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The title will be recognised throughout Her Majesty's dominions in like manner as it is now recognised during the tenure of office of members of the Legislative Council in colonies possessing Responsible Government. I shall be glad if you will inform me at an early date whether it is the wish of your Ministers that a similar privilege should be accorded to gentlemen who have vacated their seats in the Legislative Council of the colony under your government after the like period of service. I have, &c, J. CHAMBERLAIN. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 26. (No. 57.) My Loed, — Downing Street, 21st November, 1896. I have the honour to transmit to you, for your consideration, a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, forwarding a note from the German Charge d'Affaires at this Court requesting that the German Consul-G-eneral at Sydney may be empowered to receive ' the property of German nationals dying intestate in New Zealand. I would refer you on this subject to your correspondence with my predecessor respecting a similar application from the Belgian Government. If your Government agree to the wishes of the German Government, I approve the nomination of the German Consul-General at Sydney to act in the capacity desired, under section 6 of the Act of 1891. I should be glad if you would inform me whether your Government approve the method of procedure suggested in the last paragraph of Prince Hohenlohe's despatch. I have, &c, J. CHAMBERLAIN. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &c.

A.-2, 1896, No. 4. A.-l, 1896, No. 2.

Enclosures. Sir,— Foreign Office, 31st October, 1896. I am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to transmit to you the accompanying translation of a note which has been received from the German Charge d'Affaires at this Court, in regard to the property of German subjects dying intestate in New Zealand. It will be observed that Prince Hohenlohe requests that, in view of recent colonial legislation, and of the arrangements which have been made in this respect with the Governments of Italy, Denmark, and Belgium, powers similar to those which appear to have been granted to the consular officers of those countries at Auckland and Melbourne respectively may be given to the German Consul-General at Sydney. I have to request that you will move Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to inform Lord Salisbury what answer should, in his opinion, be returned to Prince Hohenlohe's application, and what view he takes of the method of procedure which is proposed in the last paragraph of His Highness's note. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. T. H. Sanderson.

(Translation.) My Lord, — German Embassy, 17th October, 1896. The regulations concerning the property of German nationals dying intestate in New Zealand have hitherto given rise to considerable difficulties. Within the last few years, however, laws have been passed in New Zealand which have materially facilitated the proceedings. These are the Public Trust Office Acts Amendment Act (54 and 55 Vict., No. 41) and the Public Trust Office Consolidation Act (58 Vict., No. 50). The former law contains in paragraph 6 the following provisions : On the approval of Her Majesty, or one of the Cabinet Ministers of Great Britain, being signified to the Governor (i.e., of New Zealand), the highest consular authority appointed to act for a foreign State in New Zealand may be empowered to receive the property of any intestate, in so far as it accrues to the next of kin (of an intestate person) who are resident within the jurisdiction of such foreign State, and after the powers have been published in the Government journal (i.e., of New Zealand) such property can be handed over to such consular official, and his receipt shall be a sufficient release to the Public Trustee for all moneys paid to him in this manner. The second law lays down, in paragraph 61, among other things, that the provisions of the above-mentioned law of 1893 shall be so understood and interpreted as not to be in contradiction to the special provisions of the new law, and so as to be subordinated to those provisions.