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Enclosure. Branding of Sheep with Tar. Sir, — Incorporated Chamber of Commerce, Halifax, 20th March, 1896. The attention of the council of this Chamber has been called to the very serious drawbacks that occur to spinners and manufacturers owing to the use of tar and similar substances in the marking of sheep. A large quantity of wool is used in the manufacture of carpets and similar productions, which does not undergo the process of sorting, and, although employe's are cautioned to exercise due care and vigilance to take out any tar-marked wool they may discover, yet it frequently happens that tar-marks in small quantities pass through the various stages into the finished goods, thereby causing considerable damage and loss. I am therefore directed to ask that you will call the attention of foreign Consuls in woolproducing countries to this complaint, with a view to their inducing farmers to adopt some other means of identification ; or, if marking is to be adhered to, then, in that case, some substance should be used which, whilst capable of outliving the ordinary conditions of weather in the open, would yield to and become dissolved by the regular process of wool-washing. The value of the wool under these new conditions would be considerably enhanced. I have, &c, The Secretary of State, Colonial Department. J. Bobertshaw, Secretary.

No. 4. (General.) My Loed, — ' Downing Street, 2nd April, 1896. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's despatch, No. 2, of the sth February, and to acquaint you that by a notification dated the 30th March, which will appear in the London Gazette of the 3rd instant, the Queen has been pleased to approve of the retention of the title of " Honourable " by Mr. William Pember Eeeves, on his quitting office after more than three years' service as a member of the Executive Council of the Colony of New Zealand, and that Mr. Eeeves has been informed. I have, &c, J. CHAMBEELAIN. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &c.

No. 5. (No. 21.) My Loed, — Downing Street, 21st April, 1896. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 57, a.-i, 1896, of the 10th December, enclosing copies of communications which have passed No - 22 - -between the High Commissioner and yourself regarding regulations and jurisdiction in the Cook Islands. With reference to the remarks in the second paragraph of your despatch, I have to observe that the inconvenience to which you refer is not of a serious nature, and is not likely to recur often now that the High Commissioner has been instructed not to pass regulations extending to the group. It does not in any case appear to warrant a disturbance of the existing arrangement defined in my predecessor's despatch, No. 2, of the 7th January, a.-2, 1895, 1895, and accepted by your Ministers in their memorandum of the 9th May, 1895, No - 18, which accompanied your despatch, No. 21, of the 6th June. A.-i,i896, If, however, your Ministers are dissatisfied with the arrangement, and are No ' x ' still prepared, as stated in your memorandum of the 6th September, 1894, to A.-1,1895, accept the annexation of the islands to New Zealand, I should be disposed to take No, 4their wishes into consideration, provided that such a measure would not provoke opposition by the natives. I have, &c, J. CHAMBBELAIN. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &c.

No. 6. (No. 29.) My Loed,— Downing Street, 2.9 th May, 1896. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 13, of the 16th April, enclosing copy of a despatch from the Eesident at Karotonga,