A.—2

16

Enclosure. Sir,— War Office, London, S.W., 4th August, 1905. I am commanded by the Army Council to ask you to bring it to the notice of Mr. Lyttelton that Brevet Lieut.-Colonel G. M. Kirkpatrick, of the general staff, has been directed to visit the Antipodes in order to study on the spot the strategic conditions and the local military systems. I am to request that the Governments of the Commonwealth and New Zealand may be asked to give this officer all facilities in the carrying out of this duty. He expects to sail from Marseilles by the P. and 0., leaving on the 3rd November, and should arrive at Perth, where he proposes to disembark, about the 30th November. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. E. W. D. Ward.

No. 15. (No. 60.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 19th August, 1905. I have the honour to transmit to you for the information of your Ministers the paper noted in the subjoined schedule. I have, &c, ALFRED LYTTELTON. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Sin, — Admiralty, 11th August, 1905. I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request you will inform the Secretary of State that Vice-Admiral Sir Wilmot Hawksworth Fawkes, X.C.V.0., has been appointed to succeed Vice-Admiral Sir A. D. Fanshawe as Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's ships and vessels on the Australian station. I am, <fee, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. C. J. Thomas.

No. 16. (No. 61.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 24th August, 1905. With reference to my telegram of the Ist instant, I have the honour to forward, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington, stating that a note has been received from the United States Acting-Secretary of State requesting that an expression of his Government's deep appreciation of the message of sympathy sent by your Ministers on the occasion of the death of Mr. Hay might be conveyed to your Government. I have &c, ALFRED LYTTELTON. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. My Lord, — British Embassy, Lenox, Massachusetts, 14th July, 1905. On the receipt of your Lordship's telegram (No. 94), I conveyed to the United States Government the message of sympathy sent by the Government of New Zealand on the occasion of the death of Mr. Hay. The Acting-Secretary of State has now addressed me a note requesting that an expression of his Government's deep appreciation of this sympathetic message may be transmitted through the appropriate channels to the Governor of New Zealand. I have, etc., The Marquess of Lansdowne, K.G., &c. H. M. Durand.

Date. From. To * i T~ Subject. ' ~r~ " " ~~ 11 August, 1905 .. Admiralty .. ; Colonial Office .. i Appointment of Commander-in-Chief on the Australian Station.