A.—l.

neously supposed, abolition of sugar duties. No such change suggested by convention, but merely abolition of bounty on sugar exported either as drawback or bounty on ..manufactured or refining. Greatest importance get favourable reply to this before reassembling of Conference, either by absolute assent or promise of most favourable consideration by Government.

Telegram to the Secretary of State. 26th March, 1888. Referring to your despatch of 31st December, Government here acquiesce in view expressed in draft convention that no bounties on sugar grown in the colony shall be given by way of drawback or otherwise.

(New Zealand, No. 12.) Sir,— Downing Street, 12th April, 1888. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 26th ultimo informing me of the decision of your Government respecting entrance into the draft convention of the 19th December last for the abolition of sugar bounties. At the close of the sittings of the International Conference I shall be in a position to address you more fully on this subject. Meanwhile I have to express my satisfaction that your Government is so ready to aid Her Majesty's Government by giving its adhesion to the convention, as far as lies in its power. I have, &c, KNUTSFORD. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

Telegram from the Secretary of State. 31st August, 1888. Sugar Convention Signed.

MR. BRYCE AND SIR ARTHUR GORDON. (New Zealand, No. 29.) My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 26th March, 1888. I have the honour to transmit herewith a memorandum from Sir H. A. Atkinson, Premier of New Zealand, forwarding a communication addressed to him A2,1888, by the Hon. J. Bryce with reference to your Despatch No. 52, of the 15th No. 34. A u g US t last. I should mention in regard to the latter part of the first paragraph of Sir 11. A. Atkinson's memorandum that it refers to the fact that Chief Justice Sir J. Prendergast, who was acting as my deputy during my absence in Sydney, was himself concerned in a disagreement with Sir Arthur Gordon, and my Ministers did not wish to send the enclosed papers through him. I have, &c, W. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS. The Right Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c.

Enclosure. Memorandum for His Excellency. The Premier has the honour to forward to His Excellency, for transmission to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the attached letter, which has been handed to him for that purpose by the Hon. John Bryce, lately Minister of Native Affairs in this colony. The letter, it will be seen, is dated the Bth January, and the Premier wishes to explain the causes of the delay in forwarding it to His Excellency. When the letter was received by the Premier he was desirous of submitting the question to a meeting of the Cabinet, which, owing to Ministers' absence from Wellington, was not possible before His Excellency had left for Sydney; and the Premier considered it advisable to retain the letter, with the opinion of the Cabinet, until His Excellency's return. The Premier has now respect|ully to inform His Excellency that the Cabinet has given careful consideration to the letter which is now forwarded, and to the previous correspondence. Ministers wish to express their great regret at the decision of Sir Henry Holland that the circumstances of the case are not such as to require any interference on his part. They are of opinion that this is a matter which cannot possibly be treated by them as a merely personal one between Mr. Bryce

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