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

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1907 Session I, A-02

A—2

1907. NEW ZEALAND.

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

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

INDEX.

1-A. 2.

N«>. of >ries. Date. Subject. Page. 1 14 Mar., 1906.. Famine in Japan .. 2 20 Mar., „ .. Freeboards of vessels 2 2 May, „ .. Imperial Government cannot support penny postage at Postal (Congress .. 4 2 June, „ .. Extradition Treaty with Nicaragua 5 14 June „ .. Inspection of frozen and tinned meat 0 12 July, ,, ... Fires in wool cargoes 7 12 Sept., ,, .. Separate vote for New Zealand at Postal Congress .. .. 8 23 Oct., „ .. Treaty of commerce, _c, with Nicaragua .. .. ..... 9 24 Oct., ,, .. Title of " Honourable " to Mr. Thomas Young Duncan and Mr. Charles Houghton Mills 10 5 Nov., „ .. Penny postage between New Zealand and United States of America 11 21 Nov., „ .. Services of Major-«General Babington acknowledged 12 23 Nov., „ .. Outgoing letters : weight raised from J oz. to 1 oz. 13 14 Dec Title of " Honourable " to Mr. William Montgomery 14 16 Jan., 1907.. "New Zealand and South Africa Customs Duties Reciprocity Act, 1906," left to operation ir> 17 Jan., „ .. " Maori Land Settlement Act Amendment Act, 1906," left to operation 10 18 Jan., „ .. " New Zealand Acts, 1906," left to operation .. 17 22 Feb., „ .. " Immigration Restriction Act Amendment Act, 1906," assented to 18 26 Feb Honorary distinctions to New Zealand corps for services in South Africa .. 2 •J :s i 4 5 B 6 (i 6 7 7 B s a 8 0 It

A.—2

2

No. 1. (New Zealand—No. 21.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th March, 1906. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, with reference to Mr. Lyttelton's telegram of 25th November, the paper noted in the subjoined schedule. I have, &c, ELGIN. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Sir,— . Downing Street, 12th March, 1906. With reference to your recent private inquiry at this Department, and to the telegrams noted in the margin, copies of which have already been communicated to you, I am directed by the Earl of Elgin to inform you that later investigations have revealed the fact that the area affected by the famine in Japan is much more extensive than was at first supposed. 2. This fact and the sentiments of sympathy and goodwill manifested abroad by the offers of generous contributions to the relief fund have prompted the Japanese Government to decide on accepting the donations offered. They are grateful for the timely aid, and especially for the cordial feeling which finds an expression in the gift 3. 3. Meanwhile they are doing their utmost to cope with the situation, and hope, with the assistance rendered, to overcome the difficulties and alleviate the sufferings of the distressed people at a not very distant date. I have, &c, H. Bertram Cox. The High Commissioner for New Zealand.

No. 2. (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 20th March, 1906. With reference to Mr. Lyttelton's circular despatch of the 12th November, 1903, I have the honour to request you to inform your Government that the officers of the Board of Trade, in conjunction with the authorities appointed to assign freeboards to vessels on behalf of the Board, have been engaged for some time in modifying the tables of freeboard in accordance with modern practice and experience. 2. The Board have now approved of the modifications recommended by their officers, and copies of the amended tables, which come into operation on the 20th instant, are transmitted herewith, together with a copy of a memorandum giving particulars of the principal alterations effected in them. I have, &c, ELGIN. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. Enclosure. Memorandum. Modification op the Tables of Freeboard. As regards steamers, the chief justification for the reduction of freeboard allowed by the revised tables of freeboard is found in the consideration that vessels having a large proportion of the length covered with strong deck erections may safely be loaded to a somewhat deeper draft than that allowed by the old tables, provided that all hatchways or other openings in their decks have strong and efficient means for closing them. The Table A freeboards remain the same as before up to a moulded depth of 27 ft. 6 in., and are also the same for depths from 42 ft. 6 in. upwards, but there is a slight reduction for depths from 28 ft. to 42 ft.

Enclosure. Memorandum. Modification op the Tables of Freeboard. As regards steamers, the chief justification for the reduction of freeboard allowed by the revised tables of freeboard is found in the consideration that vessels having a large proportion of the length covered with strong deck erections may safely be loaded to a somewhat deeper draft than that allowed by the old tables, provided that all hatchways or other openings in their decks have strong and efficient means for closing them. The Table A freeboards remain the same as before up to a moulded depth of 27 ft. 6 in., and are also the same for depths from 42 ft. 6 in. upwards, but there is a slight reduction for depths from 28 ft. to 42 ft.

