A.—l.

4. My Prime Minister asks me to add his great regret that inconvenience should have been caused by this delay, which was not due to any want of appreciation of the action of the Secretary of State in affording this Colony an opportunity of obtaining these interesting documents. I have, &c, The Earl of Elgin, PLUNKET. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 5. (No. 46.) My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 25th June, 1907. I have the honour to forward herewith, in duplicate, copies of the following Ordinances relating to the Cook and other Islands : — Ordinance No. 19. —" Niue Island Quarantine Regulations Ordinance, 1906." Federal Ordinance No. 19.—" Immigrants Restriction Ordinance, 1907." Federal Ordinance No. 20. —" Resident Agents' Courts Jurisdiction Ordinance, 1907." Rarotonga Local Ordinance No. 6. —" Water-supply Regulations Ordinance, 1907." . I have, &c, The Earl of Elgin, PLUNKET. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 6. (No. 47.) My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 25th June, 1907. I have the honour to inform Your Lordship that I have now received a reply from my Government to your predecessor's circular despatch of the 26th January 1905. 2. My Ministers state that, as far as is known, the " White Slave Traffic " does not at present affect New Zealand, but the Government is prepared to become a party to the Convention. 3. As at present advised, it will not be necessary for this Colony to legislate upon the subject. 4. With reference to the authority to conduct any correspondence that may be required, as indicated in the last paragraph of the enclosure to Mr. Lyttelton's despatch (General) of the 10th November 1905, it is proposed to appoint the Commissioner of Police, Wellington, New Zealand. 5. My Ministers inform me that the delay, which has occurred in furnishing a reply to these despatches, has been occasioned in the absence of any information as to the existence in this Colony of " White Slave Traffic," and they trust that no inconvenience to His Majesty's Government has resulted from this delay I have, &o, The Earl of Elgin, PLUNKET. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 7. (No. 48.) My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 28th June, 1907. I have the honour to acknowledge Your Lordship's despatch (No. 22) of the 26th February last, on the subject of honorary distinctions granted to New Zealand Corps for services rendered during the late War in South Africa. 2. My Ministers desire me to convey their appreciation and thanks to His Majesty's Government for the distinction which has been conferred. I have, &c, The Earl of Elgin, PLUNKET, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1907, No. 18.

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