A.—2.

No. 36. The Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. (New Zealand, No. 11.) Sir, — Downing Street, 17th February, 1883. I have the honour to transmit to you, for your information, a copy of a letter that has been received from the Foreign Office, stating that a Despatch had been received from Her Majesty's Minister in Japan, reporting that he had been informed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs that His Imperial Majesty's ship, "Eiujio-kan" would sail on the 15th of December last for Valparaiso, by way of Wellington, and that he had been requested to obtain the good offices of the Governor of New Zealand on that occasion. Sir H. Parkes's letter, mentioned in the enclosed one, addressed to Sir A. Gordon on this subject, was no doubt duly received at the time ; and I doubt not that your Government will have extended to this vessel any good offices which she may have needed, if she has already called at the Port of Wellington, as I presume will have been the case before this Despatch reaches you. The Officer Administering the Government I have, &c, of New Zealand. DEEBY.

Reply, A.-l, No. 30.

Enclosure. Sib,— Foreign Office, 6th February, 1883. I am directed by Earl Granville to state to you, for the information of the Earl of Derby, that a Despatch has been received from Her Majesty's Minister in Japan, reporting that he had been informed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs that his Imperial Majesty's ship, " Eiujio-kan," would sail on the 15th of December last for Valparaiso, by way of Wellington, and that he had been requested to obtain the good offices of the Governor of that Colony on the occasion of the visit. I am to request that you will move Lord Derby to cause instructions to be sent to the authorities at Wellington to render any assistance that may be required to this vessel, should she put in at that port. lam to add, that a Despatch was addressed to Sir A. Gordon, by Sir Harry Parkes, on the 14th of December last, acquainting him of the wishes of the Japanese Government in this matter. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. T. V. Listek.

No. 37. The Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. (New Zealand, No. 12.) Sir, — Downing Street, 18th February, 1883. My predecessor caused to be communicated to the Eoyal Humane Society a copy of your Despatch, No. 75, of the 4th of October last, respecting the conduct of a half-caste woman, named Kate Middlemass, in rescuing a European, named Bird, from drowning. I now have the honour to transmit to you a bronze medal and certificate, which have been awarded to Kate Middlemass by the Society. You will be so good as to cause these rewards to be publicly presented to Kate Middlemass. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government DEEBY. of New Zealand.

A.-l, No. 12. Reply, A.-l, No. 35.

No. 38. The Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. (New Zealand, No. 14.) Sir,— Downing Street, 20th February, 1883. I caused to be communicated to the Secretary of State for War a copy of your Despatch No. 93, of the 28th of November last, recommending that the application of Mr. G. T. Mackelvie, for a gift of armour, &c, from the Tower for the Auckland Museum, should, if practicable, be favourably entertained by Her Majesty's Government; and I now have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a letter from the War Office, in reply, enclosing a list of the specimens available, and desiring to be informed, should the articles enumerated prove acceptable, to whom they should be handed over for shipment to Auckland. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government DEEBY, of New Zealand.

a.-i, No. is. R ' a.-i, No. 36.

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