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encourage the introduction of foreign-cured fish of any description into this colony, and consequently there is no opening for Irish-cured mackerel here. The Eight Hon. the Marquis of Eipon, G.C.M.G., GLASGOW. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 3. (No. 40.) My Loed, — Government House, Wellington, Ist September, 1894. In reply to your circular despatch dated sth June, 1894, I have the honour to inform you that my Government desire that the Convention and Order in Council therein mentioned should be applied to this colony. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Marquis of Eipon, G.C.M.G., GLASGOW. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2,1895 No. 2.

No. 4. . (No. 44.) My Loed, — Government House, 20th September, 1894. I have the honour to acknowledge your despatch (New Zealand, No. 29) dated 27th June, in reply to mine of 26th December (No. 61), with regard to the position of the Cook Group of Islands, &c. In compliance with your request, I have the honour to inform you that I have communicated with my Ministers with regard to the reply to be made to your Lordship's inquiry, if the Government of New Zealand would continue to defray the expense of the Eesident's salary, in the event of the control of the British Eesident at Earotonga being transferred to the High Commissioner. The view held by my Ministers on this question will be found by your Lordship in my Premier's Memorandum No. 68, dated 6th September, a copy of which I have the honour to enclose. Your Lordship will observe that my Ministers express the opinion that the colony prefers to have the islands annexed. With regard to this assertion, made as it is by the Eesponsible Ministers of the colony, I do not think that I am called upon to express my views, and I therefore transmit the memorandum to your Lordship without comment; but I take leave respectfully to remark that, as far as I have been able to form an opinion, if the result ofthe refusal of my Government to pay the salary is the discontinuance of the appointment of Eesident in those islands, it would be at once a misfortune for the group and a blow to British influence in the South Pacific. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Marquis of Eipon, G.C.M.G., GLASGOW. Downing Street, London.

A.-2,1895, No. 8.

Enclosure. Memorandum for His Excellency. (No. 68.) Premier's Office, Wellington, 6th September, 1894. The Premier begs to return the despatch No. 29, of the 27th June, from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and, with reference to the last paragraph, to remark that by this time Lord Eipon will have gathered from the Premier's Memorandum No. 64, of the 24th July last, that there had been a misunderstanding between His Excellency and Ministers as to the transference of the control of the British Eesident to the High Commissioner. Ministers consider that the position of the Eesident should be defined by the Imperial Government without any formal statement from Ministers on the subject, other than that embodied in the correspondence of which the memorandum above referred forms a part. The Premier has only to add that this colony prefers to have the islands annexed. If, however, the complete control is assumed by the Imperial Government, this Government declines to continue to defray the expense of the Eesident's salary. E. J. Seddon.