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I may add that I telegraphed to your Lordship because there is a feeling ■of irritation among the citizens of Wellington—who express themselves as highly honoured by so unusual event as a visit during several weeks from three foreign ships of war under the command of a German Admiral, and have done their utmost to entertain them and make their stay pleasant—that they should be driven to leave Wellington and station the ships in another colony, where apparently the facilities which the Admiral desires have been granted, or where, at any rate, the Admiral has been able to land and drill armed men, which I have thought it my duty not to sanction in New Zealand. If the effect is to shorten the visit of the warships and cause them to return to Jervois Bay, New South Wales, the lucrative business which their presence in harbour affords to those who supply them with necessary stores, as well as the other expenditure occasioned by their visit, will fall into the hands of traders in another part of Her Majesty's possessions, where it is presumed that the regulation affecting foreign men-of-war are or ought to be identical with those •enforced in New Zealand. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ON SLOW.

No. 28. (No. 62.) My Lord,— Wellington, 18th December, 1890. I have the honour to inform your Lordship that, with the advice of my Ministers, I, on the 3rd October, dissolved the tenth. Parliament of New Zealand, which would have expired by effluxion of time on the sth October. The polling-day was fixed for the sth December, and the new Parliament •summoned for the 18th. On the 17th instant I received the memorandum, copy of which I enclose, from Ministers, and, acting upon it, I prorogued Parliament on the same day to the 24th December, with a view T to further prorogation till the 23rd January, on which day it is intended that Parliament should meet for the despatch of business. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

Enclosure. Memorandum for His Excellency. Premier's Office, Wellington, 17th December, 1890. Since the result of the elections lias been ascertained, your Excellency's Advisers have given careful consideration to their position in relation to the state of parties in the House of Representatives. At present it is not possible to classify all the members as either Government supporters or supporters of the leaders of the Opposition, but Ministers are of opinion that they possess the confidence ■of the largest section in the House, and, having regard to the uncertainty of the strength of parties, the necessary consequence of the election of so many new members, they feel that the most satisfactory course will be to call Parliament together at the earliest convenient opportunity, and they therefore advise your Excellency that Parliament should be called together for the despatch •of business on Friday, the 23rd January next. H. A. Atkinson.

[Approximate Cost of Paper. —Cost of x>reparation, nil; printing (1,300 copies), £6 155.]

By Authority : Gmoege Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington. —1891.