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No. 15. „ No. 91. My Lord, Downing Street, 29th May, 1908. With reference to my despatch No. 66 of the 30th of April, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have given careful consideration to the application made by your Government for a larger training ship for the training of boys and men for the Imperial Navy and Mercantile Marine, but that, with every desire to meet the wishes of the Dominion Government in the matter, they regret that there is at present no suitable vessel available which could be placed at the disposal of the Dominion for this purpose. 2. Their Lordships would however be glad, to advise and render all possible assistance in case your Government should decide to buy a vessel from the Mercantile Marine. I have etc., CREWE. Governor, the Rt. Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O. j

No. 16. No. 99. My Lord, Downing Street, sth June, 1908. With reference to the discussion of coastwise trade in the Pacific printed as pages 460/462 of the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Colonial Conference of 1907, I have the honour to transmit to you for the information of your Ministers, copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington forwarding copy of a Bill to permit the engagement of foreign vessels in the trade between the United States and Hawaii. I have etc., CRBWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O.

Enclosure. Commercial. Sir, Washington, 15th May, 1908. I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a bill which has been favourably reported by the Committee on Commerce of the House, suspending the restriction of navigation between the ports of Hawaii and the United States to the American Flag. An effort will be made to pass this Bill through Congress if possible this session or failing that in the Autumn. I have etc., The Rt. Hon. Sir Edward Grey. Jα me* Bryoe.

No. 17. No. 109. My Lord, Downing Street, 17th June, 1908. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 10 of the 17th March transmitting copy of a letter from, the Resident Commissioner of the Cook Islands in which it is suggested that certain islands in the Western Pacific should be placed under the jurisdiction of the Dominion. 2. The High Commissioner for the Western Pacific is likely to be in England shortly, and I will take the opportunity of discussing with him the subject of your despatch ; but, as at present advised, I am inclined to think that it is hardly opportune to move in the matter at present unless and until, occasion may arise for some wider rearrangement of the British dependencies in the Western Pacific. I shall be glad, if you will inform Sir Joseph Ward accordingly adding that a due note will be made of his wishes. I have etc., CREWE. Governor, the Rt. Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O, 2—A, 2.

A.-l, 1908. No. 34.