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

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1887 Session I, A-02

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1887. NEW ZEALAND.

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

Presented to both Homes of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. (New Zealand, No. 78.) Sir, — Downing Street, 27th December, 1880. I have the honour to transmit to you an extract from a memorandum by Count Hatzfeldt, containing allegations in respect of the action of English traders in the service of the Auckland firm of Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane in supplying arms and ammunition to natives of the Marshall group; and I request that you will move your Government to cause inquiries to be made on the subject, and that I may be informed of the result. Your Government are no doubt aware that if these allegations were correct the offending parties would at the period referred to have been liable to fine or imprisonment on conviction in the High Commissioner's Court, under the Western Pacific Eegulation No. 1, of 1884, a copy of which is forwarded for convenience of reference. I have, &c, FEED. STANLEY. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

Enclosure 1. Exteact from a Memobandum by Count Hatzfeldt. A communication, dated the 2nd June, from the German house of Eobertson and Hernsheim, established on the Marshall Islands, contains the following statement: " Notwithstanding that the commander of the English war-vessel ' Dart' had at the time prohibited the sale by English subjects on the Marshall Islands group of arms and ammunition to the natives, the English traders in the service of the Auckland firm of Henderson and Macfarlane have been the very people who have been doing a good business in arms, to the prejudice of the trade carried on with the natives by our retailers, whom, at the instance of the above-named war-vessel, we had also prohibited from selling arms to the natives." The Imperial Government abstained at the time from bringing this complaint to the notice of Her Majesty's Government, as it appeared to them more correct to await the result of the negotiations entered into with England respecting an internal control, to be arranged by treaty, over the sale of arms to the natives in the South Sea.

Enclosure 2. Appendix 111. (No. 1 of 1884.) Victoeia, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, &c. A Eegulation (made in the name and on behalf of Her Britannic Majesty by Her Majesty's High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, under the Provisions of the Western Pacific Order in Council of 1879) to prohibit the Supply of Arms, Ammunition, and Explosive Substances to Natives of the Western Pacific Islands. G. William dcs Yceux, [l. s.] H.B.M. High Commissioner for the Western Pacific. sth April, 1884. 1. In this regulation the expression " Western Pacific Islands " means and includes any of the following islands or places, namely,—(l) The part of the Island of New Guinea eastward of the I—A. 2.

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143 rd meridian of longitude; (2) the Islands or Archipelago of New Britain and New Ireland; (3) the Louisada Archipelago; (4) the groups of islands known as —the Friendly Islands, the Navigators Islands, the Union Islands, the Phoenix Islands, the Ellice Islands, the Gilbert Islands, the Marshall Islands or Archipelago, the Caroline Islands, the Solomon Islands, the Santa Cruz Islands; (5) all other islands in the West Pacific Ocean, not being within the limits of the Colonies of Fiji, Queensland, or New South Wales, and not being within the jurisdiction of any civilized power. The expression, " the waters of the Western Pacific Islands," means the waters within three miles of any of the islands or places included in the Western Pacific Islands. The word " arms " means every kind of firearms and any-part or parts of firearms. The word " ammunition " means every kind of ammunition for firearms and any material for the preparation thereof. The expression " explosive substance " means gunpowder, nitro-glycerine, dynamite, gun-cotton, blastingpowder, and every other substance used or manufactured with a view to produce a practical effect by explosion. 2. British vessels within the waters of the Western Pacific Islands shall not carry arms or ammunition. But this prohibition shall not be held to prevent or forbid the carriage by any such vessel for the protection of the same and of the persons therein, and otherwise for the ordinary lawful purposes of such vessel, of arms and ammunition, in quantities not exceeding those herein specified—namely: One rifle or shot-gun and one pistol for every member of the crew of such vessel, whose name shall be on the articles; one hundred rounds of ammunition for every such rifle, shot-gun, or pistol on board ; cannons or swivel guns forming part of the ordinary equipment of any such vessel, together with one hundred rounds of ammunition for every such gun. 3. British subjects within the Western Pacific Islands shall not give, sell, or otherwise supply any arms, ammunition, or explosive substance to any native of any island or place within the Western Pacific Islands. 4. Any British subject who shall carry or aid or abet the carriage of any arms or ammunition in any British vessel within the waters of the Western Pacific Islands, except as permitted by this regulation, shall be guilty of an offence against this regulation. 5. Any British subject within the Western Pacific Islands who shall give, sell, or otherwise supply, or aid or assist in supplying, any arms, or any single firearm, or any ammunition or explosive substance, to any native of any island or place within the Western Pacific Islands, shall be guilty of an offence against this regulation. 6. Any person guilty of an offence against this regulation shall, on conviction thereof, be liable to punishment as follows : (1) Imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months, with or without hard labour, and with or without a fine not exceeding £10; or (2) a fine alone not exceeding £10, without any imprisonment. 7. This regulation shall come into force on the first day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-four, and may be cited as " The Arms Eegulation, 1884." By command. John B. Thubston, Secretary to the High Commissioner.

No. 2. (Circular.) Bib, — Downing Street, 29th December, 1885. I have the honour to draw your attention to the accompanying section of the Act of Congress, 1882, section 5, cap. 378, respecting the authentication of depositions, warrants, &c, in extradition cases when the fugitive has taken refuge in the United States. I think it necessary to bring to your notice the requirements of the United States Courts in this respect, as cases of extradition have failed from the omission to attend to the provisions of the Act. I have, &c, FEED. STANLEY. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Section 5. That in all cases where any depositions, warrants, or other papers, or copies thereof shall be offered in evidence upon the hearing of any extradition case under Title sixty-six of the Eevised Statutes of the United States, such depositions, warrants, and other papers, or the copies thereof, shall be received and admitted as evidence on such hearing for all the purposes of such hearing if they shall be properly and legally authenticated so as to entitle them to be received for similar purposes by the tribunals of the foreign country from which the accused party shall have escaped; and the certificate of the principal diplomatic or consular officer of the United States resident in such foreign country shall be proof that any deposition, warrant, or other paper, or copies thereof, so offered, are authenticated in the manner required by this Act.

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No. 8. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 2nd January, 1880. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Government, a copy of a letter from the Board of Trade, requesting information respecting Lascars and other Asiatic seamen engaged in colonial ports to serve on British merchant vessels proceeding to places out of the United Kingdom. I have to request that you will make arrangements for the transmission of the desired returns from the ports in the colony under your government direct to the Assistant Secretary of the Marine Department of the Board of Trade ; and that, when the information is nil, " Nil" returns may be so forwarded. I have, &c, FEED. STANLEY. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Seamen, Home and Abkoad—Casualties. Sir, — Board of Trade (Marine Department), London, S.W., 24th December, 1885. I am directed by the Board of Trade to state that a question has arisen relative to the number of Lascars and other Asiatic seamen employed on board British merchant ships. The Board of Trade have already the means of obtaining information respecting the employment of these men when they are engaged in the United Kingdom, but they have not full information respecting those engaged in ports abroad. I am therefore to request that you will inform the Secretary of State that they wish arrangements to be made, if possible, for sending to this office from every port in British possessions abroad, on the last day of each month, a tabular statement or list showing the number of Lascars and other Asiatics engaged during the month to serve on British ships which are about to make a voyage to any place out of the United Kingdom. The information the Board of Trade desire to receive from each port at which these men are engaged is as follows: First, they wish the information to be divided into two distinct tables or lists, one of these tables or lists to contain information respecting Asiatics engaged to serve in ships registered in the United Kingdom only, and the other respecting Asiatics engaged to serve in British ships registered elsewhere. A form of the return or list is appended, and marked A. As regards Lascars and Asiatics engaged in a colonial port to serve on a voyage to the United Kingdom, the Board of Trade do not wish to put the officers in the colonies to the trouble of making any returns, as the Board can obtain the necessary information in the United Kingdom. The Board of Trade also desire to receive separately, at the end of each six months, a return in Form B appended, showing the number of deaths of Asiatics engaged to serve on board British ships making voyages to places other than places in the United Kingdom. The information in Appendix B should be in two separate lists, one list containing the number of deaths on board ships registered in the United Kingdom only, and the other showing the deaths on board British ships registered elsewhere. The Board of Trade will be obliged if the Secretary of State can assist them in procuring this information. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. Thomas Geay.

Sub-Enclosure 1. Appendix A. (Specimen.)

Voyage from Asiatics engaged to se: •vo on board. Month and Dates. Names of Ships and Official Numbers. Port of Registry. to Deck Hands* Engine-room Hands, t Stewards, Servants, and other Persons. J January 1 A.B. s.s., 70,843 London Bombay to San Francisco 65 58 lfi Note.—The n * Asiatic deck t Asiatic engii every person engag I Asiatic stewi lumbers of the Asiatic: : hands will include St ne-room hands will in< ;ed in any way to worl ards, servants, &c, wi s, and not the 3rangs, Sindal: cjude all Asia k in connectic .11 include all ;ir names, should be s, and all Asiatics er ,tics engaged as cng :>n with engines, boil Asiatics engaged to i given. igaged to ser jinoers, stoke: ors, coal, &c. serve in any < '0 in the navigation of the ship, :s, greasers, coal-trimmers, and >ther capacity.

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Sub-Enclosure 2. Appendix B. This information should be given under three heads, as follows, viz. (no names of persons need be given):

No. 4. (New Zealand, No. 1.) Sir, — Downing Street, 14th January, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 13, of the 2Cth September, with its enclosures, respecting the debate which had taken place in the House of Representatives on the question of Federation. The resolution proposed by Mr. Macaiidrew, which was contained in the address presented to you by the House of Representatives, has been duly laid before the Queen, who was pleased to receive it very graciously. I was not, however, in a position to advise Her Majesty to take any action upon it, as it is understood that the United States of America have not in any degree modified their intention to abstain from forming alliances which would place them under the obligation of interfering in the affairs of foreign countries at a distance from America ; and, if this w 7ere not the case, Her Majesty's Government w rould not be able, without the sanction of the Imperial Parliament and of the Legislatures of other portions of the Empire, to invite the Government of the United States to take part in a political conference of the nature indicated in the resolution. I may, however, observe that it would appear probable that the various important questions bearing upon the relations of the Australasian Colonies with this country and with each other may receive further consideration and elucidation in connection with the anticipated early meeting of the Federal Council of Australasia. At the time of the important debate in the House of Representatives which resulted in this and other resolutions my despatch of the 14th of August had not yet reached New Zealand ; and I entertain the hope that, after full consideration of that despatch, the objections which have been felt in some quarters to the representation of New Zealand in the Federal Council may be modified. I have, &c, FRED. STANLEY. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-I.IBBG, No. 3

tr\- 1 -\ No. 5. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 15th January, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Government, a copy of a letter from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, proposing that armed vessels which have been, or may be, provided under the Colonial Naval Defence Act shall adopt the same formalities as regards the exchange of international courtesy as are observed by ships of the Royal Navy. The regulations prescribing these formalities will be found in Chapter 11. of the Queen's Kegulations and Admiralty Instructions of 1879, transmitted in Sir Michael Hicks-Beach's circular despatch of the 25th of August, 1879. I have, &c, FEED. STANLEY. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Lives lost and Cas by Wreck iualties. Lives lo Accidents on than \ ist from board, other rVrcck. Other Death Disease, Mm &c, Natural is—that is, by xler, Suicide, I Causes, &c. Date of Death. Name, Port of Registry, and Official Number of Ship. Asiatics other than British Subjects. Asiatics who were British Subjects. Asiatics other than British Subjects. Asiatics who were British Subjects. Asiatics other than British Subjects. Asiatics who were British Subjects.

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Enclosure. Sin,— Admiralty, 6th October, 1885. I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that communications have been received through the Foreign Office from the following Governments, signifying their readiness to assent to the proposal that colonial armed vessels should be recognized as ships of war : France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, Norway and Sweden, Holland, Belgium, United States, Denmark, Turkey, Brazils, Japan, Peru, Ecuador, Chili, Guatemala. 2. Eussia has also conveyed her assent to the proposal, but on'certain conditions, which are now the subject of correspondence between this office and the Foreign Office. 3. The only Government which has declined to comply with the wishes of Her Majesty's Government in this respect is that of Costa Eica. 4. My Lords desire me to request that it may be suggested to the several Colonial Governments that their armed vessels should adopt the same formalities as regards the exchange of international courtesy as are observed by the ships of the Eoyal Navy. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Evan MacGeegor.

No. (i. (New Zealand, No. 4.) Sic, — Downing Street, 26th January, 1886. With reference to previous correspondence relating to the French Habitual Criminals Deportation Law, I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a decree which has appeared in the French Journal Ojficiel, containing the regulations, or " Beglement d'Administration Publique," for the execution of that law. I have, &c, FEED. STANLEY. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-6,183G, No. 5

No. 7. (New Zealand, No. 5.) Sir, — Downing Street, 26th January, 188 G. I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Ministers, a copy of a letter with its enclosures from the Board of Trade, relative to the acceptance in this country of docking certificates issued by the Governor of New Zealand. I have, &c, FEED. STANLEY. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

Enclosure. Sir,— Board of Trade (Marine Department), London, S.W., 22nd January, 1886. I am directed by the Board of Trade to forward, for the information of Colonel Stanley, the accompanying copy of a letter which they have received from the Now Zealand Marine Department, and to request that you will be good enough to move the Secretary of State to cause the New Zealand Marine Department to be informed that the Board of Trade have no power to accept the docking certificates of this colony. Section 17 of "The Merchant Shipping Act, 1876," however, provides for the acceptance of colonial passenger certificates in the United Kingdom under certain conditions, and subject to the issue of an Order in Council. The Board would also suggest that the New Zealand Marine Department may be informed that, if they desire the passengej? certificates issued under "The [New 7 Zealand] Shipping and Seamen's Act, 1877," to be so accepted, they should, in the first place, furnish this Board with full particulars as to their surveys, which must be of equal value to those conducted in accordance with the " Instructions" issued by this department, a set of which is forwarded herewith, for the information of the New Zealand Marine Department. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Thomas Geay.

Sub-Enclosure. Sir, — Marino Department, Wellington, 3rd December, 1885. It has been represented to this department that the steamers belonging to the New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited) which trade between this colony and England are required by the Board of Trade to be docked in London for survey before the Board will grant them passenger certificates, although they are periodically docked in this colony, as the Board of Trade does not accept the certificates of the surveyors who inspect them in dock in New Zealand. This department will therefore feel obliged if the Board of Trade will consent to accept the certificates

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of inspection of hull in dock given by its surveyors, so as to do away with the necessity of steamers which have been docked in New Zealand being docked again in Great Britain, beforo procuring passenger certificates. lam given to understand that this has already been conceded in respect of surveys made in India. I have, Ac, The Assistant-Secretary, Marine Department, Lewis H. B. Wilson, Board of Trade, Whitehall Gardens, London, S.W. (For Secretary.)

No. 8. (Circular.) Sir, —■ Downing Street, 28th January, 1886. At the request of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, I have the honour to inform you that the following arrangement has been decided upon with reference to the recognition of Acting Consular appointments in British colonies. When a Consul is authorized by the consular regulations of the country which he represents, or bj 7 the terms of his appointment, or by special instructions from his Government, to nominate an Acting Consular Officer in his absence, you will be at liberty to recognize the officer so nominated without reference to the Secretary of State. It will be sufficient, in the first case, that the Consul should inform the Colonial Government once for all of the consular regulations of the country which he represents; and, in the second case, that he should communicate the terms of his appointment to the Colonial Government on taking up his post; but in the third case the nomination should always be accompanied by the special instructions. I have to request that you will make a notification in this sense to the Consuls in the colony under your government. I have, &c, FRED. STANLEY. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 9. (Circular.) Sib, — Downing Street, 29th January, 1886. With reference to my circular despatch of the 10th of September last, transmitting a copy of a pamphlet (Circular 275) containing the report of the Load-line Committee, and the instructions issued thereon by the Board of Trade to its officers in the United Kingdom, I have the honour to enclose, for the further information of your Government, a copy of a further circular, 275 a, issued by the Board of Trade, containing an amended preparatory notice, intended to supersede the notice in Circular 275, and also containing notes explanatory of certain passages on which differences of opinion might have arisen. I have, &c, FRED. STANLEY. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 10. " (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, Ist February, 1886. By Article 21 of the Commercial Treaty concluded in 1862-63 between Her Majesty and the Republic of Salvador, of which I annex a copy for convenience of reference, it was provided that the treaty should remain in force for twenty years, but should thereafter be terminable on twelve months' notice from either party. It has been decided between Her Majesty and the Republic to enter into an agreement for the continuance of the treaty for a further fixed period, instead of leaving it, as it now is, terminable on twelve months' notice. I presume that the colon} 7 under your government will desire to share the benefit of this prolongation; but F shall be glad to be informed definitely at your

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earliest convenience whether such is the wish of your Government, as the knowledge of this fact will facilitate the preparation of the instrument of agreement between the two countries. I have, &c, FEED. STANLEY. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 11. (New Zealand, No. 6.) Sir.—■ Downing Street, 2nd February, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 123, of the sth of December, enclosing a memorandum from your Ministers, in which they express their views respecting the Federal Council of Australasia. I have, &c, FEED. STANLEY. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-l, 1886, No. 12.

No. 12. (New Zealand, No. 7.) Sir, Downing Street, 2nd February, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 127, of the 16th of December, forwarding a translation of a letter which you had received from Tawhiao, in reply to one founded on my predecessor's Despatch No. 33, of the 23rd of June, in connection with the memorial of the Maori chiefs. I request that your Government will cause Tawhiao to be informed that I have read his letter in accordance with his desire. I have, &c, FEED. STANLEY. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-l, 1886, No. 15.

A.-2A, 1883, No. 63.

No. 13. (New Zealand, No. 8.) Sir,- —■ Downing Street, 2nd February, 1886. With further reference to your Despatch No. 69, of the 12th of May, respecting the position of affairs in Tonga, I have the honour to acquaint you that the Acting High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, who has recently visited the group, has reported on the proposal that steps should be taken in the event of the death of the present King George, with the view of avoiding disturbances, and that Her Majesty's Government have decided, as there seems to be no reason to fear grave complications, not to interfere actively in the succession question in advance of the King's death. I have, &c, FEED. STANLEY. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-l, 1885, No. 48.

No. 14. (New Zealand, No. 9.) Sir,— Downing Street, 2nd February, 1886. I received your telegram of the 16th ultimo, reporting that two chiefs from Samoa had visited you, urging, on behalf of Malietoa and his people, that Great Britain should undertake the government of the country; and I replied to it in my telegram of the 28th ultimo. I observe that you did not support the representations of the chiefs, and I have no doubt that your Government understands that there has been no change in the circumstances which led to the telegrams noted in the margin. In those telegrams, and in his despatch of the loth "of April, my predecessor explained the considerations which at that time rendered it impossible for Her Majesty's

A.-l, 188G, No. 24.

A.-3, 188G, Enclosure 5 to No. 3G.

A.-4D, 18S5,Nos. 18, 42, 78.

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Government to countenance any deviation from the existing understanding between Germany and Great Britain in relation to the independence of the group. Nothing has since occurred which would justify a departure from the decision previously conveyed to you; but, on the contrary, as you have been informed by telegraph, the German Government on their part have given recent assurances that they adhere to previous agreements. The United States Government has, moreover, recently intimated its desire that the independence of Samoa and other islands in the Western Pacific maybe maintained. I request you, therefore, to inform the Samoan chiefs that Her Majesty's Government are wholly unable to entertain, under existing circumstances, any application for the establishment of British authority or protection over the Navigators Islands; and if, when this despatch is received, they are not still in New Zealand, you will have the goodness to cause a communication to be addressed in this sense to Malietoa, through Her Majesty's Consul in Samoa, with an expression of the interest felt by Her Majesty's Government in the welfare of the Samoan King and his people. I have, &c, FEED. STANLEY. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

No. 15. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 6th February, 188 G. I have the honour to inform you that Her Majesty has been pleased to intrust to my care, as one of the Principal Secretaries of State, the seals of the Colonial Department. I have, &c, GKANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 10. (New Zealand, No. 14.) Sib,— Downing Street, 13th February, 1886. I have the honour to inform you that Her Majesty will not be advised to exercise her power of disallowance with respect to the following Acts of the Legislature of New Zealand, transcripts of which accompanied your Despatch No. 117, of the 23rd of October last :—

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No. 1. " An Act to apply a Sum of Money out of the Public Account to tho Service of tho Year ending the Thirtyfirst Day of March, One thousand eight hundred and eighty-six." No. 2. "An Act to amend ' Tho Patents Act, 1883.' " No. 3. " An Act forremoving Doubts as to tho Validity of certain Marriages solemnized in the Provincial Districts of Canterbury and Otago respectively." No. 4. "An Act to'amend 'The Mercantile Law Act, 1880.' " No. 5. " An Act to extend the Provisions of ' The Cemeteries Act, 1882.' " No. 6. " An Act to apply a Sum of Money out of the Public Account to the Service of the Year ending tho Thirty-first Day of March, One thousand eight hundred and eighty-six." No. 7. "An Act to amend 'Tho Public Works Act, 1882.' " No. 8. " An Act to amend ' The Industrial Schools Act, 1882.' " No. 9. " An Act to confer on Resident Magistrates tho Jurisdiction vested in District Judges by ' The Adoption of Children Act, 1881.' " No. 10. " An Act relating to Post Office Postal Notes." No. 11. "An Act to amend ' The West Coast Settlement Eeserves Act, 1881.'" No. 12. "An Act in Amendment of ' The Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1881,' and for tho Better Suppression of Betting." No. 13. " An Act to enable the Honourable SirOeorgo Stoddart Whitmore, K.C.M.G., to hold tho Office of Commander of Her Majesty's Colonial Forces without vacating his Seat in the Legislative Council." i

No. 14. " An Act for the further Amendment of the Law of Evidence." No. 15. " An Act to amend ' The Shipping and Seamen's Act, 1877.' " No. 16. "An Act to provide for the Establishment of Pishing Towns and Villages, and further to encourage Fisheries in New Zealand, and to promote the Production of Canned and Cured Fish for Export." No. 17. "An Act to alter the Duties of Customs and Excise." No. 18. " An Act to amend ' The Savings-Bank Act, 1858.' " No. 19. "An Act to apply a Sum of Money out of tho Public Account to the Service of the Year ending tho Thirty-first Day of March, One thousand eight hundred and eighty-six." No. 20. " An Act to amend ' The Life Assurance Policies Act, 1884.' " No. 21. "An Act to amend 'The Deceased Persons' Estates Duties Act, 1881.' " No. 22. " An Act to amend ' The Bankruptcy Act, 1883.' " No. 23. "An Act to amend tho Law of Distress for Kent." No. 24. " An Act to validate certain Proceedings in Eesident Magistrates' Courts." No. 25. " An Act relating to Coroners' Juries." No. 26. " An Act to amend ' Tho Mining Companies Act, 1872,' and tho several Acts passed in Amendment thereof." No. 27. " An Act to amend ' The Financial Arrangements Act, 1876.'" No. 28. "An Act to amend ' Tho Biver Boards Act, i 1884.'"

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No. 29. " An Act to confer Additional Powers upon the Trustees of Recreation-grounds and Racecourses." No. 30. " An Act to provide for the Reservation of State Forests in New Zealand, and for the Control and Management thereof." No. 31. " An Act for the Continuance of ' The Babbit Nuisance Act. 1882.'" No. 32. " An Act to remedy certain Errors and Omissions in ' The Middle Island Half-caste Crown Grants Act, 1877,'and'The Middle Island Half-casto Grants Act, 1883.' " No. 33. "An Act to define the Position of tho Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, and to vest certain Properties held for tho Purposes of or in connection with such Church in Trustees, and to provide for tho Management of such Properties." No. 34. " An Act to amend ' Tho Employment of Females and Others Act, 1881.'" No. 35. " An Act to provide for the Compensation to be paid by Her Majesty tho Queen in respect of certain Land taken for the Railway-station at Auckland." No. 36. " An Act to amend ' The Gold-mining Districts Act, 1873.'" No. 37. " An Act to amend ' The Education Act, 1877.' " No. 38. " An Act to amend the Public Revenues Acts." No. 39. " An Act to amend ' The Rating Act, 1882.' " No. 40. " An Act to amend ' The Stamp Act, 1882.' " No. 41. " An Act to consolidate and amend tho Laws rogulating tho Assessment of Real and Personal Property for the Purposes of Taxation." No. 42. " An Act to further amend ' The Public Works Act, 1882.' " No. 43. " An Act to amend ' The Property Law Consolidation Act, 1883,' in relation to the Release of Mortgages and to the Acknowledgment by Married Women of Deeds executed by them." No. 44. " An Act to amend ' The Justices of the Peace Act, 1882.' " No. 45. " An Act to provide Facilities for the Enforcement of Judgments recovered in Courts of Inferior Jurisdiction." No. 46. " An Act to provide for the Management of Public Hospitals and Charitable institutions, and for the Distribution of Charitable Aid." No. 47. "An Act for the further Amendment of tho Acts relating to Counties." No. 48. "An Act in Restraint of tho Making of Contracts with Local Bodies by any Members thereof." No. 49. " An Act to provide for Grants in Aid to Local Bodies, and for other Purposes." No. 50. " An Act to amend ' The Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act, 1877.' " No. 51. "An Act to enable certain Companies to issue Mortgage Debentures founded on Securities upon,or affecting Land, and to make Provision for the Registration of such Mortgage Debentures and Securities." No. 52. " An Act to authorize Her Majesty to purchase certain Railways within the Colony constructed under j the District Railways Acts and the Railways Construction and Land Acts." No. 53. " An Act to authorize the Levying and Recovery of I certain Rates by the Waimea Plains Railway Company I (Limited)." No. 54. " An Act to authorize the Construction of certain Railways, and to declare that a certain Railway already constructed is subject to the Provisions of ' The Public Works Act, 1882.' " No. 55. " An Act to amend ' The Mines Act, 1877,' and ' The Gold-mining Districts Act, 1873.' " No. SG. " An Act to consolidate and amend the Laws regulating tho Sale or other Disposal of the Lands of the Crown in New Zealand." No. 57. " An Act to consolidate and amend the Law relating to tho Transfer of and Registration of Title to Land." No. 58. " An Act to defmo the Meaning of certain Words in ' Tho Customs Duties Consolidation Act, 1882.' " No. 59. " An Act to impose a Property-tax." No. GO. "An Act to appropriate certain Sums of Money ] for the Purposes of Immigration and Public Works." No. Gl. "An Act to supply a Sum of Money out of the Consolidated Fund and other Moneys to the Service of J

Governor Sir W. F. X Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

tlio Year ending the Thirty-first Day of March, One thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, and to appropriate the Supplies granted in this present Session." Local Acts. No. 1. "An Act to provide for the Application of certain University Reserves in the Provincial District of Auckland towards the Maintenance of the Auckland University College." No. 2. "An Act to reconstitute the Auckland Harbour Board." No. 3. "An Act to declare the Objects to which a certain Portion of the Costley Bequest may be applied ; and to establish the Costley Training Institution." No. 4. "An Act to amend' The New Plymouth Exchanges Completion Act, 1874,' and to make Provision for the Completion of other Exchanges." No. 5. "An Act to reconstitute the Harbour Board for the Port of Patea, and to grant extended Powers of Eiver Control to the said Board." No. 6. "An Act to enable a Burgess Eoll to bo formed for Palmerston North." No. 7. "An Act to authorize the Napier Harbour Board to pay off certain Debentures made and given under 'The Napier Harbour Board Act, 1875,' out of Moneys borrowed or to be borrowed by the Napier Harbour Board under ' The Napier Harbour Board Empowering and Loan Act, 1884.' " No. 8. "An Act to provide for the Establishment and Management of a High School at Gisborne, or in tho Neighbourhood thereof, in the County of Cook." No. 9. "An Act to confer Additional Leasing Powers upon the Mayor, Councillors, and Citizens of the City of Wellington." ; No. 10. "An Act to authorize tho Temporary Closing of a Portion of a Public Street within the City of Wellington." No. 11. "An Act to validate the Christchurch Municipal Council Public Works Loan." No. 12. "An Act changing the Trusts of the Christchurch Market Keserves." No. 13. "An Act to validate Sydenham Municipal Council Public Works Loan." No. 14. "An Act to grant further Borrowing Powers to the Timaru Harbour Board." No. 15. "An Act to constitute Boards for tho Education Districts of Westland and Grey respectively." No. IG. "An Act to provide for the Leasing of the Lands vested in the Otago Harbour Board." No. 17. "An Act to amend ' The Otago Dock Act, 1883.' " No. 18. "An Act to amend 'The Dunedin Drillshed Reserve Act 1876 Amendment Act, 1884,' and partially repeal the Operation of the same." No. 19. "An Act to empower the Corporation of the Mayor, Councillors, and Citizens of the City of Dunedin to grant Building Leases of tho Land situate within the said City, originally reserved and now vested in the said Corporation for tho purpose of a Cattle-market, and also of other adjacent Lands." No. 20. "An Act to authorize tho Corporation of the Borough of Invercargill to consolidate certain Loans." No. 21. "An Act to grant certain Special Powers to the Governor to issue Crown Grants, and to enable him to carry out certain Contracts and Promises." Private Acts. No. 1. "An Act to enable the Trustees of certain Land in the City of Auckland belonging to the Roman Catholic Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy to grant Leases thereof for any Term not exceeding Sixty-six Years." No. 2. "An Act to incorporate tho Congregational Union of New Zealand." No. 3. "An Act to validate the Expenditure of certain Moneys on Buildings by the Corporation of Christ's College, Canterbury, and to enable the said Corporation to expend further Sums in Buildings for tho Use of the Collego, and for better denning the Trusts and Purposes upon which certain Lands are held in connection with the said College." No. 4. "An Act to enable tho Napier Gas Company (Limited) to supply the Town of Hastings and the surrounding Districts with Gas." I have, &c, GEANVILLE.

2— A. 2.

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No. 17. (Circular.) Sik, — Downing Street, 13th February, 1886. I have the honour to transmit, for the information of your Government, a copy of correspondence, as1 noted in the margin, respecting a Conference to be held on the 3rd of May next relative to the convention of the 14th of March, 1884, for the protection of submarine telegraph cables. I request that you will inform me as early as possible whether your Government are desirous of being represented at the Conference. You will, however, observe that only colonies which have acceded or intend to accede to the Convention can properly be represented. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosures. Sik, — Foreign Office, 28th January, 1886. I am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to request that you will inform Secretary Colonel Stanley that, in consequence of amendments made by the Legislatures of some countries, parties to the convention of the 14th March, 1884, relative to the protection of submarine telegraph cables, further negotiation between the Powers has become necessary ; and that Lord Salisbury has accepted, on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, an invitation from the French Government to send delegates to a further Conference to be held at Paris on the 3rd of May next. I am accordingly to request that you will move Colonel Stanley to make known this intelligence to the colonies concerned, in order that, if they think fit, steps may be taken for the attendance of their representatives on this occasion. If it is not desired in any particular instance to send delegates, this office will give attention as far as possible to any'wishes in this matter which the Secretary of State may express. Mr. C. M. Kennedy, C.8., will more particularly attend to Foreign Office questions in this further negotiation. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Bobeet Bodeke.

Sik,— Downing Street, 3rd February, 188 G. I am directed by Colonel Stanley to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th ultimo, relative to the Conference proposed to be held at Paris on the 3rd of May next, on the question of the protection of submarine telegraph cables, and to state that he has forwarded a copy of it to the Governors of South Australia and Victoria. Before, however, communicating with the Governments of the other colonies enumerated in the additional article to the Convention of the 14th March, 1884, Colonel Stanley would be glad if the Marquis of Salisbury would cause him to bo informed whether in his opinion colonies which have not given notice of accession to the Convention are entitled to be represented at the Conference. I am to add that Colonel Stanley presumes that Canada would, as having attended the previous Conference, be entitled to be represented at the present one ; but as it does not appear that the Convention has been signed on her behalf, or that she has acceded to it, he would be glad to be informed whether Lord Salisbury considers that an invitation should be addressed to the Dominion Government. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign OfEce. E. G. W. Hebbeut.