Date. From To Subject. 2th March, 1906 .. Colonial Office .. *High Commissioner Famine in Japan. J for New Zealand

3

A.—2

The Table B freeboards are unaltered. The Table C freeboards have been reduced throughout, the reduction varying from 7 in. at a ilepth of lift, to 13 in. at 34ft. depth, and it has been necessary to provide an amended standard of strength for awning-decked vessels, as on page 34 of the tables. As the freeboards of steam-vessels of all types having deck erections depend on the difference between the freeboards in Tables A and C, it has been necessary to amend the tables of percentages in paragraphs 11, 12, and 13, relating to deck erections in various types of vessel. Well-deck Steambrs. (Paragraph 11.) In the case of large vessels, having very long deck erections and only a short well, the reduction may amount to about 8 in , but in the majority of cases it will be less, and when the erections extend over less than (say) seven-tenths of the vessel's length., although some reduction will be due. it will be much less in amount. It should be carefully noted that by paragraph 11 (c), pages 25 and 26 of the tables, the full reduction allowed tor this type of vessel is only to be given provided certain conditions are fulfilled with regard to the construction of long poops or bridge houses, and also with regard to the efficiency of the means of closing any openings in the bulkhead at the after end of the "'well." In this connection it should also be noted that paragraph 24, page 19, of the amended tables for the first time makes provision for the proper construction of hatchways in vessels of all types. Vessels with Poop Bridge and Forecastle disconnected. (Paragraph 12.) These vessels, when of large size and having very long erections with two short wells, may obtain in some cases a reduction of 5 in., but ordinarily the reduction will be less, and when the erections are short, and the vessel not exceeding 28 ft. in depth, it will be small in amount. Vessels having Forecastles and Bridge Houses. (Paragraph 13.) The reduction will be very small in amount. Vessels having a Pooi' and Forecastle or Poop onlt or Forecastle ONLY. (Paragraphs 14 and 15.) A distinction is now introduced between the case in which the machinery openings are protected by the poop or by a deck-house, and that in which the openings are not so protected. In the former case there will usually be a slight reduction of freeboard, but in the latter case the freeboard will not be appreciably altered. Turret-deck Steamers. These steamers will in most, cases obtain a reduction in freeboard. Shelter-deck Vessels. Vessels of the shelter-deck type will generally obtain reductions similar in amount to vessels of well-deck type, but varying according to the number of openings in the shelter deck, and the means of closing these openings. Sailing-vessels. Sailing-vessels having a moulded depth exceeding 20 ft. will obtain a reduction in freeboard, and for those of the largest existing dimensions the reduction may amount to about Sin. Vessels of less than 20 ft. depth will remain unaffected.

No. 3. (New Zealand—General.) Mv Lord, — Downing Street, 2nd May, 1906. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Lordship's telegram of the 23rd April, 1906, stating that your Government and the people of New Zealand would be much pleased if the Imperial Government could see their way to support penny postage through the British Representative at the Postal Conference. 2. I have to transmit to you, for communication to your Ministers, a copy of correspondence with the General Post- Office on the subject, and to express my regret that, under the circumstances, I should not feel justified in pressing for the support of His Majesty's Government in this matter. I have, &c, ELGIN. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

A.—2

4

Enclosures. Sir,— Downing Street, 24th April, 1906. With reference to the letter from this Department of the 10th January last, and your reply (24178/06) of the 13th idem, respecting the proposals put forward by the Government of New Zealand for discussion at the Postal Union Congress, now holding its sittings at Rome, I am directed by the Earl of Elgin to transmit to you, to be laid before the Postmaster-General, a copy of a telegram from the Governor of New Zealand with regard to the proposal made by his Government for universal penny postage. I am, <tc. The Secretary, General Post Office. H. Bertram Cox.

