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Enclosures. Sir,— General Post Office, London, 29th June, 1910. With reference to your letter of the 19th of last month, No. 13773/1910, forwarding a copy of a despatch from the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, and of correspondence exchanged in 1903-4 between His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris and the French Government, concerning the proposed reduction of the rate of postage on letters sent between New Zealand and the French settlements of Oceania, I am directed to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the Postmaster-General sees no objection to the renewal of the negotiations with the French Government on this subject. According to a recent announcement by the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union, the rates of postage charged on letters exchanged between France and the French colonies, including the French settlements of Oceania, has now been reduced to 10 centimes for letters weighing not more than 20 grammes, 15 centimes for letters exceeding 20 grammes but not exceeding 50 grammes in weight, and 5 centimes for every 50 grammes or fraction thereof for letters exceeding 50 grammes in weight. In these circumstances the French Government may perhaps now be willing to reduce the rates of postage on letters from the settlements in Oceania to New Zealand. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Matthew Nathan. Sir,— Downing Street, 7th July, 1910. With reference to your letter of the 30th June, 1904, 1 am directed by the Earl of Crewe to transmit to you, to be laid before Secretary Sir Edward Grey, the accompanying copy of a despatch from the Governor of New Zealand relative to the rates of postage between New Zealand and French Oceania, together with copy of a letter from the General Post Office on the subject. 2. Lord Crewe would be glad, provided Sir E. Grey sees no objection, if steps could be taken to ascertain the views of the French Government on the proposal submitted by the New Zealand Government. 1 am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office. C. P. Lucas.

No. 42. New Zealand, No. 145. My Lord,— Downing Street, 12th July, 1910. With reference to my despatch No. 173, of the 15th September last, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copies of a new rule for life-saving appliances on ships, made by the Board of Trade under the provisions of section 427 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington D.5.0., &c. Enclosure. Statutory Rules and Orders, 1910, No. 548. Merchant Shipping.—-Prevention of Accidents ; Lieu-saving Appliances. Rule, dated April 19. 1910, made by the Board of Trade, under the Merchant Shipping Act. 1894 (57 and 58 Vict., c. 60), as to Life-saving Appliances. Under the provisions of section 427 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, the Board of Trade hereby make the following rule for life-saving appliances,

A.-1, J 911 No. 35.

Date. Description. !9th June, 1910 ith July, 1910 From the General Post Office. To the Foreign Office.