9

A.—2

tion Act, 1890," or otherwise in Her Majesty vested, is pleased, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, as follows: — 1. This Order may be cited as " The Pacific Order in Council 1893 Amendment Order, 1899," and shall be read and construed as part of " The Pacific Order in Council, 1893." 2. The High Commissioner may from time to time in the name and on behalf of Her Majesty, by writing under his hand and seal, appoint the person for the time being holding the office of Chief Justice of the High Court of the Cook Islands Protectorate, to be a Judicial Commissioner for the purposes of the principal Order. A Judicial Commissioner appointed under this Order may be suspended or removed by the High Commissioner, by writing under his hand and seal showing the grounds of suspension or removal, and the same shall be reported forthwith to the Secretary of State. A Judicial Commissioner appointed under this Order shall cease to be a Judicial Commissioner on ceasing to be the Chief Justice of the High Court of the Cook Islands Protectorate. A Judicial Commissioner appointed under this Order shall exercise the jurisdiction of the High Commissioner's Court within the limits of the Cook Islands Protectorate and not elsewhere. A. W. Fitzeoy.

No. 14. (No. 55.) My Lobd, — Downing Street, 15th September, 1899. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch i (No. 47), of the 12th July last, enclosing copies of the Speech with which you } opened Parliament on the 7th of that month, and of the Addresses of both Houses in reply. I have, &c, J. CHAMBEELAIN. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., &c.

A.-l, 1900, No. 14.

No. 15. (General.) My Lobd, — Downing Street, 22nd September, 1899. In reply to your Lordship's despatch (No. 86), of the sth of July, 1898, a I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Admiralty, * stating that the Lords Commissioners agree that New Zealand should be permitted to use the colonial badge on the red ensign, and enclosing the necessary warrant. It will also be seen, from the same letter, that directions were to be given by the Lords Commissioners for the necessary correction in the flag-book, substituting a white for a blue ground in the drawing of the badge of the colony. With reference to paragraphs 1 and 4 of your despatch, I have to enclose a copy of a letter from the Board of Trade, stating that it has not been found possible to show, in the new edition of the International Code of Signals, the badges used by any of the colonial Government steamers on the blue or red ensigns, for the reasons given, but that a note has been added against the illustration of the blue ensign, which appears on page iv. of the new code, to the effect that the ensign with a badge is used by Home and Colonial Government departments. I have, &c, J. CHAMBEELAIN. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., &c.

A.-l, 1899, No. 8.

Enclosures. Sic, — Admiralty, 7th February, 1899. With reference to your letter of the 10th ultimo (No. 20588/98), transmitting an extract from a despatch from the Governor of New Zealand conveying a recommendation that New Zealand vessels should be permitted to use the colonial badge on the red ensign, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that they agree to comply with the request, and to transmit herewith the necessary warrant to be forwarded to the New Zealand Government. 2. I am further to observe, with reference to your letter of the 16th August last (No. 17976/98), that directions will be given for the necessary correction in the flag-book to substitute a white for a blue ground in the drawing of the badge of the colony. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Evan McGbegoe.

2—A. 2.