Sir,— General Post Office, 27th April, 1906. With reference to your letter of the 24th of this month (No. 14122/1906) enclosing a copy of a telegram from the Governor of New Zealand with regard to the proposal made by his Government for universal penny postage, I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the question has already been represented to the Treasury. The loss to British revenue which would be involved in the establishment of the system is estimated at about £600,000 a year, of which no part would be recovered by an increa«se in the amount of correspondence, as there would be no profit on the letters sent at the lower rate. In view of these financial considerations, in which the Lords of the Treasury have expressed their concurrence, the Postmaster-General regrets that the British delegates will not, under present conditions, be able to support the proposal of the New Zealand Government. I am, _c, The Secretary, Colonial Office. H. Buxton Forman. No. 4. (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 2nd June, 1906. I have the honour to transmit to you, for publication in the colony under your government, a copy of an Order of His Majesty the King in Council, dated the 11th May, 1906, for giving effect to the treaty between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Nicaragua for the mutual surrender of fugitive criminals, which was signed at Managua on the 19th April, 1905. I have, &c, ELGIN. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. [The Order in Council is published in the New Zealand Gazette of the 2nd August, 1906, page 2099.] No. 5. (New Zealand—No. 52.) My Lord,— Downing Street, 14th June, 1906. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 9th instant regarding the inspection of frozen and tinned meat exported from New Zealand, and to state, for the information of your Ministers, that I have caused copies of your telegram to be communicated to the Press for publication. 2. Copies have also been transmitted to the War Office, the Admiralty, the Board of Trade, the Local Government Board, and the India Office. I have, &c, ELGIN Governor the Right lion. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 4. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 2nd June, 1906. I have the honour to transmit to you, for publication in the colony under your government, a copy of an Order of His Majesty the King in Council, dated the 11th May, 1906, for giving effect to the treaty between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Nicaragua for the mutual surrender of fugitive criminals, which was signed at Managua on the 19th April, 1905. I have, &c, ELGIN. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. [The Order in Council is published in the Neui Zealand Gazette of the 2nd August, 1906, page 2099.]

No. 5. (New Zealand—No. 52.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th June, 1906. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 9th instant regarding the inspection of frozen and tinned meat exported from New Zealand, and to state, for the information of your Ministers, that I have caused copies of your telegram to be communicated to the Press for publication. 2. Copies have also been transmitted to the War Office, the Admiralty, the Board of Trade, the Local Government Board, and the India Office. I have, &c, ELGIN Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

5

A.—2

No. 6. (New Zealand—No. 64.) My Lord,— Downing Street, 12th July, 1906. 1 have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Ministers, the papers noted in the subjoined schedule. I have, &c, ELGIN. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosures. Marine Department, Whitehall Gardens, Sir,— - London, S.W., 6th July, 1900. I am directed by the Board of Trade to transmit to you, to be laid before the Earl of Elgin, the enclosed copy of a letter received from Lloyd's on the subject of the recent fires in wool cargoes shipped in New Zealand, and to request that you will be >.o good as to move His Lordship to cause the same to be brought to the notice of the New Zealand Government. I have, <fee, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Walter J. Howell.

Sir,— Lloyd's, 29th June, 1906. I have the honour, by direction of the Committee of Lloyd's, to beg that you will be so good as to point out to the Board of Trade that a considerable number of fires have recentlyoccurred on vessels with wool cargoes from ports in New Zealand. The vessels that have sailed from Wellington in their exact order are as follows: " Pitcairn Island," "Sardhana," "Perthshire" (s.), "Waimate" (s.), "Gothic" (s.), "Star of New Zealand" (s.), " liimutaka " (s.), "Delphic" (s.). Of these vessels the " Pitcairn Island" was totally lost by fire, and the "Perthshire" (s.), "Waimate" (s.), "Gothic" (s.), ami the " liimutaka " (s.) have all had serious fires, and all occasioned apparently by spontaneous combustion of the wool. The " Sardhana," " Star of New Zealand " (s.), and the " Delphic " (s.) have not yet arrived. It has been thought that this may be due to some new preparation which has been adopted for dressing the wool before shipment, and the Committee of Lloyd's would be grateful if you would be so good as to move the Board of Trade to allow some representation to be made to the Colonial Office, in order that some measures may be taken for the inspection of the wool when it is being dressed and pressed before shipment, with a view to the prevention of tires, which may cause noi only considerable damage to the cargo and to the vessel, but may also tend to loss of life. I am, fco., The Secretary, Board of Trade, S.W. H. M. Hozier, Secretary.

