of regulations relating to his scholarship. I remain, &c, R. G W. Herbert, Esq William B. Carpenter.

Enclosure 2 in No. 31. The University of London to the Colonial Office. University of London, Sir, — Burlington* Gardens, W., 17th December, 1880. With reference to the matriculation examination recently held in New Zealand in connection with this University, I have the honor to inform you that the only candidate who presented himself at that examination (Mr. H. W Herbert, of Canterbury College, Christchurch) has passed in the Honors Division, and that the marks assigned to him. by the Examiners place him next to the seventh of the candidates in the original Honors List, and would have entitled him to a prize if he had been examined in this country I will communicate this result to the Secretary of the Gilchrist Trust, and you will no doubt hear from him that the Gilchrist Scholarship is awarded to Mr H W Herbert. I enclose a few pass lists for transmission to New Zealand, together with the candidate's certificate of birth (which we do not require), and remain, Sir, &c., Arthur Milman, R. G W Herbert, Esq. Registrar

No. 32. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular) Sir, — Downing Street, 29th December, 1880. With reference to my predecessor's circular despatch of the 24th of December, 1879,1 have the honor to transmit to you, for publication in the colony under your government, a copy of an Order in Council dated the 16th of December, giving effect to a Convention between this country and Switzerland, which was

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signed at Berne on the 11th of December, further prolonging the duration of the treaty of the 31st of March, 1874, for the mutual surrender of fugitive criminals. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY. of New Zealand. [For enclosure, vide New Zealand Gazette No. 21, 21st April, 1881.]

No. 33. Copt of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering- the Government of New Zealand. (Circular) Sir, — Downing Street, 18th January, 1881. I have the honor to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Eoreign Office, enclosing a copy of a letter from the Italian Ambassador at this Court, requesting that the opportunity may be taken of the forthcoming census to supply the Italian Government with information as to the Italian subjects residing in this country and in the colonies. 2. You will see from the extract of a letter from the Local Government Board, enclosed in the Eoreign Office letter, that the Registrar-General has undertaken to supply the information requested, as far as regards England and Wales , and I shall be glad if your Government should see its way to undertake to furnish similar information as regards the colony under your government. 3. I have to add that if the Householders' Schedule, enclosed in my circular despatch of the 25th of November last, is adopted by your Government as the form in which the census is to be taken, the last column but one, when filled up, will furnish the information desired by the Italian Government. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY. of New Zealand.

Enclosure in No. 33. The Foreign Office to the Colonial Office. Silt, — Foreign Office, 11th January, 1881. I am directed by Earl Granville to transmit to you herewith a copy of a letter from the Italian Ambassador at this Court, requesting that, when the census is taken in Great Britain, the information obtained respecting the Italian subjects residing in this country and the colonies may be communicated to his Government, who offer in return to supply similar information respecting British subjects residing in Italy when the Italian census is taken. I also enclose an extract of a letter from the Secretary of the Local Government Board, from which it will be seen that the Registrar-General has undertaken to supply the information requested by the Italian Government as far as regards England and Wales, and I am to request that you will move the Earl of Kimberley to inform Lord Granville whether steps can be taken to furnish the Italian Government with similar returns respecting the Italians resident in the colonies. I have, &c., The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Tenterden.

Sub-Enclosure 1 to Enclosure in No. 33. Count Menabrea to Earl Granville. Monsieur le Comte, — Londres, 3 l)ecembre, 1881. Le troisieme denombrement de la population dv Royaume d'ltalie doit s'accomplir dans la nuit dv 31 Decembre de Fannee prochaine, 1881. Comme cc denombrement doit etre complete par celui dcs sujets Italiens resident h Fetranger, et comme un recensement general de la population doit avoir lieu aumeme temps, si mes renseignements sont exacts, aussi dans les etats et colonies de Sa Majeste la Reine, j Jai rhonneur d avoir recours a Fobligeante entremise de votre Excellence pour obtenir que le Gouvernement dv lloi puisse se servir, a charge de reciprocite, dcs listes dv recensement anglais en cc gui concerne les Italieus demeurant dans la lloyaume Uni et dans ses colonies. A cet effet, le Gouvernement de la Eeine jugera s'il y a lieu de prescrire quelque mesure speciale pour faciliter la confection dcs extraits de ces listes touchant les Italiens : de toute fagon le Gouverne-

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ment dv Roi d'ltalie s'engage d'advance h rembourser la difference eventuelle dcs frais gui resulterait dcs operations necessaires pour se fournir reciproquement oes extraits. En priant V E., &c, M. le Comte Granville, &c. Menabrea.

Sub-Enclosure 2 to Enclosure in No. 33. Local Government Board, 31st December, 1880. Extract. In reply, I am directed to state, for the information of Earl Granville, that the Board, having been in communication on the subject with the Registrar-General, are informed by him that he will have much pleasure in complying with the request contained in the letter of the Italian Minister, and will take care with respect to England and Wales, to which parts of the United Kingdom his functions are limited, that tables are prepared for the use of the Government of Italy, showing in the aggregate the number of persons (at certain ages, and distinguishing males and females) born in Italy, together with the numbers under twenty years of age, and twenty years of age and upwards, at each occupation. Owing, however, to the special regulations distinctly laid down in taking the census of England and Wales—viz., that the facts would be published in general abstracts only, and that strict care would bo taken that the contents of the Householders'1 Schedule would be treated as "confidential"—the Registrar-General regrets that he is unable to furnish the Italian Government with more detailed particulars than those above specified. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office. John Lambert.

