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No. 9. (No. 40.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 23rd June, 1899. I have the honour to inform you that the Hon. Sir Bobert Stout, K.C.M.G., has been offered and accepted the position of Chief Justice of this colony, in succession to His Honour Sir James Prendergast, Kt., retired. I enclose herewith a newspaper extract, showing Sir Bobert Stout's past career. I have, &c, The Bight. Hon. J. Chamberlain, BANFUBLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 10. (No. 41.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 27th June, 1899. With reference to your cablegram of the 22nd June, asking for an Acting Consul to be sent to Samoa, vice Mr. Maxse, I have the honour to inform you that prior to the arrival of your cable I had, on the receipt of a similar request from Mr. Eliot, Her Majesty's High Commissioner in Samoa, already appointed Major William Mair to that position, and that he left New Zealand for Samoa immediately the Government steamer " Tutanekai," then at Wellington, could reach Auckland to take him. Major Mair is at present in the New Zealand Civil Service as Native Land Court Judge, and my Government immediately consented to grant him three months' leave of absence, as the matter was urgent. Should any extension of time be required, I should be glad if you would send me a cable to enable me, if possible, to arrange with my Government for an extension of his leave and for the arrangement of his work, which will have become much in arrear. I have, &c, The Bight Hon. J. Chamberlain, BANFUBLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 11. (No. 43.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 6th July, 1899. I have the honour to submit for your consideration a copy of a memorandum from my Premier, requesting that Sir James Prendergast's name may be submitted to Her Majesty for the privilege of bearing the title of " Honourable," both within this colony and throughout the British dominions. I have much pleasure in recommending his past services to your favourable consideration. I have, &c, The Bight Hon. J. Chamberlain, BANFUBLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosures. Memorandum for His Excellency. Referring to Lord Carnarvon's despatch of 29th September, 1877, in which the Governor is informed that the Queen has approved of the recommendation that retired Judges of the Supreme Court of the Australasian Colonies should be allowed the privilege of bearing the title of " Honourable " for life within the colony, &c, and in which the Governor is further informed that he is at liberty to recommend for submission to the Queen the name of any Judge retiring from the Bench for these privileges, the Premier has now respectfully to submit to His Excellency the name of Sir James Prendergast, Kt., who retired from the position of Chief Justice of New Zealand on the 25th May last, for recommendation to the Secretary of State. And further, referring to the despatch from the Secretary of State dated 15th June, 1893, in which the Governor was apprised " that the title of ' Honourable,' appertaining to members of the Executive and Legislative Council, is approved by Her Majesty for use and recognition throughout her dominions," the Premier respectfully recommends, for submission to the Secretary of State, that a similar privilege may be extended to Sir James Prendergast. Premier's Office, Wellington, 3rd July, 1899. B. J. Seddon.