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the Eepublic of Paraguay, and requesting to be informed of the wishes of my Government in the matter, I have the honour to inform you that my Ministers state that, " as there is no prospect of any trade with the Eepublic in question, " and the treaty might by possibility interfere with other tariff arrangements," they do not desire that this colony should come within the operation of the treaty in question. I have, &c, W. F. DEUMMOND JEEVOIS. The Eight Hon. Edward Stanhope.

No. 55. (No. 104.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 20th October, 1886. With reference to your Despatch No. 50, dated the 20th July last, transmitting a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, stating that it is believed that the Government of New Zealand offered a prize for a machine to extract the fibre from the plant named Phormium tenax, I have the honour to inform you that no such prize has been offered by the Government of New r Zealand. I have, &c, W. F. DEUMMOND JEEVOIS. The Eight Hon. Edward Stanhope.

A.-2, 1887, No. 65.

No. 56. (No. 105.) Sir,— Government House, Wellington, 20th October, 1886. With reference to your predecessor's circular despatch, dated the 21st July last, transmitting a copy of a Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation between Her Majesty and the Oriental Eepublic of Uruguay, and requesting to be informed of the wishes of my Government in the matter, I have the honour to inform you that my Ministers state that, " as there is no prospect " of any trade with the Eepublic in question, and the treaty might by possibility " interfere with other tariff arrangements," they do not desire that this colony should come wdthin the operation of the treaty in question. I have, &c, W. F. DEUMMOND JEEVOIS. The Eight Hon. Edward Stanhope.

A.-2,1887, No. 66.

No. 57. (No. 107.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, Ist November, 1886. With reference to your predecessor's circular despatch, dated the 7th July last, requesting information desired by the Mauritius Government as regards the law and practice in force in this colony concerning the crowding of animals on board trading ships, I have the honour to forward herewith copies of " The Shipping and Seamen's Act, 1877 " (New Zealand), the 23rd section of which contains the only law in New Zealand on the subject. I have, &c, W. F. DEUMMOND JEEVOIS. The Eight Hon. Edward Stanhope.

A.-2, 1887, No. 55.

No. 58. (No. 108.) Sm, — ' Government House, Wellington, Ist November, 1886. With reference to your Despatch No. 70, dated the 23rd August last, transmitting a copy of a letter frorrTthe Foreign Office, with its enclosure from the German Embassy, I have the honour to inform you that my Ministers see no objection to the request made by the German Government that Mr. Sahl