7

A.—2l.

I request you to inform Sir George Grey that no doubt is entertained by Her Majesty's Government as to the power of the Queen to confer such an honor as the one in question; and, as the recommendation in this particular case was made by the Governor in accordance with the wishes of his Responsible Advisers, there would seem to be no advantage in now discussing further an act which has been completed. Sir George Grey's suggestion, however, that the grant of such a privilege as that in question should be notified in the London Gazette, is one which deserves consideration; and lam at present disposed to think that it may be expedient to follow that course. I have, &c, M. E. HICKS BEACH. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, G.C.M.G., &c.

No. 5. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach to the Oeficer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 16th September, 1878. I have the honor to transmit to you for publication, and for any action which may be necessary on the part of your Government, a copy of a letter from the Council Office, enclosing a memorandum relative to the provisions in " The Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, 1878," which relate to animals imported from abroad, and calling attention to section 5, subsection (9), of the Act, by which animals imported from Her Majesty's colonies are deemed, for the purposes of the Act, to be foreign animals, in order that the information referred to in the memorandum may be furnished by any colony that may desire to apply for exemption from the provisions of the Act as regards slaughter at the port of debarkation. I have, &c, M. E. HICKS BEACH. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure in No. 5. The Privy Council to the Colonial Office. Sir, — Privy Council Office, sth September, 1878. I am directed by the Lord President of the Council to transmit to you the enclosed copy of a memorandum which has been sent to the Foreign Office for the purpose of calling the attention of foreign Governments to the provisions in " The Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, 1878," which relate to animals imported from abroad. The Lord President requests that you will lay the memorandum in question before Secretary Sir Michael Hicks Beach, and that you will call his attention to section 5, subsection (9), of the above-named Act, by which animals imported from Her Majesty's colonies are deemed, for the purposes of the Act, to be foreign animals; and I am to suggest, for the consideration of Sir Michael Hicks Beach, whether the attention of the various colonial Governments should not be called to this fact, in order that the information referred to in the memorandum may be furnished by any colony that may desire to apply for exemption from the provisions of the Act as regards slaughter at the port of debarkation. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, &c, Colonial Office. C. L. Peel.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 5. Memorandum. The attention of all foreign Governments should be called to the provisions of " The Contagious Diseases (i^nimals) Act, 1878,-" under which, except in the case of countries specially exempted by the Privy Council in whole or in part from the operation of the Act, all animals landed from abroad in any part of the United Kingdom will, after the Ist January next, be slaughtered at the port of debarkation. The Lords of Her Majesty's Privy Council will require from any country applying for exemption—-(1) a statement of the laws which regulate the importation of animals into that country; (2) of the methods adopted to prevent the spreading of any contagious disease when it exists there; (3) a periodical report ou the general sanitary condition of their animals.