Sib,— Foreign Office, 4th February, 1886. In reply to your letter of yesterday I am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to state that only colonies which have acceded or intend to accede to the Convention of the 14th March, 1884, to which their right of accession is specially reserved, can properly be represented at the proposed further Conference to amend the text of the Convention as already agreed to. I am at the same time to suggest, for the consideration of Secretary Colonel Stanley, that it may be well to make known this opinion in the case to the Government of Canada, and also to the other colonies which have not yet announced whether or not they desire to be included under the convention. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Robekt Bouekb.

No. 18. Sib, — Downing Street, 15th February, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, the accompanying copy of a correspondence with the General Post Office on the question of granting exemption from light and harbour dues to vessels engaged in laying and repairing submarine cables. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

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Enclosures. Sir, — General Post Office, London, 16th January, 1886. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to forward, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the enclosed copy of a circular, No. 341, of the International Telegraph Office at Berne, dated the 13th November last, on the question of granting exemption from the payment of light and harbour dues for vessels engaged in cable-laying operations. It is the case, as the circular states, that this question was brought before the International Telegraph Conference held at Berlin in August last, by Mr. John Pender, and that the Conference decided that it was not one which it came within its province to discuss; but the suggestion was mado that the delegates of each State should bring the matter before their respective Governments, as it seemed to be one which should be regulated by legislation in each particular country. It will be seen that, at the instigation of the German Administration of Posts and Telegraphs, the matter is now brought forward by the International Telegraph Office. I am to state, for the information of Colonel Stanley, that the Board of Trade, being the department in this country to consider the question so far as it relates to the ports of the United Kingdom, have been communicated with, and I am to enclose a copy of the letter (and its enclosures) addressed to that department on the 23rd ultimo, together with a copy of the reply received from the Board, dated the 30th ultimo, from which it will be seen that they remain of the same opinion on the point as when they wrote to Mr. Pender on tho 30th December, 1881, the letter published in Parliamentary Paper No. 300, of session 1882, of which a copy is also enclosed. It appears, therefore, that, so far as the jurisdiction of the Board of Trade extends, the Board are not disposed to take any action in the matter ; but the question remains whether, as regards those British colonies on the shores of which submarine telegraph cables are landed, Colonel Stanley will be prepared to obtain the views of the respective Colonial Governments on the subject, or whether, having regard to the opinion of the Board of Trade, he would be indisposed to take any action in the matter; and lam to ask you to be so good as to obtain his decision. I am to request that the enclosed parliamentary paper may be returned to this department. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. C. H. B. Patey.

Moxsieue le DiKECTEuii-GExi:r.AL, — Berne, le 13 Novembre, 1885. Le Conference Telegraphique Internationale de Berlin, gui, dans sa seance dv 22 Aout dernier, avait etc saisie dune proposition de M. John Pendcr, en vue d'obtenir la franchise dcs droits de port pour les naviros charges de la pose ot de l'entretien dcs cables sous-marins, a pense quo l'examen de cetto question n'etait pas de sa competence. Toutefois, sur la demande dv President, S.E. M. le Secretaire d'etat de Stephan, la Conference a decide que chaque delegation saisirait son Gouvernement de la proposition de M. Pender dont la solution a semble etre dv ressort de la legislation interieure de chaque pays. 1/Administration dcs Postes et Telegraphes de l'Empire Allemand nous informe qu'en raison de l'interet considerable gui s'attaeho au fonctionnement regulier dcs conducteurs sous-marins, a leur entretien et au prompt retablissement dcs derangements auxquels ils sont exposes, et dans le but d'accorder aux cntrcprises de cables toutes les facilites possibles, elle vient de porter la proposition de M. Pender a la conuaissance dv Departement Imperial del Interieur, en le priantde soumettre la question k un examen detaille, ct do provoquer les inesures gui lvi paraitraient appropriees a la eirconstauce. Dans sa pensee, la question est dune importance si grande pour les communications telegraphiques internationales, qu'elle s'impose a l'attention dcs administrations telegraphiques en vue dune intervention analogue aupres de leurs Gouvernements respectifs. Pour me conformer au desir exprime par I'Administration Allemande, j'ai l'honneur de vous transmettre ces renseignements, en vous priant de vouloir bien vous reporter a cc sujet au procesverbal de la 3° seance (page 2), et de me faire connaitre, si vous ny voyez pas d'inconvenient, les suites que cette affaire aura re9u.es. Veuillez agrecr, &c, L. Cuechod, M. le Directour-General dcs Telegraphes. Le Directeur.

Bib,— General Post Office, 23rd December, 1885. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to ask you to be good enough to bring before the Board of Trade the circular, No. 341, of the 13th ultimo, from the International Telegraph Office at Berne, of which a copy is enclosed, upon the question of obtaining exemption from payment of light and harbour dues for ships engaged in submarine cable operations. As stated in the circular, the question was brought before the International Telegraphic Conference recently held in Berlin, but it was decided that it was not one that came within the competence of the Conference to discuss. Lord John Manners desires me to ask you to be good enough to remind the Board that, whilst the arrangements for holding the Paris Conference for the protection of submarine cables were in progress, a letter, dated the 12th December, 1831, was addressed to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by the cable companies, setting forth the points which tho companies thought deserved consideration ; and I am to enclose an extract from that letter relating to the point now in question. •. 1 am also to enclose an extract from a letter addressed to the Foreign Office by this department on the sth October, 1882, stating the views of the Postmaster-General upon this question ; and I am to ask that, as the question raised in the enclosed circular, of each Government deciding separately whether cable ships should be exempted from light and harbour dues, so far as its own

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jurisdiction extends, is one in the case of this country for the consideration of the Board, Lord John Manners may be informed what answer should be given to the circular addressed to him by the International Telegraph Office. I may add that his Lordship will await the answer of the Board before communicating with the Colonial Office as regards British colonies. I have, &c, The Secretary of the Board of Trade.

Exteact from letter from cable companies to Foreign Office, dated 12th December, 1881.— "».'.. The companies also would venture to ask that it might be made a recommendation to Governments to admit cable-repairing steamers to some kind of exemption from ordinary Customhouse regulations, light and harbour dues. These ships do not carry any kind of mercantile commodities or produce. They are solely engaged in maintaining submarine lines of international communication. They have frequently to enter harbour for shelter, and for the purpose of readjusting their stock of cable and refitting their lost cable, gear, and stores. On a recent occasion, when a steamer was obliged to enter a harbour in Spain to obtain from another ship a fresh supply of cable, permission to transfer the cable was absolutely refused, so that either the ship had to return to Lisbon, her last clearance port, for fresh papers, or both ships had to put to sea outside Customhouse jurisdiction, to enable them to transfer the cable, which they did. These circumstances delayed repairs for several days to a most important line of communication. . . ."

Extract from letter to Foreign Office of the sth October, 1882, in papers 62,028/82 as to protection of submarine cables. —" .... Mr. Fawcett does not see how this country could press for any relaxation of the Customs regulations of other States. There can be no doubt that any relaxation would tend to encourage smuggling ; and the only concession which he would feel justified in suggesting is, that a cable should be allowed to be transferred from one ship to another, in harbour, duty-free. Probably, however, this is already allowed in most countries. Mr. Fawcett does not consider that this department could press for any special privileges in respect of light and harbour dues. It seems to him that, if a ship makes use of a harbour, it ought to pay proper light and harbour dues, no matter how often it may enter and re-enter the harbour in a given time. It is not, however, a matter which concerns the Post Office very much, and therefore, if other countries were disposed to make any concession, he does not think that the British delegates need make any opposition."

Board of Trade (Harbour Department), Whitehall Gardens, S.W., Sib,— 30th December, 1885. I am directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd instant, No. 294,052, in which you transmit copy of a circular, dated the 13th ultimo, from the International Telegraph Office at Berne, upon the question of obtaining exemption from payment of light and harbour dues for ships engaged in submarine telegraph cable operations. With reference to your invitation of the views of this department as to the answer to be given to the circular of the International Telegraph Office, I am to request that you will state to the Postmaster-General that the Board of Trade remain of the same opinion on the point in question as is expressed in their letter to Mr. Pender of the 30th December, 1881, published in Parliamentary Paper No. 300, of session 1882. Copy of that paper, to the concluding portion of page 9 of which I am accordingly to direct your attention, is herewith enclosed, for convenience of reference. The Secretary, General Post Office.

Sir, — Downing Street, 23rd January, 1886. I am directed by Colonel Stanley to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th instant, No. 294,052/85, enclosing a copy of a circular of the International Telegraph Office at Berne, on the question of granting exemption from the payment of light and harbour dues for vessels engaged in cable-laying operations. 2. In reply, I am to request that you will state to the Postmaster-General that Colonel Stanley is unable to recommend to the Colonial Governments a proposal which Her Majesty's Government for good reasons has declined to entertain. 3. The parliamentary paper enclosed in your letter is herewith returned. I have, <fee, The Secretary, General Post Office. E. H. Meade.

Sib,— General Post Office, London, 30th January, 1886. Beferring to my letter of the 16th instant, No. 294,052/85, and to your reply of the 23rd instant, I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that it has now been notified to the International Telegraph Office at Berne that the Government of this country is not disposed to take any action with a view to granting to cable ships exemption from light and harbour dues as far as regards the United Kingdom and British colonies. Lord John Manners, however, directs me to observe that, as the Colonies of South Australia, the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, New South Wales, New Zealand, Tasmania, and Victoria adhere to the International Telegraph Convention, copies of the Circular No. 341, of which a copy was enclosed in my letter, will no doubt be sent to them from Berne; and lam to suggest, therefore, that Colonel Stanley may think it desirable Jhat a communication should be addressed to them, in view of any local action they might otherwise take with the view of granting exemption from light and harbour dues to cable ships. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. C. H. B. Patey.

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No. 19. (New Zealand, No. 15.) Sir, — Downing Street, 20th February, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, enclosing a translation of a note from the German Ambassador at this Court, notifying officially to Her Majesty's Government that the Marshall, Brown, and Providence Islands, in the Pacific Ocean, have been placed under the protection of the German flag. I have, &c, GEANYILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

Enclosure. Sir,— Foreign Office, Bth February, 1886. I am directed by the Earl of Bosebery to transmit to you herewith, to be laid before Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, a translation of a note from the German Ambassador at this Court, notifying officially to Her Majesty's Government that the Marshall, Brown, and Providence Islands, in the Pacific Ocean, have been placed under the protection of the German flag. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. J. Pauncefote.

Sub-Enclosure. 4th February, 1886. The undersigned has been instructed to notify officially to Her Majesty's Government that the groups of the Marshall, Brown, and Providence Islands have been placed under the protection of His Majesty the Emperor by virtue of treaties concluded with the native chiefs, due regard being had to justly-acquired rights of third parties, and that, as a sign of possession, the German flag has been hoisted there. In now carrying out these instructions, the undersigned avails himself, &c, The Marquis of Salisbury, E.G., &c. Yon Hatzfeldt.

No. 20. (New Zealand, No. 16.) Sir,— Downing Street, 26th February, 1886. In reply to your Despatch No. 1, of the 2nd ultimo, I am directed by the Secretary of State to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, the document specified in the annexed schedule. I have, &c, EOBEBT G. W. HEKBEET. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

A.-l, 188", No 17.

Enclosure. Sib,- — University of London, Burlington Gardens, W., 25th February, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge your letter of the 13th instant, covering a despatch from His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand, in which it is requested that the B.A. examination of October next may be held in that colony, and to state that the Governor's application was yesterday considered by the Senate, and acceded to. Copies of the required examination-papers will be sent to your department, in time to allow of their reaching New Zealand before the day appointed for the commencement of the examination. I enclose a copy of the conditions on which colonial examinations are sanctioned by the Senate. Instructions to the sub-examiner will be sent with the examination-papers. I have, &c, Arthur Milman, Sir Eobert Herbert, X.C.8., &c. Eegistrar.

Date. i Description of Document. 25th February. Copy of a letter from the University of London respecting Mr. H M. Livens' application to be examined in the colony for the Final Examination for the B.A. degree.

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No. 21. (New Zealand, No. 17.) Sic, — Downing Street, Ist March, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office enclosing a note from the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, expressing the thanks of his Government for the kind reception afforded to Messrs. Beckx and De Harven by the authorities in New Zealand. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

Enclosure. Sm,— Foreign Office, 22nd February, 1886. I am directed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to transmit to you, to be laid before the Secretary of State for the Colonies, copy of a note which the Belgian Minister at this Court has received from the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, expressing the thanks of his Government for the kind reception accorded to Messrs. Beckz and de Harven by the authorities in New Zealand. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. T. V. Listee.

Sub-Enclosure. Monsieur le Bap.on,— Ministere dcs Affaires Etrangercs, Bruxelles, 17 Fevrier, 1886. M. Beckx, Consul-General de Belgique en Australie, gui a etc charge officiellement d'explorer, en meme temps que M. Em. de Harven, la Nouvelle-Zelande, a rendu coinpte de sa mission au Gouvernement dv Eoi. Notre agent n'a eu qua, se feliciter de l'accueil empresse que lvi a reserve le Gouvernement Neo-Zelandais, et dcs facilites gui lvi ont etc donnces ainsi qua M. do Harven par les autorites Anglaises. Je vous saurais gre d'exprimer a cette occasion au chef dv Foreign Office les remerciments que le Gouvernement dv Eoi lvi adresse, en memo temps qua Sir W. F. Drummond Jervois et aux fonctionnaires de son administration, pour le concours gracieux gui a etc donne a nos compatriotes. Agreez, Monsieur le Baron, &c, Monsieur le Baron Solvyns, &c, Londres. P. de Caeaman.

No. 22. (Circular.) Sic, — Downing Street, Ist March, 1886. With reference to previous circular despatches of the 20th of January, 1864, and the 6th of September, 1867,1 have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of the colony under your government, the accompanying copy of the Queen's regulations respecting foreign orders and medals, as recently revised by Her Majesty's command. I have, &c, GBANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Regulations respecting Foeeign Oedebs. The Queen has been pleased to direct that the following regulations respecting foreign orders and medals shall be substituted for those now in force: — 1. No subject of Her Majesty shall accept a foreign order from the Sovereign of any foreign country, nor wear the insignia thereof, without having previously obtained Her Majesty's permission to that effect, signed by a warrant under her Eoyal Sign-Manual. 2. Excepting in the case of special complimentary missions to foreign Sovereigns, such permission shall not be granted to any subject of Her Majesty unless the foreign order shall have been conferred in consequence of active and distinguish! d service before the enemy, either at sea, or in the field; or unless ho shall have been actually and entirely employed, beyond Her Majesty's dominions, in the service of the foreign Sovereign by whom the order is conferred. 3. The intention of a foreign Sovereign to confer upon a British subject the insignia of an order must be notified to Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, either through the British Minister accredited to the court of such foreign Sovereign, or through his minister accredited at the court of Her Majesty. 4. If the service for which it is proposed to confer the order has been performed during war, the notification required by the preceding clause must be made not later than two years after the exchange of the ratifications of a treaty of peace.

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If the service has been performed in time of peace, the notification must be made within two years after the date of such service. 5. After such notification shall have been received, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs shall, if the case comes within the conditions prescribed by the present regulations, and arises from naval or military services before the enemy, refer it to Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the War Department, previously to taking Her Majesty's pleasure thereupon, in order to ascertain whether there be any objection to Her Majesty's permission being granted. A similar reference shall also be made to the Commander-in-Chief if the application relates to an officer in the army, or to the Lords of the Admiralty if it relates to an officer in the navy. 6. When Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs shall have taken the Queen's pleasure on any such application, and shall have obtained Her Majesty's permission for the person in whose favour it has been made to accept the foreign order, and wear the insignia thereof, he shall signify the same to Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, in order that he may cause the warrant required by clause 1 to be prepared for the Royal SignManual. When such warrant shall have been signed by the Queen, a notification thereof shall be inserted in the Gazette, stating the service for which the foreign order has been conferred. 7. The warrant signifying Her Majesty's permission may, at the request and at the expense of the person who has obtained it, be registered in the College of Arms. 8. Every such warrant as aforesaid shall contain a clause providing that Her Majesty's license and permission does not authorize the assumption of any style, appellation, rank, precedence, or privilege appertaining to a Knight Bachelor of Her Majesty's realms. 9. When a British subject has received the Eoyal permission to accept a foreign order, he will at any future time be allowed to accept the decoration of a higher class of the same order, to which he may have become eligible by increase of rank in the foreign service, or in the service of his own country ; or any other distinctive mark of honour strictly consequent upon the acceptance of the original order, and common to every person upon whom such order is conferred. 10. The preceding clause shall not be taken to apply to decorations of the Guelphic Order which were bestowed on British subjects by Her Majesty's predecessors, King George IV. and King William IV., on whose heads the Crowns of Great Britain and of Hanover were united. Decorations so bestowed cannot properly be considered as rewards granted by a foreign Sovereign for services rendered according to the purport of clause 2of these regulations. They must be rather considered as personal favours bestowed on British subjects by British Sovereigns, and as having no reference to services rendered to the foreign Crown of Hanover. Foreign Office, 3rd February, 1886. Begulations respecting Foreign Medals. 1. Applications for permission to accept and wear medals which, not being the decoration of any foreign order, arc conferred by a foreign Sovereign on British subjects in the army or navy, should be addressed to the Commander-in-Chief or the Lords of the Admiralty, as the case may be, who, if they see fit, may submit the same for Her Majesty's sanction, upon obtaining which they may grant such permission without other formality. 2. Any other British subject, having obtained Her Majesty's permission, is at liberty to accept and wear a foreign medal, not being the decoration of a foreign order. 3. No permission is necessary for accepting a foreign medal if such medal is not to be worn. Foreign Office, August, 1885. Salisbury.

. No. 23. (New Zealand, No. 19.) Sib,— Downing Street, 16th March, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for your information and that of your Government, a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, with its enclosure, respecting the German Consulate at Nelson. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

Enclosure. Bm,—» Foreign Office, 4th March, 1886. I am directed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to transmit to you, to be laid before the Secretary of State for the Colonies, translation of a note which his Lordship has received from the German Ambassador at this Court, stating that the German Consulate at Nelson (New Zealand) had been abolished, and that the Consul at Wellington will have jurisdiction over that district. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. T. V. Lister.

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Sub-Enclosure. My Loed, — German Embassy, Ist March, 1886. I have the honour to inform jour Lordship, by orders from my Government, that the Imperial Consulate at Nelson (New Zealand) has been abolished, and that consular district included in that of the Imperial Consulate at Wellington. I have, &c, His Excellency the Earl of Eosebery, &c. Yon Hatzfeldt.

No. 24. (New Zealand, No. 20.) Sib,— Downing Street, 22nd March, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, an order of the Queen in Council assenting to the Bill passed by the Legislature of New Zealand, and reserved by you for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure, entitled " An Act to regulate the Distribution of the Separate Property of Married Women dying Intestate as to such Property, and to amend the Law as to Administration of Estates," a copy of which accompanied your Despatch No. 117, of the 23rd of October last. I have, &g., GEANVILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

Enclosure. At the Court at Windsor, the Bth day of March, 1886. Present: The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty ; Lord President, Mr. Secretary Childers, Mr. Heneage, Mr. Mellor. Whbeeas by an Act passed in the session held in the fifteenth and sixteenth years of Her Majesty's reign, entitled " An Act to grant a Eepresentative 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 Eepresentatives of the said colony, entitled "An Act to regulate the Distribution of the Separate Property of Married Women (lying Intestate as to such Property, and to amend the Law as to Administration of Estates," 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 been 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.

No. 25. (Circular.) Sib, — Downing Street, 2nd April, 1886. I have the honour to draw your attention to Sir Michael Hicks-Beach's circular despatch of the 28th of February, 1880, respecting the exchange of official documents between the Colonial Governments and the Government of France, and to inform you that the principle therein laid down may be regarded as equally applicable to other foreign Governments. 1 have, &c, GKANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 26. (New Zealand, No. 23.) Sic, — Downing Street, 31st March, 1886. I have received from the Governor of South Australia a return in duplicate (in the form annexed) of the ships of war and torpedo boats of the colony for the year ending the 31st of December, 1885.

ot printed

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It is very convenient to have information of this character on record in this department, and I should be glad if j^ou would supply me periodically with similar returns as to the naval forces of the colony under your government. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

No. 27. (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, Bth April, 1886. The attention of my predecessor was directed, in several communications which have recently come under my notice, to the fact that under the present system of transacting much important colonial business personally, or in correspondence with the Agents-General, the Governors of the Australasian Colonies are less fully and less promptly informed than they formerly were, and than it is desirable that they should be, on many questions of public interest. I attach the greatest importance to the freedom and the frequency of the communications between the Agents-General and this department, where the information which they are able to supply respecting the affairs of their colonies and the views of their Ministers are found to be most valuable; and it is by no means my desire to suggest any change in their present very satisfactory relations with Her Majesty's Government; but I shall be obliged if your Government will make arrangements for informing the Governor of all instructions which they may send to the Agent-General, by telegraph or otherwise, and of all reports which they may receive from him relating to any communications with Her Majesty's Government on political or other important subjects. It would, of course, be possible for me to send such information in each case, separately, to the Governor by telegraph or despatch, but this course would involve trouble and expense; and I feel confident that your Advisers will readily relieve me from the necessity of it by keeping the Governor fully informed. If that is already the practice in the colony under your government, there will of course be no occasion for you to take any action on this despatch. I have, &c, GRANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 28. (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 9th April, 1886. With reference to my predecessor's circular despatch of the 14th of September last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of the colony under your government, a copy of a memorandum which has been prepared by the Board of Trade relative to the alterations made by " The Submarine Telegraph Act, 1885," in the stipulations of the International Convention of the 14th of March, 1884, for the protection of submarine telegraph cables. I have, &c, GBANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

A.-2, 1886, No 14.

Enclosure. Memorandum on "The Submarine Telegraph Act, 1885." The alterations made by this Act in ihe stipulations of the International Convention of the 14th March, 1884, for the protection of submarine telegraphs are two, and were urgently pressed for by various telegraph companies (including the principal transatlantic companies), whose combined capital was stated to amount to about £28,000,000, and who claimed to own or work about two-thirds of the entire length of all the cables in the world. Their views were supported by companies who manufacture, lay, and repair cables. 3—A. 2.

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The two alterations are as follow : (1.) Subsection (4) of section 3 provides that a person shall not be deemed to have unlawfully and wilfully broken or injured a submarine cable where injury has been done to that cable in the bond field attempt to repair another cable. It was thought but fair that it should be placed beyond a doubt that an owner of a cable should not incur a criminal liability for any unavoidable consequence which might result from his undertaking the legitimate operation of repairing his property and restoring telegraphic communication. (2.) Section 4 provides that Article IV." of the Convention shall not apply to that part of a cable which is laid in a depth of water exceeding a hundred fathoms. The hundred-fathoms limit was here adopted as being the extreme depth within which vessels can anchor, and therefore the depth within which cables would be most liable to damage, and also as being a depth beyond which it is more difficult to take up and repair cables.

(New Zealand—General.) Sib,— Downing Street, 16th April, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to yon the accompanying documents : (1.) Convention respecting the formation of an International Copyright Union. (2.) A draft Bill to amend the law relating to international and colonial copyright. (3.) A memorandum by the parliamentary counsel upon the Bill so far as it relates to the colonies. (4.) A letter from Mr. Bryce, Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, giving the reasons which have led to the introduction of the Bill in its present form. And I have to request that these documents may be taken into consideration by your Government with as little delay as may be possible. The Convention will be found at page 56, and a translation at page 62 of the enclosed Parliamentary Paper C. 4606; and I would draw your special attention to Article 19, which provides that countries acceding to the Convention may accede thereto at any time for their colonies. If the colony under your government desires to accede to the Convention, foreign authors will have copyright in the colony, and colonial authors will have copyright in foreign countries; but if it should desire that foreign authors should not have copyright in the colony, and that authors publishing in the colony should, as a consequence, not have copyright in foreign countries, Her Majesty will be able, under clause 9 of the Bill, to exclude the colony from the operation of the Berne Convention, and of the International Copyright Acts; without prejudice, however, to rights previously acquired by foreign authors under existing conventions. You are aware that authors who first produce their works in a colony cannot now obtain copyright in any other part of the Empire, while, on the other hand, authors who first produce their works in the United Kingdom do, by virtue of the present Copyright Acts, on complying with certain formalities, obtain copyright throughout the Empire; except in the case of Canada, which has been the subject of separate legislation. If the Bill which I enclose passes in its present shape, an author who first produces a work in the colony under your government would acquire the same rights throughout the Empire as if he had first produced his work in the United Kingdom, while authors producing works in any other colony would acquire similar rights in the colony under your government, and in this way the position of colonial authors would be materially improved. It is important that Her Majesty's Government should know with as little delay as possible what really are the views of the colony, for the Bill has been read a second time in the House of Commons, although its passage through Committee will be delayed for the purpose of ascertaining (if it be practicable) the views of the colonies on the clause. I have accordingly to request that the enclosed papers may be considered without loss of time, and that you will inform me by telegraph whether, as I conclude will be the case, it is desired that Her Majesty's Government should accede to the Berne Convention on behalf of the .colony under your government, and whether it is desired that Imperial copyright should be extended to authors whose works are first produced within the colony. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c

•Article IV. The owner of a cable who, on laying or preparing his own cable, breaks or injures another cabl must bear the cost of repairing the breakage or injury without prejudice to the application, if need be, of Article II of the present Convention.

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No. 30. (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 17th April, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a letter from the Admiralty relative to the conditions on which the names of officers and vessels of a colonial navy can he included in the Navy List. I have, &c, GRANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Sir,— Admiralty, 3rd March, 1886. With reference to your letter of the 26th ultimo, forwarding a copy of a despatch (No. 5, 11th January) from the Governor of Victoria, with its enclosures, respecting the insertion in the Navy List of the names of officers and ships and vessels of war of the Victorian navy, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that they have no objection to the insertion in the quarterly list of officers and vessels of the Victorian or any other colonial navy, under the following conditions, namely : (1.) Only officers and vessels of classes coi responding to those of the Eoyal Navy now inserted in the Navy List will be included in the arrangement. Torpedo boats will therefore be excluded. (2.) The colonies or their agents must be responsible for forwarding corrected lists to the editor of the Navy List, Admiralty, each quarter, so as to reach him on or before the 16th March, June, August, and September. (3.) 1 am to request that the necessary communication may be made to the colonies interested. The Victorian navy will appear in the April list. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Evan MacGregok.

No. 31. (Circular.) Sin,— Downing Street, 19th April, 188(5. I have the honour to transmit to you a co])j of a letter from the Board of Trade, requesting that they may be furnished with full particulars respecting the practice, qualifications, and ability of the measuring surveyors at colonial ports. I request that you will be good enough to obtain and furnish me with the information desired by the Board. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Sin, Board of Trade (Marine Department), London, S.W., 7th April, 188 G. I am directed by the Board of Trade to inform you that they are desirous of obtaining information with respect to the survey and measurement of vessels which are, registered in the various colonies, and to state that they will bo glad if Earl Granville will be so good as to cause inquiries to be made with a view to furnish this department with full particulars respecting the practice, qualifications, and ability of the measuring surveyors at colonial ports, in order that it may be ascertained to what extent the requirements of the Merchant Shipping Acts, 1854 to 1876, are insisted upon, previous to the issue of the certificate of survey (Surs. 59) upon which registry is granted. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Thomas Gray.

No. 32. (New Zealand, No. 26.) Sib,— Downing Street, 16th April, 1880. I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter, with its enclosure, from the Foreign Office, respecting an application from Mr. Tregear, of the Survey Department of New Zealand, for permission to present to the Emperor of Austria-Hungary a copy of a work entitled " The Aryan Maori." I request that you "will cause a copy of Count Karolyi's letter to be communicated to Mr. Tregear. I have, &c, GRANVILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

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Enclosure. Sir,— Foreign Office, 29th March, 1886. I am directed by Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to transmit to you, to be laid before the Secretary of State for the Colonies, copy of a letter which he has received from the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador at this Court, informing his Lordship that the Emperor of Austria-Hungary has deigned to accept a work by Mr. Tregear, of the Survey Department, New Zealand, entitled " The Aryan Maori;" and lam to request you to move Lord Granvillo to cause this resolution, as well as the thanks of His Imperial Majesty, to be conveyed to Mr. Tregear. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. T. V. Listeb.

Sub-Enclosure. Monsieue le Comte, — Belgrave Square, 24 Mars, 1886. M. Tregear, employe dans le " Survey Department " de Wellington, Nouvelle-Zelande, a adresse a Sa Majeste Imperiale et Eoyale, mon auguste Souverain, la priere de voir agreer par l'Empereur et Eoi un exemplaire de son ouvrage intitule " Aryan Maori." Je viens d'etre informe que Sa Majeste a gracieusement daigno agreer l'ofire do Monsieur Tregear, dont le livre sera place dans le bibliotheque de la famille Imperiaie et Eoyale. Par consequent, j'ai l'honneur de recourir a l'obligeante entremise de votre Excellence en la priant de vouloir bien faire informer le Sieur Tregear, par la voie competente, de cette resolution, et lvi faire transmettre les remerciments de mon auguste maitre. Veuillez agreor, &c, Monsieur le Comte de Eosebery. Kaeolyi.

No. 33. (New Zealand, No. 29.) Sic,— Downing Street, 27th. April, 1886. With reference to your Despatch No. 14, of the 28th of January last, and to previous correspondence, respecting the receipt by Major-General Steward of remuneration for services rendered to certain Australasian Colonies, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a letter from the War Office, with its enclosure, on the subject. I have, &c, EOBEET G. W. HEBBEKT, (For Earl Granville.) Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-l, 1886, No. 30.

Enclosure. Sic, — Financial Secretary's Department, War Office, 20th April, 1886. With reference to your letter of the 18th ultimo, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit, for the information of Earl Granville, the enclosed copy of a letter addressed by this office to the Treasury, respecting the receipt by Major-General E. H. Steward of emoluments from certain Australasian Colonies, and of the reply thereto. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, S.W. H. T. De la Beee.

Sub-Enclosure 1. Sic, — Financial Secretary's Department, War Office, 30th March, 1886. With reference to Mr. Cole's letter of the 26th September, 1883, No. 15417/83, conveying the sanction of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to a proposal from this office that the Hon. Major-General E. H. Steward, late Eoyal Engineers, should be allowed to draw his retired pay of £600 a year notwithstanding his receipt of fees from the Governments of New Zealand and Victoria, so long as his emoluments from such employment do not exceed £638 15s. a year, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to state that Major-General Steward commuted his retired pay on the 14th November, 1883, and to transmit to you the enclosed papers, which show that he is now employed in connection with the ordering and inspection of war material for the Colonies of New Zealand, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania. In these circumstances, the Secretary of State assumes that, tinder the proposed now rules with regard to the retired pay of officers in colonial employment, Major-General Steward may be allowed to draw the colonial emoluments granted to him in respect of the employment above referred to in full, notwithstanding the fact that he has commuted his retired pay. I am to request that such of the enclosures as are in original may be returned. I have, &c, The Secretary to the Treasury. H. T. De la Beee.

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Sub-Enclosure 2. Sic,— Treasury Chambers, 12th April, 1886. The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury desire me to return the original enclosures to Mr. De la Bere's letter of the 30th ultimo, respecting the receipt by Major-General E. H. Steward of emoluments from certain Australasian Colonies, he having commuted his retired pay; and lam to state, for the information of Mr. Secretary Campbell-Bannerman, that, under the new rules now in contemplation regarding the receipt of naval or military non-effective pay in conjunction with civil salaries, no restriction need be placed on the emoluments received by MajorGeneral Steward from the colonies in question, so long as they do not submit their annual estimates for the sanction of this department. I have, &c, The Financial Secretary, War Office. E. E. Welbt.

