B.—4b

2

Enclosure 1. The Colonial Office to the Agents-Geneeal for New Zealand, Victoria, and South Australia. Gentlemen, — Downing Street, 12th June, 1877. I am directed by the Earl of Carnarvon to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd ultimo, on the subject of the proposed Colonial Stock Bill. His Lordship regrets the delay which has occurred in answering your letter, which has been due to the hope entertained by him thai he might before now have been in a position to make some definite statement on the subject. The matter has been repeatedly under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government, and it has formed the subject of much personal communication between Lord Carnarvon and the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, during the past month. Lord Carnarvon has, indeed, during the past week, been in communication with Mr. H. Gibbs, late Governor of the Bank of England, on the subject of certain objections raised by the Treasury upon the Bill, and he is not without hope that by next week, at the latest, the matter will have been definitely settled. It is, Lord Carnarvon trusts, needless to assure you that he has been and is most anxious for the removal of all impediment to the early introduction of the measure in which you are so much interested ; as also that his Lordship will do all that he properly can to expedite its preparation. Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G. I have. &c, Archibald Miehie, Esq. Robert G. W. Hebbkbt. Sir Arthur Blyth, K.C.M.G. Enclosure 2. The Agents-Genebal for New Zealand, Victoria, and South Australia, to the Colonial Office. 7, "Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Mt Lobd, — 18th June, 1877. We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the letter written by Mr. Herbert, by your directions, in reply to ours of the 23rd ultimo. We have to thank your Lordship for the information you have conveyed to us, and for the interest you have taken in the question; and it gives us pleasure to know that, by next week, you expect the matter will be definitely settled. We have, &c, Julius Vogel, Agent-General, New Zealand. Aechd. Michie. Aethue Blytu, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon, &c. Agent-General, South Australia. Enclosure 3. The Colonial Office to the Agents-Geneeal for New Zealand, Victoria, and South Australia. Gentlemen, — Downing Street, 18th June, 1877. I am directed by the Earl of Carnarvon to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th instant, on the subject of the proposed Colonial Stocks Bill, and to state that his Lordship is pressing the question on the attention of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury. Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G. I have, &c, Archibald Michie, Esq. E. H. Meabe. Sir Arthur Blyth, K.C.M.G. Enclosure 4. The Agent- Geneeal to the Colonial Office. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sib,— 29th June, 1877. I have the honor to inform you that, at a meeting of the A gents-General of Victoria, NewSouth Wales, South Australia, and New Zealand, held at this office to-day, at which Mr. Mackrell also attended, the resolution appended was unanimously passed; and I have been instructed to submit it to you. I have, &c, E. G. W. Herbert, Esq., Colonial Office. Julius Vogel. Resolution. That, whilst the Agents-General of Victoria, New South Wales, New Zealand, and South Australia are of opinion that the clauses proposed to be added to the Inscribed Stocks Bill are to some extent unnecessary, they prefer to accept them rather than risk the passage of the Bill this session. They therefore approve the clauses, provided they are so framed as to be acceptable to the Bank or Banks accustomed to conduct the operation of inscribing stock, as otherwise the Bill will be to a great extent valueless. They express their earnest desire that the Bill may be passed through this session, in accordance with the promise made last year. By Authority: Oeokgb DrDSßtrsy, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB77. Price 3d.]