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Enclosure. Sic,— Admiralty, 10th March, 1900. My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, having had before them your letter of the 27th ultimo (No. 5889), desire me to request you will represent to Mr. Secretary Chamberlain that they have always been ready to assist in resurveys of waters desired by the Government of self-governing colonies, provided that there is a surveying-ship available, and on the understanding that the colony will contribute half the cost of the survey. My Lords concur that there are many parts of the coasts of New Zealand which need closer surveys to meet modern requirements, and will endeavour to aid the colony ; but at the present moment all the small force of surveying-vessels at the disposal of the Admiralty is engaged on urgent work elsewhere, and none could possibly be diverted during the present year. It is not, however, understood that there is in the present request urgency for any particular piece of work, but rather a desire for a commencement of a resurvey of New Zealand waters in general where needed, a task which would occupy many years. The staff of surveying-ships is too small to permit of an engagement being made to carry on a survey for a long series of years, as urgent calls may arise elsewhere ; but their Lordships are ready, after hearing again from the colony, to endeavour to arrange that a ship shall be sent in 1901, and that she shall be kept at work so long as other calls permit. It is desirable to state, to prevent future misunderstanding, that my Lords have found it necessary, in cases where these joint surveys are carried on, to retain in their own hands the decision as to what places or waters should be surveyed, as they cannot consent to the time of trained naval surveyors being occupied in making plans (as they have often been asked to do) of small or shallow ports that are only of local interest, and that can be mapped by engineers or land-surveyors. My Lords would, of course, endeavour to meet the views of the colony as to the portions which should first be undertaken, and they will be glad to receive a list, arranged in order of urgency, of the ports and coasts which it is considered need early survey. I am directed to state, for the information of the colony, that the full cost of a survey varies, according to the size of the ship and staff, from £10,000 to £15,000 per annum, one-half of which would fall on the colony. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. H. J. Vansittaet Nealb.

No. 11. (No. 14.) My Loed, — Downing Street, 23rd March, 1900. I have the honour to inform you that the Secretary of State for War has now decided to accept the charge of the pay of chaplains accompanying the colonial contingents against army funds. I have, &c, J. CHAMBEELAIN. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Ranfnrly, K.C.M.G., &c.

No. 12. (General.) My Loed, — Downing Street, 31st March, 1900. In reply to your Lordship's despatch (No. 11) of the 13th February, I have the honour to inform you that the Queen has been pleased to approve of the retention of the title of " Honourable " by Mr. Thomas Thompson, who has served for more than three years as a member of the Executive Council of the Colony of New Zealand. A notice to this effect will be published in the London Gazette. I have, &c, J. CHAMBEELAIN. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Ranfurly, K.C.M.G., &c.

A.-l, 1901 No. 5.

No. 13. (Circular.) Sic,— Downing Street, 2nd April, 1900. I have the honour to inform you that my attention has been called to the fact that in various British colonies privileges which are accorded to British pharmacists are not extended to Irish pharmacists. 2. lam not aware of any justification for this discrimination. It appears, indeed, to have had its origin merely in the overlooking of the fact that the Imperial Pharmacy Act of 1868 applies only to Great Britain, separate provision being made for Ireland by " The Pharmacy Act (Ireland), 1875," and " The Pharmacy Act (Ireland) 1875 Amendment Act, 1890." -