No. 34. (New Zealand, No. 30.) Sic,— Downing Street, 27th April, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a letter from the Board of Trade, with its enclosure, respecting the inquiry held into the stranding of the barque " Hudson." I have to request that you will draw the attention of your Government to the observations made by the Board of Trade in connection with this case as to the power of the colonial Court of Inquiry to deal with the certificates. I have, &c, EOBEET G. W. HEEBERT, (For Earl Granville.) Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

Enclosure. Sic,— Board of Trade (Marine Department), London, S.W., 16th April, 1886. I am directed by the Board of Trade to transmit to you the accompanying printed copy of the report of the Court of Inquiry held at Lyttelton, New Zealand, into the stranding of the barque '■ Hudson," from which it will be seen that the master and second mate were found in default for neglecting the lead, and that their certificates were suspended for three months each. From the evidence, however, and the report of the casualty received in this department, it appears that the vessel sustained no serious damage, and was not abandoned; and having regard to section 242 of " The Merchant Shipping Act, 1854," as amended by section 23 of " The Merchant Shipping Act Amendment Act, 1862," which provides that the loss or abandonment of or serious damage to any ship or loss of life must have been caused by the wrongful act or default of a master or mate in order to justify the suspension or cancellation of his certificate, it left it open to the master and second mate of the "Hudson" to raise a technical objection to the power of the Court to deal with their certificates. It may be argued that section 244 of " The [New Zealand] Shipping and. Seamen's Act, 1877," confers on the Magistrate the power to suspend or cancel the certificate of any master or mate when it is found that a " shipping casualty " has been caused by his wrongful act or default ; but the Board are advised that the express provisions of the Imperial Merchant Shipping Acts cannot be overridden when a certificate issued under the authority of those Acts is at stake. I am therefore to suggest for the consideration of Earl Granville that the attention of the authorities in New Zealand should be called to the matter. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Thomas Gbay.

No. 35. (Circular.) Sir, — • Downing Street, 28th April, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Government, a copy of a letter from the department of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and of one which accompanied it from the Commander-in-Chief on the Australian Station, respecting the conditions and restrictions under which the services of instructors in gunnery and torpedo practice will be sanctioned by their Lordships' department, together with a copy of a letter which 1 have caused to be returned to the Admiralty on the subject. Your Government will, no "doubt, take the necessary steps to arrange with Admiral Tryon on the spot in cases where instructors are required, should the proposed conditions appear satisfactory. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

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Enclosures. Sm,— Admiralty, S.W., 16th April, 1886. I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to forward herewith, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, a copy of correspondence which has taken place (as per schedule enclosed) with regard to imparting gunnery and torpedo instruction to officers and men in the employ of the Australian Colonies. 2. My Lords are prepared to approve generally of the proposals contained in Admiral Tryon's letter of the 4th January, 1886 —that is to say, they will sanction the services of such instructors as the Commander-in-Chief may consider necessary to be lent for imparting the said instruction, under the restrictions referred to in Admiral Tryon's letter, no charge being made against the Colonial Governments for the ordinary pay of the instructors; but the colonies to defray the expense of the special allowances to be granted as instruction-money to those engaged in imparting the instruction, as laid down in the scale of allowances enclosed in the Admiral's letter above quoted. 3. My Lords are also of opinion that the Colonial Governments should pay for the stores used in carrying out the instruction, observing that the total estimated expense of such storas for the present only amounts to about £30, of which two-thirds would be naval stores and one-third War Office stores. 4. I am to request that you will move the Secretary of State for the Colonies to inform their Lordships whether he concurs in these proposals; upon which the necessary instructions will be issued. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Evan MacGkegok.

Requesting Sanction for a Skeleton Scheme for Torpedo and other Instructors, with a Scale of Pay for Stores and Instruction of Officers or Men in Colonial Employ. Sib, — H.M.S. " Nelson," at Auckland, 4th January, 1886. With reference to their Lordships' letter of the 18th August, 1885, G Mff, the most convenient time for undertaking the instruction of men belonging to the colonies will be after the return of H.M.S. " Nelson " to Sydney from the summer cruise. 2. In addition to the application made by the Governor of Queensland, I have received an application from South Australia for permission for a Mr. Clarkson to go through a course of Whitehead and electric-light instruction. I have assented to this. 3. As a preliminary arrangement, I have built a small shed on Garden Island, Sydney, the cost of which will be charged to the sum allowed for new works, Garden Island, and it will not exceed that allowed on estimate 1885-86 for new works. This will enable the instruction given to those belonging to our ships, as well as to others, to be conducted without the interruptions that are unavoidable when instruction in such matter is imparted on board a ship in commission. 4. The duty of teaching those not actually in Her Majesty's service is, I believe, somewhat novel. The instructors will be in receipt of far less wages than those who are under instruction and in similar positions of life. Taking all the points into consideration, I think it not unreasonable that the instructors should receive in these cases a special allowance, which I am confident the colonies will be glad to defray : in fact, I am confident that all such arrangements do more towards promoting a sound practical national federation than almost anything else that has yet been conceived, and Ido not anticipate any difficulty in the matter; and the whole of the pay and receipt arrangements can be settled on board the flagship. 5. This question was raised before I left England, and in my instructions I was authorized to consider that the idea would be entertained. I also referred to it in my letter of the Bth July, 1885, No. 867 (confidential), paragraph 24. 6. In the scale of payment I send herewith 1 have considered that the Admiralty arc prepared to sanction the Cominander-in-Chief lending the services of instructors free of cost or charge of any kind to the colonies, and that the pay which the colonies will give will be additional to the wages and allowances the men now receive, and the above, together with the pension prospects, will raise their wages when employed to instruct those in colonial employ so as to more nearly approach colonial wages. 7. To prevent abuse, laxity, and undue delays, however created, I propose to place a strict limit on the time that each course of instruction should occupy; if a longer period is occupied it will not be paid for. Should hereafter the instruction be extended so as to require more time, the time now fixed can be altered, but the reason should be clearly set forth. 8. The number of instructors to be employed will vary with the number who require to be instructed, and, secondly, with the dates on which those sent for instruction arrive. The distances are so considerable between the centres of the different colonies, and the movements of Her Majesty's ships are sufficiently uncertain to prevent fixed dates for joining classes being enforced, nor do the very small numbers now under consideration render this necessary at present; but I write rather fully, as we are commencing a system that is sure to extend. 9. A certain amount of stores will be expended when imparting this instruction; but, at all events at present, their cost will be inconsiderable, and if they are given by their Lordships the gift, though small, will be much appreciated. 10. Referring oiwie more to the scale of allowances for instruction, I have considered not only the ordinary colonial wages, but the pay of the seamen and others engaged in the colonial vessels of war. 11. The position of officers in Her~Majesty's service seems to be on a different footing, and I think the present regulations concerning check-money, if it is found necessary to give anything, are sufficient for the present time. At some future time the case may be different.

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12. The times proposed for the several courses are—For a short Whitehead course, fourteen working days; for a short submarine mining course, ten working days; for electric-light course, three working days; for a long course Whitehead and submarine mining, thirty working days. And in no case will a payment for instruction be granted for a greater number of clays than those shown on the above scale. Even if the progress made has not been, sufficient to enable a certificate for efficiency being given, and it is necessary in the opinion of the torpedo or gunnery officer to continue the instruction for a longer period, the total payment for each course is not to exceed the payment due to instruction for the time established for the respective courses. 13. No departure from this regulation is to be made without in the first instance the sanction of the Commander-in-Chief, who will, before acting in the matter, confer with the Governor of the colony affected. 14. The whole arrangement for payment of instructors to be. made locally by the Colonial Government, the Commander-in-Chief, or such officer as he may appoint; and all payments made on behalf of the colonies to be recovered in the usual way—viz., through the paymaster at the Naval Depot, Sydney. I have, &c, G. Tryon, Bear-Admiral.

Enclosure in Australian Letter No. 9, of 4th January, 1886. Maximum instruction pay for one day : Warrant officers, 55.; torpedo artificer, 3s. 9d.; torpedo instructor, 3s. ; gunnery instructor, 3s. ; leading torpedo man, 2s. 3d.; torpedo men, 2s. Maximum, time payment allowed for each man under instruction (the result to be tested by examination) : Short course Whitehead, fourteen working days; short course submarine mining, ten working days; electric light, three working days; long course Whitehead and submarine mining, thirty working days.

Sik,-— Downing Street, 27th April, 1886. I am directed by Earl Granville to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th instant, with its enclosures, respecting the conditions and restrictions under which the services of instructors in gunnery and torpedo practice in connection with the Australian Colonies will be sanctioned by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. lam to state that on his part Lord Granville sees no objection to the proposals of the Commander-in-Chief on the Australian station, but that he has addressed a despatch to the Governors of the colonies concerned on the assumption that they will consider the proposed conditions to be satisfactory, in which case he has recommended that they should arrange with Admiral Tryon on the spot in cases where instructors are required. I have, &c, The Secretary to the Admiralty. B. H. Meade.

No. 36. (New Zealand, No. 31.) Sic, — Downing Street, 29th April, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you an extract from a despatch from the Officer Administering the Government of Fiji, with reference to the possibility of supplying New Zealand with the seed of the castor-oil plant for commercial purposes. I have, &c, EOBERT G. W. HEEBEET, (For Earl Granville.) Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

Enclosure. Bxteaot from a Despatch from the Officer Administering the Government of Fiji to Colonel Stanley, dated Suva, 11th January, 18R6. (Fiji, No. 5.) GO. I observe growing in this part of the country, and chiefly upon river-flats, large quantities of castor-oil. Being the height of summer, the long spikes of capsules were quite ripe and fit for gathering, but it would appear that no use whatever is made of the seed. I think it probable that between the town of Eewauka and Fort Carnarvon 100 or 120 tons of this seed might have been gathered, which, delivered upon the coast, would be worth not less than £6 to £6 10s. per ton. I explained to Mr. Marriott, the Acting Eesident Commissioner, how it should be gathered, and directed that samples might be sent to Suva in order that its value might be tested in the market. 61. A factory for oil from castor seeds has been established for many years at Auckland, New Zealand, and, as the distance hence is only four days and a half by steamer, I have no doubt that the proprietors would gladly buy seed from Fiji. I am aware that, in consequence of the great use in Australia of castor-oil as a lubricant, the present supply of seed is much below the demand.

No. 37. (Circular.) Sib, — Downing Street, Ist May, 1886. I have much pleasure in transmitting to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a letter from the Department of the Lords Commissioners

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of the Admiralty, with its enclosures, expressing the high appreciation entertained by their Lordships of the services rendered by the Australasian Colonies in cooperating with liear-Admiral Tryon in the storing of coal, &c, during the preparations in case of war which were made in 1885. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosures. Sir,— Admiralty, 24th April, 1886. I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit herewith a copy of a letter from Bear-Admiral Tryon, Commander-in-Chief on the Australian Station, giving in detail the valuable and willing assistance rendered by the colonies in storing coal, &c, during the preparations in view of war which were made in 1885. The circumstances which rendered it necessary for the Commander-in-Chief to invite the assistance of the colonies in making this provision are described in the accompanying extract of a letter dated 12th June, 1885, No. 314. 2. In laying these enclosures before the Secretary of State for the Colonies, my Lords request that you will express the high appreciation which they entertain of the services rendered by the several colonies in this matter, and that you will move Earl Granville to cause their Lordships' acknowledgments to be conveyed to the Governors of the colonies who so cordially co-operated with Bear-Admiral Tryon. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Evan MacGbegok.

Assistance rendered by the Colonies in storing Coal, &c, during the War Preparations in 1885 Bib,— " Nelson," at Adelaide, 2nd March, 1886. Be so good as to convey to their Lordships my desire to name to them the consideration with which my representations were received by the several, colonies during the preparations made in case of war in 1885. 2. Owing to circumstances which had special weight within these colonies, which were referred to in my letter dated the 12th June, 1885, No. 314, I was obliged to lay in a certain amount of coal at different ports. The stock deposited was not very large; but it established a system, and the amount could easily have been increased. 3. At Adelaide the supervision and charge of coal was undertaken by the colon}-. 4. At Hobart a hulk was provided free of cost, and many incidental expenses were borne by the colony. 5. At Sydney hulks of 3,000 tons, with caretakers, free of cost, were placed at my disposal. 6. At Brisbane a pier and a good closed shed for the storage of coal were erected at a very considerable cost, free of all charge to the Admiralty, and a hulk was also purchased by the colony, and filled with Imperial coal. 7. New Zealand gave railway carriage, storage, and incidental charges freely for the national purpose of facilitating the action of our ships of war. 8. I do not doubt but what the other colonies would have done the same, but I had not to ask them ; and in this matter, though I had some preliminary correspondence with Victoria, it was unnecessary to send coal to any port in that colony. 9. Should their Lordships think fit to express their acknowledgments of the service so freely rendered by the respective Governments and their employes, it cannot fail to be appreciated. I have, &c, G. Teyon, The Secretary to the Admiralty. Bear-Admiral.

Sib,— " Nelson," at Sydney, 12th June, 1885. Be pleased to inform their Lordships, owing to the fact that no stock of coal is kept in Australian ports, save in quite the outlying ones, it became necessary for me to consider the question, and to make arrangements that my squadron should be able to rely on a supply at certain ports. 2. It is the practice to order coal by telegram as wanted from the coal ports. This saves the cost of handling, insomuch as it is transferred direct from the steam colliers to the vessel requiring it, instead of its being first transferred to a hulk or store, and then to the ship ; and to such an extent is this, that even for the supply of the " Nelson," when at Melbourne, when it was uncertain how soon she might have to go to sea, I had to make special arrangements; and even at Sydney there is no stock of coal. 3. It is not so easy to introduce a new system, and it could not be put off till the last moment. I communicated with the different colonies, and requested their Governments to arrange for safe storage and supply; and suitable arrangements have been made everywhere save at Melbourne, where there is a hitch as to terms, which I can bridge if hereafter necessary. * * * :|: * * s;: I have, &c, G. TIIYON, The Secretary to the Admiralty. Bear-Admiral.

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No. 38. (New Zealand—Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 3rd May, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, copies of the English and German text of two declarations relating to the Western Pacific recently agreed to by Her Majesty's Government and the Imperial German Government. I have, &c, EOBEET G. W. HEEBEET, (For Earl Granville.) Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M,G., C.8., &c.

1 A.-5,1887,N0.5.

No. 39. (New Zealand, No. 35.) Sib,— Downing Street, 15th May, 1886. With reference to your Despatch No. 112, of the 26th of September last, I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a further communication received from Colonel Eookes, urging his claims to the distinction of a Military or Civil Companionship of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath. I request that you will be good enough to inform Colonel Eookes that I regret that I am unable to return to him any other answer than that conveyed to you in my predecessor's Despatch No. 77, of the 22nd of December last. I have, &c, G-KANVILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

f A.-l, 1886, No. 2.

A.-2, 1886, No. 28.

Enclosure. My Lord, — Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand, 4th March, 1886. I trust that your Lordship has not forgotten thai, during the period you held the seals of the Colonial Office in 1865-66, the late Lord Harris brought to your notice a claim I had made for some decorative recognition of my services at the capture of the Weraroa Pa, as detailed in Governor Sir G. Grey's despatch to the Secretary of State for the Colonies of the 26th July, 1865. My claim, recommended and indorsed by the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, was forwarded as desired by your Lordship ; but, in the time intervening, your Lordship left the Colonial Office, which I saw when a reply was received by the Government here. I gave the matter up, and contented myself with the highest honour the colonists can give to a fellow-settler —namely, the unanimous thanks of both Houses of the New Zealand Parliament; and I mention parenthetically that I am the only settler or officer who has ever been so thanked since New Zealand had a Constitution. The other day I read with pleasure that the Gladstone Government had deservedly showered honours and rewards on the New South Wales Soudan Contingent for what may be termed a picnic campaign as compared to the services performed by the New Zealand settlers, who, for years— 1866 to 1869—gave their time, their blood, their lives, and treasure as Volunteers, fighting shoulder to shoulder with the Imperial forces; and I think that if your Lordship, recalling your interview with my old friend and patron Lord Harris, and, of course, mindful of your semi-official promise, will stir in the matter, and mention the fact to the Colonial Secretary and the Minister at War, I shall get that to me coveted distinction, the Companionship of the Bath, Military or Civil. I may say that, in the event of a war, I have sufficient influence with the settlers of my old command to raise, organize, and drill, in four weeks, a thousand men and their horses—the men the best riders in the world for service anywhere. I have, &c, Charles Cecil Hookes, Late Colonel commanding Cavalry Volunteers and The Eight Hon. Earl De Grey, &c. Troops before the Weraroa Pa.

No. 40. (New Zealand, No. 30.) Sir, — Downing Street, 20th May, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to yon a copy of a letter from the Board of Trade, with its enclosures, respecting a sum of $10,000, the payment of which is authorized by a Bill of the House of Representatives of the United States by way of compensation to the late owners, officers, and crew of the whaling barque "Chance," on account of indirect losses paused to them in connection with the rescue of shipwrecked crews of the American whaling fleet in the Arctic Sea in September, 1871. 4—A. 2.

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I request that you will move your Government to cause the necessary inquiries to be instituted, with the view of obtaining the information desked by the Board of Trade. A similar despatch has been addressed to the Governor of New South Wales. I have, &c, Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.B. GEANVILLE.

Enclosure. Sir,— Board of Trade (Marine Department), London, S.W., 18th May, 1886. I am directed by the Board of Trade to transmit herein a copy of a letter which they have received from the Foreign Office, together with copies of a despatch from Her Majesty's Minister at Washington, and of a Bill of the House of Eepresentatives of the United States referred to therein, authorizing the payment of $10,000 as compensation to the late owners, officers, and crew of the whaling barque " Chance," on account of indirect losses caused to them in connection with the rescue of shipwrecked crews of the American whaling fleet in the Arctic Sea in September, 1871. As this Board are requested by the Earl of Eosebery to undertake to deal with the sum awarded whenever it reaches the hands of Her Majesty's Government, and as they do not possess any information respecting the parties entitled to share in the amount awarded by the United States Government, and as it has been suggested that the necessary information might be obtained from Sydney, and possibly from Invercargill, New Zealand, I am to request you to move the Earl of Granville to cause inquiries to be made there as to the names of the persons who were entitled to share in the compensation, or, in case of their decease, the names of their present representatives, and also as to the proper share of each of such persons. I am to add that the port of registry of the " Chance " at the time of the services in question was Sydney, and her official number was 42867, and her port number 45 of 1869. Her port of registry was subsequently changed to Invercargill, New Zealand, No. 3, 1874, in consequence of change of ownership. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Geobge J. Swanston.

Sub-Enclosures. Sib,— Foreign Office, 4th May, 1886. I am directed by the Earl of Eosobery to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a despatch from Her Majesty's Minister at Washington, enclosing copies of a Bill introduced into the United States House of E'jpresentatives, and copies of the report of the Committee of Claims thereupon, authorizing compensation to the late owners, officers, and crew of the whaling barque " Chance," on account of indirect losses caused to them in connection with the rescue of shipwrecked crews of the American whaling fleet in the Arctic Sea. A copy of a memorandum upon the case, prepared in the library of this office, is likewise transmitted herewith ; and I am to request that, in laying this letter before the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade, you will state that Lord Eosebery will be glad if their Lordships will undertake to deal as they may consider proper with the sum awarded whenever it reaches the hands of Her Majesty's Government. I have, &c, The Secretary, Board of Trade. P. W. Cuebie.

My Lobd,— Washington, 12th April, 1886. With reference to the Earl of Derby's despatch to Sir E. Thornton, No. 31, 1877, relative to the claim of the late owners of the whaling barque " Chance " for compensation, and to the correspondence with the United States Government in connection therewith, I have the honour to enclose to your Lordship herewith copies of a Bill introduced into the House of Eepresentatives to authorize such compensation, as well as copies of the report of the Committee of Claims thereupon. It will be seen that the Committee are of opinion that the sum of §10,000 should be paid to the British Government for the purpose of distribution among the owners, officers, and crew of this vessel. I have, &c, The Earl of Eosebery, &c. L. S. Sackville West.

H.E. 7477 (Esport No. 1431). In the House of Bepresentatives, March 30th, 1886. Eead twice, committed to the Committee of the whole House, and ordered to bo printed. Mr. Gallingeb, from the Committee on Claims, reported the following Bill as a substitute for H.E. 1093:— A Bill for the Belief of Owners, Officers, and Crew of the British Barque "Chance." Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Eepresentatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, that the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to draw his requisition upon the Secretary of the Treasury for the payment out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated of the sum of $10,000 to the duly-accredited representative of the Government of Great Britain at Washington to enable said Government to pay the same to the owners of the British barque " Chance," of the Port of Sydney, New South Wales, to indemnify them and the officers and crew of the said'barque for abandoning their whaling voyage in the Arctic Ocean in the month of September in the year 1871, and rescuing from shipwreck ninety-six American seamen and transporting them to Honolulu.

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No. 41. (New Zealand, No. 37.) Sir.,— Downing Street, 22nd May, 1886. A pamphlet entitled " The New Zealand Court: New Zealand Geological Survey Department," by Dr. James Hector, C.M.G., in connection with the Indian and Colonial Exhibition in London, was recently forwarded in the mail-bag to this department, with the compliments of the author. I request that you will cause my thanks to be conveyed to Dr. Hector for the copy which he has been good enough to transmit. I have, &c, GBANVILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

No. 42. (New Zealand, No. 38.) Sin,— Downing Street, 26th May, 1880. I have the honour to transmit to you, for your information and guidance, and for that of your Government, copies of correspondence with the Foreign Office, as noted in the margin, regarding the intention of the Chinese Government to send a Commission to report on the social relations of Chinese subjects residing in British colonies. I have, &c, GBANVILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

Enclosures. Sir,— Foreign Office, 19th May, 1886. I am directed by the Earl of Eosebery to transmit to you herewith copy of a note from the Chinese Minister at this Court announcing the appointment of a Commission to report on the social relations of Chinese subjects residing in the colonies of Great Britain, France, and Holland, and the conditions on which trade is carried on between them and China, and requesting on behalf of his Government that such facilities may be accorded to the members of the Commission as may best enable them to accomplish the object of their mission. I am to request that, in laying this note before Earl Granville, you will move his Lordship to cause Lord Eosebery to be informed what reply should be returned to this application. I have, <tc, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. P. W. Currie.

My Lord, — Chinese Legation, 11th May, 1886. In view of the great number of Chinese subjects residing in the colonies of Great Britain, France, and Holland, and the circumstance that up to the present there have, with the exception of at Singapore, been no Chinese Consular Agents to keep the Imperial Government informed of their movements, the Chinese Government have resolved on appointing a Commission for the purpose of reporting on their social relations, and the condition on which trade is carried on between them and the mother-country. I have therefore been instructed by the Isungli Yameii to request that your Lordship will have the goodness to cause the colonial authorities of the Straits Settlements, Australia, and the Dominion of Canada to be informed of this intention on the part of the Chinese Government, and also that Her Majesty's Government will be so good as to direct that such facilities may be accorded to the members of the Commission as will best enable them to accomplish the object of their mission. The Commission would consist of two members—General Wang Yung Ho and Prefect Vii Yeh. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Eosebery. Lew.

Sir,— Downing Street, 25th May, 1886. In reply to your letter of the 19th instant, I am directed by Earl Granville to request you to inform the Earl of Eosebery that the Governor-General of Canada and Governors of the other colonies specified in the margin (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, New Zealand, West Australia, Straits Settlements) will be informed of the intention of the Chinese Government to send a Commission to report on the social relations of Chinese subjects residing in those colonies. Lord Granville has no doubt that every courtesy will be extended to the members of the Chinese Commission. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office, B. H. Meade.

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No. 43. (New Zealand—Honours.) Sib,— Downing Street, 28th May, 1886. I have the honour to inform you that the Queen has, on my recommendation, been graciously pleased to give orders for the appointment of Mr. Eobert Stout, Premier of New Zealand, to be a Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George ; and I request that you will be good enough to forward to him the accompanying letter. I have, &c, GEANYILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

No. 44. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 31st May, 1886. With reference to Lord Derby's circular despatch of the 14th of April, 1885, on the subject of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a printed copy of the proceedings of a meeting of the Eoyal Commission held in the Durbar Hall of the Indian Palace at the Exhibition, on Monday, 3rd May, 1886. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

A.-2a, 1885, No, 46.

Enclosure. Colonial and Indian Exhibition (London, 1886). Proceedings of a Meeting of the Royal Commission, held in the Durbar Hall of the Indian Palac 6 at the Exhibition on Monday, 3rd May, 1886. The Eoyal Commission for the Colonial and Indian Exhibition met on Monday, 3rd May, 1886, in the Durbar Hall of the Indian Palace at the Exhibition, under the presidency of His Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales. The following members of the Commission were present: MajorGeneral H.E.H. the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, Field-Marshal Commandiug-in-Chief H.E.H. the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Manchester, the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, the Marquis of Salisbury, the Marquis of Normanby, the Marquis of Eipon, the Marquis of Lome, the Earl Cadogan, the Earl Granville, the Earl of Iddesleigh, the Viscount Bury, FieldMarshal the Lord Napier of Magdala, the Hon. Edward Stanhope, M.P., the Eight Hon. Sir James Fergusson, Bart., the Right Hon. Hugh Culling Eardley Childers, M.P., the Eight Hon. Sir William Henrj Gregory, the Eight Hon. Sir Lyon Playfair, M.P., the Eight Hon. Sir Michael Edward Hicks-Beach, Bart., M.P., the Eight Hon. Sir Louis Mallet, the Eight Hon. the Lord Mayor of London, the Eight Hon. the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Sir Henry Thurstan Holland, Bart., M.P., Sir Daniel Cooper, Bart., Sir John Eose, Bart., Field-Marshal Sir Patrick Grant, General Sir Frederick Paul Haines, Major-General Sir Henry Creswicke Eawlinson, Lieut.-General Sir Charles Henry Brownlow, General Sir Edwin Beaumont Johnson, Lieut.-General Sir Henry Dominick Daly, Lieut.-General Sir Samuel James Browne, Major-General Sir Peter Stark Lumsden, Sir Eobert Georgo Wyndham. Herbert, Major-General Sir Frederick Eichard Pollock, Lieut.General Sir Harry Burnett Lumsden, Surgeon-Gonerai Sir Joseph Fayrer, Sir Joseph Daltou Hooker, Colonel Sir Owen Tudor Burne, Sir Charles Tupper, General Sir Edward Selby Smyth, Sir Arthur Blyth, Sir Francis Dillon Bell, Sir Saul Samuel, Sir William Charles Sergeaunt, Sir Charles Hutton Gregory, Sir John Coode, Sir George Christopher Molesworth Birdwood, Major-General John Watson, Colonel Henry Yule, Mr. Horace George Walpole, Lieut.-General Eichard Strachey, Major-General James Michael, Colonel Arthur Edward Augustus Ellis, Mr. Eobert Anstruther Dalyell, Mr. Arthur Hodgson, Captain Montagu Frederick Ommanney, Mr, Augustus John Adderley, Mr. James Francis Garrick, the President of the Eoyal Academy of Arts, the President of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Mr. Henry Coppinger Beeton, Mr. Julius de Eeuter, Mr. William George Pedder, Mr. John Pender, also the Hon. Sir Ashley Eden, Mr. A. W. Gadesdon, Mr. E. W. Hamilton ; Sir Philip Cunliffe-Owen, Secretary ; Mr. Edward Cunliffe-Owen and Mr. J. E. Eoyle, Assistant-Secretaries. The Pbince of Wales addressed the meeting as follows : My Lords and gentlemen, I have thought it right to call you together on this the eve of the opening of the Exhibition by Her Majesty the Queen, in order that I may report to you the various steps that have been taken in the preparations for this Exhibition since the last time I had the honour of addressing you. I would, in the first place, wish to say a few words with regard to the constitution of the Eoyal Commission. You are doubtless aware that Her Majesty^^ in requesting you to act on a Eoyal Commission, defined your duties to be for the purpose of advising upon the best mode by which the products of industry, agriculture, and the fine arts of Her Majesty's colonial and Indian dominions might be procured and sent to this Exhibition. The appointment of this Commission was, I understand,

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framed upon the precedent of the Exhibition of 1851, and, following the example of that Exhibition, it was thought desirable that a Charter should be applied for which should make the Eoyal Commission a body corporate, and which should give it power to organize and carry on such an Exhibition. This Charter was granted on the 15th September, 1885. You will perhaps remember that, in my last address, I informed you of the initiative action which I, as your Executive President, had taken, and which you were kind enough then to confirm, in order that the proposals for holding a colonial and Indian exhibition should be properly brought to the notice of the Governments of India and of the various colonies. I then stated that, from the answers which had been received from the colonies and from India, it was clear that this Exhibition would receive the hearty co-operation of all concerned. I need only ask you to make an inspection of the various sections of the Exhibition to-day before leaving the buildings for you to at once realize how cordially the Governments of India and of the various colonies have acceded to the invitation which I, as your President, forwarded to them in November, 1884, and I am sure that you will join with me in requesting the Executive Commissioners to take an early opportunity of conveying to their Governments the sincere thanks of the Eoyal Commission for having so thoroughly realized our views as to the form that this Exhibition should take. To these gentlemen themselves are also due our own warmest acknowledgments. I feel also convinced that you will consider it a pleasing duty to record the deep obligation we are under to His Excellency the Viceroy and the Supreme Government of India for the admirable organization which, under the direction of Mr. Buck, has been displayed by the Eevenue and Agricultural Department, and by the officers who have assisted it. I further propose that we should request the Viceroy to express our acknowledgments to their Highnesses the Princes of India, who have, by their liberal contributions, so materially added to the beauty and interest of the Indian section. With regard to the administration of the Eoyal Commission, I may state that the Einancc Committee —the appointment of which you confirmed at the last meeting—is most carefully discharging the duties which you then confided to it. I have to ask you to confirm the appointment of the following gentlemen, who were good enough to accept my invitation to be added to it: The Eight Hon. Sir Lyon Playfair, the Hon. Sir Ashley Eden, the Eight Hon. Sir Henry Thurstan Holland, Mr. E. W. Hamilton, Mr. A. W. Gadesden. It is with much pleasure that I am able to report that the Guarantee Fund, which at the time of the last meeting amounted to £128,600, has now reached a total of £218,430. Of this amount the Corporation of the City of London has voted £10,000, and among the contributors are many of the great city companies. lam sure you will agree with me in cordially thanking these corporations, and the gentlemen to whose liberality this very satisfactory result is due. They may rest assured that no endeavour will be spared to prevent the necessity of having recourse to the contributions which they have so generously placed at our disposal. I have to ask you to confirm the appointment of a Committee, which I have requested to act for the purpose of superintending the lighting by electricity of the buildings and grounds of the Exhibition. The gentlemen composing this Committee are—Sir Frederick Abel (Chairman), Colonel Sir Francis Bolton, and Mr. W. H. Preece. In order that practical effect may be given to the suggestion which I referred to in my last address—that a hospitable reception should be offered to visitors from the colonies and India, and that facilities should be given to them for visiting the great manufacturing centres and places of interest in Great Britain —I have requested the following members of the Eoyal Commission to act as a Eeception Committee: The Duke of Abereorn, Chairman ; the Earl Cadogan, Vice-Chairman; the Marquis of Lome, Vice-Cuairman. Colonial Sub-committee : The Duke of Manchester (Chairman), the Eight Hon. the Lord Mayor, Sir Daniel Cooper, the Hon. Sir Charles Tupper, Sir Thomas Brassey, General Sir Selby Smyth, Sir Charles Hutton Gregory, Sir John Coode, Mr. Arthur Hodgson, Mr. Samuel Morley. Indian Hub-committee,: Field-Marshal Lord Napier of Magdala (Chairman), the Eight Hon. Sir James Fergusson, Major-General Sir Peter Lumsden, MajorGeneral Sir Henry Eawlinson, Major-General Sir Eichard Pollock, Lieut.-General Sir Charles Brownlow, Lieut.-General Sir Henry Daly, Lieut.-General Sir Samuel Browne, Lieut.-General Sir Harry Lumsden, Sir Barrow Helbert Ellis, Colonel Sir Owen Tudor Burne, Sir George Birdwood; Mr. Arthur Hodgson, General Secretary; Lieut.-General Henry K. Burne, Secretary; Mr. 11. Trueman Wood, Secretary. I trust that the fund which has been inaugurated by them for the above purpose may before long reach a handsome amount, and feel assured that no effort will be spared throughout the country to render the visit of our kinsmen a pleasant one. Acting on the precedent of the organization of the Great Exhibition of 1851, I, some time since, caused a letter to bo addressed to all the Mayors and local Boards of the United Kingdom, suggesting to them the advisability of bringing before the working-cesses of their various districts the benefits that would ensue from the formation of clubs by subscribing weekly, to which a sufficient sum of money would be laid by to enable them to visit the Exhibition. lam happy to state that this suggestion has been responded to in many places, and I trust that a large number of the working-classes, who would otherwise have found it impossible to come here, will visit the Exhibition, and will benefit by the vast amount of instruction to be derived therefrom. I am very sensible of the facilities which the railway companies have afforded to me in this matter ; without the valuable assistance which they have extended it would have been impossible to have obtained so much success in the formation of these clubs : I must take this opportunity of requesting you also to join with me in acknowledging the help which the railway companies have promised to the Eoyal Commission for conveying all classes of visitors to the Exhibition. I have appointed a committee, consisting largely of Executive Commissioners, for organizing a series of conferences and lectures during the summer on subjects cognate to the Exhibition, and.am happy to state that I have baen promised the aid of the Councils of the Society of Arts and the Eoyal Colonial Institute in this matter. I have gratefully accepted an offer made by the Lords of the Committee on Education to give facilities to visitors to the Exhibition for viewing the India Museum. I have sanctioned arrangements by which the Eoyal Albert Hall forms an integral part of the Exhibition, and by which the National Fish-culture Association maintains the Aquarium, which has always formed a very popular attraction at previous Exhibitions;

