A.-2.

Enclosure. The War Office to the Colonial Office. Sic, — Surveyor-General's Department, War Office, 29th February, 1883. In reply to your letter of the 24th ultimo, relative to an application, on behalf of the Government of New Zealand, for a gift of old arms and armour from the surplus stock in the Tower of London for a museum in Auckland, I am directed to acquaint you, for the information of the Earl of Derby, that the Secretary of State for War will be happy to present to the Colony, for the purpose in question, the articles enumerated in the enclosed list, if acceptable, but that no further specimens of armour can be spared. lam therefore to request information as to whom (if accepted) the articles shall be handed over for transmission to Auckland. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. H. E. Brand.

List of Specimens of Old Asms and Abmoue available for Peesentation to New Zealand. Aemoue manplate, parts of —Helmets, pot, 1; back-plates, cuirassieur, 17th century, 1; breastplates, pikeman's, with tassels, 1; back-plates, Eoyal Horse Guards, 1; breast-plates, Eoyal Horse Guards, 1. Axes, boarding, handled, 0.P., 1; bayonets, sword, brass, Brunswick, 2. Blunderbusses—Mint, brass barrels, 1; iron barrels, 1; carbines, M.L., flint, 5.8., with steel rammers, heavy cavalry, 1; Guns, M.L., percussion, single barrel, with wood rammers, S.B. fowling-pieces, for Indian presents, 1; halberts, yeoman warders, 1; material for small-arm locks, flint, 3; muskets, M.L., 5.8., flint, with steel rammers and bayonets, hand, regular rank and file, 1; pikes, boarding, 0.P., 1. Pistols—M.L., flint, of sorts, 12 inch, 1, 9 inch, 1; M.L., flint, percussion, 6 inch, sea-service, with nipples, 1. Swords —Scabbard, brass, 2; brass hilt, band, ivory handles, 2; brass hilt, pioneers, 4; brass hilt, of sorts, 2 ; iron hilt basket or claymore, Highland Eegiments, Staff Sergeants, 1; iron hilt Eoyal navy cutlass, 27 inch, 1; iron hilt, curved, 1. Wall-pieces, M.L., flint, 5.8., iron barrels, 1; scales, pairs, for cuirasses, with cloth-backs, 1; spears, sergeants, with crossbar, 1.

No. 39. The Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. (New Zealand. General.) Sir, — Downing Street, 22nd February, 1883. With reference to Sir J. Prendergast's Despatch, No. 99, of the Ist of December, enclosing a memorandum by the Premier, proposing that sections 4, 5, 6, 7, and 18 (in part) of " The Imperial Coinage Act, 1870," should be brought into operation in New Zealand, I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Treasury, enclosing an extract of a report by the Deputy-Master of the Mint, stating that it would appear to be desirable that the whole of the Act should be applied to New Zealand, as has already been done in certain other Colonies. I also enclose a copy of the letter to which it is a reply. Although certain portions of the Act are not strictly applicable to the Colonies, yet I would suggest, for the consideration of your Ministers, that it would in any case be advisable to extend to New Zealand certain other sections beyond those mentioned by Mr. Whitaker: for instance, section 4 requires to be supplemented by section 2, which defines the term "the Mint; " by section 3, which prescribes the standard of the coins to be issued by the Mint; by section 11, which provides for the issue of Proclamations; and by the First Schedule, which determines the proper weight of the coins issued by the Mint. I would also point out that if only a portion of the Act is brought into operation in the Colony, it is not impossible that questions may be raised as to how far the old Currency Acts mentioned in the Second Schedule, and repealed in England, continue to apply to the coins current in the Colony; and, having regard to the importance of having a uniform system of law for coins current in different parts of Her Majesty's Dominions, your Government may not be unwilling that the whole Act should be extended to New Zealand. I shall be glad to be informed, at your earliest convenience, of the views of your Ministers on the subject. I have, &c, DEEBY. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, E.E., G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-l, No. 21. Reply, A.-l, No. 40,

Enclosure 1. (No. 2388/83.) The Teastjry to the Colonial Office. Sic, — Treasury Chambers, Bth February, 1883. With reference to Mr. Bramston's letter of the 20th ultimo, suggesting that certain sections of the Imperial Coinage Act (33 Vict., c. 10) should be brought into operation in New Zealand, I

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