A.—l.

and shows that the question was not whether Lord Derby's clause should be substituted for the clause in the Bill, but whether Parliament had or had not the right to insert a reservation clause at all. The Premier felt that he could not for one moment admit that the clause in the Bill was in any way an invasion of the Governor's prerogative. R. J. Seddon. Premier's Office, Wellington, 28th June, 1901.

No. 28. (No. 53.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 27th June, 1901. I have the honour to forward you herewith a letter I have received from the Eight Hon. the Premier. This letter, though dated the 17th May, did not reach me till the 3rd June, and was held over, with his consent, to the present mail, owing to the great pressure of work caused by the Eoyal visit. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. J. Chamberlain, EANFUELY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosure. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Premier presents his compliments, and desires His Excellency to forward the enclosed communication to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The communication in question deals with a matter of vital importance to the people of Great Britain and its dependencies. One and all must admit, in respect to the technical education of our young people, and the training of the artizans and skilled classes, we are much behind other nations, and in a great measure the improved position of the industries of these nations arises from this cause. It is the Premier's anxiety, with a view of retaining British trade and maintaining our industrial superiority, that he ventures to call attention to a long-felt want. Premier's Office, Wellington, 18th May, 1901. R. J. Seddon. Sib— Premier's Office, Wellington, 17th May, 1901. I have the honour to ask your kind attention and consideration for the following subject: — No memorial that could be raised in honour of our late Gracious Sovereign Queen Victoria would show such true understanding and sympathy with the intention and genius of her rule as a living institution designed to add to the prosperity of the British Empire and amplify its expansion. I propose that a national technical university be erected in London, to which the youth of Great Britain and the colonies would concentre, there to be trained in all that science, art, and industry can do to make commercial enterprise successful. At present there is a great lack of organized effort in this direction among English-speaking peoples, and we shall certainly fall behind the better-trained nations of the Continent unless we are prepared to fit our children with the best industrial armour and weapons. Every year more and more young men go to the seats of learning in Great Britain to finish their education, and there could be no more graceful tribute to the memory of our late Sovereign than for the colonies to participate in laying the foundation of an institution around which the brightest intellects of the Empire will concentrate in the coming centuries. I trust that the other colonies and dependencies of the Empire will perceive the value and sympathise with the aims of the institution now proposed, and that united action may result in an Imperial technical university being founded in the capital of the Empire. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Mr. Chamberlain, R. J. Seddon. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 29. (No. 55.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 28th June, 1901. I have the honour to inform you that Their Eoyal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York left Lyttelton for Hobart on the evening of the 27th June. 2. Their stay in the colony has given great satisfaction, and has endeared them to the hearts of the people of New Zealand.

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