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facilities have also been given to the Eoyal Horticultural Society for the holding of their flower and fruit shows in the conservatory of the Exhibition. lam desirous of expressing my thanks to Her Majesty's Board of Customs for having so greatly facilitated the transmission of goods to the Exhibition. In conclusion, I feel sure that you will join with me in the expression of a desire to record our deep sense of the gracious act which Her Majesty the Queen has consented to perform to-morrow. I trust that I shall have the pleasure of meeting you to-morrow morning at half-past eleven o'clock at the principal entrance, where we shall await the arrival of the Queen. The Duke of Cambridge : Your Eoyal Highness, my ; Lords and gentlemen, I have much pleasure in moving the following resolution : " That this meeting of the Eoyal Commission for the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, having heard the address of His Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales, Executive President, in which His Eoyal Highness informs the Eoyal Commission of the preparations he has caused to be made since the last meeting for the holding of this Exhibition, fully approve of these preparations, and confirm the appointment of the gentlemen referred to by His Eoyal Highness to act on the Finance, Eeception, and Conference Committees. The Eoyal Commission desire to express their cordial thanks to the Corporation of the City of London, and to the city companies, firms, and individuals who have since the last meeting contributed to the Guarantee Fund ; and in conclusion the Eoj'al Commission wish to record their cordial thanks to Plis Eoyal Highness for the able and energetic manner in which he has acted on their behalf as Executive President." lam sure you will adopt this resolution most cordially. After the remarks of His Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales it is unnecessary for me to say much as to the objects of the Exhibition, but there is one point with which the Prince of Wales could not deal with that freedom which I can, and that is the great trouble and pains which His Eoyal Highness has given to this Exhibition. It is not the first time that His Eoyal Highness has acted as President in undertakings of this nature, and it is very difficult for any individual to praise him in his presence without appearing fulsome, but it is not fulsome to say that he has always devoted his whole energies to bringing everything to a successful issue with which he is connected. I could see yesterday the results of the extraordinary ability with which those under him have carried out his wishes. This is an Exhibition entirely confined to Her Majesty's colonial and Indian dominions, and it stands absolutely alone in that respect. It is admirably adapted to the interests of a great country, in that it brings together and shows in one common centre all the advantages which India and the colonies possess in their respective spheres. I think the way in which these advantages will be brought to notice in this Exhibition will tend to that unanimity and good feeling which happily exist among all branches of Her Majesty's subjects, and will consolidate that great Empire to which we are all proud to belong, and hope to see extended in a peaceful manner for many generations. lam sure you will cordially and spontaneously vote our thanks to Plis Eoyal Highness for the trouble he has taken, and congratulate him on the success he has been able to produce. Lord Geanville : The illustrious Duke who has just sat down has undertaken a task which he has performed most admirably. I have much pleasure in seconding the resolution. After the report we have heard, which shows such an immense deal of comprehensive work done, I think it is right to call attention to the fact that the pivot on which it has all turned has been the exertions of His Royal Highness, and to how exactly in this case he has followed the example of his illustrious father in not being merely an honorary President, but in laying down the general principles and in going into every possible detail likely to insure the success of the Exhibition. We are desired to thank the various bodies who have assisted, but we must remember that a great deal of their good work has been excited by the genial influence of Plis Eoyal Highness himself. I do not wish to go into many parts of the subject, but one point is connected with my official position at this moment, and that is the beneficial effect which this Exhibition is likely to exert on the colonial possessions of Her Majesty. It will be a great disappointment indeed if it does not contribute to the interchange of commodities between the two countries. I believe the British public is not aware of the enormous resources of the colonies and British Empire generally, and it is clear that, if so many distinguished colonial men and women come to this country at this time, it will increase not only our knowledge, but the personal good feeling which now exists. I hea.rtily concur with the noble Duke in asking you to agree to the resolution he has so well moved. The Prince of Wales : Before the meeting disperses, I wish to return you my sincere thanks for the most kind and flattering manner in which my illustripus relative has proposed this vote of thanks, and to the noble Lord who has so nobly seconded the same. I can assure you that the compliments you have been kind enough to pay me have been really quite undeserved. I need hardly say that I certainly take the deepest interest in the success of this Exhibition, but really all the arrangements and the trouble that has been taken are owing to Sir Philip Cunliffe-Owen and his two able assistants, Mr. Edward Cunliffe-Owen and Mr. J. E. Eoyle. I can only say that those who have not yet seen the Exhibition will be satisfied with what they see if they take the present opportunity of going round the courts, and they will be struck with the wonderful resources of the Empire. No pains and no expenses have been spared by the Governors and Colonial Commissions, and by the Executive Commissioners here, to make each of their departments a success, and there has been a peaceful rivalry between them the one to excel the other. I hope that this Exhibition will be not only entertaining to the eye, and that it will be of material benefit to our own countrymen, but that it will also tend to produce a still greater feeling of brotherly love between ourselves and the rest of Her Majesty's subjects. I can only add that I trust that the sun may favour us to-morrow as it has done to-day, and that we may have " Queen's weather " in every sense of the word. The meeting then terminated.

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No. 45. (Circular 2.) Sic,— Downing Street, 10th June, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for your information and publication in the colony under your government, a copy of a parliamentary paper containing the Convention between the Governments of Great Britain and Spain respecting the commercial relations of the two countries, signed at Madrid, on the 26th of April last. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. The Officer xidministering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Convention between the Governments of Great Britain and Spain respecting the Commercial Eelations of the two Countries. (Signed at Madrid, 26th April, 1886.) The Government of Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Government of Her Majesty the Queen Eegent of Spain, being desirous of facilitating the commercial relations of their respective countries, have named as their representatives for that purpose—the Government of Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Sir F. Clare Ford, Her Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Madrid, &c. ; the Government of Her Majesty the Queen Eegent of Spain, his Excellency Senor Don Segismundo Moret y Prendergast, Minister of State, &c. ; who, being duly authorized by their respective Governments, have agreed upon the following articles : — Article I.—The Government of Her Majesty the Queen Eegent of Spain will grant to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and to Her Britannic Majesty's colonies and foreign possessions, most-favoured-nation treatment in all that concerns commerce, navigation, and consular rights and privileges in Spain and in the Spanish colonies and foreign possessions co-extensive in amount of benefit with that accorded to France and Germany under the treaties of the 6th February, 1882, and the 12th July, 1883. The provisions of this Convention shall come into operation on the Ist July next, unless by mutual consent any other date may be fixed, and on condition that on that date the alcoholic scale, according to which duties are levied on Spanish wines on their introduction into the United Kindom of Great Britain and Ireland, is modified in accordance with the terms of the following article. Abticle ll.—The Government of Her Britannic Majesty will continue to grant to Spain, her colonies and foreign possessions, most-favoured-nation treatment in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and in Her Britannic Majesty's colonies and foreign possessions, in all that concerns commerce, navigation, and consular rights and privileges. They will, in addition, apply to Parliament for the necessary authority to provide that the limit of the lower half of the alcoholic scale shall extend up to but not exceed 30 degrees of proof spirit. Article 111. —The present Convention has been drawn up subject to the sanction of the Legislatures of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Spain respectively. When approved, it shall remain in force until the 30th June, 1892 ; and in case neither of the high contracting parties should have notified twelve months before the said date the intention of terminating it, the present Convention shall remain binding until the expiration of one year from the day on which either of the two high contracting parties shall have denounced it. Done in duplicate at Madrid, this 26th day of April, 1886. (1.5.) F. Claee Foed. (ii.S.) S. MoEET.

Sir Clare Fobd to Senor Moebt. M. le Ministee,— , Madrid, 26th April, 1886. I have the honour to inform your Excellency that I have received the authorization of the Earl of Eosebery, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to sign with your Excellency the Convention which we had agreed to draw up for facilitating the commercial relations between Great Britain and Spain, and a copy of which I have the honour to transmit herewith to your Excellency. I shall feel obliged if your Excellency will name a day when I can proceed to the Ministry of State in order to sign the Convention in question. Before doing so, however, I have been instructed to place on record the following points, on which we are also agreed, but which it has not been thought necessary to insert in the body of the instrument which I propose to sign with your Excellency:— The first point refers to wines in bottle, which it is understood may be excluded, at the option of Her Majesty's Government, from the stipulations of Article 11. of the Convention. The second point refers to a possible future division of the lower half of the alcoholic scale. It is understood that nothing in the Convention shall preclude Her Majesty's Government from dividing, if at some future time it shall be found desirable to do so, the present lower half of the alcoholic scale at a point not above 15 degrees, and treating wines below that point differently from wines above it. It is further agreed that it shall be open to any British colony to withdraw from the present Convention on notice to this effect being given by Her Majesty's Minister at Madrid to the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs within a year after the date of its signature. The agreement on the part of the Government of Her Majesty the Queen Eegent of Spain on

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the above points shall be deemed to be recorded by the reply which I have the honour to solicit your Excellency to be so good as to address to me in a note on the subject. I avail, &c, Fbancis Claee Fobd.

Sefior Mobet to Sir Claee Eoed. Excelentisimo Senoe, — Miuisterio de Estado, Palacio, 26 do Abril, 1886. Al acusar a vuestra Excelencia recepcion do su nota de hoy, tengo el honor de manifestarle mi conformidad con su contenido, asi como tambien con el projecto de Protocolo quo la acompafiaba. Eesultados ambos de la discusion que entre nosotros ha mediado desde la venida de vuestra Excelencia a esta Corte, discusion encaminada a facilitar las relaciones comerciales cntre la Gran Bretafia y Espana, el Protocolo y la nota son expresion fiel del acuerdo a que felizmente hemos llegado. Cumpleme, pues, manifestar a, vuestra Excelencia que el Gobierno Espanol, conforme con las tres indicaciones contenidas en su nota, entiende que el Gobierno de Su Magestad Britanica queda autorizado para considerar excluidos de la rebaja que en la tarifa alcoholica ha de hacerse, los vinos que lleguen a Inglaterra embotollados. Eeconoce, igualmente, que la Convencion que vamos a firmar no impedira al Gobierno de Su Magestad Britanica dividir en dos la parte inferior de la escala alcoholica, esto es, la que termina en los 30 grados, de forma que los vinos inferiores a 15 grados puedan ser considerados de diferente manera que aquellos que excedan de este grado. Por lo que a las colonias de Su Magestad Britanica se refiere, queda entendido que si dentro del aflo siguiente a la fecha de esta Convencion, y contado desde el dia en que sea firmado, alguna de dichas colonias declarase su deseo de retirarse de la presente Convencion, se entendera que dicha colonia queda cxcluida de las estipulaciones en la misma contenidas.! Espero que esta respuesta satisfara el deseo quo vuestra Excelencia me indica al final de su nota, y que, en su virtud, podremos proceder a la firmo del Protocolo, cuya traduccion Espanola acompano a vuestra Excelencia para su examen y confrontacion con el texto Ingles. Al terminar esta respuesta a la nota que, vuestra Excelencia se ha servido dirigirme en el dia de hoy, y dar por tenninada a satisfaccion de ambos paises la negociacion que ha ocupado a vuestra Excelencia desde el principio de su mision, cumplo un grato deber expresando a vuestra Excelencia mi reconocimiento mas sincero por la franqueza y lealtad con que ha conducido estas negociaciones, y por el verdadero interes con que, dentro de las instrucciones de su Gobierno, ha acogido las representaciones que, en nombre del de Espana, he tenido el honor de hacer, gracias a lo cual las relaciones mercantiles de Espana con Inglaterra quedan cimentados sobre una base solida y equitativa, estrechaudose asi de una manera firme y duradera la amistad que de antiguo existe entre las dos naciones. Aprovecho, Ac, S. Moeet.

(Teanslation.) Excellency,—- Minister of State, the Palace, 26th April, 1886. In acknowledging the receipt of your note of to-day, I have the honour to state that I agree with its contents, as also with the draft of Convention which it encloses. The Convention and the note faithfully represent the agreement to which we have happily come, being the result of the discussion which was entered into since your arrival at this Court, with a view to facilitate the commercial relations between Great Britain and Spain. It is my duty to inform your Excellency that the Spanish Government agree with the three points contained in your note, and consider that Her Britannic Majesty's Government are authorized to exclude from the reduction which is to be made in the alcoholic scale the wines which arrive in bottles into the United Kingdom. They agree, also, that the Convention which we are about to sign will not hinder Her Britannic Majesty's Government from dividing into two parts the lower half of the alcoholic scale—that is to say, that part which terminates at 30 degrees—in such a way that the wines below 15 degrees may be treated differently from those above it. With regard to Her Britannic Majesty's colonies, it is understood that if, within a year after the date of this Convention, and reckoned from the day on which it is signed, any of the said colonies declare their intention to withdraw from the present Convention, the said colony will be excluded from the stipulations contained therein. I trust that this reply will meet the wishes which were expressed in the concluding portion of your Excellency's note, and that, therefore, we may sign the Convention, a translation of which I enclose, that you may examine it and compare it with the English text. In concluding my reply to the note which your Excellency transmitted to me to-day, and considering as satisfactorily terminated for both countries the negotiations which have occupied your Excellency since the commencement of your mission, I fulfil a pleasing duty in conveying to your Excellency the expression of my most sincere gratitude for the frankness and loyalty with which you have conducted these negotiations, and for the sincere interest with which, acting within the instructions you had received from your Government, you have treated the representations which, in the name of Spain, I have had the honour to make to you, thanks to which the commercial relations between Spain d!nd England will henceforth rest on a solid and just basis, thus strengthening, in a firm and lasting manner, the friendship which from of old exists between the two nations. - I avail, &c, S. Moket.

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Sir Claee Foed to Seiior Moeet. M. le Ministee, — Madrid, 9th May, 1886. I have the honour to inform your Excellency that on the 26th ultimo I transmitted to the Earl of Eosebery a copy of the Convention which we had signed in duplicate on that day for facilitating the commercial relations between Great Britain and Spain. Her Majesty's Government had not previously seen the whole of the Spanish rendering of the English text of that Convention, and now that they have done so they have called my attention to one phrase in it which occurs at the end of Article 11. The English text runs as follows : " They will, in addition, apply to Parliament for the necessary authority to provide that the limit of the lower half of the alcoholic scale shall extend up to, but not exceed, 30 degrees of proof spirit." The Spanish translation is as follows : " Pedira ademas al Parlamento la autorizacion necesaria para extender el limite inferior de la oscala alcoholica de los vinos desde los 26 a los 30 grados inclusive." Her Majesty's Government consider that the Spanish translation with regard to the portion of the Convention above quoted is not a correct version of the English, and I have been instructed by the Earl of Eosebery to inquire of your Excellency whether the Spanish Government understand the Spanish text to convey precisely the same meaning as the English expression, " shall extend up to, but not exceed, 30 degrees." I shall feel obliged to your Excellency if you would kindly inform me whether that is so, and if you would be so good as to record the fact, and assure me that the Spanish words used in translating the English text do not cover the fractions of a degree between 30 and 31 degrees of the alcoholic scale. I have, &c, Feancis Claee Foed.

Seiior Moeet to Sir Claee Ford. Excelentisimo Senob,— Ministerio de Estado, Palacio, 10 de Mayo, 1886. Tengo el honor de manifestar a vuestra Excelencia, en respuesta a su nota de ayer, que ninguna diferencia existe entre el sentido de la traduccion Espanola del ultimo parrafo del Articulo 11. de la Convencion de 26 de Abril y el texto Ingles. La traduccion literal de las palabras que vuestra Excelencia menciona seria esta: " que el limite inferior de la escala alcoholica se extienda hasta, pero sin exceder, los 30 grados de fuerza alcoholica." Pareciendome mal sonante la insercion literal deestas palabras, por no prestarse, en mi sentir, a la buena lectura Espanola, tuve el honor de proponer a vuestra Excelencia la actual, que dice lo siguiente: "el limite inferior de la escala alcoholica de los vinos desde 26 hasta los 30 grados inclusive," cuyas palabras parecen a vuestra Excelencia no representaban la idea con exactitud. Para aclarar, pues, por completo la duda que parece haberse suscitado en la Cancelleria Inglesa, bastame ratificar la inteligencia de las palabras referidas, reiterando que ellos tienen exactamente el mismo sentido que los del texto Ingles, y que el Gobierno Espanol entiende que la modificacion de la escala alcoholica mencionada en el Articulo 11. se extendera hasto pero no excedera de los 30 grados. Esta, &c, —— S. Moeet.

(Tbanslation.) Excellency,— Ministry of State, the Palace, 10th May, 1886. I have the honour to state to your Excellency, in reply to your note of yesterday, that there is no difference whatever between the sense of the Spanish translation of the last paragraph of the Second Article of the Convention of the 26th April and the English text. The literal translation of the words which your Excellency mentions would be this : " Que el limite inferior de la escala alcoholica se extienda hasta, pero sin exceder, los 30 grados de fuerza alcoholica." Considering that the literal rendering of those words did not, in my judgment, read well in Spanish, I had the honour to propose to your Excellency the present translation, which is as follows : "El limite inferior de la escala alcoholica de los vinos desde los 26 hasta los 30 grados inclusive," which words do not appear to your Excellency to clearly convey the idea. In order, therefore, to fully dispel the doubts which appear to have arisen in the British Chancery, it is enough for me to ratify the meaning of the words above referred to, and I repeat that they have the same as those of the British text, and that the Spanish Government consider that the alcoholic scale mentioned in the Second Article will extend to but is not to exceed 30 degrees. I avail, &c, S. Mobet.

No. 46. (New Zealand, No. 40.) Sir, — Downing Street, 17th June, 1886. With reference to my Despatch No. 24, of the 7th April, respecting the proposed annexation of the Kermadec Islands, I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a letter from Mr. J. Arundel on the subject. Your Government will observe that it will be necessary to recognize and protect the rights and interests of Mr. Arundel, and any other persons having property on the islands, as fully as their-claims may justify. I have also to enclose copies of a letter from the Admiralty, with its enclosure, and of the reply which has been returned to it, with regard to the despatch 5—A. 2.

A.-11, 1886.

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of a vessel to hoist the British flag and proclaim the Queen's sovereignty over these islands. I have, &c, ROBERT G. W. HERBERT, (For the Secretary of State.) Governor Sir W. F, D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

Enclosure 1. Sir,— 146, Leadenhall Street, London, 25th May, 1886. Referring to our conversation of the 21st instant, I have now the pleasure to recapitulate what I know about the Kermadec Group and its present inhabitants. I first called at Curtis Rocks and Macaulay Islands in 1871, when on a voyage from Melbourne to Starbuck Island; an old American captain, named Thomas, having formed the opinion that Macaulay Island was a mass of guano. We first called at Curtis Eocks, which I found to be simply (at least the most eastern one) a hollow crater full of boiling mud-springs, &c.; the western one, I believe, is simply a rock. We found no guano whatever on Macaulay Island, and therefore took no more notice of the place ; from what I recollect the anchorage is deep all round, and the island presents a most curious appearance on the western side, half of it having entirely slipped away into the sea, revealing as we sailed under the western cliffs the whole internal structure of the volcano which it has been originally. Some hundreds of goats were on the place, some having, it is stated, been left there originally by Captain Cook. From the summit of Macaulay Island we saw Sunday Island very distinctly; and if I remember rightly it was then smoking, the old crater having recently burst out into fresh activity, thus causing the departure of the then inhabitants, who took refuge in a whaler and proceeded to Norfolk Island I first visited Sunday Island, which is the largest and most important of the group, in November, 1883, when, on my way to Auckland from Sydney Island in my steamer "Explorer," we were short of coals and I hoped to get some wood :in this I was successful. I found the island in the occupation of Mr. Thomas Bell and his family, and at his request gave him a passage to Auckland, he having been left for a year or more without any communication with the outer world. It seems that the whalers, who used to visit the island very largely, have of late years —I believe since the outbreak in 1870 —frequented Norfolk Island instead. On the voyage down Mr. Bell represented that, to the best of his belief, considerable deposits of guano existed on the main island itself, and on the adjacent rocks and islets, and that it would also form a splendid sheep-run. Accordingly, early in 1884 I sent him down again in a schooner from Auckland with about two hundred sheep and a lot of grass seed, &c, as a trial, and called there myself in the s.s. " Explorer " in May, 1884. I then further examined the island; and had it again visited about the end of that year, 1884, when, not feeling justified in going further into stocking it with sheep, and particularly having found that the supposed guano was simply ordinary soil or volcanic earth, I decided not to make further advances, but to leave the sheep and other property thus placed on the island in Mr. Bell's hands, for him to repay me when he might be able. Since then I have heard nothing from Mr. Bell, but from information since received I believe he has made arrangements with some person or persons in New Zealand to turn the island into a sheep-station. A few words as to the proprietorship of the place may be interesting. As far as I have learnt, Mr. Halstead, an American, who was resident on the island when Captain Denham, E.N., surveyed it, died there from an epidemic introduced by the Peruvian slavers when they visited it. I met his widow about a year ago in Samoa. A man named Johnson went there during Halstead's time, and remained, I believe, about four years. He is a blacksmith, and lives at Apia, Samoa, where I saw him about two years ago. When he got to Samoa, Mr. Thomas Bell, the present proprietor (grandson, I believe, of a vicar of Bradford, Yorkshire), was living there ; and, learning so much from Johnson about the fertility of the island, he decided on going there, and embarked with his family on board a vessel bound for New Zealand, which landed him on the passage down. This was, I believe, in 1877. From Johnson I learnt that the man who lived on the place when the volcanic outburst occurred in about 1870 was named Cobet, and he and his family went to Norfolk Island. I cannot however vouch for this statement. When Mr. Bell was with me in Auckland early in 1884, and I was contemplating stocking the island with sheep, the question of " the flag " very naturally came up. It was not deomed of any use to ajyply to New Zealand, as of course she could not annex without the consent of the Imperial Government. From my then recent experience with Lord Kimberley at the Colonial Office, as he had more than once declined the responsibility of granting me cocoanutlicenses for Caroline and Flint Islands, I judged that it would be only a waste of time to apply to Her Majesty's Government. So, knowing Mr. Griffin, the United States Consul in Auckland, very well, I introduced Mr. Bell, and he with my full concurrence applied for the protection of the United States, his father, I believe, having become a naturalized citizen of that country. Mr. Griffin is now American Consul at Sydney, New South Wales, but, if my memory serves me rightly, lie received a favourable reply from the Secretary of State at Washington, who promised to reply more definitely later on. I do not consider it needful to trespass upon your time with further details, particularly as I am preparing a paper on the group for the Soyal Geographical Society. It is interesting, however, to note, in connection wifeh this acquisition by Great Britain, and as I anticipate its probable addition politically to New Zealand, that the flora of Sunday Island, at any rate, points to its having originally formed a portion of that colony. Trusting that this information may be of service, I have, &c, John T. Akundel. Sir Eobert G. W. Herbert, X.C.8., Colonial Office, Downing Street.

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Enclosure 2. Sir, — Admiralty, 9th June, 1886. Eeferring to your letter of the 27th April last, requesting that a ship might be sent to hoist the British flag on the Kermadec Islands, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the decypher of a telegram dated this day, No. 15, from Bear-Admiral Tryon, and to inquire whether the abovementioned service will admit of delay. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Evan MacGbegok.

Telegeam No. 15, from Bear-Admiral Tbyon, C.B. Despatch: Sydney, 9th June, 1886, 2.50 p.m. Eeceipt: Admiralty, 2.15 p.m. " May I delay sending to Kermadec Islands for a short time? Vessels all away save 'Nelson.' Your No. 14 received."

Enclosure 3. Sic,— Downing Street, 17th June, 1886. With reference to your letter of the 9th instant, and to previous correspondence respecting the steps to be taken for the annexation of the Kermadec Islands, I am directed by Earl Granville to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the despatch of a vessel for the purpose of hoisting the British flag and proclaiming the Queen's sovereignty over those islands may be delayed. I have, &c, The Secretary to the Admiralty. E. Wingfield.

No. 47. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 21st June, 1886. I have the honour to inform you that my attention has been called by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to the expediency—for the purpose of maintaining discipline in Her Majesty's ships in colonial waters —of embodying in the laws of the colonies provisions similar to those contained in section 12 of Act 16 and 17 Viet., cap. 69, a copy of which is enclosed. I shall be glad if your Government will take this matter into consideration, with a view of legislation, in the sense desired by the Board of Admiralty, in the colony under your government. 1 have, &c, GEANYILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 48. (New Zealand, No. 42.) Sib, — Downing Street, 25th June, 1880. I have the honour to transmit to you a translation of a petition to the Queen which, has been received at this office through Sir John Gorst, M.P., signed on behalf of the Arawa chiefs in connection with the Church of England, praying that Her Majesty would give a bell for their church. I request that you will obtain for me a report upon.the subject, showing particularly what-sized bell would be suitable. The chiefs who signed the petition should be informed that I have been unable to submit their application for Her Majesty's consideration, pending the receipt of a report and recommendation from the local Government, and that I am not able to give them any assurance that their request can be entertained. I have, &c. GRANVILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

Enclosure. Ohinemutu, Township of Botorua, Provincial District of Auckland, in the Colony of New Zealand, 17th April, 1886. To Her Majesty the Queen of England. May it please youb Majesty,— We, your humble subjects, aboriginal natives of New Zealand, desire to present our greetings to you, the preserver of both the peopfe and the land of New Zealand, upon the great mercy of our Father in the Highest. This is a prayer from us, your New Zealand Maori subjects, that you may grant us a bell for our church about 24ft. round and 7ft. high—a bell for the use of all Maori Church-of-England residents in all the districts of Te Arawa. This is to show your love.

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as well as the love of your son the Prince of Wales, to the Arawa people, who are always loyal and true to your Majesty. We hope your Majesty may grant our request. May God preserve and keep your Majesty. From E. Whititeea te Waiatua, Pakaihe Whatihua, Hohepa te Whaeekohatu, Hikamate Hapi, Matenga Taiwhanga, On behalf of the whole of the Arawa chiefs who are connected with the Church of England. Her Majesty Queen Victoria, England.

No. 49. (New Zealand—Emigration.) Sic,— Downing Street, 28th June, 1880. I have the honour to transmit copy of a letter from Mr. C. G. Tripp, of Canterbury, New Zealand, offering suggestions on the subject of emigration, and to request that you will cause the writer to be informed that I have received his communication. I have, &c, GBANVILLE, Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

Enclosure. Sic, — Oran Gorge, Woodbury, Canterbury, New Zealand, Ist May, 1886. Observing by the papers that the English Government have some intention of relieving the over-population of England by proposing a State emigration to the British colonies, and as I have had such an idea in my head for years, I have thought I might give a few suggestions, as I am a colonist of upwards of thirty years' standing, having emigrated to New Zealand in October, 1854, with J. B. A. Acland. I may mention that I am an English barrister, but since I came here I have followed the occupation of what is called a squatter or sheep-farmer. My idea of assisting English men and women to emigrate is for the Government to make use of their discarded men-of-war: these fine vessels, though no longer adapted for warfare, are well worth fitting up as Government emigrant ships, and officered and manned by naval officers and men as men-of-war are now done. This will not cost England anything, as you have the ships, and you have to pay the officers whether they lead an idle life or not. It is only the few seamen you have to pay. The Government should then place itself into communication with all the colonies, and find out and have sent to England, every quarter, what class of population is required, male or female. It would never do to be sending out the class of people you find in the workhouse. It is, as a rule, the young and enterprising one of a family that is only fitted for an emigrant (if the colony says, "We want so many able-bodied men"). As far as New Zealand is concerned at present, we have abundance of all able-bodied men. What parts of New Zealand may require are females —cooks, housemaids, and washing-women. The wages of these vary from £30 to £40 a year. Numbers of families here now would like to be able to nominate their friends, if, by paying a small sum, they could get them out: these make the best class of emigrants, as they are sure to be people that will settle here and make a home, and be adapted for the colony. Certain industries are continually cropping up in various towns, for which a certain class of skilled labour is required —for instance, persons acquainted with dairy factory, foundry, woollen factory, drain- and tile-machine yards, and such-like occupations. If the Mayor of each town in the colony were to send up a list once a quarter to our Minister for Public Works, and if these lists were by him sent to England, the right class of emigrant would be sent out, and our streets not flooded with useless labour. I have long thought it was a great pity, with these magnificent colonies in great want of a certain class of people, that the English Government did not in some way try and direct the stream of population to our shores, instead of seeing weekly such a flood of people leaving Liverpool for the United States. Every man and woman that comes here is a strength to England in helping to build up another great English-speaking nation, whereas every one going to a foreign shore is a weakness to England : looking at it in this light, it is a decidedly wise move of England having State emigration, and, if carried out with such a system as I have endeavoured to describe, there will be no grumbling of England throwing her surplus population on to our shores, as no one is sent here that is not first asked for by each separate colony. By England employing her men-of-war and officers about such work, it does not matter if New Zealand only requires a portion of her human cargo, as she can fill up for Melbourne, Sydney, &c, and so she never need send a half-filled ship. If men-of-war were employed in such a service, England will be doing good in bringing out free of expense all warlike material: this will save us considerably, as in a new country we all begrudge anything spent in unproductive (as we may think it at the time) material. If England brought it out free, it would show she takes an interest in our welfare. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Earl Granville, Colonial Minister, London. C. G. Tripp.

