A.- -4a.

Correspondence.

No. 1. Newfoundland. Governor Sir Wμ. MacGregor to Mr. Lyttelton. (Received December, 2, 1905.) S IRj Government House, St. John's, November 18, 1905. With reference to your despatch of 16th October, I have the honour to inform you that my Ministers agree in principle to the institution of the contemplated Joint Commission. I have, Arc, - Wμ. MacGj:egoh.

No. 2. Canada. Governor-General Earl Grey to Mr. Lyttelton. (Received 7.50 p.m., December 5, 1905.) (Telegram.) Referring to your telegram of 29th November, Responsible Ministers have no objection to Colonial Conference being held in 1907 instead of 1906.

No. 3. Natal. Governor Sir H. E. McOallum to the Earl of Elgin. (Received 11 a.m., December 22, 1905.) (Telegram.) December 22.—N0. I.—Referring to your telegram, 29th November, Ministers are agreeable to postponement of next Colonial Conference until 1907.

No. 4. Cape Colony. Governor Sir W. F. Heley-Hutchinson to Mr. Lyttelton. (Received December 23, 1905.) g tH Government House, Cape Town, December 6, 1905. 1 have the honour to transmit to you the document specified in the annexed schedule. I have, &c, Walter Hely-Hutchinson

Date. Description of Document. 6th December, 1905 .. Minute from Ministers : Date of meeting of the next Colonial Conference.

Enclosure in No. 4. Ministers to Governor. (Minute.) Prime Minister's Office, Cape Town, December 6, 1905. In acknowledging the receipt of His Excellency the Governor's minute of the 30th ultimo, transmitting a copy of a telegram from the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated the 29th idem, relative to the date of meeting of the next Colonial Conference, Ministers have the honour to state in reply that they are desirous that the Conference should meet in the year 1906, due consideration being given, however, to the wishes and necessities of the various colonial Governments in regard to the actual date of assembly. T. W. Smartt.

No. 5. Australia. Governor-General Loud Northcote to the Earl of Elgin. (Received 7.50 a.m., December 23, 1905.) 11-rfrrhtno to your telegram of 29tli November, Colonial Conference, Government have no objection to postponement, 1907.

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