A.—2

No. 79. New Zealand, No. 382. My Lord, — Downing Street, 3rd October, 1913. I have the honour to request Your Excellency to inform your Ministers that the Army Council have agreed to a proposal made by the Government of India that the half-yearly written examinations for promotion of all officers on the Indian Establishment should be conducted by the War Office. 2. In order to meet the climatic conditions of India it has been found necessary to change the existing dates of the half-yearly written examinations, and the dates on which the examinations will commence are as follows : The third Monday in April (should Easter Monday or Good Friday fall in this week the examination will commence on the first Monday in April) and the third Monday in October. 3. The first examination to be held under the new conditions will commence on the 20th April, 1914, and the Army Council hope that the change of dates will not cause any inconvenience. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

No. 80. New Zealand, No. 383. My Lord, — Downing Street, 3rd October, 1913. With reference to Your Excellency's telegram of the 16th September, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that, as the arbitration agreements with Italy and Spain will expire respectively on the Ist February, 1914, and the 27th February, 1914, unless renewed on or before those dates, His Majesty's Government propose, in accordance with the established policy which they understand is in harmony with the views of your Ministers, to renew these agreements in due course. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c. No. 81. New Zealand, No. 387. My Lord,— Downing Street, 3rd October, 1913. With reference to previous correspondence respecting the International Convention for the suppression of the White Slave Traffic of the 4th May, 1910, I have the honour to request Your Excellency to inform your Ministers that the Portuguese ratifications of the Convention were deposited in the archives of the French Government on the 9th September, and that the Portuguese Government have adopted the diplomatic channel as the mode of transmission of letters of request under the Convention intended for execution in Portugal. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c. No. 82. New Zealand, No. 388. My Lord,— Downing Street, Bth October, 1913. With reference to my despatch, No. 387, of the 3rd instant on the subject of the International Convention for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic of the 4th May, 1910, I have the honour to request Your Excellency to inform your Ministers that the German Government have notified that on their part only the

No. 81. New Zealand, No. 387. My Lord, — Downing Street, 3rd October, 1913. With, reference to previous correspondence respecting the International Convention for the suppression of the White Slave Traffic of the 4th May, 1910, I have the honour to request Your Excellency to inform your Ministers that the Portuguese ratifications of the Convention were deposited in the archives of the French Government on the 9th September, and that the Portuguese Government have adopted the diplomatic channel as the mode of transmission of letters of request under the Convention intended for execution in Portugal. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

No. 82. New Zealand, No. 388. My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth October, 1913. With reference to my despatch, No. 387, of the 3rd instant on the subject of the International Convention for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic of the 4th May, 1910, I have the honour to request Four Excellency to inform your Ministers that the German Government have notified that on their part only the

72