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No. 50. (New Zealand—Honours.) Sib,— Downing Street, 28th June, 1886. I have the honour to inform you that the Queen has been graciously pleased to give orders for the promotion of Dr. John Francis Julius yon Haast, C.M.G., Commissioner in charge of the New Zealand exhibits at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition of 1886, to be a Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George. I have, &c, c. cox, Chancellor. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

No. 51. (Circular.) Sib, — Downing Street, Ist July, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Government, the accompanying extract from a letter from the Secretary to the Gilchrist Educational Trust. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Extract from a Letter from the Secretary of the Gilchrist Educational Trust to Colonial Office, dated 4, The Sanctuary, Westminster Abbey, S.W., 19th June, 1886. The rest of this letter applies to the Island of Ceylon after the year 1888; to the Australian Colonies, including Tasmania ; to New Zealand ; to Canada (at present represented by a triennial scholarship) ; to the maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island ; and to the West Indies, at present represented by a triennial scholarship to the Islands of Jamaica, Trinidad, and Barbadoes. As regards these colonies, I have to inform your Lordship that the Gilchrist Trustees have for some time felt that the scholarships which they have from time to time instituted for the benefit of their native youths have not attracted that interest which might have been expected, and that their result, in an educational point of view, has not been equivalent to the expense at which they are maintained. The Trustees therefore desire to invite the opinions of the> heads of educational institutions in those colonies, and of others who may be interested in the subject, whether any, and, if so, what, alterations could be made that would render scholarships tenable in England objects of keener rivalry ; or whether it might be more beneficial for the educational interests of the colonists to withdraw and discontinue all such scholarships, and to substitute for them scholarships to be held in the colonies. The Trustees further desire to invite from those who may advocate the latter alternative suggestions for the institution of such scholarships, so as to produce the most comprehensive and beneficial educational results. They desire to bo favoured with opinions on the following points, viz. : The amount of such scholarships and their length of tenure ; at what institutions they should be held; the limits of age of the candidates; the character of the competitive examination upon which they should be awarded; the conditions upon which they should be held; and in what manner, if instituted, they could be kept under the supervision and control of the Gilchrist Trustees. I have therefore the honour to request the favour of your Lordship's causing this communication to be conveyed to the various colonies to which I have referred.

No. 52. (Circular 1.) Sib, — Downing Street, 2nd July, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, enclosing a copy of a Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation between Her Majesty and the Eepublic of Paraguay, signed at Assumption on the 16th of October, 1884, the ratifications of which were exchanged at Buenos Ayres on the 10th of-May last. 2. I have to call your attention to Article XV. of the treaty, from which you will observe that, if it is desired that the colony under your Government

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should come within the operation of the treaty, notice must be given to the Paraguayan Government within two years from the date of the exchange of the ratifications. 3. I have therefore to request that you will be good enough to acquaint me as soon as possible of the wishes of your Government in the matter. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Sic,— Foreign Office, 24th June, 1886. I am directed by the Earl of Eosebery to transmit to you copies of a Treaty of Commerce, with protocols relative thereto, signed on the 16th October, 1884, between Great Britain and Paraguay, the ratifications of which were exchanged at Buenos Ayres on the 10th of May, 1886. I am to request that, in laying the same before Earl Granville, you will suggest that the necessary steps should be taken to ascertain the views of the colonies named in Article XV., with regard to notification being made of their acceptance of the provisions of the treaty. I have, &c. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. P. W. Cukbie.

No. 53. (New Zealand, No. 43.) Sic,— Downing Street, 3rd July, 1886. I received and laid before the Queen your telegram of the 18th of June, conveying the congratulations of the New Zealand Parliament upon the anniversary of Her Majesty's accession to the Throne. I have also received and laid before Her Majesty a telegram from the Mayor of Auckland, conveying the congratulations of the residents of Auckland. I am commanded to convey to you the Queen's thanks for these addresses. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-l, 1887, No, 48.

No. 54. (New Zealand, No. 44.) Sib, — Downing Street, 3rd July, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you copies of a note and of its enclosure, received through the Foreign Office from the Eussian Amhassador in London, requesting that the thanks of the Kussian Government may be conveyed to certain officials of the Colonies of Victoria, New South Wales, and New Zealand, whose names are mentioned in the enclosure to His Excellency's note, for the assistance rendered by them to Mr. Schostak, a mining engineer sent to Australia by the Eussian Government in 1884 to study the recent improvements in the process of extracting gold from the ore. I have to request that you will be so good as to cause the thanks of the Eussian Government to be conveyed to the gentlemen named in the list who are resident in the colony under your government. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

Enclosure. Monsieub LB Comte, — Londres, le 4/16 Juin, 1886. Le Gouvernement Imperial Eusse avait envoye en 1884 l'ingenieur dcs mines Schostak en Australie pour y etudier sur les lieux les recents perfeetionnements apportes aux rnoyens d'extraction dcs minerals dor. Bevenu de son voyage, l'ingoiiieur susnomme a soumis a I'Administration Miniere un rapport dont il ressort que le succes de sa mission est redevable, en grande mesure, au bienveillant et constant concours de plusieurs digm'taires et employes faisant partie dv Gouvernement ou de I'Administration de la Colonie Australienne. Le Gouvernement Imp6rial se fait en consequence un devoir empresse de transmettre tous ses remerciments aux personnes enumerees dans la liste ci-jointe, pour l'aimable et fruetueux appui qu'il

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n'ont cesse d'accorder ;i M. Schostak durant sa mission en Avtstralie. En portant cc gui precede a la connaissance de votre Excellence, j'ai l'honneur de la prier de vouloir bien ne pas me refuser son aimable intermediaire, et de faire parvenir les remerciments de mon Gouvernement aux personnes interessees. J'ai l'honneur, &c, a. son Excellence M. le Comte Eosebery, &c. Staal.

List of the Gentlemen who kindly assisted Mr. Schostak, the Engineer of Nertehinsk, when he was sent by the Cabinet of His Majesty the Emperor of Russia to Australia. Colony of Victoria. —(l) The Hon. James Service, the Premier; (2) J. P. Levien, Minister of Mines and Agriculture; (3) C. W. Langtree, Director of the Department of Mines; (4) W. H. Granger, Inspector of Sandhurst District; (5) Thompson More, Deputy for Sandhurst; (6) M. Eosenblum, Director of Schools at Ballarat. Colony of New South Wales. —(7) The Hon. Joseph Palmer Abbott, Minister of Mines and Agriculture. Colony of New Zealand. —(B) The Hon. Eobert Stout, the Premier; (9) William Eolleston, Minister of Mines and Public Works; (10) H. J. H. Eliott, Director of Department for Watersupply in Mines; (11) Dr. Hector, Director of the Colonial Museum.

No. 55. (Circular.) Sib,— Downing Street, 7th July, 1886. The attention of the Government of Mauritius has been drawn to the crowding of animals on board vessels trading between that colony and its dependencies, and, there being no legislative authority in that case to enable the Government to regulate the conveyance of cattle and other animals, the Governor has requested information as to the regulations in force in the United Kingdom and other parts of Her Majesty's dominions. I shall be glad to be furnished with the information desired by the Mauritius Government as regards the law and practice in force in the colony under your government. The regulations in force in this country are contained in Part IV. of the Animals Order in Council of 1884, a transcript of which I shall be happy to transmit to you if desired. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 56. (Circular.) Sic,— Downing Street, 9th July, 1886. I have the honour to call the attention of your Government to the questions asked by Mr. Howard Vincent in the House of Commons on the 21st of May and the Ist of June, and to the answers reported in the newspapers, with reference to the desire of the Foreign Office to receive suggestions from Chambers of Commerce, or bodies and persons interested in British trade, as to the manner in which the services of Her Majesty's diplomatic and consular officers could be turned to the best advantage for its promotion and extension; and I enclose, for the information of your Government, a copy of a letter addressed by the Foreign Office to various commercial bodies in this country, to which reference was made by Mr. Howard Vincent in the House of Commons on the 21st of June. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Lettee addressed to the Associated Chambees of Commeece.* Sic, — Foreign Office, 4th March, 1886. I am directed by the Earl of Eosebery to state to you that his Lordship is taking into immediate consideration the general question of the assistance rendered by Her Majesty's diplomatic and consular representatives abroad to British trade. The instructions under which these officers act are to protect and promote British trade by every fair and proper means. The Secre-

* Also to Glasgow, Liverpool, and Manchester Chambers of Commerce, Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom, and British Iron Trades' Association ; and to the Agricultural Engineers' Association, commencing, " In reply to our letter of the 24th ultimo ; " to Paris Chamber of Commerce, March 25th, leaving out last paragraph.

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tary of State cannot, however, give the support of Her Majesty's Government to commercial or industrial undertakings, or to applications for concessions from a foreign Government, where he is unable to form a correct judgment as to the soundness and practicability of such enterprises. Within the limits that this office can properly act in these matters aid is constantly afforded to British merchants and shipowners, and in many instances this assistance is very fully acknowledged. Lord Eosebery will be glad, in order to enable him to deal in a satisfactory manner with the general question, to receive at your earliest convenience any practical suggestions which the Associated Chambers of Commerce may have to offer as to what greater measure of support they think might be afforded by British representatives abroad to British trade. It must, however, be borne in mind that these officers cannot act as agents for particular firms, nor could they with propriety decide upon the respective merits of rival enterprises, or the claims of British subjects of equal respectability and financial position, who may be competitors in regard to particular concessions or enterprises. I shall be glad to receive your answer to this letter by the 20th instant. I have, &c, J. Beyce.

No. 57. (Circular.) Sic,— Downing Street, 10th July, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Government, with reference to Lord Kimberley's circular despatch of the 23rd January, 1882, the accompanying copy of a letter from the War Office, making further proposals, in which I concur, on the subject of the treatment of Courtmartial prisoners m the civil prisons of the colonies. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Sic,— War Office, 25th June, 1886. I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 28th April, 1886, and, in reply, to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State, that, in order to assimilate as far as possible the treatment of prisoners abroad and at home, it appears to Mr. Secretary Campbell-Bannerman that it would be desirable to supplement the instructions given in the circular despatch issued from the Colonial Office on the 23rd January, 1882, by requesting that, as regards soldiers sentenced by military Courts, those who are convicted of offences under the Army Act, sections 17 and 18 (4) and (5), or of any offences of a similar character under section 41, should be treated in the same manner as civil prisoners; while those convicted under any other sections of the Act should be considered as having been convicted of breaches of discipline only. I am to add that, if Earl Granville concurs in this proposal, instructions will be given to officers commanding troops at foreign stations to notify, on the committals of all prisoners sent to colonial prisons, the section of the Army Act under which the convictions have been obtained. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Ralph Thompson.

No. 58. (Circular.) Sic, — Downing Street, 12th July, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, at the request of the Board of Trade, copies of two printed forms (the one for vessels registered in the United Kingdom, and the other for vessels registered out of the United Kingdom) for rendering the monthly returns relating to Lascar and other Asiatic seamen, desired to be furnished by the Board in their letter and Appendix A of the 24th of December last, enclosed in my predecessor's circular despatch of the 2nd of January last. The returns should be sent direct to the Board of Trade, as requested in that circular despatch. I have, &c, GKANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

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Enclosure. Lascars Abroad. Return of Lascars engaged at the Port of on board British Ships registered out of [or in] the United Kingdom bound to Places out of the United Kingdom.

No. 59. (Circular.) Sir,-— Downing Street, 13th July, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for information and publication in the colony under your government, a copy of a Treaty for the Mutual Extradition of Fugitive Criminals between Great Britain and the Republic of the Equator, signed on the 20th day of September, 1880, the ratifications of which were exchanged on the 19th of February last, and which, by Order of Her Majesty in Council of the 26th of June, came into operation on the 2nd instant. I have, &o.j GRANVLLLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. from the London Gazette of Friday, 2nd July, 188G.] At the Court at Windsor, the 26th day of June, 1886. Present: The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty; Lord President, Lord Steward, Earl of Eosebery, Mr. Fowler. Whereas by the Extradition Acts, 1870 and 1873, it was amongst other things enacted that, where an arrangement has been made with any foreign State with respect to the surrender to such State of any fugitive criminals, Her Majesty may, by Order in Council, direct that the said Acts shall apply in the case of such foreign State ; and that Her Majesty may, by the same or any subsequent order, limit the operation of the order, and restrict the same to fugitive criminals who are in or suspected of being in the part of Her Majesty's dominions specilied in the order, and render the operation thereof subject to such conditions, exceptions, and qualifications as may be deemed expedient; and that if, by any law made after the passing of the Act of 1870 by the Legislature of any British possession, provision is made for carrying into effect within such possession the surrender of fugitive criminals who are in or suspected of being in such British possession, Her Majesty may, by the Order in Council applying the said Acts in the case of any foreign State, or by any subsequent order, suspend the operation within any such British possession of the said Aces, or of any part thereof, so far as it relates to such foreign State, and so long as such law continues in force there and no longer : And whereas, in accordance with section 18 of "The Extradition Act, 1870," the Legislature of the Dominion of Canada has, by laws passed in the years 1877 and 1882, and respectively styled "The Extradition Act, 1887," and "An Act to amend 'The Extradition Act, 1877,'" made provision for carrying into effect within the Dominion the surrender of fugitive criminals who are in, or are suspected of being in, the Dominion : And whereas a treaty was concluded on the twentieth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and eighty, between Her Majesty and the President of the Eepublic of the Equator, for the mutual extradition ot fugitive criminals, which treaty is in the terms following: — " Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and His Excellency the President of the Eepublic of Ecuador, having judged it expedient, with a view to the better administration of justice, and to the "prevention of crime within their respective territories and jurisdictions, that persons charged with or convicted of the crimes hereinafter enumerated, and being fugitives from justice, should under certain circumstances be reciprocally delivered up, Her Britannic Majesty and the President of Ecuador have named as their plenipotentiaries to conclude a treaty for this purpose, that is to say—Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and 6—A. 2.

Month and Date. Names of Ships and Official Numbers. Voyage from * Asiatics engaged to serve on board. Port of ; RegistlT- to n . B .. Engine-room _ Stewards, DcckHandsf j| ands + Servants, and + i other Persons. § * The numbers, not the names, of the Asiatics should be given. f Asiatic deck hands will include Serangs, Tindals, and all Asiatics engaged to serve in the navigation of the ship. J Asiatic engine-room hands will include all Asiatics engaged as engineers, stokers, greasers, coal-trimmers, and every person engaged in any way to work in connection with engines, boilers, coal, &c. § Asiatic stewards, servants, &c, will include all Asiatics engaged to serve in any other capacity.

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Ireland, Frederick Douglas Hamilton, Esquire, her Minister Eesident at Ecuador; and his Excellency the President of Ecuador, General Cornelio E. Vernaza, Minister of Foreign Affairs and of the Interior; who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon and concluded the following articles: — " AiiTiCLE I. —It is agreed that Her Britannic Majesty's Government and that of Ecuador shall, on requisition made in their name by their respective diplomatic agents, deliver up to each other reciprocally any persons who, being accused or convicted of any of the crimes hereinafter specified, committed within the jurisdiction of the requiring party, shall be found within the territories of the other party: (1) Murder, or attempt or conspiracy to murder; (2) manslaughter; (3) counterfeiting or altering money, or uttering counterfeit or altered money; (4) forgery, counterfeiting, or altering, or uttering what is forged or counterfeited or altered; (5) embezzlement or larceny ; (6) obtaining money or goods by false pretences ; (7) crimes against bankruptcy law ; (8) fraud by a bailee, banker, agent, factor, trustee, or director, or member or public officer of any company made criminal by any law for the time being in force; (9) rape; (10) abduction; (11) childstaaling; (12) burglary or housebreaking; (13) arson ; (14) robbery with violence ; (15) threats by letter or otherwise with intent to extort; (16) piracy by law of nations ; (17) sinking or destroying a vessel at sea, or attempting or conspiring to do so; (18) assaults on board a ship on the high seas with intent to destroy life or to do grievous bodily harm; (19) revolt or conspiracy to revolt by two or more persons on board a ship on the high seas against the authority of the captain or master : Provided that the surrender shall be made only when, in the case of a person accused, the commission of the crime shall be so established as that the laws of the country where the fugitive or person so accused shall be found would justify his apprehension and commitment for trial if the crime had been there committed; and, in the case of a person alleged to have been convicted, on such evidence as, according to the laws of the country where he is found, would prove that he had been convicted. " Article ll.—ln the dominions of Her Britannic Majesty, other than the foreign or colonial possessions of Her Majesty, the manner of proceeding shall be as follows : — "(1.) In the case of a person accused: The requisition for the surrender shall be made to Her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by some person recognized by the Secretary of State as a diplomatic representative of the Bepublic of Ecuador, accompanied by a warrant, or other equivalent judicial document, for the arrest of the accused, issued by a Judge or Magistrate duly authorized to take cognizance of the acts charged against him in Ecuador, together with duly-authenticated depositions or statements taken on oath before such Judge or Magistrate, clearly setting forth the said acts, and a description of the person claimed, and any particulars which may serve to identify him. The said Secretary of State shall transmit such documents to Her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, who shall then, by order under his hand and seal, signify to some Police Magistrate in London that such requisition has been made, and require him, if there be due cause, to issue his warrant for the apprehension of the fugitive. On the receipt of such order from the Secretary of State, and on the production of such evidence as would, in the opinion of the Magistrate, justify the issue of the warrant if the crime had been committed in the United Kingdom, he shall issue his warrant accordingly. When the fugitive shall have been apprehended in virtue of such warrant, lie shall be brought before the Police Magistrate who issued it, or some other Police Magistrate in London. If the evidence to be then produced shall be such as to justify, according to the law of England, the committal for trial of the prisoner if the crime of which he is accused had been committed in England, the Police Magistrate shall commit him to prison to await the warrant of the Secretary of State for his surrender, sending immediately to the Secretary of State a certificate of the committal and a report upon the case. After the expiration of a period from the committal of the prisoner which shall never be less than fifteen days, the Secretary of State shall, by order under his hand and seal, order the fugitive criminal to be surrendered to such person as may be duly authorized to receive him on the part of the Government of Ecuador. (2.) In the case of a person convicted: The course of proceeding shall be the same as in the case of a person accused, except that the warrant to be transmitted by the recognized diplomatic representative in support of his requisition shall clearly set forth the crime of which the person claimed has been convicted, and state the fact, place, and date of his conviction. The evidence to be produced before the Police Magistrate shall be such as would, according to the law of England, prove that the prisoner was convicted of the crime charged. After the Police Magistrate shall have committed tin accused or convicted parson to prison to await the order of a Secretary of State for his surrender, such person shall have the right to apply for a writ of habeas corpus. If he should so apply, his surrender must be deferred until after the decision of the Court upon the return to the writ, and even then can only take place if the decision is adverse to the applicant. In the latter case the Court may at once order his delivery to the person authorized to receive him, without the order of a Secretary of Sta fe for his surrender, or commit him to prison to await such order. A like proceeding shall be observed towards criminals in prison in Ecuador. " Abticle lII.—In the Bepublic of Ecuador the manner of proceeding shall be as follows :— '■ (1.) In the case of a person accused: The requisition for the surrender shall be made to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ecuador by the Minister or other diplomatic agent of Her Britannic Majesty, accompanied by a warrant for the arrest of the accused, issued by a Judge or Magistrate duly authorized to take cognizance of the acts charged against him in Great Britain, together with 'duly-authenticated depositions or statements taken on oath before such Judge or Magistrate, clearly setting forth the said acts, and a description of the person claimed, and any other particulars which may serve-to identify him. The said documents shall be transmitted to the Minister Secretary of State for the Interior Department, who shall then, by order under his hand and seal, signify to some Police Magistrate that such requisition has been made,

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and require him, if there be due cause, to issue his warrant for the apprehension of the fugitive. On the receipt of such order from the Minister Secretary of State, and on the production of such evidence as would justify the issue of the warrant if the crime had been committed in Ecuador, he shall issue his warrant accordingly. When the fugitive shall have been apprehended in virtue of such warrant he shall bo brought before the Police Magistrate who issued it, or some other authority of the same class. If the evidence to be then produced shall be such as to justify, according to the law of Ecuador, the committal for trial of the prisoner if the crime of which he is accused had been committed in Ecuador, the Police Magistrate shall commit him to prison to await the warrant of the Secretary of State for his surrender, sending immediately to the Secretary of State a certificate of the committal and a report upon the case. After the expiration of a period from the committal of the prisoner which shall never be less than fifteen days, the Secretary of State shall, by order under his hand and seal, order the fugitive criminal to be surrendered to such person as may be duly authorized to receive him on the part of the Government of Her Majesty. " (2.) In the case of a person convicted : The course of proceeding shall be the same as in the case of a person accused, except that the warrant to be transmitted by the Minister or other diplomatic agent in support of his requisition shall clearly set forth the crime of which the person claimed has been convicted, and state the fact, place, and date of his conviction. The evidence to be produced before the Magistrate charged with the investigation of the case shall be such as would, according to the laws of Ecuador, prove that the prisoner was convicted of the crime charged. " Article IV.—A fugitive criminal may, however, be apprehended under a warrant issued by any Police Magistrate or other competent authority in either country, on such information or complaint, and such evidence, or after such proceedings as would, in the opinion of the person issuing the warrant, justify the issue of a warrant if the crime had been committed or the prisoner convicted in that part of the dominions of the two contracting parties in which he exercises jurisdiction : Provided, however, that in the United Kingdom the accused shall, in such case, be sent as speedily as possible before a Police Magistrate in London, and that he shall be discharged if within thirty days a requisition shall not have been made for his surrender by the diplomatic agent of his country, in the manner directed by Articles 11. and 111. of this treaty. The same rule shall apply to the cases of persons accused or convicted of any of the crimes specified in this treaty, committed on the high seas, on board any vessel of either country which may come into any port of the other. " Article V.—lf the fugitive criminal who has been committed to prison be not surrendered and conveyed away within two months after such committal, or within two months after the decision of the Court, upon the return to a writ of habeas corpus in the United Kingdom he shall be discharged from custody, unless sufficient cause be shown to the contrary. " Article VI. —When any person shall have been surrendered by either of the high contracting parties to the other, such person shall not, until he has been restored or had an opportunity of returning to the country from whence he was surrendered, be triable or tried for any offence committed in the other country prior to the surrender other than the particular offence on account of which he was surrendered. " Article VII. —In any case where an individual convicted or accused in Ecuador of any of the crimes described in the present treaty, and who shall have taken refuge in the United Kingdom, shall have obtained naturalization there, such naturalization shall not prevent the search for, arrest, and surrender of such individual to the Equatorian authorities, in conformity with the said treaty. In like manner the surrender shall take place on the part of Ecuador in any case where an individual accused or convicted in England ©f any of the same crimes who shall have taken refuge in Ecuador shall have obtained naturalization there. " Article VIII.—No accused or convicted person shall be surrendered if the offence in respect of which his surrender is demanded shall be deemed by the party upon whom it is made to be one of a political character, or if he prove to the satisfaction of the Police Magistrate, or of the Court before which he is brought on habeas corpus, or to the Secretary of State, that the requisition for his surrender has, in fact, been made with a view to try or to punish him for an offence of a political character. " Article IX.—Warrants, depositions, or statements on oath issued or taken in the dominions of either of the two high contracting parties, and copies thereof, and certificates of or judicial documents stating the fact of conviction, shall be received in evidence in proceedings in the dominions of the other if purporting to be signed or certified by a Judge, Magistrate, or officer of the country where they were issued or taken : Provided such warrants, depositions, statements, copies, certificates, and judicial documents are authenticated by the oath of some witness, or by being sealed with the official seal of the Minister of Justice, or some other Minister of State. " Article X. —The surrender shall not take place if, since the commission of the acts charged, the accusation, or the conviction, exemption from prosecution or punishment has been acquired by lapse of time, according to the laws of the country where the accused shall have taken refuge. " Article Xl.—lf the individual claimed by one of the two contracting parties in pursuance of the present treaty should be also claimed by one or several other Powers on account of other crimes committed upon their territory, his surrender shall, in preference, be granted in compliance with that demand which is earliest in date. " Article XII.—If the individual claimed should be under prosecution, or in custody, for a crime or offence committed in the country where he may have taken refuge, his surrender may be deferred until he shall have been set at liberty in due course of law. In case ho should be proceeded against or detained in such country on account of obligations contracted towards private individuals, his surrender shall nevertheless take place, the injured party retaining his right to prosecute his claims before the competent authority. " Article Xlll.—Every article found in the possession of the individual claimed at the time of his arrest shall be seized in order-to be delivered up with his person at the time when the sur-

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render shall be made. Such delivery shall not be limited to the property or articles obtained by stealing or by fraudulent bankruptcy, but shall extend to everything that may serve as proof of the crime. It shall take place even when the surrender, after having been ordered, shall be prevented from taking place by reason of the escape or death of the individual claimed. " Article XlV.—Each of the two contracting parties shall defray the expenses occasioned by the arrest within its territories, the detention, and the conveyance to its frontier, of the persons whom it may consent to surrender in pursuance of the present treaty. " Article XV.—The stipulations of the present treaty shall be applicable to the foreign or colonial possessions of the two high contracting parties. The requisition for the surrender of a fugitive criminal who has taken refuge in a foreign or colonial possession of either party shall be made to the Governor or chief authority of such possession by the Chief Consular Officer of the other at the seat of Government; or, if the fugitive has escaped from a foreign or colonial possession of the party on whose behalf the requisition is made, by the Governor or chief authority of such possession. Such requisitions may be disposed of, subject always, as nearly as may be, to the provisions of this treaty, by the respective Governors or chief authorities, who, however, shall bo at liberty either to grant the surrender or to refer the matter to their Government. Her Britannic Majesty shall, however, be at liberty to make special arrangements in the British colonies and foreign possessions for the surrender of Equatorial! criminals who may take refuge within such colony, on the basis, as nearly as may be, of the provisions of the present treaty. " Article XVl.—The present treaty shall come into operation two months after the exchange of the ratifications. Due notice shall in each country be given of the day. Either party may at any time terminate the treaty on giving to the other six months' notice of its intention. " Article XVII. —The present treaty shall be ratified and the ratifications shall be exchanged at the capital of Ecuador within eight months after the approbation of the legislative power according to the laws of each countiy. " In witness whereof the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the same in duplicate, and have affixed thereto the seal of their arms. " Done at Quito, capital of the Eepublic of Ecuador, the 20th September, 1880. " (1.5.) Fred. Douglas Hamilton. " (1.5.) Cobnelio E. Veknaza." And whereas the ratifications of the said treaty were exchanged at Quito, on the nineteenth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six : Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice of her Privy Council, and in virtue of the authority committed to her by the said recited Acts, doth order, and it is hereby ordered, that from and after the second day of July, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, the said Acts shall apply in the case of the Equator, and of the said treaty with the Eepublic of the Equator : Provided always, and it is hereby further ordered, that the operation of the said Acts shall be suspended within the Dominion of Canada so far as relates to the Eepublic of the Equator and to the said treaty, and so long as the provisions of the Canadian Acts aforesaid continue in force, and no longer. C. L. Peel.

No. 60. (New Zealand, No. 46.) Sib,— Downing Street, 13th July, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 30, of the 15th of May, reporting that Tawhiao and other Maori chiefs had sought interviews with you during your recent visit to Auckland, and transmitting copies of the memorandum addressed to you by the chiefs, and of your reply. I have, &c, GBANVILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., cfec.

A.-l, 1887, No. 4,

No. 61. (New Zealand, No. 47.) Sir,— Downing Street, 14th July, 1880. I have the honour to transmit to you, for your information, a copy of a despatch which I have addressed to the Governor of Queensland respecting the procedure to be observed by a Governor in opening and closing a session of the Federal Council of Australasia. I have, &c, GRANVILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

i Enclosure. Sir,— Downing Street, 9th July, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 24, of the 11th of March last, with its enclosure, respecting the proceedings of the Federal Council of Australasia. It is desirable that a legislative and deliberative council constituted as the Federal Council is should have its session opened and closed by a speech from the Governor of the colony in which it

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is held; but, as it is impossible, for obvious reasons, that any selection of the members of the Council can undertake, as under ordinary parliamentary government, to assume the responsibility of advising that any policy or even any course of procedure be announced by the Governor, it appears preferable that the Governor should be responsible for his speeches, and that they should be confined to formally announcing the opening and closing of the session (stating, in the first case, the titles of the Bills of which notice has been given), unless he should be instructed to make any communication to the Council from Her Majesty's Government. I have, &c, Governor Sir A. Musgrave, K.C.M.G., &c. Gbanville.

No. 62. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 14th July, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a letter which I have caused to be addressed to the Agent-General for the colony under your government on the subject of the establishment of a central office in London, under the sanction of Her Majesty's Government, where intending emigrants, and the various emigration societies in the United Kingdom, may obtain information respecting those colonies to which emigrants from this country usually proceed. The Agent-General has informed me that he will be prepared to afford the proposed office all the information at his command; but I should be glad if your Government will give directions that every facility should be granted to give effect to the regular transmission to the office of the returns and information referred to, and also that the committee should be supplied by every mail with a single copy of the best newspaper for business purposes published in each town or district of the colony. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Sik, — Downing Street, 2nd July, 188 C. With reference to the letter from this department of the 2nd of February last, and to your reply of the last, on the subject of the proposed establishment of an emigrants' information office, I am directed by Earl Granville to inform you that the necessary arrangements have now been completed for giving effect to the proposal, and it only remains to collect the most recent information relative to the demand for labour and prospects of successful emigration in the colonies, together with particulars likely to be useful to intending emigrants, to enable the committee to proceed with their work. Lord Granville will, therefore, be much obliged if you will in future, as far as is in your power, cause the Information Office to be furnished with a monthly return, in respect of the colon v which you represent, showing the current rate of wages in all ordinary employments both in town and country, the demand for labour in the various localities, the amounts of assistance (if any) granted to emigrants, the rates of passage-money, and the inducements as regards land to settlers. lam also to state that the Managing Committee of the Emigrants' Information Office will bo much obliged for any maps, pamphlets, or other statistical information which it may be in your power to place at their disposal. lam to add that the office will be located at 81, Broadway, Westminster. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. E. Wingfield.

