A.—l

16

No. 32.

(No. 69.) My Loed, — Government House, Wellington, 28th July, 1886. With reference to your Lordship's despatch " Honours," dated the 28th May last, relating to the appointment of Mr. Eobert Stout as a Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, I have the honour to forward herewith a letter from him requesting me to convey to your Lordship his thanks for your recommendation in his favour, and expressing his grateful appreciation of the honour which Her Majesty has been pleased to confer upon him. I have, &c, W. F. DEUMMOND JEEVOIS. The Eight Hon. the Earl Granville, KG.

A.-2, 1887, No, 43.

Enclosure. Sib,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 24th July, 1886. I have the honour to return to your Excellency Lord Granville's despatch of the 28th May last, informing you that the Queen had been graciously pleased to give orders for my appointment to be a Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George. I beg respectfully to request that your Excellency will convey to Lord Granville my thanks for his kind recommendation in my favour, and also that you will ask his Lordship further to be so good as to convey to Her Majesty the Queen my most grateful acknowledgment of this mark of Her Majesty's appreciation of my public services as Premier of this colony. I have, &c, His Excellency Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.B. Eobeet Stout.

No. 83. (No. 70.) My Lobd, — Government House, Wellington, 28th July, 1886. With reference to paragraph No. 4 of my Despatch No. 55, dated the 19th ultimo, in which I reported that certain resolutions relating to the Western Pacific Islands had been moved by Sir Frederick Whitaker in the Legislative Council, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that, on the 7th instant, those resolutions were adopted by that House. I have, &c, W. F. DEUMMOND JEEVOIS. The Eight Hon. the Earl Granville, KG.

No. 22,

No. 34. (No. 71.) My Lord,— Government House, Wellington, 28th July, 1886. With reference to your Lordship's circular despatch dated the 19th April last, transmitting a copy 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 have the honour to forward herewith a memorandum on the subject which has been transmitted to me by the Minister of Marine. I have, &c, W. F. DEUMMOND JEEVOIS. The Eight Hon. the Earl Granville, KG.

A.-2, 1887, No, 31.

Enclosure. Memorandum from the Secketaky for Makine to the Ministee, Marine Department. In this colony the measurement of ships is carried out in accordance with the rules and instructions prepared and issued by the Board of Trade in the United Kingdom for the Measuring Surveyors employed in the measurement of shipping under the Merchant Shipping Acts, 1854 to 1883. The duties of measuring ships is intrusted to Landing Surveyors or Senior Landing Waiters in the Customs Service, who are in all cases experienced officers, and are quite competent to act as Measuring Surveyors under the instructions quoted above. Wellington, 26th July, 1886. William Seed.