A.—2

10

En vous priant de vouloir bien nous dire si notre maniere de comprendre les lois dcs deux colonies est correcte et si nous devons, ou non, retarder la publication y relative, nous vous pr6senton3, Monsieur, l'assurance de notre haute consideration. Bureau International de l'Union de la Propriete Industrielle. Le Secretaire General, Moeel. The Assistant-Secretary, Bailway Department, Board of Trade, London, S.W.

No. 14. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 14th February, 1891. With reference to Lord Kimberley's circular despatch of the 21st September, 1882, and to paragraphs 33 and 38 of the enclosure to my circular despatch of the 30th April, 1890, I have the honour to inform you that it has been represented to me that it might tend to greater expedition and efficiency in the apprehension in the United Kingdom, on provisional warrants, of fugitive offenders from the colonies, if colonial Governments having Agents-General in London were to send telegrams requesting provisional arrest direct to the AgentsGeneral, and the Agents-General were to apply to the Magistrate for a provisional warrant, without the intervention of the Home Government; or that still greater expedition might be secured if all colonial Governments, whether having AgentsGeneral in London or not, could telegraph requests for provisional arrest direct to the Metropolitan Police, and the police were authorised on the receipt of such a telegram to apply immediately for a warrant. The Secretary of State for the Home Department is prepared to instruct the police so to act with reference to any colony whose Government shall have agreed that such telegrams shall be taken to imply a guarantee that the expenses will be paid, and I request that you will inform me at your earliest convenience whether your Government agree to such implied guarantee for the payment of expenses, and, if so, from what Minister or officer the guaranteed telegrams will emanate. In any case in which you may receive a telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies applying for the arrest of a fugitive offender from England it is to be understood that the English Government guarantees the expenses of the apprehension. I have, &c, KNUTSFOBD. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

A.-2, 1891, Sess 1., No. 8.

No. 15. Telegram from Governor, New South Wales. 4th March, 1891. Following from Secretary of State : Washington Maritime Conference last year recommends following international system of buoys : Colour—Starboard, red; port, black or particolour. Middle-ground buoys, horizontal bands. Shape for distinction : starboard, conical; port, can or spar. Committee appointed Board of Trade, Duke of Edinburgh presiding, are prepared to advise Washington plan for United Kingdom. Would colonial Governments follow ? Telegraph reply.

No. 16. (New Zealand—General.) My Lord, — Downing Street ■, 9th March, 1891. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's despatch, No. 1, of the 10th January, stating that the Commercial Convention between Great Britain and Egypt of the 29th October, 1889, has been gazetted in the colony, and to point out to your Lordship that what was desired to be ascertained by my circular despatch of the 20th March, and my despatch "general" of the 24th November last, was whether your Government wished that the stipulations of the Convention should be made applicable to the colony. I shall be glad to be favoured with the decision of your Government on this point. I have, &c. KNUTSFOBD. Governor the Bight Hon. the Earl of Onslow, G.C.M.G., &c.