7

A.—l

whether, by a judicious selection of his colleagues, Major Atkinson will succeed in forming a Ministry which will command a working majority. 12. The Parliament was yesterday opened by Commission, when the members were sworn in, and Sir G. M. O'Eorke elected to the office of Speaker, which he held in the late Parliament. 13. On the formation of a Ministry prepared to meet the House, I shall proceed to open Parliament in person. F In vp &j c W. F. DEUMMOND JEEVOIS. The Eight Hon. Sir Henry Holland, Bart., M.P., G.C.M.G.

No. 10. (No. 85.) Sic, — Government House, Wellington, 7th October, 1887. With reference to your circular despatch, dated the 16th June last, transmitting for communication to my Government a copy of a letter from the War Office respecting the proposal that the Australian military forces should be occasionally inspected by an Imperial officer, I have the honour to inform you that my Ministers do not consider it necessary for New Zealand to incur the expenditure that an inspection of her forces in the proposed manner would involve.- • • I have, &c, W. F. DEUMMOND JEEVOIS. The Eight Hon. Sir Henry Holland, Bart, M.P., G.C.M.G.

A.-2., 1888, No. 18.

No. 11. (No. 86.) Sic,— Government House, Wellington, 7th October, 1887. With reference to your Despatch No. 48, dated the 10th August last, I have the honour to report that I am not aware of any objection to the appointment of Mr. August Friedrich Castendyk as Vice-Consul for Germany at Wellington, and that I have accordingly recognised him provisionally in that capacity until the arrival of the Exequatur. I have, &c, W. F. DEUMMOND JEEVOIS. The Eight Hon. Sir Henry Holland, Bart., M.P., G.C.M.G.

A.-2, 1888, No. 32.

No. 12. (No. 87.) Sic, — Government House, Wellington, 7th October, 1887. With reference to your Circular Despatch No. 48, of the 24th June last, transmitting a copy of a despatch from Her Majesty's Consul at Noumea relating to the treatment of distressed British subjects in the hospitals in New Caledonia, and requesting information as to the terms on which distressed French subjects are admitted into the hospitals of this colony, I have the honour to inform you that my Government is not aware that any distinction On account of their nationality has been or is made in the treatment of patients in the hospitals of New Zealand, nor of any claim having been advanced for the refund by the French Government of expenses incurred in the maintenance in hospital of the subjects of that nation. I should add that since November, 1885, the New Zealand hospitals have been under local, and not Government, control. I have, &c, W. F. DEUMMOND JEEVOIS. The Eight Hon. Sir Henry Holland, Bart., M.P., G.C.M.G.

, A.-2, 1888, , No. 19. I