H.—l2

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poses within our own limits. I think, on every account, it is very unfortunate that we are not able to form some estimate of the sum we are called upon to contribute. Further, there is nothing, as far as I can gather, to lead us to suppose that the British Government will contribute to the expense of setting up this Government. If the truth were known I think the Home Government is more interested than any of these colonies are in these islands. If these islands are placed under British rule it will naturally lead to an increase of trade; but that increase will affect England quite as much as any of these colonies, because the exports to the islands from these colonies will be exports of English goods previously imported by the colonies : they will be goods not actually manufactured here, but in the first instance imported from England. Therefore the Mother-country is as much benefited by this as, or more than, any of the colonies. Then, again, supposing the colonies do not adopt these islands, the Home Government would be compelled to do so for its own protection, in case of any foreign Power taking possession of them, simply for this reason : that any danger to these colonies is a danger to England herself. England is in that state at the present time that she must have a large outlet for her manufactures and for her surplus population, and if anything should befall these colonies the blow would fall with equal severity upon England. At the present day the commerce of the Australasian Colonies amounts to £100,000,000 a year, and fully three-fourths of that amount is with the United Kingdom direct. Now, no one can read these figures without seeing the great importance of these colonies to the Mother-country. Under these circumstances I believe if these colonies do not join to annex those islands the Mother-country would be bound to do so. lam not one of those who think the colonists should stand aloof and do nothing for themselves; but at the same time I think it is our duty to act with judgment in a case like this, where money is required. We are not called upon to take a Quixotic course, to set up kingdoms and annex islands simply because they are going begging. It seems to me that most of the islands referred to are so remote from New Zealand that our interests in their annexation or the bringing of them under British rule are far less than those of the other colonies, and therefore the proportion we should contribute to the expenses should be, comparatively speaking, small. On the whole I regret that this resolution has been brought down in so indefinite a form. I think we ought to know more definitely what islands are to be annexed, and whether we shall be actually called upon to contribute to the annexation of New Guinea, because I think we ought not to contribute a penny for the annexation of that island. And then I think we should consider the position of the islands to be annexed, and that the rate of payment should be in proportion to the advantage to be gained. There has been an expression of opinion that we should get a large portion of the commerce of these islands. I very much doubt that.

Civil Seevice Examination Papees, Apeil, 1885. jTTisrioii. ENGLISH. Among the fables of the East there is a story which runs thus : A certain young man inherited from his forefathers a very wonderful lamp, which for generations had been the ornament of his family, and from which he now derived his livelihood, as they, in former times, had done. Its virtues were of such a nature that, while by its means all his reasonable wants were supplied, a check was, at the same time, imposed upon any extravagant exercise of its beneficence. Once a day, and no oftener, might its services be called into requisition. It consisted of twelve branches, and, as soon as these were lighted, twelve priests appeared, each of whom, after performing sundry circumvolutions, threw him a small piece of money and vanished. Thus was the young man provided every day with means sufficient for his daily subsistence; and, his desires being moderate, he for a long time considered this a bountiful provision, and remained satisfied with the good which he enjoyed upon such easy terms. By degrees, however, when he reflected upon his situation, his heart became disturbed by the stirrings of avarice and ambition, and a restless desire to know more of the extraordinary source from whence his comforts flowed. Accordingly, being filled with these aspiring thoughts, and eager to learn, if possible, the whole secret of the lamp, he repaired with it to the abode of a magician, who was famous for all kinds of recondite knowledge. ENGLISH, 1. Write the passage dictated to you. 2. Define each of the parts of speech, giving an example of each. 3. There are three principal kinds of sentences: define them, give a specimen of each, and, where necessary, explain the portion which brings the example within your definition. 4. Give the past tense (all persons, singular and plural) and complete participle of lay, lie, lose, build, sew, sow. 5. Analyse the following: " When they rose before him in their full magnitude, as they did occasionally when affairs assumed an unencouraging aspect, he wished his enthusiasm had been less great." 6. Parse—" Once a day, and no oftener, might its services be called into requisition." 7. What quality in man or boy should make him most liked by his fellows? Give reasons fully for your choice.