No. 7. (New Zealand—General.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 12th September, 1906. With reference to your telegram of the 21st February last, I have the honour to inform you, as your Ministers probably have already learned through the representative of New Zealand at the recent Postal Union Congress at Rome, that the Congress agreed by twenty-two votes to twenty that a separate vote in the affairs of the Postal Union should henceforth be assigned to the South African colonies. This action by Congress released the vote allotted by Article 27 of the Convention of Washington to the British colonies outside Australasia, which had recently been assigned to the South African colonies, and that vote has now been assigned in the final protocol of the Rome Convention to New Zealand and its dependencies. I have requested the Postmaster-General to convey to the British delegates to the Congress an expression of my thanks for their efforts in securing this additional vote for the Empire. I have, &c., ELGIN. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Date. jFrom To Subject. 5th July, 1906 .. Board of Trade Colonial Office Fires in wool cargoes.

A.—2

6

No. 8. (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 23rd October, 1906. With reference to Sir Henry Holland's circular despatch of the Bth July, 1887, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a treaty of friendship, commerce, and navigation between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Nicaragua, signed at Managua on the 28th July, 1905, the ratifications of which were exchanged at London on the 24th August, 1906. Copies of this treaty accompanied my despatch marked " Library " of the 28th September. I have to draw the attention of your Ministers to the provisions of Articles XX and XXI respecting the application of the stipulations of the 1 reaty to British colonies and protectorates. It will be observed that under the provisions of the former article notification of the desire of any colony or protectorate to adhere must be made through His Majesty's Government to the Government of Nicaragua before the 24th August, 1907. I have, &c, ELGIN. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 9. (New Zealand—Miscellaneous.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 24th October, 1906. In reply to Your Lordship's despatch (No. 52) of the 11th August, I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty the King has been pleased to approve of the retention of the title of " Honourable " by Mr. Thomas Young Duncan and Mr. Charles Houghton Mills, who have served for more than three years as members of the Executive Council of the Colony of New Zealand. 2. A notice to this effect will be published in the London Gazette. I have, &c, ELGIN. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c. No. 10. (New Zealand—General.) My Lord,— Downing Street, sth November, 1906. T have the honour to transmit to you, for consideration and report, with reference to your telegram of the 31st ultimo, the paper noted in the subjoined schedule. I have, &c., ELGIN.

No. 10. (New Zealand—General.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 5th November, 1906. T have the honour to transmit to you, for consideration and report, with reference to your telegram of the 31st ultimo, the paper noted in the subjoined schedule. I have, &c, ELGIN. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

A.-l, 1!M)7. No. 10.

Enclosure. Sir,— General Port Office, London, 24th October, 1906. As statements are now appearing in the Press to the effect tlTat penny portage has been established between New Zealand and the United States of America, the Postmaster-General would be much obliged if the Secretary of State for the Colonies would be good enough to inform him whether there is any foundation for the announcement, and whether, if siicli an arrangement lias actually been made, the penny rate applies to letters sent in both directions, or only to letters '■cut from Xew Zealand for delivery in the United States. 1 am. «Vc. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. H. Buxton Forman.

Date. From To To Subject Subject 24th October, 1906 General Post Office Colonial Office .. I Reported establishment of penny postage between' New Zealand and the United States of America.

A.—2

7

No. 11---(New Zealand—No. 107.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 21st November, 1906. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch (No. 74) of 21st September, transmitting a copy of a minute from your Premier expressing the appreciation of the New Zealand Government of the services rendered by Colonel (local Major-General) J. M. Babington, C.M.G., as Commandant of the Defence Forces of the colony. 2. I have to enclose, for the information of your Ministers, a copy of a letter from the War Office stating that the Army Council have perused the report with satisfaction, and have caused it to be duly recorded. I have, &c., ELGIN. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. Sir,— . War Office, London, S.W., 13th November, 1906. I am commanded by the Army Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, witli enclosure from the Governor of New Zealand, forwarding a copy of a minute from his Premier, expressing appreciation of the services rendered by Colonel (local Major-General) J. M. Babington as Commandant of the Defence Forces of the colony. In reply, I am to acquaint you that the Council have perused this report with satisfaction, and have caused the same to be duly recorded. I have, 4 0., The linler-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, S.W. E. W. D. Ward. No. 12. (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 23rd November, 1906. I have the honour to transmit to you," for the information of your Government, a summary prepared by the General Post Office, London, of the principal results of the deliberations of the Congress of the Universal Postal I Dion held at Rome in April last. It will be seen that, while the initial postage rate for letters remains 25 centimes, or the rate for each successive unit or fraction thereof is to be 15 centimes, or and that the unit of weight itself has been raised from 15 to 20 grammes, 1 oz. being regarded as the avoirdupois equivalent of 20 grammes. His Majesty's Government are prepared to raise the unit of weight for outgoing letters from -J oz. to 1 oz. on the Ist October, 1907, when the new Postal Union Convention and the changes introduced by it are to come into operation; and I shall be glad to learn that your Government are prepared to adopt the increased unit of weight as from that date. This increase of weight has an important bearing on postal relations within the British Empire, and I share with the Postmaster-General the hope that under the Imperial penny-postage scheme your Government will agree to the penny rate of postage being applied to all letters not exceeding 1 oz. in weight posted to or from places within the Empire. I have agreed to the adoption of this increased minimum weight both for foreign and Imperial letter postage on behalf of the following colonies : Asbanti, Ceylon, Falkland Islands, The Gambia, Gibraltar, Gold Coast, HongKong, Labuan, Leeward Islands, Fiji, Malta, St. Helena, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Southern Nigeria, Straits Settlements, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks Islands, Windward Islands;, and on behalf of the following protectorates: British Central Africa, East Africa Protectorate, Gambia Protectorate, Northern Nigeria, Northern Territories of the Gold Coast, Sierra Leone Protectorate, Somaliland, Southern Nigeria Protectorate, Uganda. I have also agreed on behalf of the Federated Malay States and Cyprus.