No. 63. (Circular 1.) Sir,— Downing Street, 16th July, 188 G. With reference to Lord Kimberley's circular despatch of the Bth July, 1881, I have the honour to transmit to you, for information and publication in the colony under your government, a copy of a Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation between Her Majesty and the Eepublic of the Equator, signed at Quito on the 18th October, 1880, the ratifications of which were exchanged at Quito on the 19th February last. You will observe that the terms of the protocol of the 17th July, 1885, relating to the colonies, accord with the wishes of your Government, as expressed in reply to the above-quoted despatch. * I have, &c, GEANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

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Enclosure. Treaty of Feiendship, Commerce, and Navigation between Her Majesty and the Republic of the Equator.'—(Signed at Quito 18th October, 1880. Eatifications exchanged at Quito 19th February, 1886.) Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Eepublic of the Equator, being desirous of extending and facilitating the relations of commerce between their respective territories and subjects and citizens, have resolved to conclude a treaty for that purpose, and have named as their respective plenipotentiaries, that is to say,—Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Frederic Douglas Hamilton, Esquire, Her Minister Resident to the Republic of the Equator; and his Excellency the President of the Republic of the Equator, General Cornelio E. Vernaza, Minister of Foreign Affairs ; who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon and concluded the following articles : — Article I.—There shall be perpetual friendship between the dominions and subjects of Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, her heirs and successors, and the Republic of the Equator and its citizens. Article ll.—There shall be between all the dominions and possessions of the two high contracting parties reciprocal freedom of commerce and navigation. The subjects and citizens of each of the two contracting parties, respectively, shall have liberty freely and securely to come, with their ships and cargoes, to all places, ports, and livers in the dominions and possessions of the other to which other foreigners are, or may be, permitted to come, and shall, throughout the whole extent of the dominions and possessions of the other, enjoy the same rights, privileges, liberties, favours, immunities, and exemptions in matters of commerce and navigation which are or may be enjoyed by native subjects or citizens generally. Article III.—No other or higher duties shall be imposed on the importation into the dominions and possessions of Her Britannic Majesty of any article the produce or manufacture of the dominions and possessions of the Republic of the Equator, from whatever place arriving, and no other or higher duties shall be imposed on the importation into the dominions and possessions of the Republic of the Equator of any article the produce or manufacture of Her Britannic Majesty's dominions and possessions, from whatever place arriving, than are or shall bo payable on the like article the produce or manufacture of any other foreign country ; nor shall any prohibition be imposed on the importation of any article the pioduce or manufacture of the dominions and possessions of either of the two contracting parties into the dominions and possessions of the other, which shall not equally extend to the importation of the like articles being the produce or manufacture of any other country. Auticle IV. —No other or higher duties or charges shall be imposed in the dominions and possessions of either of the contracting parties, on the exportation of any article to the dominions and possessions of the other, than such as are or may be payable on the exportation of the like article to any other foreign country ; nor shall any prohibition be imposed on the exportation of any article from the dominions and possessions of either of the two contracting parties to the dominions and possessions of the other, which shall not equally extend to the exportation of the like article to any other country. Article V. —Goods, in respect of which import duties shall have been paid upon the importation thereof by a subject or citizen of either country at a port of the United Kingdom or the Republic of the Equator, shall not be liable to the payment of any further import duty in the event of such goods being conveyed by sea to any other port of the United Kingdom or Republic : Provided always that both in the United Kingdom and in the Republic of the Equator such reshipments shall have been made in conformity with the laws of the two countries respectively for the regulation of the coasting trade. Article VI. —Equality of treatment in regard to warehousing and to the transit trade, and also in regard to bounties, facilities, and drawbacks, shall be enjoyed by the subjects and citizens of the high contracting parties reciprocally. Article VII. —All articles the produce or manufacture of the dominions and possessions of either of the contracting parties, or of any other country, which are or may be legally importable into the ports of the dominions and possessions of Her Britannic Majesty in British vessels, may likewise be imported into those ports in Equatorian vessels, without being liable to any other or higher duties or charges, of whatever denomination, than if such articles were imported in British vessels; and, reciprocally, all articles the produce or manufacture of the dominions and possessions of either of the contracting parties, or of any other country, which are or may be legally importable into the ports of the dominions and possessions of the Republic of the Equator in Equatorian vessels, may likewise be imported into those ports in British vessels, without being liable to any other or higher duties or charges, of whatever denomination, than if such articles were imported in Equatorian vessels. Such reciprocal equality of treatment shall take effect without distinction, whether such articles come directly from the place of origin or from any other place. In the same manner there shall be perfect equality of treatment in regard to exportation; so that the same export duties shall be paid, and the same bounties and drawbacks allowed, in the dominions and possessions of either of the high contracting parties on the exportation of any article which is or may be legally exportable therefrom, without distinction whether such exportation shall take place in British or in Equatorian vessels, and whatever may be the place of destination, whether a port of either of the contracting parties or of any third Power. Article VIII.—No duties of tonnage* harbour, pilotage, lighthouse, quarantine, or other similar or corresponding duties of whatever nature or under whatever denomination, levied in the name or for the profit; of Government, public functionaries, private individuals, corporations, or establishments of any kind, shall be imposed in the ports of the dominions and possessions of either

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country which shall not equally and under the same conditions be imposed in the like cases on the vessels of other nations. Such equality of treatment shall apply reciprocally to the respective vessels, from whatever port or place they may arrive, and whatever may be their place of destination. Aeticle IX.—lt being understood that the general liberty of commercial communication conceded by both contracting parties to one another by the preceding Articles Nos. V., VI., and VII. shall in no way extend to the coasting trade of the two respective nations. Abticlk X.—ln all that regards the stationing, loading, and unloading of vessels in the ports, basins, docks, roadsteads, harbours, or rivers of the dominions and possessions of the two countries, the same privileges and immunities shall be conceded which have been conceded to the most favoured nation. Aeticle XI. —All vessels which according to British law are to be deemed British vessels, and all vessels which according to Equatorian law are to be deemed Bquatorian vessels, shall, for the purposes of this treaty, be deemed British and Bquatorian vessels respectively. Aeticle Xll.—The high contracting parties agree that in all matters relating to commerce and navigation, any privilege, favour, or immunity whatever, which either contracting party has actually granted, or may hereafter grant, to the subjects or citizens of any other State, shall bo extended immediately and unconditionally to the subjects or citizens of the other contracting party, it being their intention that the trade of each country shall be placed in all respects by the other on the footing of the most favoured nation. Aeticle XIII.—The subjects or citizens of each of the contracting parties shall have, in the dominions and possessions of the other, the same rights as native subjects or citizens in regard to trade-marks and designs of every description applicable to articles of manufacture. Aeticle XIV. —It shall be free for each of the two high contracting parties to appoint ConsulsGeneral, Consuls, Vice-Consuls, and Consular Agents, to reside in the towns and ports of the dominions and possessions of the other. Such Consuls-General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls, and Consular Agents, however, shall not enter upon their functions until after they shall have been approved and admitted, in the usual form, by the Government to which they are sent. They shall exercise whatever functions and enjoy whatever privileges, exemptions, and immunities are or shall be granted there to Consuls of the most favoured nation. Aeticle XV. —The subjects or citizens of each of the two high contracting parties, conforming themselves to the laws of the country —(1.) Shall have full liberty, with their families, to enter, travel, or reside in any part of the dominions and possessions of the other contracting party. (2.) They shall be permitted to hire or possess the houses, manufactories, warehouses, shops, and premises which may be necessary for them. (3.) They may carry on their commerce by wholesale or retail, either in person or by any agents whom they may think fit to employ. (4.) They shall not be subject, in respect of their persons or property, or in respect of passports, licenses for residence or establishment, nor in respect of their commerce or industry, to any taxes, whether general or local, nor to imposts or obligations of any kind whatever, other or greater than those which are or shall be imposed upon native subjects. Aeticle XVl.—The citizens of the Equator shall enjoy in all the dominions and possessions of Her Britannic Majesty complete and unlimited liberty of conscience, and shall exercise their religion publicly or privately in their own dwelling-houses, or in the chapels or places of worship appointed' for that purpose in conformity with the system of toleration established in the dominions and possessions of Her Britannic Majesty. The subjects of Her Britannic Majesty residing in the dominions and possessions of the Equator shall enjoy the most perfect and entire security of conscience, without being annoyed or disturbed on account of their religious belief, provided that this takes place with the decorum due to Divine worship, and with due respect to the established laws, usages, and customs. They shall have entire liberty to bury their dead, in accordance with the religious ceremonies practised in their country, in the sepulchres and cemeteries already established, or which may be hereafter established and appointed for that purpose, and the sepulchres of the dead, in conformity with the old and existing practice, shall not bo profaned in anywise nor upon any account; subjecting themselves, however, with regard to the places of burial, to the laws for the preservation of public health which are or may be in vigour in the Equator. Aeticle XVII. —The subjects and citizens of each of the two high contracting parties in the dominions and possessions of the other shall be exempted from all compulsory military service whatever, whether in the army, navy, or national guard or militia. They shall be equally exempted from all judicial and municipal charges and functions whatever, as well as from all contributions, whether pecuniary or in kind, imposed as a compensation for personal service; and, finally, from forced loans and military exactions or requisitions. In regard, however, to judicial and municipal charges and functions, those shall be excepted which are consequent upon the possession of real property or of a lease ; and in regard to military exactions and requisitions, those which all subjects of the country are or shall be liable to as landed proprietors, or as farmers, or as tenants or occupiers of publichouses or houses of a similar character. Aeticle XVIII.—The subjects and citizens of each of the two contracting parties in the dominions and possessions of the other shall be at full liberty to acquire, possess, and dispose of every description of property which the laws of the country may permit any foreigners, of whatsoever nation, to acquire and possess. They may acquire and dispose of the same, whether by purchase, sale, donation, exchange' marriage, testament, succession ab intestato, or in any other manner, under the same conditions as are established by the laws of the country for all foreigners. Their heirs and representatives may succeed to and 'lake possession of such property, cither in person or by agents acting on their behalf, in the same manner and in the same legal forms as subjects or citizens of the country. In the absence of heirs and representatives the property shall

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be treated in the same manner as the like property belonging to a subject of the country under similar circumstances. In none of these respects shall they pay upon the value of such property any other or higher impost, duty, or charge than is payable by subjects of the country. In every case the subjects and citizens of the contracting parties shall be permitted to export their property, or the proceeds thereof if sold, freely, and without being subjected on such exportation to pay any duty as foreigners, or any other or higher duties than those to which subjects of the country are liable under similar circumstances. If any subject or citizen of either of the two high contracting parties shall die without will or testament in any of the territories, dominions, or settlements of the other, the Consul-General or Consul of the nation to which the deceased belonged, or the representative of such Consul-General or Consul in his absence, shall have the right to nominate curators to take charge of the property of deceased, so far as the laws of the country will permit, for the benefit of the lawful heirs and creditors of the deceased ; giving proper notice of such nomination to the authorities of the country. Aeticle XlX.—The dwellings, manufactories, warehouses, and shops of the subjects and citizens of each of the two high contracting parties in the dominions and possessions of the other, and all premises appertaining thereto, destined for purposes of residence or commerce, shall be respected. If there should be occasion to make a search of, or a domiciliary visit to, such dwellings and premises, or to examine or inspect books, papers, or accounts, such measure shall be executed only in conformity with the legal warrant or order, in writing, of a tribunal, or of the competent authority. The subjects and citizens of each of the two contracting parties in the dominions and possessions of the other shall have free access to the Courts of justice for the prosecution and defence of their rights. They shall enjoy, in this respect, the same rights and privileges as subjects or citizens of the country, and shall, like them, be at liberty to employ, in all causes, their advocates, attorneys, or agents from among the persons admitted to the exercise of those professions, according to the laws of the country. Abticlb XX.—Any ship of war or merchant-vessel of either of the high contracting parties which may be compelled by stress of weather or by accident to take shelter in a port of the other shall be at liberty to refit therein, to procure all necessary stores, and to put to sea again, without paying any dues other than such as would be payable in a similar case by a national vessel. In case, however, the master of a merchant-vessel should be under the necessity of disposing of a part of his merchandise in order to defray his expenses, he shall be bound to conform to the regulations and tariffs of the place to which he may have come. If any ship of war or merchant-vessel of one of the high contracting parties should run aground or be wrecked upon the coasts of the other, such ship or vessel, and all parts thereof, and all furniture and appurtenances belonging thereunto, and all goods and merchandise saved therefrom, including any which may have been cast into the sea, or the proceeds thereof if sold, as well as all papers found on board such stranded or wrecked ship or vessel, shall be given up to their owners, or their agents, when claimed by them from the officers, British or Equatorian, as the case may be, who are by the laws or Government of their respective countries intrusted with the protection, preservation, and custody of shipwrecked property ; and, if there are no such owners or agents on the spot, then the same shall be delivered by the abovenamed officers to the British or Equatorial! Consul-General, Consul, or Vice-Consul in whose district the wreck or stranding may have taken place, upon being claimed by him within the period fixed by the laws of the country ; and such Consuls, owners, or agents shall pay only the expenses incurred in the preservation of the property, together with the salvage, or other expenses, which would have been payable in the like case of a wreck of a national vessel. The goods and merchandise saved from the wreck shall be exempt from all duties of Customs, unless cleared for consumption, in which case they shall pay the same rate of duty as if they had been imported in a national vessel. In the case either of a vessel being driven in by stress of weather, run aground, or wrecked, the respective Consuls-General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls, and Consular Agents shall, if the owner or master, or other agent of the owner, is not present, or is present and requires it, be authorized to interpose, in order to afford the necessary assistance to their fellow-countrymen. Aeticle XXI. —The Consuls-General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls, and Consular Agents of each of the high contracting parties residing in the dominions and possessions of the other shall receive from the local authorities such assistance as can by law be given to them for the recovery of deserters from the merchant-vessels of their respective countries. Abticle XXII. —For the better security of commerce between the subjects of Her Britannic, Majesty and the citizens of the Republic of the Equator, it is agreed that, if at any time any interruption of friendly intercourse or any rupture should unfortunately take place between the two contracting parties, the subjects or citizens of either of the two contracting parties residing upon the coast shall be allowed six months, and those residing in the interior a year, to wind up their accounts and dispose of their property ; and a safe-conduct shall be given them to embark at the port which they shall themselves select. All subjects or citizens of either of the two contracting parties who may be established in the dominions or territories of the other, in the exercise of any trade or special employment, shall have the privilege of remaining and continuing such trade or employment therein, without any manner of interruption, in full enjoyment of their liberty and property, as long as they behave peaceably and commit no offence against the laws; and their goods and effects, of whatever description they may be, whether in their own custody or intrusted to individuals or to the State, shall not be liable to seizure or sequestration, or to any other charges or demands than those whic^h may be made upon the like effects or property belonging to native subjects or citizens. In the same case, debts between individuals, public funds, and the shares of companies shall never be confiscated, sequestered, or detained. Article XXIII.—The present Treaty "of Commerce and Navigation, when ratified, shall be substituted for the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation concluded between the high contracting parties at Quito on the third day of May, 1851. It shall remain in force for ten years

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from the date of the exchange of the ratifications, and further until the expiration of twelve months after either of the high contracting parties shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the same, each of the high contracting parties reserving to itself the right of giving such notice to the other at the expiration of the first nine years, or at any time afterwards. Aeticle XXIV.—The present treaty shall be ratified and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Quito in eight months from this date, or sooner if possible. In witness whereof the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have affixed thereto the seal of their arms. Done at Quito, the eighteenth" of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty. (1.5.) Feed. Douglas Hamilton. (1.5.) Cobnelio E. Veenaza.

Peotocol. Having met in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Ecuador, the undersigned, Christian William Lawrence, Esquire, Her Britannic Majesty's Minister Resident, and J. Modesto Espinosa, Minister for Foreign Affairs, authorized by their respective full powers, found in good and due form, in discussing the exchange of the ratifications of the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation signed in Quito on the 18th of October, 1880, and approved by Her Britannic Majesty, and by the Congress of Ecuador, have agreed to the present protocol: (1.) The stipulations of the aforesaid treaty shall bo applicable to all the colonies and foreign possessions of Her Britannic Majesty, with the exception of those hereinafter named—that is to say, the Dominion of Canada, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania. (2.) A paper shall be drawn up in which, after comparing the English and Spanish texts, the errors which had been made in copying them shall be corrected. In witness whereof the undersigned have signed the present protocol, and have thereto affixed their seals. Done at Quito, the seventeenth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five. (1.5.) C. W. Laweence. (1.5.) J. Modesto Espinosa*

Pbotocol. On account of the disappearance from their respective archives of the declaration signed on the 4th November, 1880, for the better understanding of the Sixteenth Article of the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce celebrated on the 18th October of the same year, the undersigned, plenipotentiaries of Her Britannic Majesty and of Ecuador, having ascertained the terms of said declaration from official notes and a duly-authorized copy, agree to ratify it, reproducing it in the following terms : The plenipotentiaries of Her Britannic Majesty and of Ecuador declare that the usages, customs, and ceremonies referred to in the third paragraph of the Sixteenth Article of the treaty made by them must be understood as applying solely to the interior of the cemeteries which British subjects possess or may acquire—that is to say, that said ceremonies shall not take place except within the walls of the Pantheons or places of burial. COBNELIO E. VeENAZA. Fedebico Douglas Hamilton. In witness whereof the present protocol was signed in Quito on the twenty-first day of July, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five. (1.5.) C. W. Laweencb. (1.5.) J. Modesto Espinosa*

No. 64, (New Zealand, No. 48.) Sm,— Downing Street, 20th July, 1886. I received and laid before the Queen your Despatch No. 44, of the 3lst May, enclosing a telegram from the residents of Kingston, Otago, conveying congratulations on the occasion of the commencement of the fiftieth year of the reign of Her Majesty the Queen. I am commanded to convey to you Her Majesty's thanks for this address. I have, &c, GEANVILLE, Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c,

A.-i, 1887, No, 13.

No. 65. (New Zealand, No. 50.) Sir,— Downing Street, 20th July, 1886. I am directed by the Secretary of State to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, the document specified in the annexed schedule. I have, &c, EOBEET G, W. HEEBEET. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. 7—A. 2.

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Enclosures. Sir,— Foreign Office, 12th July, 1886. As it is believed the Government of New Zealand offered a prize for a machine to extract the fibre from the plant named PJiormiuni tenax, I am directed by the Earl of Rosebery to transmit to you, to be laid before Earl Granvillo, for such action as his Lordship may see fit to take, copy of a despatch from Her Majesty's Coilsul-Gcneral at Havana respecting a machine of this kind, and enclosing samples of the different fibres extracted in his presence, together with particulars concerning the working of the machine. Copies of the accompanying documents, together with samples, have been communicated to the India Office. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. T. V. Listee*

My Lord, — British Consulate-Generai, Havana, 23rd June, iBB6. A gentleman of this city, who has invented a self-acting machine for extracting the fibres from textile plants, has applied to me to know if it is true that the Indian Government has offered a premium for the best machine of this description, and, this being so, what are the conditions to be fulfilled for competing for this premium. I was present at a trial of this machine, which appeared to me to be a success, the fibre coming out quite clean and unbroken in the space of about two irimutes, one pair of hands sufficing for the whole operation. I forward with this despatch samples of the different fibres extracted in my presence, and a few particulars concerning the working of the machine given me by the inventor. In the belief that the Indian authorities are interested in this question, I do not hesitate to tl'oublc your Lordship with the request that I may be supplied with the information the inventor asks for. I have, &c, The Earl of Eosebery, &c. A. de C. Crowe.

De Vila's Automatic Fibre-extractor (made and invented by De Vila, Havana). The machine is simple, easily managed, and exposes the operator to no risk. The management is reduced to supplying the plants and collecting the fibre, which is discharged close to the operator's hands. Working Results. —It extracts the fibre of hemp, taking the sprigs one by one, at the rate of 900 or 1,000 per hour ; bugloss (lengua da vaca), taking four leaves at a time, at the rate of 3,600 or 4,000 per hour ; plantain-shoots, taking one quarter of a leaf at a time, at the rate of about 1,000 per hour; other plants at the same rate, taking the larger ones singly, and the smaller at from four to six at a time. It has the advantage of taking different classes of plants without needing any alteration. The samples of fibre annexed were all extracted in succession without stopping the machine. Competent authorities here state that this is the first machine of the class that gives out the fibre fit for manufacture.

No. 66. (Circular 1.) Sic,— Downing Street, 21st July, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for publication in the colony under your government, a copy of a Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation between Her Majesty and the Oriental Kepublic of the Uruguay, signed at Monte Video on the 13th of November, 1885, the ratifications of which were exchanged at Monte Video on the 22nd of May last. I have to call your attention to Article XIV. of the treaty, from which you will observe that, if it is desired that the colony under your government should come within the operation of the treaty, notice must be given to the Uruguayan Government within two years from the date of the exchange of the ratifications. I have therefore to request that you will be good enough to acquaint me as soon as possible of the wishes of your Government in the matter. I have, (fee, GBANVILLK The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Date. I Description of Document. 12th July, 1886. Copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, with a despatch from Her Majesty's Consul-General at Havana, respecting a machine to extract fibre from the Phormium tenax, with samples of fibre extracted.

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Enclosure. Treaty op Feiendship, Commerce, and Navigation between Her Majesty and the Oriental Eepublic of the Uruguay. (Signed at Monte Video 18th November, 1885. Ratifications exchanged at Monte Video 22nd May, 1886.) Hee Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and his Excellency the President of the Oriental Eepublic of the Uruguay, being desirous of maintaining and strengthening friendly relations and of promoting commercial intercourse between the dominions of Her Britannic Majesty and the territories of the Eepublic, have resolved to conclude a Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation, and have named as their plenipotentiaries, that is to say,— Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, William Gifford Palgrave, Esquire, Minister Eesident in the Oriental Eepublic of the Uruguay ; and his Excellency the President of the Oriental Eepublic of the Uruguay, His Excellency Dr. Manuel Herrera y Obes, his Minister and Secretary of State for the Department of Foreign Affairs; who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon and concluded the following articles :— Article I.—The high contracting parties agree that, in all matters relating to commerce and navigation, any privilege, favour, or immunity whatever which either contracting party has actually granted or may hereafter grant to the subjects or citizens of any other State shall be extended immediately and unconditionally to the subjects or citizens of the other contracting party; it being their intention that the trade and navigation of each country shall be placed, in all respects, by the other on the footing of the most favoured nation. Article ll.—The produce and manufactures of, as well as all goods coming from, the dominions and possessions of Her Britannic Majesty, which are imported into Uruguay, and the produce and manufactures of, as well as all goods coming from, Uruguay, which are imported into the dominions and possessions of Her Britannic Majesty, whether intended for consumption, warehousing, re-exportation, or transit, shall be treated in the same manner as, and, in particular, shall bo subjected to no higher or other duties, whether general, municipal, or local, than the produce, manufactures, and goods of any third country the most favoured in this respect. No other or higher duties shall be levied in Uruguay on the exportation of any goods to the dominions and possessions of Her Britannic Majesty, or in the dominions and possessions of Her Britannic Majesty on the exportation of any goods to Uruguay, than may be levied on the exportation of the like goods to any third country the most favoured in this respect. Neither of the contracting parties shall establish a prohibition of importation, exportation, or transit against the other which shall not, under like circumstances, be applicable to any third country the most favoured in this respect. In like manner, in all that relates to local dues, Customs formalities, brokerage, patterns, or samples introduced by commercial travellers, and all other matters connected with trade, British subjects in Uruguay, and Uruguayan citizens in the dominions and possessions of Her Britannic Majesty, shall enjoy most-favoured-nation treatment. In the event of any changes being made in Uruguayan laws, Customs tariff, or regulations, sufficient notice shall be given in order to enable British subjects to make the necessary arrangements for meeting them. Article lll.—British ships and their cargoes shall in Uruguay, and Uruguayan vessels and their cargoes shall in the dominions and possessions of Her Britannic Majesty, from whatever place arriving and whatever may be the place of origin or destination of their cargoes, be treated in every respect as national ships and their cargoes. The preceding stipulation applies to local treatment, dues, and charges in the ports, basins, docks, roadsteads, harbours, and rivers of the two countries, pilotage, and generally to all matters connected with navigation. Every favour or exemption in these respects, or any other privilege in matters of navigation which either of the contracting parties shall grant to a third Power, shall be extended immediately and unconditionally to the other party. All vessels which according to British law are to be deemed British vessels, and all vessels which according to the law of Uruguay are to be deemed Uruguayan vessels, shall, for the purpose of this treaty, be respectively deemed British or Uruguayan vessels. The coasting trade is excepted from the stipulations of the present treaty, and remains subject to the respective laws of the two countries. Article IV. —The subjects or citizens of each of the contracting parties shall be permitted to reside permanently or temporarily in the dominions or possessions of the other ; and to occupy and hire houses and warehouses for purposes of commerce, whether wholesale or retail. They shall also be at full liberty to exorcise civil rights, and therefore to acquire, possess, and dispose of every description of property, movable and immovable. They may acquire and transmit the same to others, whether by purchase, sale, donation, exchange, marriage, testament, succession ah intestalo, and in any other manner, under the same conditions as natives of the country. Their heirs and legal representatives may succeed to and take possession of it, either in person or by procurators, in the same manner and in the same legal forms as natives of the country. In none of these respects shall they pay upon the value of such property any other or higher impost, duty, or charge than is payable by natives of the country. In every case the subjects or citizens of the contracting parties shall be permitted to export their property, or the proceeds thereof if sold, freely and without being subjected on such exportation to pay any duty different from that to which natives of the country are liable under similar circumstances. Article V. —The dwellings, manufactories, warehouses, and shops of the subjects or citizens of each of the contracting parties in the dominions and possessions of the other, and all premises appertaining thereto destined for purposes of residence or commerce, shall be respected. Except under the conditions and with the forms prescribed by the laws for natives of the country, such dwellings and premises shall be exempt from search "or domiciliary visit, and books, papers, or accounts shall be exempt from examination or inspection. The subjects or citizens of each of the two contracting parties in the dominions and possessions of the other shall have free access to the

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Courts of justice for the prosecution and defence of their rights, without other conditions, restrictions, or taxes beyond those imposed on natives of the country, and shall, like them, be at liberty to employ, in all causes, their advocates, attorneys, or agents from among the persons admitted to the exercise of those professions according to the laws of the country. Aeticle VI. —The subjects or citizens of each of the contracting parties in the dominions and possessions of the other shall be exempted from billeting and from all compulsory military service whatever, whether in the army, navy, or national guard or militia. They shall likewise be exempted from all contributions, whether pecuniary or in kind, imposed as a compensation for billeting and for personal service, and finally from forced loans and military exactions or requisitions of any kind. Abticle VII. —The subjects or citizens of either of the two contracting parties residing in the dominions and possessions of the other shall enjoy, in regard to their houses, persons, and properties, the protection of the Government in as full and ample a manner as native subjects or citizens. In like manner the subjects or citizens of each contracting party shall enjoy in the dominions and possessions of the other full liberty of conscience, and shall not be molested on account of their religious belief ; and such of those subjects or citizens as may die in the territories of the other party shall be buried in the public cemeteries, or in places appointed for the purpose, with suitable decorum and respect. The subjects of Her Britannic Majesty residing within the territories of the Oriental Republic of the Uruguay shall be at liberty to exercise in private and in their own dwellings, or within the dwellings or offices of Her Britannic Majesty's Minister, Consuls, or Vice-Consuls, or in any public edifice set apart for the purpose, their religious rites, services, and worship, and to assemble therein for that purpose without hindrance or molestation. The same stipulations shall be observed in regard to the citizens of the Oriental Eepublic of the Uruguay within the territories of Her Britannic Majesty. Article VIII. —The subjects or citizens of each of the contracting parties shall have, in the dominions and possessions of the other, the same rights as natives, or as subjects or citizens of the most favoured nation, in regard to patents for inventions, trade-marks, and designs, and the protection of industrial property, upon fulfilment of the formalities prescribed by law. Article IX.-—Each of the contracting parties may appoint Consuls-General, Consuls, ViceConsuls, Pro-Consuls, and Consular Agents to reside respectively in towns or ports in the dominions and possessions of the other Power. Such consular officers, however, shall not enter upon their functions until after they shall have been approved and admitted in the usual form by the Government to which they are sent. They shall exercise whatever functions and enjoy whatever privileges, exemptions, and immunities are, or may hereafter be, granted there to consular officers of the most favoured nation. Aeticle X.—ln the event of any subject or citizen of either of the two contracting parties dying without will or testament in the dominions and possessions of the other contracting party, the Consul-General, Consul, or Vice-Consul of the nation to which the deceased may belong, or, in his absence, the representative of such consular officer, may, so far as the laws of each country will permit, take charge of the property which the deceased shall have loft, for the benefit of his legal representatives, until an executor or administrator be named. Article XI. —The Consuls-General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls, and Consular Agents of each of the contracting parties residing in the dominions and possessions of the other shall receive from the local authorities such assistance as can by law be given to them for the recovery of deserters from the vessels of their respective countries. Article XII. —Any ship of war or merchant-vessel of either of the contracting parties which may be compelled, by stress of weather or by accident, to take shelter in a port of the other, shall be at liberty to refit therein, to procure all necessary stores, and to continue their voyage without paying any dues other than such as would bo payable in a similar case by a vessel of the most favoured nation. In case, however, the master of a merchant-vessel should be under the necessity of disposing of a part of his merchandise in order to defray his expenses, he shall be bound to conform to the regulations and tariffs of the place to which he may have come. If any ship of war or merchant-vessel of one of the contracting parties should run aground or be wrecked within the territory of the other, such ship or vessel, and all parts thereof, and all furniture and appurtenances belonging thereunto, and all goods and merchandise saved therefrom, including any which may have been cast out of the ship, or the proceeds thereof if sold, as well as all papers found on board such stranded or wrecked ship or vessel, shall be given up to the owners or their agent s when claimed by them. If there are no such owners or agents on the spot, then the same shall be delivered to the British or Uruguayan Consul-General, Consul, Vice-Consul, or Consular Agent in whose district the wreck or stranding may have taken place, upon being claimed by him within the period fixed by the laws of the country ; and such Consuls, owners, or agents shall pay only the expenses incurred in the preservation of the property, together with the salvage or other expenses which would have been payable in the like case of a wreck of a vessel of the most favoured nation. The goods and merchandise saved from the wreck shall be exempt from all duties of Customs, unless cleared for consumption, in which case they shall pay the same rate of duty as if they had been imported in a vessel of the most favoured nation. In the case either of a vessel being driven in by stress of weather, run aground, or wrecked, the respective Consuls-General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls, and Consular Agents shall, if the owner or master or other agent of the owner is not present, or is present and requires it, be authorized to interpose in order to afford the necessary assistance to their fellow-countrymen. Article XIII. —For the better security of commerce between the subjects of Her Britannic Majesty and the citizens of the Oriental Eepublic of the Uruguay, it is agreed that, if at any time any interruption of friendly intercourse or any rapture should unfortunately take place between the two contracting parties, the subjects or citizens of either of the said contracting parties who may be residing in the dominions or territories of the other, or who may be established there in the exercise

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of any trade or special employment, shall have the privilege of remaining, and continuing such trade or employment, without any manner of interruption, in full enjoyment of their liberty and property, so long as they behave peacefully and commit no offence against the laws ; and their goods, property, and effects, of whatever description they may be, whether in their own custody or intrusted to individuals or to the State, shall not be liable to seizure or sequestration, or to any other charges or demands than those which may be made upon the like goods, property, and effects belonging to native subjects or citizens. Should they, however, prefer to leave the country, they shall be allowed to make arrangements for the safe keeping of their goods, property, and effects, or to dispose of them, and to liquidate their accounts ; and a safe-conduct shall be given them to embark at the ports which they themselves shall select. Aeticlb XIV. —The stipulations of the present treaty shall be applicable to all the colonies and foreign possessions of Her Britannic Majesty, so far as the laws permit, excepting to those hereinafter named —that is to say, except to India, the Dominion of Canada, Newfoundland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, New Zealand, the Cape, Natal : Provided always that the stipulations of the present treaty shall bo made applicable to any of the above-named colonies or foreign possessions on whose behalf notice to that effect shall have been given by Her Britannic Majesty's representative in the Oriental Eepublic of the Uruguay to the Uruguayan Minister for Foreign Affairs within two years from the date of the exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty. The treaty shall apply in the case of such colonies or foreign possessions from the date when this notice is given to the Uruguayan Minister for Foreign Affairs. Article XV. —Any controversies which may arise respecting the interpretation or the execution of the present treaty, or the consequences of any violation thereof, shall be submitted, when the means of settling them directly by amicable agreement are exhausted, to the decision of Commissions of Arbitration, and the result of such arbitration shall be binding upon both Governments. The members of such Commissions shall bo selected by the two Governments by .common consent, failing which each of the parties shall nominate an arbitrator, or an equal number of arbitrators, and the arbitrators thus appointed shall select an umpire. The procedure of the arbitration shall in each case be determined by the contracting parties, failing which the Commission of Arbitration shall be itself entitled to determine it beforehand. Article XVI. —The present treaty shall continue in force during ten years, counted from the day of the exchange of the ratifications ; and in case neither of the two contracting parties shall have given notice, twelve months before the expiration of the said period of ten years, of their intention of terminating the present treaty, it shall remain in force until the expiration of one year from the day on which either of the contracting parties "shall have given such notice. Akticle XVII.—The present treaty shall be ratified by Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and by his Excellency the President of the Oriental Eepublic of the Uruguay, and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Monte Video as soon as possible. In witness whereof the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the same and have affixed thereto the seals of their arms. Done at Monte Video, this thirteenth day of November, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five. (1.5.) William Giffobd Palgkave. (1.5.) Manuel Hebebba y Obes,

No. 67. (New Zealand, No. 51.) Sib,— Downing Street, 22nd July, 1886. With reference to previous correspondence, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a letter addressed by the Earl of Bosebery to M. Waddington respecting the preservation of the , independence of the New Hebrides. 1 have, &c, GBANVILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-S, 1887, No, 2C.

