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No. 13. (No. 88.) Sic, Government House, Wellington, 7th October, 1887. With reference to your circular despatch, dated the 6th June last, forwarding certain documents relating to the Submarine Telegraph Convention and Declaration, and requesting to be informed whether the Government of this colony is prepared to accede to them, I have the honour to report that my Ministers inform me that a Bill having for its object the adherence of New Zealand to the Convention and Declaration in question will be submitted to Parliament. I have, &c, W. F. DEUMMOND JEEVOIS. The Eight Hon. Sir Henry Holland, Bart., M.P., G.C.M.G.

A.-2, 1888, No. 11.

No. 14. (No. 89.) Sic, — Government House, Wellington, 7th October, 1887. With reference to your Despatch No. 13, dated the 22nd March last, concerning the claim of Mr. William Webster, a subject of the United States of America, to certain land in New Zealand, and requesting me to furnish any observations that my Government might desire to make upon the case, I have the honour to forward herewith printed copies of a memorandum on the subject by Sir E. Stout, Premier of this colony. It will be observed from the concluding remarks of Sir E. Stout's memorandum, on page 30 of the enclosure, that my Ministers consider that great liberality has been shown by the New Zealand Government in its treatment of Mr. Webster. I have, &c, W. E. DEUMMOND JEEVOIS. The Eight Hon. Sir Henry Holland, Bart., M.P., G.C.M.G. [For enclosure, see A.-4, Session 11., 1887, Appendix to Journals of House of Eepresentatives.]

A.-2, 1887, Sess. 11., No. 24.

No. 15. (No. 90.) Sib, —■ Government House, Wellington, Bth October, 1887. With reference to your circular despatch, dated the sth July last, transmitting, for communication to my Government, copies of a correspondence between the Admiralty, the Board of Trade, and the Colonial Office respecting the question of the clearance of vessels from ports in the Australasian Colonies for fictitious ports, I have the honour to forward herewith a memorandum on the subject from Sir Julius Vogel, Minister of Marine. I have, &c, W. F. DEUMMOND JEEVOIS. The Eight Hon. Sir Henry Holland, Bart., M.P., G.C.M.G.

A.-2, 1887, Sess. 11., No. 22.

Enclosure. Memoeandum for His Excellency the Goveenob. I attach the views of Mr. Seed and Mr. Glasgow. In my opinion it would be impossible to prevent vessels clearing for Guam— i.e., not declaring their true destination. Any attempt to prevent it would fetter freedom of trade, and place the British mercantile marine at a disadvantage compared with that of other countries. It would be a blow also to commerce to regard coal as contraband of war in times of peace, or to limit the disposition of coal-stations for peaceful purposes. Coal is so liable to deterioration that it is not likely to be stored for war purposes long in advance of its being wanted for such an object. The Admiral on the station, by having returns of clearance sent to him from coal ports, would be able to notice if at any time there was a suspicious number of vessels laden with coal clearing for Guam. sth October, 1887. J. Yog-el.

Sub-Enclosures. Memoeandum for the Hon. the Pbemiee. The Customs Act requires masters of vessels to answer all questions that may be put to them when