A.—2

of the public service and other important problems consequent on the establishment of Union, they still consider it undesirable to authorize for a considerable time to come the absence from South Africa of responsible permanent officials, and they will therefore not be represented at the Conference. The Government of Newfoundland also is unable to be represented; and the Conference will therefore be confined to representatives of the Dominion of Canada (Dr. E. Deville, Surveyor-General), of New Zealand, the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Australian States with the exception of South Australia (Mr. E. A. Counsel, Surveyor-General of Tasmania, and Mr. Allan Spowers, Surveyor-General of Tasmania). I have, &c. L. HAECOUET. Governor the Right-Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 130. New Zealand, No. 53. My Lord, — Downing Street, 15th February, 1911. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 138, of the 3rd November, 1910, on the subject of the nomination and examination of New Zealand candidates for naval cadetships. 2. In reply, I have to request that you will invite the attention of your Ministers to my predecessor's despatch (General) of the 10th September, 1904, from which you will see that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have agreed not to exclude from nominations qualified candidates who were educated in England, but that such candidates must in the first instance appear before the Admiralty Interview Committee, and will count as New Zealand nominees if they are selected to qualify for the qualifying literary examination. 3. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, however, trust that nominations may, as far as possible, be confined to boys who are being educated in the Dominion I have, &c. L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 131. New Zealand.—Miscellaneous. My Lord, — Downing Street, 13th February, 1911. I have the honour to request that your Lordship will inform your Ministers that the King has been pleased, on my recommendation, to grant to Ministers of the Dominion of New Zealand the privilege of wearing in future the civil uniform of the second class instead of that of the third class. I have, &c. L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 132. Dominions. —Circular. My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th February, 1911. I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that it is the wish of His Majesty the King that his birthday should be officially celebrated in his dominions beyond the seas on the actual date of the anniversary —viz., 3rd June. I have, &c. L. HARCOURT. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand. 10—A. 2.

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