A.—l

20

Enclosure. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 24th September, 1914. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. Postage-rates from British Samoa. The Prime Minister presents his compliments to His Excellency, and begs to recommend, in connection with h s memorandum of the 17th instant, that the postage-rates on correspondence, including parcels, for all parts of the world from that portion of the Samoan territory now under British control be fixed at the rates obtaining in New Zealand for such places. A copy of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Guide for February, 1914, forwarded herewith, gives these rates on pages 8 to 47 inclusive and pages 194 to 251 inclusive. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister.

No. 43. New Zealand, No. 172. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 12th October, 1914. With reference to your despatch, No. 320,, of the 28th July, regarding the suggestion of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia that the question of naval defence should be discussed in 1915 at a Conference at which all the selfgoverning dominions should be represented, I have the honour to inform you, by request of my Prime Minister, that the Government of New Zealand are prepared to be represented at any Naval Conference to be held in 1915 or on a later date. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1915, No. 47.

No. 44. New Zealand, No. 173. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 12th October, 1914. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 339, of the 6th August, in which you request me to inform my Ministers that it has been decided that the two offices of Inspector-General of the Home Forces and Inspector-General of the Oversea Forces should again be merged and held by one officer with the title of Inspector-General of the Forces, and that the appointment of General Officer Commanding in Chief, Mediterannean Command, shall be allowed to lapse. 2. My Ministers ask me to inform you that should any inspection of the New Zealand Military Forces be desired at any time they will be pleased to avail themselves of the offer of His Majesty's Government, outlined in paragraph 2 of your despatch under reference. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2. 1915, No. 50.

No. 45. New Zealand, No. 178. Sir,- — Government House, Wellington, 14th October, 1914. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 335, of the 6th August, forwarding copies of instructions which have been 'issued by the Board of Trade to their Surveyors respecting the measurement of vessels for Panama Canal tonnage certificates.