2

A.—2

I have to request that you will inform me whether your Government accepts the invitation, and in that case by whom it will be represented, and that you will furnish me with the full names and designation of the delegate. I have, &c, KNTJTSFOBD. The Officer Admininstering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. The Genebal Post Office to the Colonial Office. Sic, — General Post Office, London, 17th November, 1890. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acquaint you, for the information of Lord Knutsford, that the next Postal Congress is to be held at Vienna on the 20th May, 1891, in conformity with the provisions of the Union Convention, and that the Austrian Government, through their Minister in London, have invited Her Majesty's Government to send delegates to represent this country at the Congress. The invitation is extended to the Government of Canada, which ranks as a separate State belonging to the Union, and also to the Governments of the Australasian Colonies, the Fiji Islands, the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, St. Helena, the Transvaal, and the Orange Free State, none of which at present are members of the Union, but whose interests are concerned, inasmuch as the question of the entry of most of them into the Union has been long under consideration. The Postmaster-General requests that you will be so good as to move the Secretary of State for the Colonies to take the necessary steps for communicating the invitations to the several colonial Governments concerned. I am to add that the same reasons exist now as in 1885 for the representation of the Australasian and South African Colonies at the Congress. Now, as then, although the representatives could not, of course, vote upon any of the questions discussed, they would, if present at the discussions, be able to afford the Congress the most satisfactory information as to the conditions upon which these important colonies would be prepared to adhere to the Postal Union. I am to mention that the deliberations of the Congress at Vienna, like those of the Congress at Lisbon, will be conducted wholly in the French language. I am &c, The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. S. A. Blackwood.

No. 4. (New Zealand, No. 54.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 29th November, 1890. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 52, of the Bth of October, reporting the dissolution of the New Zealand Parliament on the 3rd of that month. I have, &c, KNUTSFOBD. Governor the Bight Hon. the Earl of Onslow, G.C.M.G., &c.

No. 5. (New Zealand, No. 56.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 4th December, 1890. I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Government, that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have stated that the privileges accorded to the officers of the Victorian Naval Defence Force are intended by their Lordships to apply equally to officers in the service of the other Australian Colonies. A copy of the Admiralty letter containing their Lordship's decision in the case of Victoria is enclosed, from which you will perceive that colonial officers receiving instructions on board Her Majesty's ships will receive acting commissions and appointments. I have, &c, KNUTSFOBD. Governor the Bight Hon. the Earl of Onslow, G.C.M.G., &c.

Enclosure. The Admibalty to the Colonial Office. Sib,— Admiralty, 24th June, 1890. I have laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your letter of the 12th ultimo, enclosing a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Victoria relative to the employment of officers of the colonial naval forces in Her Majesty's ships for instructional purposes, and to their status while so employed.