A,—2

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tary of State cannot, however, give the support of Her Majesty's Government to commercial or industrial undertakings, or to applications for concessions from a foreign Government, where he is unable to form a correct judgment as to the soundness and practicability of such enterprises. Within the limits that this office can properly act in these matters aid is constantly afforded to British merchants and shipowners, and in many instances this assistance is very fully acknowledged. Lord Eosebery will be glad, in order to enable him to deal in a satisfactory manner with the general question, to receive at your earliest convenience any practical suggestions which the Associated Chambers of Commerce may have to offer as to what greater measure of support they think might be afforded by British representatives abroad to British trade. It must, however, be borne in mind that these officers cannot act as agents for particular firms, nor could they with propriety decide upon the respective merits of rival enterprises, or the claims of British subjects of equal respectability and financial position, who may be competitors in regard to particular concessions or enterprises. I shall be glad to receive your answer to this letter by the 20th instant. I have, &c, J. Beyce.

No. 57. (Circular.) Sic,— Downing Street, 10th July, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Government, with reference to Lord Kimberley's circular despatch of the 23rd January, 1882, the accompanying copy of a letter from the War Office, making further proposals, in which I concur, on the subject of the treatment of Courtmartial prisoners m the civil prisons of the colonies. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Sic,— War Office, 25th June, 1886. I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 28th April, 1886, and, in reply, to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State, that, in order to assimilate as far as possible the treatment of prisoners abroad and at home, it appears to Mr. Secretary Campbell-Bannerman that it would be desirable to supplement the instructions given in the circular despatch issued from the Colonial Office on the 23rd January, 1882, by requesting that, as regards soldiers sentenced by military Courts, those who are convicted of offences under the Army Act, sections 17 and 18 (4) and (5), or of any offences of a similar character under section 41, should be treated in the same manner as civil prisoners; while those convicted under any other sections of the Act should be considered as having been convicted of breaches of discipline only. I am to add that, if Earl Granville concurs in this proposal, instructions will be given to officers commanding troops at foreign stations to notify, on the committals of all prisoners sent to colonial prisons, the section of the Army Act under which the convictions have been obtained. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Ralph Thompson.

No. 58. (Circular.) Sic, — Downing Street, 12th July, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, at the request of the Board of Trade, copies of two printed forms (the one for vessels registered in the United Kingdom, and the other for vessels registered out of the United Kingdom) for rendering the monthly returns relating to Lascar and other Asiatic seamen, desired to be furnished by the Board in their letter and Appendix A of the 24th of December last, enclosed in my predecessor's circular despatch of the 2nd of January last. The returns should be sent direct to the Board of Trade, as requested in that circular despatch. I have, &c, GKANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.