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should come within the operation of the treaty, notice must be given to the Paraguayan Government within two years from the date of the exchange of the ratifications. 3. I have therefore to request that you will be good enough to acquaint me as soon as possible of the wishes of your Government in the matter. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Sic,— Foreign Office, 24th June, 1886. I am directed by the Earl of Eosebery to transmit to you copies of a Treaty of Commerce, with protocols relative thereto, signed on the 16th October, 1884, between Great Britain and Paraguay, the ratifications of which were exchanged at Buenos Ayres on the 10th of May, 1886. I am to request that, in laying the same before Earl Granville, you will suggest that the necessary steps should be taken to ascertain the views of the colonies named in Article XV., with regard to notification being made of their acceptance of the provisions of the treaty. I have, &c. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. P. W. Cukbie.

No. 53. (New Zealand, No. 43.) Sic,— Downing Street, 3rd July, 1886. I received and laid before the Queen your telegram of the 18th of June, conveying the congratulations of the New Zealand Parliament upon the anniversary of Her Majesty's accession to the Throne. I have also received and laid before Her Majesty a telegram from the Mayor of Auckland, conveying the congratulations of the residents of Auckland. I am commanded to convey to you the Queen's thanks for these addresses. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-l, 1887, No, 48.

No. 54. (New Zealand, No. 44.) Sib, — Downing Street, 3rd July, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you copies of a note and of its enclosure, received through the Foreign Office from the Eussian Amhassador in London, requesting that the thanks of the Kussian Government may be conveyed to certain officials of the Colonies of Victoria, New South Wales, and New Zealand, whose names are mentioned in the enclosure to His Excellency's note, for the assistance rendered by them to Mr. Schostak, a mining engineer sent to Australia by the Eussian Government in 1884 to study the recent improvements in the process of extracting gold from the ore. I have to request that you will be so good as to cause the thanks of the Eussian Government to be conveyed to the gentlemen named in the list who are resident in the colony under your government. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

Enclosure. Monsieub LB Comte, — Londres, le 4/16 Juin, 1886. Le Gouvernement Imperial Eusse avait envoye en 1884 l'ingenieur dcs mines Schostak en Australie pour y etudier sur les lieux les recents perfeetionnements apportes aux rnoyens d'extraction dcs minerals dor. Bevenu de son voyage, l'ingoiiieur susnomme a soumis a I'Administration Miniere un rapport dont il ressort que le succes de sa mission est redevable, en grande mesure, au bienveillant et constant concours de plusieurs digm'taires et employes faisant partie dv Gouvernement ou de I'Administration de la Colonie Australienne. Le Gouvernement Imp6rial se fait en consequence un devoir empresse de transmettre tous ses remerciments aux personnes enumerees dans la liste ci-jointe, pour l'aimable et fruetueux appui qu'il