A. -2.

14

of correspondence with His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington, from which it appears that the Government of the United States are not at the present moment prepared to accept a bilateral arrangement for postage at the rate of 2 cents between the United States and New Zealand. I have etc., CREWE. Governor, the Rt. Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O.

Enclosures. Telegram to Mr. Howard, Manchester, Massachusetts, No. 12 Treaty, dated August 31st, 1908. Penny Postage with United States. Please enquire of United States Government whether, in view of recent agreement with United Kingdom to take effect on October Ist, they would be prepared, if New Zealand Government so desire, to agree to a bilateral arrangement for penny postage between that Colony and United States in lieu of unilateral arrangement of November Ist, 1906. Sir, British Embassy, Manchester, Mass., September 30th, 1908. On receipt of your telegram No. 12 of this series Mr. Howard addressed a note to the State Department asking whether the United States Government would in view of the recent agreement with Great Britain be disposed to agree to a bilateral arrangement for postage at the rate of 2 cents (one penny) between this country and New Zealand. I have today received a reply to my communication from the Acting Secretary of State informing me that the Postmaster-General is unable at the present time to favourably consider this proposed reduction in the postage rate. I have etc., The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart. James Bryce.

No. 26. No. 175. My Lord, Downing Street, 22 Oct., 1908. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 47 of the 21st of June on the subject of the treatment of Commercial Travellers' Samples, entering New Zealand. 2. The Board of Trade, to whom I communicated a copy of your despatch, are in some doubt whether the statement to the effect that the procedure referred to in Lord Elgin's despatch No. 51 of the 31st March is in keeping with the present practice in New Zealand, refers to the provisions for the mutual recognition of Customs marks and lists, or merely to the provisions for the refund of duty on reexportation, and they would be glad if you would be so good as to obtain from your Ministers definite information on this point. I have etc., CREWE. Governor, the Rt. Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O.

No. 27. No. 177. My Lord, Downing Street, 23rd October, 1908. I have the honour to transmit to you for the information of your Ministers the papers noted in the subjoined schedule on the subject of the prohibition of the importation of fowls from New Zealand into Samoa. I have etc., CREWE.

The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Date. Description. }rd Oct. From H.M, Ambassador, Berlin Office. to Foreign