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No. 6. (No. 12.) Sm, — Government House, Wellington, 13th February, 1900. I have the honour to inform you that the Third Contingent from New Zealand, being the First Eough-rider Contingent, will leave on Saturday next. The cost of outfit and transport is entirely met by voluntary contribution. 2. I informed my Ministers that Her Majesty's Government desired to pay the transport expenses, but my Premier pointed out to me that the people had offered this Contingent on these terms, that this had been accepted, and that they desired to carry out their original offer. 3. As regards the transport of the Fourth Contingent (or Second Boughriders), the Government, on behalf of the people, gladly accept the same. The number of this Contingent is at present unknown; it will, however, not be less than 250, with 300 horses. 4. I desire to add that the Contingent could be almost of any size, as the people are volunteering in hundreds in every centre, many offering, if accepted, to contribute largely to their own outfit. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. J. Chamberlain, EANFUELY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 7. (No. 13.) Sic, — Government House, Wellington, 23rd February, 1900. I have the honour to forward you a small box containing a Mangaian stone axe. This axe has been forwarded to me by Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon, British Eesident, Cook Islands, on behalf of Makea, chief of the Arikis, who trusts that Her Majesty will be graciously pleased to accept this small gift as a mark of her respect and sympathy. 2. I might take this opportunity to add that the people of the Cook Islands lately collected and sent to me £107 7s. 6d. to be placed to the Widows and Orphans Patriotic Fund, this amount being the result of one week's work, Makea, Ariki, informing me that the people of Earotonga were not only poor but few in number, and that the money was given as freely and with as much good feeling as though they had been born British subjects. 3. It will be of interest to Her Majesty to know how far-reaching is the loyalty and devotion of her most distant subjects, there being only twelve mails a year from New Zealand to these lonely islands. I have, <fee, The Eight Hon. J. Chamberlain, EANFUELY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 8. (No. 15.) Sic, — Government House, Wellington, 26th February, 1900. I have the honour to forward for your information a report from Lieut.Colonel W. E. Gudgeon, British Eesident, Earotonga, on the trade of the Cook Islands for the year ending 31st December, 1899. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. J. Chamberlain, EANFUELY. Secretary of State for the Colonies. [For Enclosure, see Parliamentary Paper A.-3, 1900, No. 21.]

No. 9. (No. 16.) Sic, — Government House, Wellington, 12th March, 1900. I have the honour to inform you that the Third Contingent left Lyttelton on the 17th February, in the s.s. " Knight Templar." They consisted