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No. 12. (No. 57.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 7th August, 1903. I have received and laid before His Majesty the petition, signed by a large number of Maoris, praying that on the expiry of your term of office Mr. Seddon might be appointed to be Governor of the colony. The King has commanded me to desire you to convey to the petitioners his appreciation of their good wishes for Her Majesty and Himself, and of the satisfaction with which he gathers from their petition that they are happy and contented under the administration of his Government in New Zealand. His Majesty is well aware of and appreciates highly the services which Mr Seddon has rendered to New Zealand and the Empire; but it would be contrary to universal precedent to appoint as a Governor, whose impartiality must be beyond question, any gentleman who has been prominently engaged in the politics of the colony. I have, &c, J. CHAMBERLAIN. Governor the Right Hon the Earl of Ranfurly, G.C.M.G., &c.

No. 13. (Honours.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th August, 1903. With reference to my telegram of the 25th June, notifying the promotion of the Honourable Alfred Jerome Cadman to be a Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, I have the honour by command of the King to transmit to Your Lordship a Warrant, passed under the Royal Sign manual, and the Seal of the Order, authorising you to confer upon that gentleman the honour of Knighthood, and to invest him with the insignia of a Knight Commander of the Order, which are being sent to you in a separate packet. The Warrant should be handed to the Honourable A. J. Cadman after the completion of the ceremony. I also enclose for presentation to him a copy of the statutes of the Order, together with a letter addressed to him containing the Warrant conferring upon him the dignity of Knight Commander of the Order. I shall be glad to receive for record in the Chancery a full report of the procedings at the investiture. I have, &c, J. CHAMBERLAIN. Governor the Right Hon the Earl of Ranfurly, G.C.M.G., &c.

No. 14. (No. 61.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 22nd August, 1903. With reference to my despatch (No. 38), of the 22nd May, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copy of a letter from the Treasury enclosing a copy of the auditor's report on the accounts of the Pacific Cable Board for the year ended the 31st March last. 2. I shall be glad if your Ministers will make arrangements as soon as possible for paying to the Imperial Government the sum of £10,0-57 11s. 7d. I have, &c, J. CHAMBERLAIN. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Ranfurly, G.C.M.G., &c.

Enclosures Sir, — Treasury Chambers, 18th August, 1903. Adverting to Treasury letter of the 16th May last (8063/03), I am dirtcted by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you, for the information of Mr. Secretary Chamberlain, that the Pacific Cable Board's account of the expenses of the cable for the period