15

A.—2

Enclosures. Sir, Berlin, October 3rd, 1908. I have the honour to transmit, herewith, translation of a Decree of the Governor of Samoa of the 21st of July last, published in the Kolonialblatt of the Ist instant, prohibiting the importation of fowls from New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga. I have etc., Sir Edward Grey, Bart,, M.P. Frank C. Lascelles. Translation of Order or the Governor of Samoa, regarding the Prohibition to import Fowls from New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga, of July 2] at, 1908. In virtue of Section 15 of the Protectorate Law (Reichs-Gesetzbl, 1900 p. 813) and in connection with Section 5 of the decree of the Imperial Chancellor of September 27th 1903 (Kolonialblatt, p. 509) regarding the powers of the " Seemannsamt " and the Consulates, and the rights of the authorities in the Protectorates of Africa and the South Sea to issue orders, the following is hereby ordered : Section 1. The importation of fowls from-New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga is prohibited till further notice. Fowls arriving in July or August of this year from the above named countries, may, on the demand of the recipient be isolated by the Police Authorities. The recipient must bear the costs. Section 2. Contraventions will be punished as infraction of the law. Section 3. This order comes into force at the time of For the Imperial Governor. Apia, 21st July, 1908. Schultz.

No. 28. No. 192. My Lord, Downing Street, 17th November, 1908. My attention has been called to the questions of medical attendance and of aid to native planters in Raratonga to which reference is made at pp. 3, 7, 8, 11-13 of the Report on Cook and other Islands. (New Zealand Parliamentary Paper A.3.1908) 2. It would be of interest and guidance to me in dealing with other native territories to learn in due course what steps may be taken by your Government with regard to these questions, and I should be grateful to your Ministers for any information of the kind hereafter. I have etc., CREWE. Governor, the Rt. Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O.

No. 29. New Zealand, No. 197. My Lord, Downing Street, 23rd November, 1908. With reference to my despatch No. 69 of the 6th of May I have the honour to transmit to you to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter from the Admiralty on the subject of the prospects of oil being discovered in New Zealand. 2. I have to request that your Ministers will be so good as to furnish me with a report on the questions asked by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. I have etc., CREWE. Governor, the Rt. Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O.

Enclosure. Str, Admiralty, 16th November, 1908. I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you for the information of the Secretary of State that their attention has been directed to the prospects of oil being discovered in New Zealand where it is understood the geological indications are favourable to the presence of Petroleum especially in the North Island of the Dominion and where oil-drilling has already been carried out with some measure of result. The Earl of Crewe is already aware from previous correspondence how deeply the Admiralty is interested in oil developments in British Colonies and My Lords are desirous of ascertaining whether, as in the case of the Island of Trinidad, a comprehensive survey of the oil bearing territory of North Island has been undertaken by the Geological Department of New Zealand, and whether records have been compiled of the drilling operations that have been carried out up to the present time.