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the wish expressed by my Government, to cause an Order in Council to be issued applying " The [Imperial] Probates Act, 1892 " (55 Vict., cap. 6), to the Colony of New Zealand. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. GLASGOW.

Enclosure. Memorandum for His Excellency. 26th July, 1892. The Premier begs respectfully to forward, for His Excellency's information, the attached correspondence between the Agent-General for New Zealand and the Government relative to the Imperial Colonial Probates Act, 55 Vict., cap. 6, and to request His Excellency to be good enough to recommend to the Secretary of State for the Colonies the issue of an Order in Council applying the Act to this colony. J. Ballance.

Sub-enclosures. Colonial Probates Act. The Hon. the Premier. 7th June, 1892. I beg leave to transmit a copy of letter from Messrs. Mackrell, Maton, and Godlee, directing attention to the Imperial Colonial Probates Act, and suggesting that steps be taken to make the Act applicable to New Zealand. I shall be glad to receive instructions as to the course which the Government would wish me to adopt in this matter. W. B. Perceval.

Dear Sir, — Cannon Street, London, E.C., 2nd June, 1892. Herewith we beg to hand you a print of the Colonial Probates Act, which, no doubt, you have already noticed. We venture, however, to suggest whether you would think it advisable to take immediate steps to make the Act applicable to the Colony of New Zealand. We call attention to the matter because we frequently receive exemplifications from the Public Trustee, and it appears to us it would be a great saving of trouble and expense if we could have the exemplification resealed here in lieu of taking out fresh letters of administration, as we have now to do. It appears to us that the Deceased Persons' Estates Duties Act, 49 Vict., cap. 21, provides (sections 5, 6, and 7) for such a recognition of probates granted in this country as is proposed by the new statute, and it has occurred to us that an Order in Council might be made on the effect of that statute being communicated to the proper quarter. We have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Mackrell, Maton, and Godlee.

Sir,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 26th July, 1892. Beferring to your Memorandum No. 756, of the 7th ultimo, covering copy of a letter from Messrs. Mackrell, Maton, and Godlee, directing attention to the Imperial Colonial Probates Act, I have the honour to inform you that I am advised that the provisions of " The [New Zealand] Deceased Persons' Estates Duties Act 1881 Amendment Act, 1885," sections 5, 6, and 7, will satisfy the terms of section 1 of the Imperial Act, 55 Vict., cap. 6, and enable an Order in Council to be made applying the latter Act to this colony. All that appears to be necessary is to request you to be good enough to take the necessary steps for that purpose. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. J. Ballance.

No. 9. The Earl of Glasgow to the Seceetary of State for the Colonies. My Lord,— Wellington, 16th August, 1892. I have the honour to acknowledge the telegram which I received on the 11th instant from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, a copy of which is forwarded by this mail to the Colonial Office in the usual manner; also a copy of my telegram in reply to above. I trust that the latter made my estimate of the strength of the Council clear to his Lordship the late Secretary of State. I regret that he found it necessary to telegraph, because I am obliged to infer that he could not have received any despatch on the subject from my predecessor. Your Lordship will be aware that the same advice that I declined to accept was tendered by Ministers to Lord Onslow just before he left New Zealand; and that he left a confidential memorandum addressed to his successor, detailing what had happened and giving his reasons. It was only because I was persuaded that these reasons had been fully laid before the Secretary of State for the Colonies that I refrained from going fully into them, although I gave my reasons for their adoption in writing my despatch of the 22nd June.