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proceed to Australia. The final settlement of the itinerary would, of course, depend on the extent to which it is found that it is desired to tender oral evidence to the Commission at the various centres after circulation of the memoranda of questions. The Commission would propose to leave it to your Government to decide what witnesses should be heard at each centre visited. 10. In connection with the distribution of memoranda, the settlement of the lists of witnesses to be heard, and of the itinerary of the Commission, the dominion representatives would, of course, advise and assist their Governments as far as possible. They will, however, all be absent from home for lengthy periods when the Commission is on tour, and the representative of the Union of South Africa is in this country. It is accordingly possible that your Government may see fit to intrust the local work of the Commission to a selected officer of the Public Service, or other person, who could, if necessary, place himself in direct communication with the Secretary to the Commission at Scotland House, Embankment, London, England, and arrange the points of detail which may be expected to arise as the work of the Commission develops. If such an officer is appointed, answers to the memoranda of inquiry could be made returnable to him in duplicate, so that one copy could be forwarded on receipt to the Secretary to the Commission, with a view to its being printed here and circulated to members. Having regard to the number and character of the replies,' the officer selected would be able to advise your Government as to the itinerary to be drawn up and the persons to be heard in evidence, and in this way the Commission might be expected to be acquainted with the main lines of the programme proposed for it in each dominion before starting for that dominion. The particulars could be sent to me through you, or, if a special officer is appointed, direct to the offices of the Commission in London, as may be preferred. 11. I shall be glad to have the views of your Ministers on the above suggestions by cable at their early convenience. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosures. Commission passed undee the Royal Sign-manual and Signet, appointing the Right Hon. Lord Inchcape, G.C.M.G., X.C.5.1., K.C.1.E., and Others to be Commissioners to inquire into the Natural Resources, Trade, and Legislation of certain Portions of His Majesty's Dominions, and appointing William Arthur Robinson, Esq., 8.A., to be Secretary. George R.I. Dated 15th April, 1912. George the Fifth, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India : To our right trusty and well-beloved James Lyle, Baron Inchcape, Knight Grand Cross of our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Commander of our Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, Knight Commander of our Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire ; our trusty and well-beloved Sir Edgar Vincent, Knight Commander of our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George ; our trusty and well-beloved Sir Charles John Owens, Knight, LieutenantColonel, late Engineer and Railway Staff Corps ; our trusty and well-beloved Sir Henry Rider Haggard, Knight; our trusty and well-beloved Tom Garnett, Esquire; our trusted and well-beloved William Lorimer, Esquire (representing our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland) ; our trusty and well-beloved the Honourable George Eulas Foster, Doctor of Laws, Minister of Trade and Commerce of our Dominion of Canada (representing our said Dominion) ; our trusty and wellbeloved Donald Campbell, Esquire, Bachelor of Laws, formerly member of the House of Assembly of our State of South Australia (representing our Commonwealth of Australia) ; our right trusty and well-beloved Counsellor Sir Joseph George Ward, Baronet, Knight Commander of our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, recently Prime Minister of our Dominion of New Zealand (representing our said Dominion) ; our trusty and well-beloved the Honourable Sir David Pieter de Villiers Graaff, Baronet, Minister of Posts and Telegraphs of our Union of South Africa (representing our said Union) ; and our trusty and well-beloved the Honourable Edgar Rennie Bowring, member of the Legislative Council of our Colony of Newfoundland (representing our said Colony) : Greeting.