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No. 4. Sir, — Downing Street, 15th August, 1884. I have the honour to transmit to you, for your information, copies of correspondence which has passed between this Department, the Board of Trade, and the Secretary of Lloyd's, with reference to the employment of officers in the colonies having duties in connection with the mercantile marine, as agents for Lloyd's. I have, &c, Derby. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure 1. Sra,— Lloyd's, E.C., 10th July, 1884. I am instructed by the Committee of Lloyd's to beg that you will be good enough to move the Secretary of State for the Colonies to allow me to be informed whether officers in British colonies intrusted with the duties in connection with the mercantile marine, which are performed in Foreign countries by British Consuls, are entirely paid by the various Colonial Legislatures, or whether their salaries are in any way charged upon Imperial funds. I am further to beg that you will also move the Earl of Derby to allow me to be informed whether, in case the Committee of Lloyd's should wish to suggest a performance of certain duties by these officers, applications should be made to the various Colonial Governments or to the Colonial Office in London. I have, &c, H. M. Hoziee, The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. Secretary.

Enclosure 2. Sib,— Downing Street, 18th July, 1884. In reply to your letter of the 10th instant, making certain inquiries as to the officers in the colonies who are intrusted with the duties in connection with the mercantile marine, I am directed by the Earl of Derby to inform you that the salaries of these officers are in no way chargeable upon Imperial funds ; but with reference to any new duties which your Committee may desire they should undertake, I am to suggest that any communication which the Committee of Lloyd's may desire to make should be addressed to his Lordship as Secretary of State for the Colonies. I have, &c, The Secretary of Lloyd's. E. H. Meade.

Enclosure 3. Sib,— Lloyd's, E.C., 23rd July, 1884. I am instructed by the Committee of Lloyd's to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th July, 1884, with reference to officers in the colonies intrusted with the duties connected with the mercantile marine; and lam to beg that you will be good enough to move the Secretary of State for the Colonies to allow me to be informed whether there would be any objection to such officers acting as Lloyd's agents in case the Committee of Lloyd's should, in any particular instance, desire to confer the appointment of a Lloyd's agency upon one of these officers. I have, &c, H. M. Hoziee, The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, Colonial Office, S.W. Secretary.

Enclosure 4. Sib,— Downing Street, 30th July, 1884. With reference to your letter of the 29th July, 1880, H. 4977, and subsequent correspondence, I am directed by the Earl of Derby to transmit to you, to be laid before the Board of Trade, the accompanying copy of a letter from the Secretary to the Committee of Lloyd's, asking whether officers in the colonies who are intrusted with the duties connected with the mercantile marine might be allowed to act as agents for Lloyd's; and I am to request that you will be good enough to move the Board to favour his Lordship with their opinion as to whether there is any objection to such permission being granted. I have, &c, The Secretary to Board of Trade. B. Wingfield.

Enclosure 5. g lE> — Board of Trade (Harbour Department), Whitehall Gardens, 7th August, 1884. I am directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th ultimo, transmitting copy of a letter from the Committee of Lloyd's, asking whether officers in the colonies who are intrusted with the duties connected with the mercantile marine might be allowed to act as agents for Lloyd's, and inquiring whether, in the opinion of this Board, there is any objection to such permission being granted.