A.—2.

No. 33.

(No. 8.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 18th January, 1905. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, copy of a letter from the War Office, stating the basis on which honours have been allotted to the Eegular and Auxiliary Forces engaged in the South African campaign. I shall be glad if your Ministers will cause a list of claims from New Zealand corps to be prepared on an identical basis and submitted for approval. I have, &c, ALFEED LYTTELTON. Governor the Eight Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.V.O.

Enclosure. Sir,— War Office, London, S.W., 30th December, 1904. With reference to your letter No. 22279/1904, dated the 2nd September, 1904, and subsequent correspondence on the subject of honours for corps engaged in the South African campaign, I am directed by the Army Council to inform you that the following is the basis on which they have been allotted to the Regular and Auxiliary Forces. 2. All units which served in South Africa, as units, to bear upon their colours or appointments " South Africa," and the years during which or part of which they served in that country during the time the war was in progress. 3. As regards special actions, the following honours have been granted to units, providing the headquarters and not less than half their strength in South Africa were present at the engagements : Modder River, Paardeberg, Defence of Kimberley, Relief of Kimberley, Defence of Ladysmith, Relief of Ladysmith. 4. Yeomanry and Volunteer corps which furnished parties of twenty or more for service in South Africa have been granted " South Africa," with the year or years during which they served in the war. I am, &c, R. H. Brade. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office.

No. 34. (No. 26.) My Lord,— Downing Street, 24th March, 1905. In confirmation of my telegram of to-day's date, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, one sealed and six plain copies of an Order in Council declaring His Majesty's assent to the Eeserved Bill of the Parliament of New Zealand, shortly entitled " The Shipping and Seamen Act, 1903." I have, &c, ALFEED LYTTELTON. Governor the Eight Hon. Lord Plunket, X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 20th day of March, 1905. Present: the King's Most Excellent Majesty, Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord President, Lord Suffield, Sir William Walrond. Whereas by an Act passed in the session held in the fifteenth and sixteenth years of Her late Majesty's reign, entitled " An Act to grant a Representative Constitution to the Colony of New Zealand," it is, amongst other things, declared that no Bill which shall be reserved for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure thereon shall have any force or authority within the Colony of New Zealand until the Governor of the said colony shall signify, either by speech or message to the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said colony, or by Proclamation, that such Bill has been laid before His Majesty in Council, and that His Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same : And whereas a certain Bill passed by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said colony, entitled " An Act to consolidate and amend the Acts relating to Shipping and Seamen," was presented to the Governor of the said colony for His Majesty's assent : And whereas the said Bill was reserved by the said Governor for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure thereon : And whereas the said Bill so reserved as aforesaid has been laid before His Majesty in Council, and it is expedient that the said Bill should be assented to by His Majesty : Now, therefore, His Majesty, in pursuance of the said Act, and in exercise of the power thereby reserved to His Majesty as aforesaid, doth by this present Order, by and with the advice of His Majesty's Privy Council, declare His assent to the said Bill. A. W. Fitzroy.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (1,425 copies), ,£(> 12s.

I'rice 9d.]

Authority; John Mackay, Government Piinter, Wellington.—l9os,

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