19

A.—2

Enclosure No. 3. Boabd of Ageicultube to the Colonial Office. 'Sib, — 3, St. James's Square, London, S.W., 13th September, 1890. I have submitted to the Board of Agriculture your letter of the 26th ultimo, transmitting =a copy of a despatch from the Governor of New Zealand requesting to be supplied with information respecting the modes of marking meat for the purpose of identifying the country of its origin. In reply, I am directed to state that the Board of Agriculture have caused inquiry to be made into the matter, but are unable to ascertain that there are any modes adopted in this country of marking meat from New Zealand or elsewhere for the purpose of identifying the country of its origin. The practice of the Jews is to insert a sealed tab or tag, such as is enclosed, into such parts o the carcases as are considered by them to be fit for human food, principally the fore-quarters. I am, &c, The TJnder-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. G. A. Leach.

No. 28. (New Zealand, No. 43.) My Loed, — Downing Street, 3rd October, 1890. I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to inform yon, with reference to your Despatch No. 41, of the sth August, that the Queen's exequatur, empowering Mr. John'Dunean to act as Portuguese Consul at Wellington, received Her Majesty's signature on the 29th ultimo, and that the notification of Her Majesty's approval of this appointment appeared in the Gazette of the 30th ultimo. I have, &c, ROBERT G. W. HERBERT. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

A.-1,1891,N0.9.

No. 29. (New Zealand, No. 44.) My Loed, — Downing Street, 9th October, 1890. I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Ministers, a copy of a letter from the Admiralty, requesting that the thanks of the Lords Commissioners may be conveyed to the Department of Marine in New Zealand for the assistance rendered by them in connection with the revised edition of the " New Zealand Pilot." I have, &c. KNUTSFOED, Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Onslow, G.C.M.G., &c.

Enclosure. The Admibalty to the Colonial Office. Sib,— Admiralty, 3rd October, 1890. I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request that you will move the Secretary of State to cause their Lordships' thanks to be conveyed to the Marine Department of the Government of New Zealand for their courtesy in furnishing a large amount of useful information in aid of the revised edition of the " New Zealand Pilot," and also for the tracings and particulars relating to the coasts and harbours of that colony, which have been forwarded to this department from time to time. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Evan Macgeegor.

No. 30. (New Zealand, No. 48.) My Lobd, — Downing Street, 31st October, 1890. I have the honour to request that you will invite the attention of your Ministers to the steps which have been taken, and remain to be taken, in order to give effect to the agreement entered into at the Colonial Conference, held in London in 1887, by the representatives of seven Australian Colonies, for the purpose of providing an additional force to be employed for the protection of the