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No. 29. (No. 98.) Sib,— Wellington, 15th December, 1902. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch (New Zealand, General), dated the 24th October, 1902, relative to the further postponement of the International Telegraph Conference, which it is now proposed to hold in London on the 26th May, 1903. 2. I have further the honour to inform you that my Government will accept the invitation to attend, and have nominated on behalf of New Zealand the Agent-General for the Colony, the Hon. W. P. Reeves, to be associated with a delegate of the British Post Office. I have, &c, The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, RANFURLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1903, No. 51.

No. BO. (No. 100.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 15th December, 1902. In reply to your circular despatch of the 20th September, 1902, relative to regulations governing the grant of Volunteer long-service decorations, I have the honour to inform you that my Government will take the necessary steps to amend their regulations in accordance with the Royal warrant. I will forward the revised regulations when received from the Defence Department. • I have, &c, The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, RANEURLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 31. (No. 2.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 6th January, 1903. I have been requested by my Premier to inform you that, when in England, he made an application to the War Office for some of the trophies of the war to be supplied to New Zealand, more especially two field guns that were captured by the Seventh Contingent. My Government hope that this matter is receiving attention, and that a fair proportion of trophies may be sent to this colony. They are quite prepared to pay cost of freight, &c. I have, &c, The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, RANFURLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 32. (No. 4) Sib, — Government House, Wellington, 10th January, 1903. With reference to your despatch (New Zealand, General) dated the 9th September, 1902, on the subject of the Insured Letter Agreement, I have the honour to inform you that my Government state that there is no demand in this colony for the introduction of the arrangement for the insurance of letters ; the liberal scheme of insurance in connection with the parcel post being, in their opinion, sufficient to meet all reasonable wants. They have therefore decided to defer the further consideration of the insured letter system for the present. I have, &c, The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, RANFURLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.