No. 34. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Plight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor the Hon. Sir Arthur Gordon (No. 4.) Sir, — Downing Street, 27th January, 1881. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 1, of the 29th November last, reporting your arrival at Wellington, and your assumption of the government of New Zealand on that day I have, &c., Governor the Hon. Sir Arthur Gordon, KIMBEELEY G C.M.G

No. 35. Copt of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular) Sir, — Downing Street, Ist Eebruary, 1881. "With reference to the Earl of Carnarvon's circular despatch of the 9th of August, 1877, and to my circular despatch of the Bth of July last, I have the honor to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a letter from the Board of Trade (24th January, 1881), from which you will perceive that it is considered very desirable that all applicants for pilots' licenses or certificates should be required to pass the test for colour-blindness to which candidates for certificates of competency as master, mate, or engineer in the mercantile marine are subjected. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBEELEY. of New Zealand.

Enclosure in No. 35. The Board of Trade to the Colonial Office. Board of Trade, Marine Department, Whitehall Gardens, S.W., 24th January, 1881. Sir, — Certificates. I am directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt 'of your letter of the 2nd ultimo, transmitting a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Lagos inquiring -whether the colour test should he applied to pilots, and in reply to state, for the information of the Earl of Kimberley, that most of the pilotage authorities in this country have adopted, or are about

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to adopt, the colour test, and that this Board arc of opinion that it is very desirable that all applicants for pilots' licenses or certificates should be required to pass the test. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Thomas Gray

No. 36. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor the Hon. Sir Arthur Gordon. (No. 5.) Sir,- —■ Downing Street, 2nd Eebruary, 1881. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 3, of the 4th December, enclosing a copy of an opinion by the Attorney-General on the question whether the members of the Executive Council should be re-sworn on the appointment of a new Governor of the colony I have, &c, Governor the Hon. Sir Arthur Gordon, KIMBERLEY G C.M.G

No. 37 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor the Hon. Sir Arthur Gordon. (General.) Sir, — Downing Street, 17th March, 1881. With reference to my despatch general of the Ist November last, I have the honor to transmit to you Her Majesty's warrant authorizing you to use the new seal which has been prepared for the colony under your government. 2. The seal itself, together with the press, &c, has been forwarded to the Agent-General for New Zealand in this country for transmission, to you. 3 On receiving the new seal you will return to this department the old one, in order that it may be defaced in like manner with other seals by Her Majesty in Council, as required by the enclosed warrant. 4. In submitting the seal for the approval of Her Majesty in Council, I requested the Lord President of the Council to inform me whether he saw any objection to the old seal being presented to your Government after it has been defaced, and his Lordship has replied that instructions have been given for its ultimate return for that purpose. I have, &c, Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, KIMBERLEY , G C.M.G

Enclosure in No. 37 (1.5.) Victoria Regina. To our Governor and Commander-in-Chief for the time being of Our Colony of New Zealand, or, in his absence, to Our Lieutenant-Governor, or the Officer Administering the Government of Our said colony : With this you will receive a seal prepared by Onr order for the use of the Government of Our Colony of New Zealand. Our will and pleasure is, and We do hereby authorize and direct, that the said seal be used in sealing all public instruments which shall be made and passed m Our name and for Our service by the Government of Our said colony: And we do further require that you do return the old seal to Us through one of Our Principal Secretaries of State, in order to its being defaced in like manner with other seals by Us in our Privy Council: And for so doing this shall be your warrant. Given at Our Court, at Windsor, this twelfth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-Oiie, in the forty-fourth year of Our reign. By Her Majesty's command. KiMBERLEY

4—A. 2.

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No. 38. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberlet to Governor the Hon. Sir Arthur Gordon. (No. 7 ) Sir,— Downing Street, 19th March, 1881. With reference to Chief Justice Prendergast's Despatch No. 59, of the 10th September last, enclosing, with other Acts passed by the Legislature o£ New Zealand, a Bill intituled " An Act to legalize the Marriage of a Man with the " Sister of his Deceased Wife," which was reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure, I have the honor to transmit to you herewith an Order of Her Majesty in Council of the 2nd instant assenting to that Bill. Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, I have, &c, G.C.M.G KIMBERLET

Enclosure in No. 38. (1.5.) At the Court at Windsor, the 2nd day of March, 1881. Present: The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, Loud President, Lord Steward, Marquis of Huntly, Mr. Bright, Sir Arthur Hobhouse. Whereas by an Act passed in the session held in the fifteenth and sixteenth years of Her Majesty's reign, intituled " An Act to grant a Representative Constitution to the Colony of New Zealand," it is amongst other things declared that no Bill which shall be reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon shall have any force or authority within the Colony of New Zealand until the Governor of the said colony shall signify, either by speech or message to the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said colony, or by Proclamation, that such Bill has been laid before Her Majesty in Council, and that Her Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same: And whereas a certain Bill passed by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said colony, intituled No. 57, of 1880, " An Act to legalize the Marriage of a Man with the Sister of his Deceased Wife," was presented to the Officer Administering the Government of the said colony, for Her Majesty's assent: And whereas the said Bill was reserved by the said Officer for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon: And whereas the said Bill so reserved as aforesaid, has beeu laid before Her Majesty in Council, and it is expedient that the said Bill should be assented to by Her Majesty : Now, therefore, Her Majesty, in pursuance of the said Act, and in exercise of the power thereby reserved to Her Majesty as aforesaid, doth by this present Order, by and with the advice of Her Majesty's Privy Council, declare Her assent to the said Bill. C. L. Peel.

Authority : Geoe&e Didseuky, Government Printer, "Wellington.—lBBl.

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