No. 68. (New Zealand, No. 53.) Sir,— Downing Street, 22nd July, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 43, t of the 31st May, transmitting copies of the Financial Statement made by the ] Colonial Treasurer of New "Zealand in the House of Representatives, in Committee of Supply, on the 25th of that month. I have, &c, GBANVILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8.,&c.

A.-l, 1887, No, 12.

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No. 69. (Circular.) Sib,— Downing Street, 22nd July, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for information and publication in the colony under your government, a copy of " The Medical Act, 1886," of which Part 11. relates to colonial and foreign practitioners. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. An Act to amend the Medical Acts. [25th June, 1886.] # :|: * * * * * Part ll.—Colonial and Foreign Practitioners. Ecgistration of colonial practitioner with recognized diploma. 11. On and after the prescribed day, where a person shows to the satisfaction of the Eegistrar of the General Council that he holds some recognized colonial medical diploma or diplomas (as hereinafter defined) granted to him in a British possession to which this Act applies, and that he is of good character, and that he is by law entitled to practise medicine, surgery, and midwifery in such British possession, he shall, on application to the said Eegistrar, and on payment of such fee not exceeding five pounds as the General Council may from time to time determine, be entitled, without examination in the United Kingdom, to bo registered as a colonial practitioner in the Medical Eegister : Provided that he proves to the satisfaction of the Eegistrar any of the following circumstances : (1.) That the said diploma or diplomas was or were granted to him at a time when he was not domiciled in the United Kingdom, or in the course of a period of not less than five years during the whole of which he resided out of the United Kingdom ; or (2) that he was practising medicine or surgery or a branch of medicine or surgery in the United Kingdom on the said prescribed day, and that he has continuously practised the same either in the United Kingdom or elsewhere for a period of not less than ten years immediately preceding the said prescribed day. Registration of foreign practitioner with recognized diploma. 12. On and after the said prescribed day, where a person shows to the satisfaction of the Eegistrar of the General Council that he holds some recognized foreign medical diploma or diplomas (as hereinafter defined) granted in a foreign country to which this Act applies, and that he is of good character, and that he is by law entitled to practise.medicine, surgery, and midwifery in such foreign country, he shall, on application to the said Eegistrar, and oil payment of such fee not exceeding five pounds as the General Council may from time to time determine, be entitled, without examination in the United Kingdom, to be registered as a foreign practitioner in the Medical Eegister: Provided that he proves to the satisfaction of the Eegistrar any of the following circumstances: (1) That lie is not a British subject; or (2) that, being a British subject, the said diploma or diplomas was or were granted to him at a time when he was not domiciled in the United Kingdom, or in the course of a period of not less than five years during the whole of which he resided out of the United Kingdom; or (3) that, being a British subject, he was practising medicine or surgery, or a branch of medicine or surgery, in the United Kingdom on the said prescribed day, and that ho has continuously practised the same in the United Kingdom or elsewhere for a period of not less than ten years immediately preceding the said prescribed day. Medical diploma of colonial and foreign practitioner, when deemed to bo recognized. 13. (1.) The medical diploma or diplomas granted in a British possession or foreign country to which this Act applies, which is or are to be deemed such recognized colonial or foreign medical diplomas as is or are required for the purposes of this Act, shall be such medical diploma or diplomas as may be recognized for the time being by the General Council as furnishing a sufficient guarantee of the possession of the requisite knowledge and skill for the efficient practice of medicine, surgery, and midwifery. (2.) Where the General Council have refused to recognize as aforesaid any colonial or foreign medical diploma, the Privy Council, on application being made to them, may, if they think fit, after considering such application, and after communication with the General Council, order the General Council to recognize the said diploma, and such order shall be duly obeyed. (3.) If a person is refused registration as a colonial or foreign practitioner on any other ground than that the medical diploma or diplomas held by such person is or are not such recognized medical diploma or diplomas as above defined, the Eegistrar of the General Council shall, if required, state in writing the reason for such refusal, and the person so refused registration may appeal to the Privy Council, and the Privy Council, after communication with the General Council, may dismiss the appeal or may order the General Council to enter the name of the appellant on the register. (4.) A person may, if so entitled under this Act, be registered both as a colonial and a foreign practitioner. Separate list of colonial and foreign practitioners. 14. The Medical Eegister shall contain a separate list of the names and addresses of the colonial practitioners, and also a separate fet of the names and addresses of the foreign practitioners registered under this Act; each list shall be made out alphabetically according to the surnames; and the provisions of " The Medical Act, 18C8," relating to persons registered under that Act, and

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relating to the Medical Eegister and to offences in respect thereof, shall, so far as may be, apply in the case of colonial and foreign practitioners registered under this Act and of the said lists of those practitioners, in the same way as such provisions apply in the casa of persons registered under the said " Medical Act, 1858," and of the register as kept under that Act. Medical titles of colonial and foreign practitioners. io. On and after the appointed day it shall be lawful for any registered medical practitioner who, being on the list of colonial or foreign practitioners, is on that day in possession of or thereafter obtains any recognized colonial or foreign medical diploma granted in a British possession or foreign country to which this Act applies, to cause a description of such diploma to be added to his name in the Medical Eegister. Registration of foreign degrees held by registered medical practitioners. 16. On and after the appointed day it shall be lawful for any registered medical practitioner who, being on the Medical Eegister by virtue of English, Scotch, or Irish qualifications, is in possession of a foreign degree in medicine, to cause a description of such foreign medical degree to be added to his name as an additional title in the Medical Eegister, provided he shall satisfy the General Council that he obtained such degree after proper examination and prior to the passing of this Act. Power of Her Majesty in Council to define colonies and foreign countries to which this Part of the Act applies. 17. (1.) Her Majesty in Council may from time to time by Order in Council declare that this Part of this Act shall be deemed, on and after a day to be named in such order, to apply to any British possession or foreign country which, in the opinion of Her Majesty, affords to the registered medical practitioners of the United Kingdom such privileges of practising in the said British possession or foreign country as to Her Majesty may seem just; and from and after the day named in such Order in Council such British possession or foreign country shall be deemed to be a British possession or foreign country to which this Act applies within the meaning of this Part thereof; but until such Order in Council has been made in respect of any British possession or foreign country this Part of this Act shall not be deemed to apply to any such possession or country; and the expression "the prescribed day" as used in this Part of this Act means, as respects any British possession or foreign country, the day on and after which this Part of this Act is declared by Order in Council to apply to such British possession or foreign country. (2.) Her Majesty may from time to time by Order in Council revoke and renew any order made in pursuance of this section ; and on the revocation of such order as respects any British possession or foreign country such possession or foreign country shall cease to be a possession or country to which this Part of this Act applies, without prejudice nevertheless to the right of any persons whose names have been already entered on the register. Amendment of 21 and 22 Viet., c. 90, s. 36, as to medical officers in ships. 18. Nothing in "The Medical Act, 1858," shall prevent a person holding a medical diploma entitling him to practise medicine or surgery in a British possession to which this Act applies from holding an appointment as a medical officer in any vessel registered in that possession.

No. 70. (New Zealand, No. 54.) Sir,— Downing Street, 27th July, 1880. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 39, a.of the 20th May, forwarding copies of the Speech with which, on the 13th of ia that month, you opened the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament of New Zealand. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

•1, 1887, No,

No. 71. (Circular.) Bib,— Dawning Street, 31st July, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of the colony under your government, a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, enclosing a list received from the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador, showing the modifications introduced by his Government into the limits of jurisdiction of the AustroHungarian Consulates in the British Empire. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

1 Enclosures. Sib,— - Foreign Office, 15th July, 1886. I am directed by the Earl of Eosebery to transmit to you herewith, to be laid before Earl Granville, a copy of a note from the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador at this Court, enclosing a list

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showing the modifications which have been introduced into the jurisdictional limits of the AustroHungarian Consulates in the British Empire, inquiring whether the Imperial and Royal Consul at Bombay will require a new exequatur, inasmuch as the limits of his jurisdiction have been extended to nearly the whole of British India, as well as to Ceylon. The enclosed letter has also been communicated to the India Office. I have, &c, The Under-Sccretary of State, Colonial Office. T. V. Lister.

Monsieur le Comte, — Bolgrave Square, 23 June, 1886. J'ai l'honneur de porter a la connaissance de votre Excellence que le Gouvornement Imperial et Royal a cru devoir introduiro quelques modifications dans la circonscription dcs Consulats Austro-Hongrois dans l'Empire Britannique, et je me permets de joindre ci-pres le tableau de la nouvelle organisation de cette branche de notre service consulaire. Le ressort dv Consulat Imperial et Royal a Bombay ayant etc etendu sur la presque totalite de l'Empire dcs Indes, et cc Consulat 6tant inaintenant appele a exeroer ses fonctions dans dcs regions gui prccede/mment ne formaient pas partie do la circonscription pour laquelle sa Majestc la Reine a daignc lvi conferer l'exequatur, je crois devoir laisser a l'appreciation de votre Excellence le soin de juger si dans les circonstances actuelles le Gouvernement Imperial et Royal aura a soliciter un nouvel exequatur, ou s'il suflira que les autorites locales dans l'Empire dcs Indes soient informees de l'etendue nouvello dv ressort dv Consulat Imperial et Royal a Bombay. En attendant que votre Excellence veuille bien me faire connaitre les vues dv Gouvernement de sa Majeste la Eeine dans cette matiere, je saisis, &c, Karolyi.

[Translation — Extract.] Distribution of the Districts of the Imperial and Royal Gonsulab Officers in the Beitish Possessions. Consulate in Malta.- —District : The Island of Malta. Consulate in Gibraltar. — District: Gibraltar and the territory thereto belonging. Consulate in Sieeea Leone (West Coast of Africa). — District: The Colony of Sierra Leone and the dependent settlements on the Gambia; also the Gold Coast Colony, the territory of Lagos, and also the Ascension Islands. Consulate in St. Helena.— District: The Island of St. Helena. Consulate in Cai>e Town. — District: The West Province of Cape Colony. Consulate in Port Elizabeth.— Main District: The East Province of Cape Colony, with British Caffraria and the Colony of Natal. Sub-district: The East Province of Cape Colony, with British Caffraria. Vice-consulate in Durban (Sub-office). — District: The Colony of Natal. Consulate in Poet Louis. — District: The Island of Mauritius, with the group of islands thereto belonging. Consulate in Bombay.— Main District: The whole British Indian Kingdom, including the Island of Ceylon and British Burmah, as also the promontory of Aden, with the islands Perim and Kamareh. Sub-district: The Presidency of Bombay, with the exception of Scinde, and also all other divisions of British India which do not belong to any of the Imperial and Royal Consular Officers existing therein. Sub-offices. Consulate in Aden. — District: The promontory of Aden, together with the Islands of Perim and Kamareh. Consulate in Calcutta.— District: The Presidency of Bengal. Consulate in Colombo.— District: The Island of Ceylon, with the exception of the Town of Point do Galle, together with the district thereto belonging. Consulae Agency in Point de Galle. — District: The Town of Point de Galle and the district thereto belonging. Consulate in Penang.— District: The settlement of Penang, the Province of Wellesley, the Colony of Malacca, and the States of Perak, Selangor, and Sangei-Ujong, which are under the British protectorate. Consulate in Singapoee.— District: The Island of Singapore, the Island of Labuan, and also the territory of Sarawak, in the Island of Borneo, which is under British protection. Consulate-General in Hong Kong.— District: The Colony of Hong Kong. Consulate in Adelaide. — District: The Colonies of South and West Australia. Consulate in Melbourne.— District: The Colonies of Victoria and Tasmania. Consulate at Sydney.— District: The Colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, and New Zealand. Consulate at Quebec. — District: The Counties of Maskinonge and St. Maurice, the Town of Three Rivers and the territory thereto belonging, the Counties of Nicolet, Athabaska (with the exception of the County of Drummond), Megantic, and Beauce, with all the counties lying east of these. Consulate in Montreal.— District: All the counties situated to the west and south of the territory belonging to the Consular District of Quebec, including the County of Drummond. Consulate at St. "John.— District: New Brunswick and Newfoundland. Consulate in Halifax. — Main District: The Province of Nova Scotia and the Island of Breton. Sub-district: The Province of Nova Scotia with the exception of the Port of Picton and the County of Picton, of the portion of Nova Scotia lying eastward of the Port and of the County of Picton, and also with exception of the Island of Breton.

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Consular Agency in the Port op Picton (Sub-office). — District: The Port and County of Picton and the division of Nova Scotia lying eastward of the County of Picton, including the Island of Breton. Consulate in Belize.— District: British Honduras. Consulate at Kingston (Jamaica). — District: The Island of Jamaica; also the Turks and Caicos Islands.

No. 72. (New Zealand, No. 55.) Sic, — Downing Street, 4th August, 1886. I am commanded to inform you that an address has been forwarded to the Queen, conveying the congratulations of the Mayor, Councillors, and citizens of Wellington on the occasion of the commencement of the fiftieth year of Her Majesty's reign. The Queen was pleased to receive the address very graciously. I have, &c, EDWAED STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

No. 73. (New Zealand, No. 56.) Sir, — Downing Street, sth August, 1886. ■ With reference to your Despatch No. 38, of the 17th of May, I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the War Office, stating what steps would be taken for gazetting Mr. A. W. Andrew to a commission as soon as possible. I have, &c, BOBEBT G. W. HBBBBBT, (For the Secretary of State.) Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-1. 1887, No. 9.

Enclosure. Sib,— War Office, Pall Mall, 28th July, 1886. With reference to your letter of the Bth instant, with accompanying copy of a despatch from the Governor of New Zealand, enclosing the examination-papers of Mr. A. W. Andrew, a candidate for a commission in the Imperial army, I am directed by the Secretary of -State for War to acquaint you, for the information of Earl Granville, that, although the offer of commissions to members of the colonial local military forces was limited to the year 1885, Mr. Campbell-Bannermaii has, under the circumstances stated by Sir William Jervois, approved of Mr. Andrew's nomination, and, as it appears that this gentleman has passed the requisite examination, the necessary steps will be taken for gazetting him to a commission, with as little delay as possible. I am, &c, H. G. DeedeS; The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, Whitehall.

No. 74. (Circular.) Sib, — Downing Street, 6th August, 1886. I have the honour to inform you that Her Majesty has been pleased to intrust to my care, as one of the Principal Secretaries of State, the seals of the Colonial Department, I have, &c, EDWAED STANHOPE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 75. (New Zealand, No. 57.) Sic, — Downing Street, 7th August, 1880. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 53, of the 18th of June, transmitting correspondence which has passed between Tawhiao and the Native Minister with reference to the proposal for the establishment of a Maori Council, and the offer made-to Tawhiao of a seat in the Legislative Council. B—A. 2.

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On this latter point Her Majesty's Government regret that there should be any difficulty on his part in accepting the offer of the New Zealand Government, which appears to be made in a fair spirit of conciliation. I have, &c, EDWAED STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., 0.8., &c.

No. 76. (New Zealand, No. 58.) Sib, — Downing Street, 7th August, 1886. With reference to your Despatch No. 32, of the 17th of May last, relating to the recognition in the United Kingdom of certificates for passenger steamers issued by the Marine Department of New Zealand, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith, for your information and for that of your Government, a cop}^ of a letter from the Board of Trade, with its enclosures, on the subject. I have, &c, EDWAED STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-l, 1887, No, 0.

Enclosures. Sir, — Board of Trade, Marine Department, London, S.W., 20th July, 1886. I am directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, transmitting, by direction of Earl Granville, a copy of a despatch received from the Governor of New Zealand relative to the recognition in the United Kingdom of certificates for passenger steamers issued by the Marine Department of the colony, and, in reply, to forward, for his Lordship's information, the accompanying copy of a letter upon the subject, dated the 24th March last, which they have received from the Marine Department of New Zealand, together with a copy of this Board's reply thereto, dated the 24th ultimo. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Thomas Geay.

Sib, — Marine Department, Wellington, 24th March, 1886. A copy of Mr. Gray's letter of the 22nd January last, addressed to the Uiider-Secrotary of State, Colonial Office, with reference to the application made by this department that the inspections of passenger steamships by its surveyors might be recognized by the Board of Trade in the United Kingdom, has been received through His Excellency the Governor, and a reply thereto has been transmitted, through the same channel, to the effect that the surveyors of ships acting under this department carry out their duties under the printed instructions issued by the Board of Trade as to the survey of the hull, equipments, and machinery of steamships carrying passengers. His Excellency has been asked to represent, at the same time, that the Government of New Zealand would feel obliged if the Board of Trade would therefore cause the requisite steps to be taken under the 17th section of "The Merchant Shipping Act, 1876," for securing the recognition in the United Kingdom of certificates for passenger steamers issued in this colony. In order that the fullest information may be before the Board of Trade as to the procedure of this department in respect of the surveys in question, I beg to forward herewith a copy of " The Shipping and Seamen's Act, 1877," under authority of which those surveys are made, together with copies of the survey declaration and passenger certificate, which latter documents, I understand, are identical with those used by the Board of Trade. The instructions under which our surveyors act are those which were printed by Messrs. Pewtress and Co. in 1883 by authority of the Board of Trade. I observe that the official copy of instructions forwarded with the letter quoted above is of a later date. I should feel obliged if you would be good enough to cause me to be supplied with six copies of the latest instructions, and allow copies of any future additions thereto, or amendments, to be sent to this office, in order that the surveys in New Zealand may be strictly conducted on the same lines as those made by the Board of Trade officers. I have, &c, William Seed. The Assistant-Secretary, Marine Department, Board of Trade, London, S.W.

Sir, — Board of Trade (Marine Department), London, S.W., 24th June, 1886. I am directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th March last, requesting that the necessary steps may be taken for securing the recognition in the United Kingdom of certificates for passenger steamships granted in New Zealand, and asking to be supplied with six copies of the ■'latest instructions issued by this department respecting the survey of passenger steamers. In reply, I am to transmit to you the-accompanying draft Order in Council, and to state that, before submitting the same for Her Majesty's approval, they will be glad if you will be so good as to inform them whether the Government of New Zealand will be prepared to have the instructions

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under which their surveyors carry out the survey of passenger steamers printed, and to submit them annually to this Board for approval. I am further to transmit to you the accompanying six copies of this Board's instructions, as requested in your letter. I have, &c, The Secretary, Marine Department, Wellington, New Zealand. Thomas Geay.

Dbaft Obdeb in Council. At the Court at Windsor the day of , 1886. Present: The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. Whebeas by " The Merchant Shipping Act, 1876," it is enacted that, when the Legislature of any British possession provides for the survey of and grant of certificates for passenger steamers, and the Board of Trade report to Her Majesty that they are satisfied that the certificates are to the like effect and are granted after a like survey and in such manner as to be equally efficient with the certificates granted for the same purpose in the United Kingdom under the Acts relating to merchant shipping, it shall be lawful for Her Majesty, by Order in Council—(l) To declare that the said certificates shall be of the same force as if they had been granted under the said Acts ; and (2) to declare that all or any of the provisions of the said Acts which relate to certificates granted for passenger steamers under those Acts shall, either without modification or with such modifications as to Her Majesty may seem necessary, apply to the certificates referred to in the order; and (3) to impose such conditions and to make such regulations with respect to the said certificates and to the use, delivery, and cancellation thereof as to Her Majesty may seem fit, and to impose penalties not exceeding forty pounds for the breach of such conditions and regulations: And whereas the Legislature of the British possession of New Zealand has provided for the survey and grant of certificates for passenger steamers: And whereas tho Board of Trade have reported to Her Majesty that they are satisfied that such certificates are to the like effect and are granted after a like survey and in such a manner as to be equally efficient with the certificates granted for the same purpose in the United Kingdom under the Acts relating to merchant shipping : Now, therefore, Her Majesty is hereby pleased, by and with the advice of her Privy Council— (1) To declare that the certificates granted under the said provision by the Legislature of the British possession of New Zealand for passenger steamers shall be of the same force as if they had been granted for the same purpose in the United Kingdom under the said Acts relating to merchant shipping, provided the surveys of the vessels are conducted in accordance with regulations annually approved by the Board of Trade; (2) to declare that all the provisions of the said Acts which relate to certificates granted for passenger steamers under those Acts shall, without modification except as hereinafter mentioned, apply to the certificates referred to in this order; (3) to declare that it shall not be lawful for a passenger steamer to which this order relates to proceed to sea with passengers on board from any port or place in the United Kingdom on any voyage other than one to the said possession of New Zealand or to any intermediate place or places situate on such voyage ; (4) to declare that, if any passenger steamer goes to sea from any place in the United Kingdom with any passengers on board upon any voyage other than a voyage to the said possession of New Zealand or any intermediate place or places as aforesaid, the owner thereof shall for every such offence incur a penalty not exceeding fifty pounds, and such penalty is hereby imposed accordingly.

No. 77. Sib,— Downing Street, 10th August, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a letter from the Admiralty, forwarding one from Admiral Tryon in which the wishes of the New Zealand Government are conveyed in respect of the retention of the eight 64-pounder guns issued last year from the depot at Sydney, and to inform you that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have since, on the recommendation of my predecessor, obtained the consent of the Treasury to the retention by the Government of the colony of these guns free of charge. It will be borne in mind that the guns are now given on the understandingexpressed in Admiral Tryon's letter, that they should be mounted for the internal defence of the harbours of Auckland and Wellington. I have, &c, EDWAED STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

, Enclosures. Sib,— Admiralty, S.W., 11th May, 1886. Eeferring to previous correspondence in regard to the eight 64-pounder guns issued last year from Sydney depot, with other warlike stores, to the Colony of New Zealand, and to the arrangements whereby they were to be returned by the colony and the amount paid for them (£3,000)

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refunded, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to forward herewith, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, a copy of a letter of the Bth March from Bear-Admiral Tryon, recommending that these guns should be presented to New Zealand. 2. The Secretary of State will note that the desire of the Colonial Government to retain these guns, now reported by Admiral Tryon, appears to be at variance with their wishes as expressed in the New Zealand Ministry's memorandum of the 14th July (enclosure to Colonial Office letter of the 31st August). My Lords, however, presume that the colonial authorities, though averse to expending a considerable sum in the purchase of guns of the 64-pounder type, would gladly retain these eight if presented by the Imperial Government. 3. I am to state that the guns could probably be given up without interfering with the requirements of the navy, and that my Lords are disposed to entertain Admiral Tryon's proposal, for the reasons detailed in paragraph 6 of his letter. 4. Should the War Department concur in this present, my Lords would cause application to be made to the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury for the necessary sanction ; but, as a first step, they would be glad to be favoured with any observations that Lord Granvillo may think fit to offer on the matter, especially as the wishes of the New Zealand Government were in the former case conveyed to this department through the Colonial Office. 5. I am, in conclusion, to add that my Lords would not view this present, if made, as establishing a precedent for similar gifts in the future. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, S.W. Evan MacGregob.

Becommending that the 64-pounder Guns sent from Sydney to New Zealand be given to that Colony. Bib,— H.M.S. "Nelson," Adelaide, Bth March, 1886. Be pleased to inform their Lordships that in April, 1885, New Zealand possessed no harbour provided against a naval attack, and her resources at the time were very small. 2. On the Government of the hour fell the task of providing the defences which were demanded by the colony ; and very considerable progress has been made, and large orders for warlike material, to the value of £166,500, have been sent to England. 3. I found, however, no adequate provision had been made against an attack delivered by small vessels, or boats, or for the protection of mine fields. The guns that are designed to deny the harbours are placed in positions that have undoubted advantages in one sense, but are too high to prevent access to the harbour during night by such boats as are carried by vessels of war. 4. The stores ordered by the Government of New Zealand are sufficient for the batteries under construction and to arm local steamboats such as might act as guard-boats ; but additional guns are required to protect the mine fields at Auckland and Wellington, and to work in unison with the electric light. 5. The Government of New Zealand have expressed to mo their wish to retain the guns (eight 64-pounders) sent from Sydney, and to use them for the purpose above indicated ; and His Excellency the Governor has explained that it is hoped that this will not be attended by any cost on account of the guns to the colony. 6. I beg permission to suggest and to strongly recommend that those guns should be given to that colony free of charge, for the undermentioned reasons : (a.) At this time four of the guns are on the top of Mount Victoria, where they were taken up a tramway specially laid for the purpose, and one gun is on the North Head, Auckland; one gun is at Oamaru, 540 miles to the south of Auckland, on the line of rail; and two are at Wellington. The cost of their transport and return to Sydney would be very considerable. (6.) The guns are well suited for the purpose it is intended to use them for. (c.) A safe coal depot in New Zealand is a necessity for Her Majesty's ships, (d.) I presume at an early date these guns will be replaced at the depot, Sydney, by more modern ones, as they are quite unequal to those to which they would be opposed if used in cruisers, (c.) The guns and works ordered by New Zealand will not be ready or completed for a considerable time, and therefore it is highly improbable that these will be returned to depot, Sydney, at an early date if the existing arrangement is maintained. (/.) The Government of New Zealand remitted, or rather abstained from charging the Admiralty account with, £-156 7s. lOd. (for hire of hulk and railway expenses, and besides giving the use of their employes) which would have boeu charged had they not willingly undertaken the charge of coal stored in New Zealand for naval purposes in 1885. (g.) New Zealand, by no means the richest colony, has many harbours to defend instead of but few, as is the case with most other colonies, aud has already made progress in Lyttelton, Dunedin, Auckland, and Wellington, and has placed a gun to cover the breakwater at Oamaru. (h.) The actual cost of the gift would be small, while the colony would receive an encouragement that would, lam informed by His Excellency the Governor, be very much appreciated, (i.) If an alarm of war recurs within the next few years, if these guns are not mounted for the internal defence of the harbours the Naval Gommander-in-Chief on the station will have to send other guns or take other means to secure the safety of a coal depot in New Zealand. 7. The above are but some of the reasons which I present to their Lordships requesting favourable consideration. If this is assented to I submit that the guns are given with the understanding that they are mounted for the internal defence of the harbours of Auckland and Wellington, for they are most required in those harbours, and the width and nature of those harbours demand special treatment. I have, &c, G. Teyon, The Secretary of the Admiralty. Bear-Admiral,

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No. 78. (Circular.) Sib, — Downing Street, 14th August, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Government, an extract from a letter from the Principal Librarian of the British Museum, suggesting the desirability of enacting laws in the several colonies for the registration of their publications. 2. For convenience of reference I annex copy of a Ceylon ordinance (No. 1 of 1885), the enactment of which gave rise to this suggestion. You will perceive that this ordinance provides not only for the registration of all books printed in Ceylon, but also for the preservation of such books, by ordering the presentation to the Government of three copies of every publication. 8. If a similar law were passed in the colony under your administration I should be glad to receive copies of periodical instalments of the catalogue of registered books, as provided in section 6 of the Ceylon ordinance, and should also be obliged if your Government could meet the wishes of the British Museum authorities by sending two copies of such instalments direct to that department. 4. If the Legislature of the colony should think fit to include in any law passed for the registration of books a provision, similar to that of the Ceylon law, for the preservation of one or more copies of every registered publication, I do not desire that one of the copies should be transmitted to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, as the library of this department would be unable to receive such books from all the colonies, but if any can be sent to England I would request that they should be transmitted direct to the British Museum, where they would be found more useful. I have, &c, EDWABD STANHOPE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Extract from a Letter from tho British Museum to the Colonial Office, dated the 10th June, 1886. Eeferring to your Lordship's offer to represent to colonies other than those named in my letter of the 12th ultimo the desirability of enacting a law for the registration of their publications, I have the honour to state, on the part of the Trustees, that the Keeper of the Department of Printed Books represents the great difficulty he finds in forming a collection of colonial books from the absence of such a system of registration in the colonies generally (in Canada and Newfoundland, the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, New Zealand, and Australia); and they would venture to recommend the suggestion to the colonial Governments of the advantages to literature generally, and especially to students in the Mother-country, w rhich might bo expected from their adoption of the system of registration. The Trustees also hope that steps may be taken to extend this system, as far as practicable, to those colonies of which the affairs are more directly administered by the Colonial Office.

No. 79. (New Zealand, No. Gl.) Sib,— Downing Street, 16th August, 1886. With reference to my predecessor's Despatch No. 40, of the 17th of June, and to previous correspondence respecting the proposed annexation of the Kermadec Islands, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, an extract of a letter from the Commander-in-Chief on the Australian station dated the 14th of June, reporting that the "Diamond" would shortly proclaim the Queen's sovereignty in the group. I have, &c, EDWARD STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. E. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

No. 40.

, Enclosure. Extract from General Letter of H.M.S. " Nelson," dated at Sydney, 14th June, 1886, No. 283. . The " Diamond " was at Samoa on the 22nd May, and would call at Fiji about the middle of June. I have sent orders to Captain Clayton (which should arrive there on the 22nd June) to revisit

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Samoa and protect British and German interests. Subsequently he will return to Sydney so as to arrive before his stock of provisions is exhausted in August, and on the way the " Diamond" will visit the Kermadec Islands and proclaim the Queen's sovereignty there

No. 80. (New Zealand, No. 62.) Sir,- — . Downing Street, 16th August, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 48, of the 18th of June, enclosing a letter from the Speakers of the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of New Zealand, covering a joint address to the Queen passed by both Houses of the General Assembly. I conveyed to you Her Majesty's thanks for this address in my Despatch No. 43, of the 3rd of July, in reply to your telegram of the 18th of June. I have, &c, EDWARD STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. E. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c,

A.-l, ISB7, No, 17.

No. 81. (New Zealand, No. 03.) Sm, — Downing Street, 16th August, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of jour Despatch No. 54, of the 19th June last, and to convey to you my thanks for the papers and maps which you have forwarded relating to the recent volcanic eruption in New Zealand. I have, &c, EDWABD STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.B.

A.-l, 1887, No 21.

No. 82. (Circular 2.) Sib, — Downing Street, 17th August, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a circular despatch which I have addressed to certain colonies, enclosing a copy of a letter from the General Post Office, suggesting the desirability of legislation making it penal to manufacture or issue counterfeit British or foreign postage-stamps. I have, &c, EDWARD STANHOPE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. (Circular 1.) Sir, — Downing Street, 17th August, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to yon, for your consideration, a copy of a letter from the General Post Office, suggesting the desirability of legislation in the colony under your government making it penal to manufacture or issue counterfeit British or foreign postage-stamps. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government of Now Zealand. Edwabd Stanhope.

