A.—2

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No. 25. (New Zealand, No. 44.) My Loed, — Downing Street, 15th September, 1892. I have the honour to acquaint you that an application has been received from the German Ambassador at this Court on the subject of the appointment of Mr. Henry George Timms, as Acting German Consul at Christchurch (his father, who held the post of Consul for Germany at that place, having died). As this gentleman appears to be resident in the colony under your Government, I have to request you to report whether you are aware, or not, of any objection to this appointment; and, if not, you will recognise him in that acting capacity. I have, &c, E. H. MEADE (For the Secretary of State). The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 26. (New Zealand, General.) My Lobd, — Downing Street, 22nd September, 1892. With reference to my predecessor's circular despatch of the 15th July, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a translation of a note from the Austro-Hungarian Government to Her Majesty's Ambassador at Vienna, acknowledging the receipt of the act of ratification of the Vienna Postal Union Convention and final protocol which has been executed on behalf of your Government. I have, &c, BIPON. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &c.

A.-2, 1893, No. 13.

Enclosure. (Copy, Translation.) Vienna, sth September, 1892. The Imperial and Boyal Ministry for Foreign Affairs has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the Embassy's notes of the 15th and 18th ultimo, in which His Excellency the Ambassador was pleased to transmit to it the ratifications respecting the International Postal Convention concluded on the 4th of July last in Vienna, together with the final protocol on the part of the Colonies of Canada, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, British New Guinea, and Natal. The ratifications have been placed in the archives.

No. 27. (New Zealand, No. 47.) My Lobd, — Downing Street, 26th September, 1892. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 38, of the Bth of August, respecting the question which had arisen between yourself and your Ministers with regard to certain proposed nominations to the Legislative Council of New Zealand. 2. This question has been referred for my consideration by agreement between you and your Ministers. I have carefully considered it, and, in doing so, I desire to say that I fully appreciate the difficult position to which you succeeded immediately on your arrival in the colony to assume for the first time the duties of a colonial Governor. I had, however, no hesitation in advising you by telegraph on the 24th instant to accept the recommendation of your Lordship's Ministers ; and I now proceed to indicate the reasons which led me to that conclusion. 3. The Legislative Council, as I understand, consisted at the date of your despatch of thirty-five members, and your Government proposed that to this number an addition should be made of twelve, making altogether a Chamber of forty-seven members, a number which is not larger than that which has existed in previous years, and the case is therefore distinguishable from those in other colonies where it was proposed to make so many additions that the Chamber would have exceeded all previous limits.

A.-l, 1893, No. 6