A.—2

8

No. 10. (No. 45.) My Loed,— Downing Street, 28th July, 1899. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch (No. 29), of the 29th May last, covering a memorandum by your Premier offering in case of necessity to place a force at the disposal of Her Majesty's Government for service in Samoa. Her Majesty's Government desire to renew the expression of their grateful appreciation of the generous and patriotic spirit shown by New Zealand in connection with the disturbances in Samoa, but, so far as can be seen at present, no occasion for sending an armed force to the group seems likely to arise. I have, &c, J. CHAMBERLAIN. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Ranfurly, K.C.M.G., &c.

A.-l, 1900, No. 4.

No. 11. (No. 48.) My Loed, — Downing Street, 16th August, 1899. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch (No. 40), of the 23rd June last, reporting the appointment of Sir Robert Stout, K.C.M.G., as Chief Justice of New Zealand. I have, &c, J. CHAMBERLAIN. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Ranfurly, K.C.M.G., &c.

A.-l, 1900, No. 9.

No. 12. (No. 49.) My Loed, — Downing Street, 16th August, 1899. 1 have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch (No. 39), of the 23rd June last, reporting the appointment of Messrs. P. H. Fraser, H. Gourley, and Colonel A. Pitt to seats in the Legislative Council. I have, &c, J. CHAMBERLAIN. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Ranfurly, K.C.M.G., &c.

A.-l, 1900, No. 8.

No. 13. (No. 51.) My Loed, — Downing Street, 24th August, 1899. I have the honour to transmit to you, with reference to my despatch (No. 36), of the 30th June last, the accompanying copies of an Order of Her Majesty in Council of the Bth instant, amending the Pacific Order in Council, 1893, so as to provide for the appointment of the Chief Justice for the time being of the Cook Islands as a Judicial Commissioner. 2. The High Commissioner for the Western Pacific has been instructed to appoint Colonel Gudgeon accordingly. I have, &c, J. CHAMBERLAIN. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., &c.

No. 7.

Enclosure. At the Court at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, the Bth day of August, 1899. Present: The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, Lord Chancellor, Lord President, Lord James of Hereford, Sir Meetwood Edwards. Whekbas it is expedient to amend the Pacific Order in Council, 1893 (hereinafter called " the principal order"), so as to enable the Chief Justice for the time being of the High Court of the Cook Islands Protectorate to be appointed a Judicial Commissioner for the purposes of the principal Order: Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by virtue and in exercise of the powers in this behalf by " The British Settlements Act, 1887," the Pacific Islanders Protection Acts, and "The Foreign Jurisdic-