Sub-Enclosure. Bib,— General Post Office, London, 9th August, 1886. In May, 1884, the Director of the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union, at Berne, addressed—at the instance of the French Post Office —a circular to the various administrations forming the Postal Union, inquiring whether the manufacture or issue of counterfeit postagestamps had been detected in their territory, and what steps each Postal Administration considered it desirable to take, in order to prevent the frauds which might arise from such a traffic. The question thus raised was again brought forward at the Postal Congress held at Lisbon in the spring of 1885, when the following resolution on the subject was put, and carried unanimously, namely : " That the various Postal Administrations should mutually assist each other in prosecuting these frauds, which should be punished according to the laws of the countries in which they [the counterfeit stamps] are issued,"

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As a result of this resolution, the French and German Post Offices at once introduced, in their respective Legislatures, laws for the punishment of persons found engaged in the manufacture or issue of counterfeit postage-stamps; and a circular, dated the 6th Juno, 1885, was addressed to this department, asking whether Great Britain and its colonial dependencies of the Postal Union would not be disposed to take similar steps to those taken by France and Germany for carrying out the resolution passed at Lisbon. A clause, inflicting heavy penalties on persons found to be issuing fictitious British or foreign stamps in this country, had already been added to the Act 47 and 48 Viet., cap. 76 (Post Office Protection Act), in the year 1884, and the International Bureau was informed accordingly. At the same time a circular on the subject was addressed to the following British colonies : Antigua, Bahamas, Barbadoes, Bermuda, Ceylon, Cyprus, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Gambia, Gold Coast, Grenada, Guiana (British), Honduras (British), Hong Kong, Jamaica, Labuan, Lagos, Mauritius, Montserrat, Malta, Nevis, Newfoundland, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, St. Vincent, Straits Settlements, Sierra Leone, Tobago, Trinidad, Turk's Islands, and Virgin Islands. But, from the replies received from the colonial Post Offices, it appears that no colonial laws are in existence for dealing with the frauds referred to, excepting in the Straits Settlements, Malta, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Barbadoes, Dominica, and British Guiana, and that even in these colonies provision is only made for the punishment of persons counterfeiting the postage-stamps of the colony itself. In these circumstances, the Director of the International Bureau of the Postal Union has addressed to the Postmaster-General a request that the matter may be laid before the Governments of the various British colonies concerned, with the view of inducing such of the colonies as have not yet initiated legislative measures in the direction indicated, to take the necessary steps for doing so; and, in the case of those colonies in which laws have already been passed rendering it penal to counterfeit their own issues of stamps, that these laws may be extended so as to apply equally to the fabricators of the postage-stamps of other countries. Having regard to the terms of the resolution on the subject unanimously adopted at the Lisbon Congress (and at which the British colonies of the Postal Union were of course represented by the Imperial Post Office), the Postmaster-General is of opinion that, in order to give full effect to the resolution, all the colonies concerned should adopt similar precautionary measures to those which have been adopted in this country and elsewhere for suppressing the manufacture or issue of counterfeit postage-stamps of all descriptions; and I am therefore directed to request that you will be so good as to move the Secretary of State for the Colonies to take such steps as he may see fit for bringing the matter under the notice of the various colonial Governments. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. S. A. Blackwood.

No. 83. (New Zealand, No. 66.) Sir, — Downing Street, 21st Aiigust, 1886. I received and laid before the Queen the address from the Mayor and Councillors of the Borough of Gore, conveying their respectful congratulations on the occasion of Her Majesty's entering the fiftieth year of her reign, which accompanied your Despatch No. 59, of the 30th of June. I am commanded to request that you will convey the Queen's thanks to the Mayor and Councillors for their address. I have, &c, EDWAED STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-l, 1887, No, 24.

No. 84. (New Zealand, No. 71.) Sir, — Downing Street, 23rd August, 1886. With reference to your telegram of the 10th ultimo, a copy of which my predecessor caused to be forwarded for the favourable consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a letter which has been received from their Lordships' department in reply, expressing their regret that they are unable to comply with the application that H.M.B. " Miranda " might be placed at the disposal of the Government of New Zealand as a training-ship. I have, &c, EDWARD STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

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Enclosure. Sic,— Admiralty, 13th August, 1886. With reference to your letter of the 14th July, forwarding a copy of a telegram from the Governor of New Zealand requesting that H.M.S. " Miranda " may be left in New Zealand and placed at the disposal of the Colonial Government as a training-ship, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request that you will inform the Secretary of State for the Colonies that their Lordships regret they are unable to comply with this request, as the " Miranda " is required for further service after her return to England. I am to add that the Agent-General for New Zealand has been also informed, in reply to a similar application. I have, &c., The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. R. D. Awdry.

No. 85. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 24th August, 1886. I have the honour to transmit you a copy of a letter from the Board of Trade, requesting that they may be furnished annually with a return of the number of candidates who present themselves for examination for certificates of competency as masters and mates, under the Orders in Council issued under " The Merchant Shipping (Colonial) Act, 18G9," and showing the proportion of such candidates who fail to pass the colour test. The Board of Trade also desire that, if any persons other than those applying for certificates of competency are tested in colours under the Board of Trade Circular IGO, of which a copy is enclosed, a return may also be made of the number of such persons, and of the proportion who fail to pass the test. I have, &0., EDWABD STANHOPE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure 1. Sic, — Board of Trade (Marine Department), London, S.W., 12th August, 1886. With reference to "The Merchant Shipping (Colonial) Act, 1869," and the Orders in Council from time to time issued under it with regard to examinations in British possessions abroad for certificates of competency as masters, mates, or engineers on board British ships, I am directed by the Board of Trade to request you to be so good as to move Mr. Secretary Stanhope to cause a communication to be addressed to the authorities in each of the British possessions named in the margin (Victoria, Canada, Now Zealand, New South Wales, Malta, South Australia, Tasmania, Newfoundland, Queensland, Hong Kong), requesting them to furnish this department annually with a return of the number of candidates who present themselves for examination for certificates of competency as masters and mates under the Orders in Council, showing the proportion of such candidates who fail to pass the colour test. If any persons other than those applying for certificates of competency are tested in colours under Circular 160, copies of which are enclosed, it is requested that a return may also be made of the number of such persons, and of the proportion who fail to pass the test. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Thomas Gray.

Enclosure 2. Instructions to Examiners and Superintendents, and Notice to Candidates for Masters' and Mates' Certificates of Competency, and Others, re Colour Tests. Board of Trade (Marine Department), January, 1886. The Board of Trade have made the following arrangements for the examination of persons as to their ability to distinguish colours : —■ 1. Examinations in colour are open to any person serving or about to serve in the mercantile marine. 2. Any person, including the holders of certificates of competency, or persons about to apply for certificates of competency, if desirous of being examined in colours only, must make application to a Superintendent of a Mercantile Marine Office on Form Exn. 2 a, and pay a fee of Is. 3. He must on the appointed day attend for examination at the examiner's office; and if he passes he will receive a certificate to that effect. 4. If he fails it will be open to him to bo examined again in colours as often as he pleases on payment of the fee of Is. at each fresh attempt. 5. The application of a candidate who is presenting himself for examination for a master's or mate's certificate must be made on Form Exn. 2. Such examination will commence with the colour test; and if the candidate does not at the time of making application hold a certificate of competency of any grade, and should fail to distinguish correctly any one of the colours used in the testj he will not be allowed to proceed with the examination in navigation and seamanship.

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6. The fee he has paid for examination for a certificate of competency will include the fee for the colour test, and, with the exception of Is., will in such event be returned to him. 7. A candidate for examination for a certificate of competency who at the time of making application does not possess a certificate and who fails to pass the colour test may not be reexamined until after the lapse of three months from the date of his first failure. If he fails a second time he will be allowed a third trial at the expiration of another three months from the date of his second failure. A fresh fee must be paid at each succeeding examination. 8. It is therefore obviously to the advantage of candidates for certificates of competency to apply in the first instance to be examined in colours only on Form 2\ 9. A candidate who holds a certificate of competency, and who on presenting himself for examination for a certificate of a higher grade is unable to pass the colour test, will notwithstanding be permitted to proceed with the examination in navigation and seamanship for the certificate of the higher grade. 10. Should he pass this examination, the following statement will be written on the face of the higher certificate which may be granted to him—namely, "This officer has failed to pass the examination in colours." 11. Should he fail to pass the examination in navigation and seamanship a like statement, relating to his being colour-blind, will be made on his inferior certificate before it is returned to him. 12. Holders of certificates which bear the statement of their having failed to pass in colours, and who may desire to have the statement removed from their certificates, must obtain the special permission of the Board of Trade. 13. A list of the examiners in colour tests is appended. Thomas Gbay, Assistant-Secretary. T. H. Faehek, Secretary.

No. 86. (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 30th August, 1886. I have the honour to inform you that it is the wish of the Dowager Lady Vernon to present to certain well-established and public institutions in the colonies a copy of the late Lord Vernon's three-volume folio edition of the "Inferno" of Dante, and a copy of the large folio reprint (one volume) of the; "Prime Quattro Edizioni della ' Divina Commedia,' " also brought out by Lord Vernon; and I request that you will enable me to state what free or public library, where the works would be accessible to general readers, you would recommend in the colony under your government as most eligible for the purpose indicated. The annexed circular will acquaint you with the nature and conditions of her Ladyship's proposed munificent gift; but I would point out that the further condition is implied that, in the event of the dispersion or transfer to other owners of any library which is made the recipient of the gift, the works are to be returned to the Governor of the colony in which the library is situated, for transmission to the Secretary of State, or to be disposed of as lie may direct, as it is desired to guard against the possibility of these valuable works ever being thrown upon the book-market. Should the library which you may recommend accept the terms and conditions of the offer, it is proposed that the works should be sent out through the Agent-General for the colony under your government. I have, &c, EDWAKD STANHOPE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Bib,— You are doubtless acquainted with the magnificent edition of the " Inferno " of Dante, in three volumes folio, compiled and arranged by George John, Lord Vernou, and brought out two or three years after his death by his son, Augustus Henry, Lord Vernon. The copies were very limited in number, and they were distributed only in presentation copies to public libraries, or to distinguished individuals. There are some spare copies siill remaining in sheets ; and the copperplates are also preserved and in perfect condition, though to make Vol. 111. complete fresh copies would have to be taken from the plates. The Dowager Lady Vernou is desirous of offering these copies to the libraries of certain selected public institutions, and by her Ladyship's instructions a copy is now offered to uii'der the following conditions—namely, that the recipients in each case would undertake the expense —(1) of binding the sheets into volumes; (2) of packing and carriage; (3) of printing the copies from the plates Tlecessary to complete Vol. 111. Lady Vernon wishes to offer also at the same time a copy of the large folio reprint (one 9—A. 2.

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volume) of the "Prime Quattro Edizioni della ' Divina Commedia' " published by George John, Lord Vernon, in 1858. In this case the first two of the above conditions would apply—namely, that the recipients should be willing to defray the cost of packing and carriage, and of binding the sheets. The total expense involved in all the above conditions (exclusive of the carriage, which will of course vary in each case) is estimated at £2 10s. if the four volumes are sent out in sheets, and at £3 10s. if they are sent bound in the same manner as those originally distributed by Lord Vernon. Will you kindly say : (1.) Whether desires to accept the gift now offered by Lady Vernon on the above conditions ? (2.) If so, whether it would be preferred that the volumes should be sent bound, or in sheets? Will you also kindly address your reply to Mr. Henry Frowde, Oxford University Press Warehouse, Amen Corner, London, E.G.

No. 87. (Circular.) Sic, — Downing Street, 31st August, 1886. With reference to my predecessor's despatch general of the 16th of April last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for publication in the colony under your government, a copy of the International Copyright Act passed in the last session of Parliament. I have also the honour to enclose a copy of the parliamentary paper noted in the margin, containing further correspondence respecting the formation of an International Copyright Union, in continuation of the paper enclosed in Lord Granville's despatch above referred to. I have, &c, EDWAED STANHOPE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

N.Z. Gazette, Nov. 25, 1886,

No. 88. (New Zealand, No. 72.) Sib, — Downing Street, 31st August, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a despatch from Viscount Lyons to the Earl of Eosebery, reporting a conversation which he had held with M. de Freycinet respecting the despatch of French rccidivistes to New Caledonia. I have, &c, EDWAED STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

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No. 89. (New Zealand, No. 73.) Sir, — Downing Street, Ist September, 1886. I am directed by the Secretary of State to transmit to you, with reference to your Despatch No. 1, of the 2nd January, the document specified in the annexed schedule. I have, &c, EOBEET G. W. HEKBEBT. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. ExtkAct from a LEtfTEB from the University of London to the Colonial Office, dated 24th August, 1886. In compliance with applications from the Governors of Barbadoes and New Zealand, I have the honour, in the absence of the Registrar, to Forward to you herewith two sealed packets containing a supply of questions for the ensuing B.A. examination to be held in those two colonies.

Date. Description of Document. 24th August, 1886 Extract from a letter from the Registrar of London University, forwarding a packet of papers for the B.A. examination.

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It is a fundamental condition of holding these examinations that the sub-examiners to conduct them should be appointed directly by the Governors of the several colonies. With the questions are enclosed—(l) The conditions on which colonial examinations are held; (2) two copies of the latest regulations for degrees in arts ; (3) instructions for the sub-examiner; (4) a supply of admission-cards ; (5) a pattern answer-book; (6) a sheet from the Register of the University, on which the sub-examiner will cause each candidate to make the entries prescribed by the above-mentioned instructions, and which must be returned with the answers of the candidates. I am to request that the packets may be despatched in time to allow of the examination commencing at each centre on Monday, the 25th October. The New Zealand candidate (Mr. H. M. Livins, of Auckland), having already presented himself once for the examination (in 1880), is on this occasion excused from payment of any fee. It is also requested that the candidates' answers, together with the register-sheets, may be forwarded to the University, as usual, immediately upon their arrival. If, however, no candidate should appear at either of the centres none of the papers in the packet need be returned to England; but the Eegistrar should be advised of the fact.

No. 90. (Circular.) Sic, —■ Downing Street, 6th September, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for information in the colony under your government, copy of a Treasury warrant empowering British chaplains to attest declarations subscribed by pensioners, &c. I have, &c, EDWARD STANHOPE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Treasury Warrant. — British Chaplains abroad empowered to attest Declarations subscribed by Pensioners, etc. After our hearty commendations : Whereas by a warrant of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, dated the 20th September, 1878, it was directed that the declarations, under the annual Appropriation Acts, of persons claiming any part of a grant for half-pay, or army, navy, or civil non-effective services, might be subscribed in foreign countries before certain British diplomatic and consular officers, and certain notaries public or other persons described in Schedule C annexed to the said warrant : And whereas it is expedient to add certain ministers of religion to the persons specified in that schedule : Now, wo, being two of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, do hereby order and direct that the above-mentioned declarations may be subscribed by the following additional persons, who are hereby added for that purpose to Schedule C of the said warrant, viz.:— C. In Foreign Countries. —3. British ministers of religion abroad, resident for the time being in the places or districts of attestation, and duly licensed by ecclesiastical authority in the United Kingdom to officiate as chaplains in those places or districts. Witness our hands this twenty-fourth day of August, 1886. Sidney Heebeet. Treasury Chambers, Whitehall. Herbert Maxwell.

No. 91. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 7th September, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, requesting to be informed whether the charges levied on Spanish vessels in ports in British colonies are the same as those paid by British vessels. I shall be glad to be informed, at your earliest convenience, whether any difference of treatment between (a) British and Spanish vessels, (b) British vessels and those of any other Power, exists in the colony under your government, and, if so, that its nature may be explained. I have, &c, EDWARD STANHOPE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Sir,— Foreign Office, 31st August, 1886. With reference to previous correspondence respecting British commercial relations with Spain and Spanish colonies, I am directed by the Earl of Iddesleigh to state that his Lordship

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would be glad to learn, at your early convenience, whether the charges levied on Spanish vessels in ports in British colonies are the same as those paid by British vessels. If any difference of treatment between British and Spanish vessels exists I am to request that its nature may be explained. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. James Feegusson.

No. 92. (Circular.) Sic, — Downing Street, Bth September, 1880. With reference to previous circular despatches on the subject of the Commercial Convention with Spain, I have the honour to transmit to you, for information in the colony under your government, copy of a public announcement, which appeared in the London Gazette on the 3rd instant, respecting certificates of origin for British goods exported to Spain. I have, &c, EDWAED STANHOPE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Foreign Office, 3rd September, 1886. Certificates op Oeigin foe Bbitish Goods exported to Spain. Her Majesty's Minister at Madrid has reported that, under the existing Spanish Customs Eegulations, certificates of origin are required. A simple declaration of the shipper of goods to the effect that they are of British origin will, however, be deemed sufficient at the Spanish Customhouses. This declaration is to be made before the Chief Officer of Customs at the port of.shipment ; and shippers are recommended to make it on the specification of goods in the following form, viz. : — I, , do hereby declare that the goods mentioned herein are of British produce or manufacture. , Exporter. Signed and declared in my presence this day of , 188 . Chief Officer of Customs, Port of This officer will sign the document on the form prescribed by the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Customs. The certificate of origin must then be vised by the Spanish Consul at the port of shipment, whose visa will be given free of charge.

No. 93. (New Zealand, No. 74.) Sik, — Downing Street, 13th September, 1886. With reference to your telegram of the 21st ultimo, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a letter from the War Office, stating that the name of Mr. A. W. Andrew has been submitted to the Queen for a commission in the 2nd Battalion Essex Eegiment. I have to-day informed you by telegram to the above effect. I have, &c, EDWAED STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

Enclosure. Sir,— War Office, 3rd September, 1886. With reference to your letter of the 23rd ultimo, forwarding a copy of a telegram from the Governor of New Zealand notifying that Mr. A. W. Andrew had been promoted to a lieutenancy in the colonial forces, I'have the honour, by direction of the Secretary of State, to acquaint you, for Mr. Secretary Stanhope's information, that this gentleman's name has been submitted to Her Majesty for a commission in the 2nd Battalion Essex Eegiment, and his appointment will appear in the next Military Gazette. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, Ealph Thompson,

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No. 94. (Circular.) Sib, — Downing Street, 14th September, 1886. I have the honour to call your attention to Lord Kimberley's circular despatch of the 3rd July, requesting that a copy of the annual Blue Book or statistical returns might be transmitted for the use of the AVar Office under flyingcover to that department; and to request that you will be good enough to give instructions for their regular transmission, as it appears, from a communication recently received from the AVar Office, that they have not in all cases been regularly received in each year. I have, &c, EDAYAED STANHOPE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 95. (New Zealand, No. 75.) Sib, — Downing Street, 15th September, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 72, of a.the 28th July last, relating to Native disturbances on the west coast of the North 35Island, and reporting the arrest of Te Whiti and other leaders implicated therein. I have, &c. EDWAED STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

•1, 1887, No

No. 96. (New Zealand, No. 76.) Sib, — Downing Street, 15th September, 1886. W Tith reference to previous correspondence, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a letter, with a.its enclosure, from the Foreign Office relative to the selection of the Island of Pines by the French Government as a settlement for relapsed criminal*. A copy of these papers has been forwarded to the Agent-General. I have, &c, EDAVAED STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

•7, 1887, No, 2,

No. 97. (New Zealand, No. 77.) Sir, — Downing Street, 20th September, 1886. With reference to previous correspondence, I have the honour to transmit to you, for your information and for that of your Government, the accompanying copies received from the War Office of the regulations under which commissions in the British army may be obtained by officers of the local military forces of New Zealand. I have, &c, EDWAED STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, K.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

Enclosure, Regulations under which Commissions in the British Army may be obtained by Officers of Colonial Local Military Forces. 1. Commissions in the cavalry or infantry of the line will be granted to officers of the local military forces of certain colonies, to bo specified from time to time, under the conditions hereinafter prescribed as to age, physical and moral fitness, length of service in the colonial forces, literary and military qualifications, and general eligibility for the position of an officer in Her Majesty's regular forces.

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2. A candidate will be required to have served at least fifteen months as an officer in the local military force of the colony from which he is nominated, and must have attended two annual trainings, or have seen active service in the field. A certificate to this effect from his commanding officer must be attached to the candidate's papers. 3. The candidate must be within the ages of nineteen and twenty-two on the Ist January of the year in which he is allowed to present himself for the examination hereafter specified. A certificate of birth, or a declaration of his exact age, made by the candidate's parents or guardian before a Magistrate, must be attached to his papers when forwarded to the War Office. 4. He will be required to undergo an inspection by a Medical Board, to be convened by the Governor of the colony or other proper authority, and will not be allowed to proceed further with his candidature unless certified by such Board to be physically qualified, in all respects, for a commission in the army. 5. An intending candidate must apply for a nomination to the Governor, through his commanding officer or such other channel as the Governor may prescribe, in sufficient time to allow of arrangements being made for his undergoing the military examination before he has exceeded the limit of age specified in paragraph 3. 6. A candidate will not be allowed to enter upon his examination until he has satisfied the Governor of the colony in which he is serving that he is of good moral character, and in all other respects a fit and proper person to hold a commission in Her Majesty's army. A certificate from the Governor to this effect must be attached to the candidate's papers when they are forwarded to the War Office. 7. The candidate will be required to undergo a qualifying literary examination in the following subjects: (1.) Mathematics—viz.: (a) arithmetic, including vulgar and decimal fractions, proportion, and simple interest; (b) Euclid, Book I.; (c) algebra, up to and including simple equations. (2.) French, German, or some other modern language ; the examination being limited to translation from the language, and grammatical questions. (3.) Writing English correctly, and in a good legible hand, from dictation ; English composition, tested by the power of writing an essay, letter, or precis. (4.) The elements of geometrical drawing, including the construction of scales and the use of simple mathematical instruments. (5.) Geography. In addition to the foregoing the candidate will be required to select and qualify in two, and not more than two, of the following subjects : (a) Mathematics—-viz., algebra up to and including the binomial theorem; the theory and use of logarithms; Euclid, Books I. to IV. and VI.; plane trigonometry, up to and including the solution of triangles ; and mensuration; (b) Classics (Latin or Greek); (c) English history (general) ; (d) freehand drawing. 8. The candidate will be exempted from the above examination, except in geometrical drawing, if he can produce a certificate from the proper university authority that he has taken his degree in arts, or has passed the examination for the degree of B.A. or M.A., at one of the following universities — viz., Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, London, Dublin, Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen, the Royal University, Ireland, or from one of the chartered colonial universities; or if he has passed one of the university examinations specified below, viz. : Oxford, " Moderations;" Cambridge, "the Previous Examination;" Dublin, "the Einal Examination of the Senior Freshman year," or, "the Einal Examination of the School of Engineering;" Durham, "the First Year's Examination ;" the Royal University, Ireland, " the Second University Examination in Arts or the Second Professional Examination in Engineering;" Scotch universities, " the Examination for Candidates for the Army;" London University, the "First Examination" for the degrees of 8.A., LL.B., Be, or M.B. ; or if he has passed some other test which is accepted by the university as exempting from the above examinations. An equivalent examination at one of the chartered colonial universities will likewise be accepted as a sufficient ground for exemption. 9. The subjects of the military examination and the maximum marks obtainable in each subject will be as follow : (1) The elements of field fortification, 600 marks; (2) military topography, 600 marks; (3) the elements of tactics, 600 marks; (4) military law, 600 marks. In order to qualify for a commission, a candidate will be required to obtain -25 of the marks in each subject, and -5 of the aggregate. The scope will be that embraced by the synopsis of the course of instruction (in the subjects specified in paragraph 9) at the Royal Military College. There will, however, be no practical out-of-door examination in any subject. The text-books will be those in use at the time at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, which, for the present, are as follow :— (1) The elements of field fortification —Phillips's Course of Artillery and Fortification ; (2) military topography — Official Text-book of Military Topography; (3) the elements of tactics — Field Exercises, Clery's Minor Tactics; (4) military law —Army Act, Queen's Regulations, Elements of Military Administration and Law (Boughey). 10. Sets of papers for the examination in both the literary and military subjects will be forwarded in due course, in sealed envelopes, to the Governors of the respective colonies, who will convene Boards, the duty of which will be to see that the papers are fairly worked by the candidates. The papers will then be returned without delay to the Director-General of Military Education, War Office, London, for adjudication. The Governor of the colony will notify to the War Office, through the Secretary of State for the Colonies, as early as possible in each year, whether he has any dulyqualified candidates to nominate, and will at the same time state how many sets of papers he will be likely to require for their examination. 11. Until further notice, two army commissions will be allotted to each of the undermentioned colonies annually: New* South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, Queensland, New Zealand, Cape of Good Hope. 12. In the event of the number of candidates nominated by the Governor in a colony at any time exceeding the allotted number of commissions, the selection will be decided by competition in the military portion of the prescribed examination.

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No. 98. (New Zealand, No. 78.) Sir, — Downing Street, 29th September, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 76, of the 14th ultimo, with its enclosures, relative to the recent Native disturbances on the west coast of the North Island. I have, &c, EDWARD STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-l, 1887, No, 37.

No. 99. (New Zealand, No. 79.) Sib, — Downing Street, 29th September, 1886. With reference to your Despatch No. 46, of the 12th of July last, relating to the regulations affecting the importation of cattle into this country from New Zealand, I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a letter from the Council Office enclosing a copy of "The Animals Order, 1886." It will be seen that this order takes effect on the Ist of November next, and that New Zealand has been added to the list of free countries enumerated in Part I. of the Fifth Schedule to the order. I enclose for your information, and for that of your Ministers, a copy of a correspondence which took place in August last with the Agent-General for New Zealand on this subject. I have, &c, EDWARD STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-l, 1887, No, 15,

No. 100. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 4th October, 1886. I have the honour to transmit, for publication in the colony under your government, copies of two Orders by Her Majesty in Council, extending the provisions of" The Foreign Deserters Act, 1852," to the Republic of the Equator and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. I have, &c, EDWARD STANHOPE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosures. [Extracts from the London Gazette, 28th September, 1886.] At the Court at Balmoral, the 24th day of September, 1886. Present: The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. Whereas by "The Foreign Deserters Act, 1852," it is provided that, whenever it is made to appear to Her Majesty that due facilities are or will be given for recovering and apprehending seamen who desert from British merchant ships in the territories of any foreign Power, Her Majesty may, by Order in Council, stating that such facilities are or will be given, declare that seamen, not being slaves, who desert from merchant ships belonging to a subject of such Power, when within Her Majesty's dominions, shall be liable to be apprehended, and carried on board their respective ships, and may limit the operation of such order, and may render the operation thereof subject to such conditions and qualifications, if any, as may be deemed expedient : And whereas it has been made to appear to Her Majesty that due facilities will be given for recovering and apprehending seamen who desert from British merchant ships in the dominions and possessions of the Republic of the Equator: Now T, therefore, Her Majesty, by virtue of the power vested in her by the said " Foreign Deserters Act, 1852," and by and with the advice of her Privy Council, is pleased to order and declare, and it is hereby ordered and declared, that, from and after the publication hereof in the London Gazette, seamen, not being slaves, and not being British subjects, who, within Her Majesty's dominions, desert from merchant ships belonging to the Republic of the Equator, shall bo liable to be apprehended and carried on board their respective ships : Provided always that, if any such deserter has committed any crime in Her Majesty's dominions, he may be detained till he has been tried by a competent Court, and until his sentence, if any, has been carried into effect.

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And the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and the Secretary of State for India in Council, are to give the necessary directions herein accordingly. C. L. Peel.

At the Court at Balmoral, the 24th day of September, 1886. Present: The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. Whereas by " The Foreign Deserters Act, 1852," it is provided that, whenever it is made to appear to Her Majesty that due facilities are or will be given for recovering or apprehending seamen who desert from British merchant ships in the territories of any foreign Power, Her Majesty may, by Order in Council, stating that such facilities are or will be given, declare that seamen, not being slaves, who desert from merchant ships belonging to such Power, when within Her Majesty's dominions, shall be liable to be apprehended, and carried on board their respective ships, and may limit the operation of such order, and may render the operation thereof subject to such conditions and qualifications, if any, as may be deemed expedient : And whereas it has been made to appear to Her Majesty that due facilities are given for recovering and apprehending seamen who desert from British merchant ships in the territories of the Oriental Republic of the Uruguay : Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by virtue of the powers vested in her by the said " Foreign Deserters Act, 1852," and by and with the advice of the Privy Council, is pleased to order and declare, and it is hereby ordered and declared, that, from and after the publication hereof in the London Gazette, seamen, not being slaves, and not being British subjects, who, within Her Majesty's dominions, desert from merchant ships belonging to the Oriental Eepublic of the Uruguay, shall be liable to be apprehended and carried on board their respective ships: Provided always that, if any such deserter has committed any crime in Her Majesty's dominions, he may be detained until he has been tried by a competent Court, and until his sentence, if any, has been fully carried into effect. And the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and the Secretary of State for India in Council, are to give the necessary directions herein accordingly. C. L. Peel.

No. 101. (New Zealand—General.) Sin,— Downing Street, 9th October, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 73, of the 14th of August, enclosing a copy of a letter from Dr. J. Hector, Chancellor of the University of New Zealand, forwarding a petition relating to the disabilities under which students labour to whom degrees in medicine and surgery have been granted by that University, and urging that, as the Medical Act Amendment Bill, then before the House of Lords, provided what the petitioners desire, Her Majesty's Government should use every means to pass the Bill into law as early as possible. 2. In reply, 1 have to refer you to my predecessor's circular despatch of the 22nd of July last, enclosing a copy of the Medical Act of 1886, to which I request you will call Dr. Hector's attention. 3. It will now rest with your Government to consider the expediency of applying for an Order of the Queen in Council, under section 17 of the Act, for extending Part 11. of the Act to New Zealand. If your Ministers should decide to apply for the application of Part 11. of the Act to the colony, it will be necessary for you to furnish me at the same time with evidence of the information required by section 17, as to privileges afforded in the colony to the registered medical practitioners of the United Kingdom. I have, &c, EDWAKD STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-l, 1887, No, 36.

No. 102. (New Zealand, No. 81.) Sir, — Downing Street, 13tli October, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 77, of the 18th of August, reporting that on that day you prorogued by Commission the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament of New Zealand. I have, <fee,, EDWAED STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-l, 1887, No 88.

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No. 103. (New Zealand, No. 82.) Sir,— Downing Street, 17th October, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 80, of the 23rd of August, reporting the advice tendered to you by your Ministers in respect of the petition addressed to the Queen through Sir John Gorst by the Arawa chiefs, praying that Her Majesty would present a bell to their church. I do not understand from your despatch that the preliminary message conveyed in Lord Granville's Despatch No. 42, of the 25th of June, has,"yet been communicated to the Arawa chiefs; but. in any case, I request that you will now cause them to be informed that I have not been able to recommend Her Majesty to accede to the prayer of their petition, in consequence of the precedent which it would create, adding that it is impossible for the Queen to give presents to her numerous subjects in all parts whom she would be willing to gratify, and that it is therefore not right to place Her Majesty in the position of having to refuse applications of this nature. I have, &c, EDWAED STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-l, 1887, No. 41.

No. 104. (New Zealand, No. 83.) Sir,— Downing Street, 20th October, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 82, of the 9th ultimo, reporting the commutation of the sentence of death passed on William Rowland for the murder of Edward Neave. I have, &c, EDWAED STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-l, 1887, No. 42.

No. 105. (New Zealand, No. 85.) Siu, — Downing Street; 3rd November, 1886. With reference to previous correspondence, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, the accompanying extracts from the Independant de la Nouvelle-CaUdonie of the 24th of June last, containing a petition addressed by French residents in New Caledonia to the Governor of the colony in favour of the annexation of the New Hebrides to France. Her Majesty's Government, on learning the existence of this petition, instructed Mr. Egerton to call the attention of the French Government to the fact that it ignored the obligations of the latter Government with regard to the group of islands in question, and to point out that much injury was likely to be caused by the publication of such a petition without any explanation that it could not be entertained. In reply, M. de Freycinet has stated that he has declared, and he repeated the declaration, that he would maintain the engagements made with Her Majesty's Government with respect to these islands, but that he had no control over what the newspapers might say or do. I have, &c, EDW^AED STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-5, 1887, No. 32.

No. 106. (New Zealand—Honours.) Sir, — Downing Street, Bth November, 1886. I have the honour to inform you that the Queen has, on my recommendation, been graciously pleased to give orders for the promotion of Mr. Walter 10—A. 2.

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Lawry Buller, C.M.G., a member of the New Zealand Commission in London for the Colonial and Indian Exhibition of 1880, to be an additional Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George. I have, &c, EDWARD STANHOPE. Governor Sir W T. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

No. 107. (New Zealand, No. 87.) Sir., — Downing Street, 17th November, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 85, of the 10th of September, and to acquaint you that I had the honour of personally offering the mat, separately forwarded, which Tutanihoniho, a Native chief of the Ngatiporou Tribe, desired to present to the Queen, and that Her Majesty was graciously pleased to accept it. I am also commanded to request that you will convey the Queen's thanks to Tutanihoniho, and that you will cause to be transmitted to him the accompanying photograph in frame which Her Majesty wishes to be presented to him on her behalf. I have, &c, ?-!"J EDWARD STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c. lApproximate^Cost of Paper.— Preparation, uil; printing (1,1150 copies), £45 ss. Od.]

A.-l, 1887, No, 45.

Authority : GIiORGH Dimbuey, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB6.