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authors of literary and artistic works, which was signed at Berne on the 9th September, 1886. 2. ,J take this opportunity to point out to you that the Imperial Copyright Acts for engraving and sculpture do not apply to the colonies, and that apparently the Aet of 1862 (25 and 26 Vict., cap. 63), giving copyright in paintings and photographs, does not so apply. I would request your attention to sections 4, 8, 9, 10 of the Act of 1862, which, you will observe, apply to the United Kingdom only, and would invite you to compare the language of section 1 of that Act with the Copyright Act of 1842 (5 and 6 Vict., cap. 45), which (section 29) expressly gives literary copyright throughout Her Majesty's dominions. 3. It would seem, therefore, that, although the effect of section 8 of the Act of 1886 may be to protect the owner of copyright in works of art produced in a colony against piracy in the United Kingdom, he would not be entitled to similar protection in another colony. 4. I have therefore to request that I may be informed at your early convenience whether it is the wush of your Government that legislation should be initiated in the Imperial Parliament for extending to works of art produced in a colony the same privileges of copyright throughout the Empire as are now possessed by literary w Torks produced in a colony. 5. I may indicate the following as a further reason which seems to render it desirable that such legislation should be had : A colonist producing a work of art in a foreign country would, under the convention, appear to bo entitled to such copyright as under the laws of that country would be enjoyed by its subjects; but if that country finds that reciprocal advantages are not obtainable by its subjects in the colonies, it might be inclined to alter its law so as to withdraw these advantages from colonists residing in such country. I have, &c, KNUTSFORD. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. [For enclosure see Neiv Zealand Gazette, 3rd May, 1888, p. 331.]

(New Zealand, No. 38.) My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 4th May, 1888. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your circular despatch of the 29th February last, respecting the protection of the copyright of works of art produced in the colonies, and in reply to inform you that my Government wishes that, in accordance with the suggestion contained in paragraph 4, legislation should be initiated in the Imperial Parliament for extending to works of art produced in a colony the same privileges of copyright throughout the Empire as are now possessed by literary works produced in a colony. I have, &c, W. E. DRUMMOND JERVOIS. The Right Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c.

TRADE, ETC. Commercial and Industrial Intelligence Branch of Imperial Institute. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, Ist March, 1888. I have the honour to transmit to you a letter from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, from which you will learn that steps have been taken to establish, as a branch of the Imperial Institute, a Department for Commercial and Industrial Intelligence. The Prince's letter explains in detail the nature of the information, which it is desired to collect, and I have no doubt that your Government will give its best assistance towards the -attainment of the important objects which His Royal Highness has in view, so that the Imperial Institute may at as early a date as possible be fully provided with such publications and statistics as may worthily illustrate the condition and progress of the colony under your Government. It