A.—2

4

Sub-Enclosure 2. Appendix B. This information should be given under three heads, as follows, viz. (no names of persons need be given):

No. 4. (New Zealand, No. 1.) Sir, — Downing Street, 14th January, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 13, of the 2Cth September, with its enclosures, respecting the debate which had taken place in the House of Representatives on the question of Federation. The resolution proposed by Mr. Macaiidrew, which was contained in the address presented to you by the House of Representatives, has been duly laid before the Queen, who was pleased to receive it very graciously. I was not, however, in a position to advise Her Majesty to take any action upon it, as it is understood that the United States of America have not in any degree modified their intention to abstain from forming alliances which would place them under the obligation of interfering in the affairs of foreign countries at a distance from America ; and, if this w 7ere not the case, Her Majesty's Government w rould not be able, without the sanction of the Imperial Parliament and of the Legislatures of other portions of the Empire, to invite the Government of the United States to take part in a political conference of the nature indicated in the resolution. I may, however, observe that it would appear probable that the various important questions bearing upon the relations of the Australasian Colonies with this country and with each other may receive further consideration and elucidation in connection with the anticipated early meeting of the Federal Council of Australasia. At the time of the important debate in the House of Representatives which resulted in this and other resolutions my despatch of the 14th of August had not yet reached New Zealand ; and I entertain the hope that, after full consideration of that despatch, the objections which have been felt in some quarters to the representation of New Zealand in the Federal Council may be modified. I have, &c, FRED. STANLEY. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-I.IBBG, No. 3

tr\- 1 -\ No. 5. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 15th January, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Government, a copy of a letter from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, proposing that armed vessels which have been, or may be, provided under the Colonial Naval Defence Act shall adopt the same formalities as regards the exchange of international courtesy as are observed by ships of the Royal Navy. The regulations prescribing these formalities will be found in Chapter 11. of the Queen's Kegulations and Admiralty Instructions of 1879, transmitted in Sir Michael Hicks-Beach's circular despatch of the 25th of August, 1879. I have, &c, FEED. STANLEY. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Lives lost and Cas by Wreck iualties. Lives lo Accidents on than \ ist from board, other rVrcck. Other Death Disease, Mm &c, Natural is—that is, by xler, Suicide, I Causes, &c. Date of Death. Name, Port of Registry, and Official Number of Ship. Asiatics other than British Subjects. Asiatics who were British Subjects. Asiatics other than British Subjects. Asiatics who were British Subjects. Asiatics other than British Subjects. Asiatics who were British Subjects.