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is held; but, as it is impossible, for obvious reasons, that any selection of the members of the Council can undertake, as under ordinary parliamentary government, to assume the responsibility of advising that any policy or even any course of procedure be announced by the Governor, it appears preferable that the Governor should be responsible for his speeches, and that they should be confined to formally announcing the opening and closing of the session (stating, in the first case, the titles of the Bills of which notice has been given), unless he should be instructed to make any communication to the Council from Her Majesty's Government. I have, &c, Governor Sir A. Musgrave, K.C.M.G., &c. Gbanville.

No. 62. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 14th July, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a letter which I have caused to be addressed to the Agent-General for the colony under your government on the subject of the establishment of a central office in London, under the sanction of Her Majesty's Government, where intending emigrants, and the various emigration societies in the United Kingdom, may obtain information respecting those colonies to which emigrants from this country usually proceed. The Agent-General has informed me that he will be prepared to afford the proposed office all the information at his command; but I should be glad if your Government will give directions that every facility should be granted to give effect to the regular transmission to the office of the returns and information referred to, and also that the committee should be supplied by every mail with a single copy of the best newspaper for business purposes published in each town or district of the colony. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Sik, — Downing Street, 2nd July, 188 C. With reference to the letter from this department of the 2nd of February last, and to your reply of the last, on the subject of the proposed establishment of an emigrants' information office, I am directed by Earl Granville to inform you that the necessary arrangements have now been completed for giving effect to the proposal, and it only remains to collect the most recent information relative to the demand for labour and prospects of successful emigration in the colonies, together with particulars likely to be useful to intending emigrants, to enable the committee to proceed with their work. Lord Granville will, therefore, be much obliged if you will in future, as far as is in your power, cause the Information Office to be furnished with a monthly return, in respect of the colon v which you represent, showing the current rate of wages in all ordinary employments both in town and country, the demand for labour in the various localities, the amounts of assistance (if any) granted to emigrants, the rates of passage-money, and the inducements as regards land to settlers. lam also to state that the Managing Committee of the Emigrants' Information Office will bo much obliged for any maps, pamphlets, or other statistical information which it may be in your power to place at their disposal. lam to add that the office will be located at 81, Broadway, Westminster. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. E. Wingfield.

No. 63. (Circular 1.) Sir,— Downing Street, 16th July, 188 G. With reference to Lord Kimberley's circular despatch of the Bth July, 1881, I have the honour to transmit to you, for information and publication in the colony under your government, a copy of a Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation between Her Majesty and the Eepublic of the Equator, signed at Quito on the 18th October, 1880, the ratifications of which were exchanged at Quito on the 19th February last. You will observe that the terms of the protocol of the 17th July, 1885, relating to the colonies, accord with the wishes of your Government, as expressed in reply to the above-quoted despatch. * I have, &c, GEANVILLE. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.