A.—2

4

No. 3. "(Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 26th February, 1889. A question has recently arisen respecting the precedence which should be assigned to a Colonial Governor absent from his colony on a visit to another colony, for which no provision has hitherto been made in the Colonial Eegulations. Colonial Eegulation No. 158 gives a Governor discretionary pow rer to assign precedence to persons entitled to precedence in the United Kingdom or in foreign countries, but does not provide for the case of a Governor of another colony, nor does it specify the precedence to be given to members of the Eoyal Family. I have therefore, after communication with the Secretary of State for War and the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, thougl.it it desirable that provision should be made for these cases, and that Colonial Eegulation No. 158 should be amended so as to make it plain that a Governor is not entitled, as of right, to specific precedence out of his own colony; and I now have the honour to enclose, for insertion in any volumes of the Colonial Regulations in use in the colony under your government, copies of an amended regulation which has been approved by the Queen. It is to be understood that under this regulation the Governor is to assign to any member of the Eoyal Family visiting the colony under his government precedence next after himself; and to Governors of other colonies visiting the colony under his government, either in an official capacity or as a private person, precedence next after the officers commanding Her Majesty's military and naval forces, if they are of the rank of General or Admiral respectively. I have, &c, KNUTSFOED. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Chaptee Vl.—. .. .* 158. Persons entitled to precedence in the United Kingdom, or in foreign countries, or in other colonies, are not entitled as of right to the same precedence in a colony; but in the absence of any special instructions from the Queen, the precedence of such persons relatively to the above-mentioned colonial officers will be determined by the Governor, having regard to the social condition of the colony under his government.

No. 4. (New Zealand, No. 3.) Sir,— Downing Street, 28th February, 1889. I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acquaint you that an application has been received from the United States Charge d'Affaires at this Court on the subject of the appointment of Mr. Albert Cuff as Consular Agent for the United States at Christchurch. As this gentleman appears to be resident in the colony under your government (at Christchurch), I am to request you to report w Thether you are aware, or not, of any objection to this appointment; and if not, you will recognise him in that capacity. I have, &c, EOBEET G. W. HEEBEET. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. S\ (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 14th March, 1889. With reference to my circular despatch of the Bth September, 1887, I have the honour to transmit herewith, for the information of your Government, printed copies of a memorandum drawn up by the Board of Customs, with a

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* By circular despatch of the 26th February, 1889, it is directed that members of the Eoyal Family should take precedence next after the Governor of the colony, and Governors of other colonies should have precedence next a,fter the military and naval officers commanding Her Majesty's forces and being of the rank of General or Admiral respectively.