43

A.—2

My Lord,— Government House, St. John's, 12th July, 1910. Referring to your despatch, No. 79, of the 27th May, in relation to a Conference of SurveyorsGeneral, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that my Ministers do not desire to be represented at the Conference. I have, <fee, The Right Hon. Earl of Crewe, K.G., &c. Ralph Williams. My Lord, — Government House, Ottawa, Canada, 27th July, 1910. With reference to your Lordship's despatches, Nos. 147 and 360, of the 28th February and the 27th May respectively, on the subject of the proposed Conference of Surveyors-General in October, 1910, I have the honour to transmit herewith copy of an approved minute of His Majesty's Privy Council for Canada appointing Mr. E. G. D. Deville, LL.D., D.T.S., Surveyor-General of Canada, to represent the Dominion at the Conference. Your Lordship will observe that none of the Provincial Governments propose to send representatives to this Conference. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Earl of Crewe, K.G., &c. Grey. P.C. 1486. ( 'ertified Copy of a Report of the Committee of the Privy Council approved by His Excellency the Administrator on the 21st July, 1910. The Committee of the Privy Council have had before them a report, dated sth July, 1910, from the Secretary of State for External Affairs, to whom was referred despatches, dated respectively 28th February and 27th May, 1910, from the Right Hon. the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the subject of the proposed Conference of Surveyors-General in October, 1910. The Minister states that the Government of Canada will be glad to take part in the Conference in question, and he recommends that Mr. E. G. D. Deville, LL.D., D.T.S., Surveyor-General of Canada, be authorized to represent the Dominion at the Conference. The Minister further states that this invitation was duly communicated to the Provincial Governments, from whom replies have been received to the effect that none of these Governments purpose to send representatives to this Conference. The Committee, concurring in the foregoing, advise that Your Excellency may be pleased to inform the Right Hon. the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies in the sense of this minute. All which is respectfully submitted for approval. RODOLPHE BoUDBEAU, Clerk of the Privy Council. The Govkunor-Genkeal of the Union of South Africa to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. (Telegram.) 30th July, No. 2. Referring to your despatch of the 2nd of June, No. 4 (Conference of Surveyors-General), Ministers regret that circumstances connected with the establishment of Union have rendered impracticable the representation of Union of South Africa at the Conference. Despatch follows by mail. Gladstone. The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia to the Secretary of State foe the Colonies. (Telegram.) Your telegram of 28th July. Conference Surveyors-General: Commonwealth Government has no objection to date named, but, in view of request of State Governments and New Zealand Ministers, would be glad if arrangements could be made to meet their wishes as far as to allow postponement until next year. It is considered that date to be fixed should be such as will permit of the report of this subsidiary Conference being completed in time to submit to forthcoming Imperial Conference. Arrangements being made for High Commissioner for Australia to represent Commonwealth at the Conference. Dudley.

No. 70. New Zealand, No. 210. My Lord, — Downing Street, 10th September, 1910. With reference to Lord Plunket's despatch, No. 103, of the 25th of November last, I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, that at a meeting of the council of the Suez Canal Company, held on the Ist of August, it was decided to reduce the transit dues from 7 - 75 frs. to 7-25 frs. per ton, the reduction to take effect from the Ist of January, 1911. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.