A.—l

6

I enclose copies of the Speech which I delivered on the occasion, and of the Addresses in Eeply which I have received from both Houses. The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

No. 3. (No. 43.) My Lobd, — Wellington, 24th June, 1891. I have the honour to enclose copies of an address which I received from the House of Representatives. I cannot find that there are any special regulations for the colonies in force as to the admission of boys and young men into Her Majesty's navy ; but your Lordship will doubtless communicate with Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty on the subject. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

Enclosure. Address from the House of Bepresentatives. To His Excellency the Bight Hon. the Earl of Onslow, a member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Brivy Council, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Governor of New Zealand, &c. May it please your Excellency,— We, the House of Bepresentatives of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, respectfully request that your Excellency may be pleased to communicate with Lord Knutsford asking that alterations may be made in the regulations affecting the admission of boys and young men into Her Majesty's Australasian Naval Squadron, in the direction of permitting one or two of the vessels to be partly or wholly recruited, as vacancies may occur, from persons of New Zealand birth, of sound constitution, good morals, and who shall have passed an educational examination equal to that' of the Sixth Standard of the public schools of the colony, and such other examinations as the Lords of the Admiralty may prescribe. House of Bepresentatives, 18th June, 1891. W. J. Steward, Speaker.

No. 4. (No. 44.) My Lobd,— Wellington, 25th June, 1891. With reference to your Lordship's circular despatch of the 10th March, and to your telegram of the 4th March, last, relating to the proposed uniform system of buoys and beacons, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that I have nothing to add to my telegram of the 27th March. My Ministers request me to state that steps are now being taken to introduce the new system (so far as it is to be adopted in this colony) on the date arranged—namely, the Ist September next. • I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

A.-2, 1891, Sess. 11., No. 15.

A.-2,1892, No. 1.

■■■■naWHMa«alHaal)ValHa^BHVa«aaala^aVMaMaMpH«M No. 5. (No. 45.) My Lobd, — Wellington, 25th Juno, 1891. I have the honour to inform your Lordship that my Ministers are desirous of securing the appointment of a suitable officer as Commandant of the Defence Forces of this colony. The Agent-General has been instructed to select such an officer from among those at present serving in Her Majesty's army, and all particulars as to qualifications, salary, duration of appointment, &c, have been sent to him. I have to request your Lordship, when the selection has been made, to communicate with His Eoyal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, with the view of obtaining his sanction to the appointment and his permission for the officer to be seconded during his service here under the rules laid down and specified in the letter dated the 19th November, 1886, from the Treasury to the War Office, which was included in No. 74 of the papers laid before the Colonial Conference. The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c, ONSLOW.