TO THE GOVERNOR OE NEW ZEALAND.

39

A.—No. la.

The Phormimn fibre of ]STew Zealand is commercially known in this country as " New Zealand Flax;" and as regards the terms used for this description of this and other articles of commerce in mercantile price-lists or trade circulars, neither the Board of Trade nor the Custom House have any control. With respect to the enumeration of the article in the Official Beturns, my Lords have been in communication with the Statistical Department of the Custom House, and Mr. Seldon, the principal, agrees with them that, while there would be every desire to meet the wishes of the Ministers of New Zealand, the proposed new term for the fibre from that Colony could not at present be conveniently introduced into the English Import Eegister. As, however, the fibre in question is an important article of export from New Zealand, there would be no objection for the future to specify in the English Trade Accounts the imports of fibre from New Zealand, and separately, instead of as heretofore from Australia in general. This arrangement would mark more distinctly than at present the trade in this article between New Zealand and the mother country. I am however to add that, in the returns compiled from the Oflicial Trade Accounts of New Zealand and published by this Board, the Colonial designation of articles will be adopted. I have, &c, The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office. C. Cecil Teetoe.

No. 45. Copt of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 18.) Sir, — Downing Street, 27th March, 1872. I have received your Despatch No. 125, of the 21st December last, enclosing a Memorandum from your Ministers submitting the verdict of the jury in an inquest held at Dunedin on the body of a Chinaman, late a passenger in the barque " Guiding Star " from Hong Kong. I have transmitted a copy of your Despatch and its enclosures to Sir A. Kennedy, and have directed a searching inquiry to be made into the whole matter. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. KIMBERLEY.

No. 46. Copt of a DESPATCH from the Right. Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 19.) Sir, — Downing Street, 30th March, 1872. I have to acknowledge your Despatch No. 4, of sth January, upon the subject of the proposed mission of Mr. Seed, the Secretary and Inspector of Customs in New Zealand, to some of the South Sea Islands, and to New Caledonia, for the purpose of obtaining information respecting the trade that is springing up between those Islands and the Colony. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. KIMBERLET.

No. 47. Copt of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.O.M.G. (No. 20.) Sir, — Downing Street, Ist April, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 122, of the 20th December, forwarding protests by three Members of the Legislative Council of New Zealand, against the Act of the Colonial Legislature entitled " The Carrington Land Grant Act, 1871." The question does not appear to me to be one in which Her Majesty's Government should interfere. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. KIMBEIILEY.