No. 12. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 23rd November, 1906. I have the honour to transmit to you," for the information of your Government, a summary prepared by the General Post Office, London, of the principal results of the deliberations of the Congress of the Universal Postal Union held at Rome in April last. It will be seen that, while the initial postage rate for letters remains 25 centimes, or the rate for each successive unit or fraction thereof is to be 15 centimes, or i.'.d.. and that the unit of weight itself has been raised from 15 to 20 grammes, 1 oz. being regarded as the avoirdupois equivalent of 20 grammes. His Majesty's Government are prepared to raise the unit of weight for outgoing letters from I oz. to 1 oz. on the Ist October, 1907, when the new Postal Union Convention and the changes introduced by it are to come into operation; and I shall be glad to learn that your Government are prepared to adopt the increased unit of weight as from that date. This increase of weight has an important bearing on postal relations within the British Empire, and I share with the Postmaster-General the hope that under the Imperial penny-postage scheme your Government will agree to the penny rate of postage being applied to all letters not exceeding 1 oz. in weight posted to or from places within the Empire. I have agreed to the adoption of this increased minimum weight both for foreign and Imperial letter postage on behalf of the following colonies : Ashanti, Ceylon, Falkland Islands, The Gambia, Gibraltar, Gold Coast, HongKong, Labuan, Leeward Islands, Fiji, Malta, St. Helena, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Southern Nigeria, Straits Settlements, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks Islands, Windward Islands;, and on behalf of the following protectorates: British Central Africa, East Africa Protectorate, Gambia Protectorate, Northern Nigeria, Northern Territories of the Gold Coast, Sierra Leone Protectorate, Somaliland, Southern Nigeria Protectorate, Uganda. I have also agreed on behalf of the Federated Malay States and Cyprus.

A.-1, 1907, No. 13.

8

A.—2,

Copies of the new Postal Union Convention, with an English translation, which is in course of preparation by the Postmaster-General, will be transmitted to you at an early date. I have, &c, ELGIN. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 13. (New Zealand —Miscellaneous.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th December, 1906. In reply to Your Lordship's despatch (No. 90) of the 23rd October last, I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty the King has been pleased to approve of the retention of the title of " Honourable " by Mr. William Montgomery on his retirement from the Legislative Council of the Colony of New Zealand after a continuous service of inpre than ten years. A notification to this effect will be published in the London Gazette. I have, &c, ELGIN. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., &c.

No. 14. (New Zealand—No. 7.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 16th January, 1907. I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty will not be advised to exercise his powers of disallowance with respect to the Act No. 63 of 1906 of the Parliament of New Zealand, entitled " An Act to make Provision for Customs Reciprocity between New Zealand and South Africa," a transcript of which accompanied your despatch No. 102, of the 24th November, last. I have, &c, ELGIN. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 15 (New Zealand—No. 9.) My Lord, Downing Street, 17th January, 1907. I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty will not be advised to exercise his powers of disallowance with respect to the Act No. 62 of 1906 of the Parliament of New Zealand, entitled " An Act to amend the Laws relating to Maori Lands," a transcript of which accompanied your despatch (No. 102) of the 24th November last. I have, &c, ELGIN. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 16. (New Zealand—No. 10.) My Lord, Downing Street, 18th January, 1907. I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty will not be advised to exercise his power of disallowance with respect to the following Acts of the Parliament of New Zealand, transcripts of which accompanied your despatch 'No 102) of the 24th November last. I have, &c, ELGIN. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. [For list of Acts see New Zealand Gazette of 21st March, 1907, page 1003.].

A.-1, 1907, No. 16.

9

A. 2

No. 17. (New Zealand- -No. 21.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 22nd February, 1907. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, one sealed and six plain copies of an Order of His Majesty in Council declaring His Majesty's assent to the reserved Bill of the Parliament of New Zealand entitled " An Act to amend ' The Immigration Restriction Act, 1899,'" copies of which wore forwarded in your despatch (No. 102) of the 24th November last. I have, &c., ELGTN. Governor the Right lion. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.'

No. 18. (New Zealand- No. 22). My Lord,-— Downing Street, 26th February, 1907. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch (No. 100) of the 21st November last, and to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, thai His Majesty has been graciously pleased to approve of the honorary distinctions specified in the enclosed schedule being granted to New Zealand corps for services rendered during the late war in South Africa. T have, &c, ELGIN Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. New Zealand Volunteers. —Honorary Distinctions, South African War.

iitiirririmtitf Cost of Papi'r -Preparation, not tfiven : pmittas I.4*so'•oine«i. ta lon *'. •

Iv Anthoritv : Joiw Vvkay. Government Printer, Wellington. 1907

Pric* 6i.]

2 A. -2.

Unit. Distinction. No. I Battalion, Auckland Mounted Rifle Volunteers .. .. " South Africa, 1901-2." No. 2 Battalion. Auckland Mounted Rifle Volunteers .. .. "South Africa, 1900 2." Nd. 3 Battalion, Auckland Mounted Rifle Volunteers .. .. " South Africa, 1902." No. 4 Battalion, Auckland Mounted Rifle Volunteers . . .. " South Africa. 1902." 1st Battalion, Auckland Infantry Volunteers. -'Countess of Ranfu 'South Africa, 1900-2." Own" 2nd Battalion, Auckland (Hauraki) Infantry Volunteers .. : "South Africa, 1900 2." No. 1 Battalion. Wellington (West Coast) Mounted Rifle Volunteers .. "South Africa, 1899-1902." No. 2 Battalion, Wellington (Wairarapa) Mounted Rifle Volunteers .. "South Africa, 1900 2." No. 3 Battalion, Wellington (Manawatu) Mounted Rifle Voluntei .. " South Africa, 1902." No. 4 Battalion, Wellington (East Coast) Mounted Rifle Volunteers .. " South Africa, 1902." 1st Battalion. Wellington Rifle Volunteers .. .. .. .." South Africa, 1901-2." 2nd Battalion. Wellington (West Coast) Rifle Volunteers .. .. "South Africa, 1900 2." :ird-Battalion, Wellington (East Coast) Rifle Volunt.x .. .. -South Africa. 1900-2." 1st Battalion, Nelson Mounted Rifle Volunteers .. .. .. " South Africa, 1900-2." 1st Battalion, Nelson Infantrv Volunteers .. .. .. .. " South Africa, 1900 2." 1st Battalion, North Canterbury Mounted Rifle Volunteers .. .. "South Africa. 1899-1902." 2nd Battalion, North Canterbury Mounted Rifle Volunteers .. .. South Africa, 1902." 1st Battalion. South Canterbury Mounted Rifle Volunteers .. "South Africa, 1902." 1st North Canterbury Battahon of Infantry Volunteers .. .. " South Africa, 1902." South Canterbury Battalion of Infantry Volunteers .. .. .. " South Africa, 1900-2." No. I Battalion, Otago Mounted Rifle Volunteers .. .. .. " South Africa, 1899-190:'." No. 2 Battalion, Otago Mounted Rifle Volunteers .. .. .. " South Africa, 1902." 1st Battalion, Otago Rifle Volunteers .. .. .. ' South Africa, 1901-2." 2nd Battalion, Otago Rifle Volunteers .. .. •• •• j " South Africa, 1901-2." 3rd Battalion, Otago Rifle Volunteers .. •• " South Africa, 1901 .'." War Office, 1 2th February, 1907.